Overview
Super Robot Wars Z3 is the final chapter of the Super Robot Wars Z series of strategy RPGs. Like its predecessors, Z3 is split into two parts, the first of which is Jigoku-hen. The game will be the third Super Robot Wars strategy game to be released on the PS3 and the second for the Vita.
The list of participating anime series is similar to that of Z2, though slightly smaller in size. All of the debuting anime series are related to series featured in previous Super Robot Wars Z titles.
First-run copies of the game will include a download code for a remake of the original Super Robot Wars.
Story
Three months after the end of the Regeneration War, the world enjoys a tenuous peace, and people struggle to return to more peaceful days in light of the tragedies that befell Earth and humanity after the Great Space-Time Quake opened the universe to countless other parallel worlds and threats.
Now saviors of Earth, the veterans of ZEXIS and ZEUTH go their separate ways - some work to help the new pacifistic Earth Federation government stand on its own, some simply live out their days in peace, while others search for ways to return to their home universes.
But as the former members of ZEUTH enter the portal to their home world, a new, unknown calamity looms. One that threatens to throw the entire multiverse into chaos and war...
Gameplay
The game's turn-based combat mirrors that of other games in the series, in which each team moves each of its units in alternating turns. Z3 Jigoku-hen introduces several new mechanics that distinguish it from previous games, including teams, not seen in in the series since the first SRW Z game. These new mechanics give players more tactical options and upgrades for their units.
Tag Battle System
Units can be deployed as two-unit teams. The unit leading the team is the main unit, although main and sub unit can be switched at any time. Teams can be organized in the Team Setup menu during Intermission. When attacking, Teams have two options:
- Center Attack: The sub unit attacks first for reduced damage with its designated Assist weapon, followed by the main unit for full damage. If attacking an enemy team, the player can choose which unit to target.
- Wide Attack: Each unit attacks a member of the targeted enemy team for standard damage.
- ALL Attack: If the main unit uses an attack targeting an entire enemy team, the above options are unavailable. ALL attacks deal 75% of their base damage against an enemy team.
Tag Tension & Commands
When a pilot in a team levels up or destroys two or more enemy units, the team earns Tag Tension points, up to a maximum of two. When two points are earned, a team can use the action "Tag Command" to apply one of the following buffs for that turn only:
- Multi-action: Grants an additional turn after destroying an enemy team.
- Bonus PP: Double PP is awarded after the next battle.
- Bonus Chips: Double Z-Chips are awarded for defeating an enemy team.
- SP Charge: Restores 25 Spirit Points to the team.
Maximum Break
A team with full Tag Tension may also spend its points to perform a Maximum Break during their attack. Maximum Break applies the following bonuses to an attack action:
- Damage dealt by main and sub unit is multiplied by 120%
- Negates support guards and defensive Abilities/Skills
- The sub unit can use any of its attack for the assist
Only Teams may earn Tag Tension points and use Commands; lone units and ships can never use Tag Tension Commands.
Critical Combo
Certain actions increase or decrease the player's Combo Gauge, up to a maximum of 5. Each level of the Combo Gauge increases damage dealt, money received, and Z-Chips received in a battle by 5%.
D-Trader
Early in the game, the D-Trader shop becomes available to the player in the Intermission menu via new original character AG. The player can purchase a variety of powerful upgrade parts in the shop that cannot be found anywhere else in the game. Instead of standard money, Z-Chips are used to pay for D-Trader items.
The D-Trader inventory is divided into standard parts, enhancement systems, and extra items. Standard inventory is unlocked by completing gameplay achievements. Enhancement items are powerful parts that require major goals to unlock. Extra inventory cycles random items every chapter, although unique items may occasionally appear in the extra section after a story sequence.
After each chapter, the player can visit the D-Trader for a unique conversation between AG and various members of the team. Extra conversations also take place after certain achievements, such as fulfilling bonus Z-Chip objectives or having a pilot achieve Ace status.
Z-Chips
Z-Chips are the currency used at the D-Trader. They are earned from defeating enemy teams, although some parts and abilities can also increase Z-Chip gain. Most chapters have a hidden objective that can be fulfilled for bonus Z-Chips and an extra conversation in the D-Trader store.
Sub-Order
The Sub-Order menu makes a return from the Z2 games. Sub-Orders allow the player to develop pilots that did not deploy in the previous mission. Each type of Sub-Order may be applied to up to six characters, and a character may not receive more than one Sub-Order. There are four Sub-Orders:
- Training: selected pilots gain 20 PP.
- Patrol: selected pilots receive +2 kills.
- Simulator: selected pilots gain 500 experience points.
- Fundraising: gain money equal to the selected pilots' level multiplied by 500.
Emblems
Another holdover from the Z2 games, Emblems are upgrade parts that are unlocked by completing major achievements that typically take an entire playthrough to accomplish. Emblems grant very powerful bonuses to equipped units, such as extra turns or
Featured Series
A list of anime series featured in the game. Series that debut in this game are marked with "(new)."
- Invincible Robo Trider G7
- Messenger of the Sun Tetsujin-28
- Six God Combination Godmars
- Armored Trooper Votoms
- Armored Trooper Votoms: The Big Battle (new)
- Armored Trooper Votoms: Shining Heresy (new)
- Super Dimension Century Orguss
- Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam
- Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack
- New Mobile Report Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz
- Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny
- Mobile Suit Gundam 00: A Wakening of the Trailblazer
- Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn (new)
- Aim for the Top! Gunbuster
- Macross 7
- Macross Dynamite 7
- Macross Frontier the Movie: The False Songstress
- Macross Frontier the Movie: The Wings of Goodbye
- Getter Robo Armageddon
- Shin Mazinger Shougeki! Z-hen
- Dai-Guard
- The Big O
- Full Metal Panic!
- Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu
- Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid
- Dancougar Nova
- Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann
- Gurren Lagann the Movie: The Lights in the Sky are Stars
- Evangelion 1.0: You Are (Not) Alone
- Evangelion 2.0: You Can (Not) Advance
- Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion R2
- Aquarion EVOL (new)
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