The Let's Play Archive

Super Robot Wars UX

by Brunom1

Part 20: Mission 9 - Death Caprice


We open at JUDA, and WSO’s commander, Kojindani, is very surprised that Scarlet not only secured UX’s assistance but also that of the company itself and Celestial Being. He’s very grateful to Ishigami for his support, but the president understands that the crisis at Machine Island is a matter of utmost importance for the world at large.
Ishigami does ask that the WSO keep the Elshank’s presence a secret from the Feds, and that’s no problem as the organization is wholly independent from the federal army (they also wouldn’t be able to work with the UX if they weren’t, naturally). Still, Ishigami didn’t expect the situation with the Gravity Generator to be this dire – truth be told, it was only recently that the WSO pinged the Final Alarm broadcasted from the island.

The fact is that if something isn’t done soon the Gravity Generator will go critical and explode, dealing cataclysmic damage to the entire planet. Well, the Elshank and the Ptolemaios should be arriving at the Machine Island soon, so Ishigami says the WSO can start their operation whenever.
Kojindani is glad and wants to go right away: they’ll be deploying the Skull Force to Machine Island ASAP – they’ll be the spearhead for the operation to stabilize the generator.


Over by the Ptolemaios, Feldt reports that they’ll be within the island’s gravity well soon – Mileina asks everyone to fasten their seatbelts. Lockon notices Setsuna looking a bit pensive, and the boy asks if he’s heard any stories about the Machine Island.
A few, yeah, but the problem is that the whole problem with the island started back before Setsuna was even born; stories about it are now more like urban legends than anything else. Still, Sumeragi notes that the Gravity Curtain makes it impossible for anyone to see what’s going on inside the place, so we might find literally anything there.


And now, aboard the Elshank, it’s time to review the events of the other route. Seeing how we went through everything in person, I’ll just skip it. That said, here are particularly important or amusing bits:


And with that done, Sun Quan asks what kind of place this Machine Island is. Richard relates that it was established after WWII, housing several weapons construction plants and a major scientific institute for the research of new energy sources. And the big discovery made there was what was dubbed Gravity Energy. Considering how gravity’ll always be there while Earth’s still around, that sounds pretty good to Kouichi.
But, as Yamashita reminds him, WWII was two hundred years ago; since that Gravity Energy was never put to use, it’s likely safe to assume that the research on it went nowhere. Actually, no, Moritsugu says things were making good progress: from what he heard, the researchers put together the Gravity Generator - a device capable of converting gravity into energy - using the island’s particular mineral, Odyssite, as a catalyst for it.
Then, one day, the institute was suddenly closed down. Why? No one knows for sure, but Eida notes that rumors say it was due to rather unethical research being performed within. As in, experimenting on human subjects and whatnot, Joe wonders? Eida figures maybe (while a dark cloud sets over Richard).

Whatever the case, the whole Gravity Energy project came to a screeching halt with the institute gone. Furthermore, civil war eventually broke across the island as people vied for control of the weapon plants and the Gravity Generator. But the worst was yet to come as, twenty-eight years ago, said generator went out of control.
It didn’t explode, but Saya figures that’d probably have been better than what happened: a massive amount of energy poured forth, draping the entire island and its surrounding waters in the Gravity Curtain. Thus, no one has been able to go anywhere near the place for nearly three decades. And what happened to the people of the island? Unknown, though Mike presumes the worst (punctuating it with a rather obscure reference that I don’t care to think of a way to translate. Rennie doesn’t appreciate his dark humor, though, and punches him).
Ylbora wonders if they can really get that substitute for the Kylhasium from a location in such a state. Possibly, but Richard says that’s a a treasure hunt best saved for AFTER we’ve managed to safely break through the Gravity Curtain.



: Gravitational anomalies confirmed. We’re initiating our approach to the AO.
: A-Are they really sure our ship can withstand the Gravity Curtain…?
: Something wrong with you, maggots? By the look on your faces, I’m guessing you’re about to piss yourselves and run home to mommy!
: B-But Cpt. Scarlet! You heard what happened to the Death Caprice Squad, right?! They were sent there a week ago and there’ve been no news since…
: Do you seriously think they would kick the bucket that easy?! And what you really should be worried about right now is the fact that, if this fails, the entire planet’ll go up in smoke!
: The honor of the Skull Force is on the line here, so we will stabilize the Gravity Generator! Now man the hell up and show me that marine spirit!
: O-Oorah…!
: I can't hear you! Sound off like you got a pair!
: OORAAAH!!

*Beep.*

: This is the Gren Falcon Squad to the Ptolemaios and Elshank. Our ship will now engage the Gravity Plasma barrier field and break through the Gravity Curtain!
: Both ships are to take formation beside us, with the Ptolemaios engaging its GN Field to bolster our barrier.
: Roger that.
: Don’t screw things up, please. We’d take a real pummeling if you folks went down!
: We’ll watch your back once we’re in there, Lt. Yuki. I know you can do this.
: Y-Yes, ma’am! All my training has been in preparation for this day, so I promise I won’t disappoint!
: Hah, attagirl. Gravity Coil, charge! We’re going in!

*BOOM! Alarm!*

: Waaah!
: What happened?!
: Th-That was… We’re being shot at from the surface!
: From the surface?!
: Direct hit on the portside engine! It’s out of control! Preparing for emergency landing…!
: Lt, watch out!
: Wha—?!

*BOOM!*

: Urgh…!
: ?! Captain…!


Mission 9 – Death Caprice



: Argh… Th-This is…
: …
: Captain… Cpt. Scarlet!
: N-No… she shielded me…!
: This is the Ptolemaios speaking! Gren Falcon Squad, please respond! What’s your status?!
: Lt. Yuki here! Our carrier’s taken major damage and Cpt. Scarlet is gravely wounded! She needs urgent medical help!
: What did you say…?!





: Wh-What are those…?!





: Raaaaargh! Bow down before Lord Garan, Kiba’s whelps!
: Shut your trap and die, old man!





: Th-Those robots are fighting each other?!
: I don’t believe it… the civil war is still going twenty-eight years later?!
: Huuh?! Who’re those there?!
: Hmph… trespassers from the outside world? Great! Glory and riches’ll be ours once we bring back their heads!



: A-Aaaaaah!
: Shaff, are you all right?!
: Kch… They start shooting before even figuring out who we are?! These guys are crazy!
: We can’t take this much concentrated fire! Gameran, deploy Joe and the others!
: Th-The crash from the emergency landing has left our ship half-buried! We can’t launch them!
: Wh-Whaat?!
: Things are just as bad here! The hatch in the MS Deck isn’t opening!
: What, so our ships are now our giant coffins? You’ve gotta be kidding me.
: Repair teams are already working as fast as they can, but it’ll take several minutes before either ship can deploy troops!
: Several minutes?! Those creeps are rushing us down right NOW!



: …?! The Wingle…! Lt. Yuki, what’re you doing?!
: I’ll hold the enemy at bay! You go and get your ships operational again in the meantime!
: That’s insane! What do you think you can do against all those?!
: I know it’s insane, but it’s either this or us getting wiped out!
: Wingle, Tsubasa Yuki… engaging!
: Lt. Yuki!
: (Hold on, Captain…! I promise I’ll keep everyone safe with your Wingle!)


Kill everything, don’t lose any ships or Tsubasa. Unless you’ve really upgraded the Wingle, it’s far safer to hang back as Tsubasa getting mobbed is a quick way to get a game over. The Garan and Kiba forces will attack each other as well, and while losing out on money and kills isn’t the best, it’s the safest way to approach this mission – especially on a fresh game.

SRW UX - The Eternal Soldiers

: You won’t take any of my friends or Cpt. Scarlet’s lives on my watch!
: Women aren’t made to be warriors. You taking up a blade will do nothing but delay the inevitable!











Next turn…

: Haah… haah…
: (We need Lt. Yuki in order to stabilize the Gravity Generator. She’s too important to die here…!)

*Beep.*

: Saya, stay on this private channel. Can you still engage the Lepton Vectrers' synchro-overdrive?
: The Lepton Vectrers?! Major, are you—?!
: Yeah, I’ll use the Hell Stringer and warp the Orphes outside the ship!
: You can’t! Need I remind you that your body is already—
: I’m aware – now do it! Pressure set, safety lock released!

*Beep, beep.*

: Haah, haah… Just a bit more… I just need to buy them a little more time!



: …?!
: Heheheheh! You’re selling us short, babe!
: Your life is now mine!
: Kch…!
: Lt. Yuki, run!
: (Cpt. Scarlet… please lend me your strength!)



: Lt…?!
: DIIIIEEEEE!



: Huh…?!
: Th-The hell was that?!



SRW UX - Roaring Deathblow

: Haah, haah… I made it!
: That’s… Maj. Richard! How did he get outside?!
: (Does he have something akin to a Machina’s warp system…? No, that was…)
: (This reading… I saw this before, back at the Center City battle…)
: (Is the Riot’s Proton Generator resonating with the Major’s unit…?!)
: Ge-Generator inner pressure, all green… no abnormalities with the accelerated particles… Hrgh!
: Major…?!
: I-I’m fine…! Lt. Yuki and I’ll keep stalling the enemies while you folks sort things out!
: Can we still not deploy?!
: It’ll take just another two minutes!
: Work in progress! Work in progress!
: Please hurry…! Something is clearly wrong with him!
: (M-Make it work, guys… because I don’t think I’ll hold out for long…!)


Losing Richard’s also a game over. He’s come in with max morale, but almost no EN and SP, so don’t go crazy there either. Keep playing it safe for another two turns.

SRW UX - The Eternal Soldiers

: Hyaahahaha! A woman! We’ve got a woman here! Come and have some fun with me, girl!
: Underestimate me and you’ll be sorry! Cpt. Scarlet taught me how to fight and now you’ll see exactly what I can do!







SRW UX - Shadows that Rend Darkness

: Haah, haah… Come on… Hang in there for just a bit longer…!







Next turn…



: Aah?!There are so many of them…!
: Psh, the hell is this?! Some outsiders making a mess around my turf?! (Kiba)
: Looks like their boss is here…!
: I dunno who you’re with, but you ain’t leaving here with your life!



: H-Hrk…!
: Major…!
: Th-This is… pretty bad…! Argh…!
: Major! Stay strong, Major!
: HYAAHAHAHAHA! You’re done! DIIIIEEEEEEEEE!!



: Hrm…?!Wh-What?!



SRW UX - The Eternal Soldiers

: Gyaaaaaaaah! B-Boss, i-it’s that devil… the skull devil…!



: ?! “The skull devil”?!



: Heh… We come here looking for a good fight, and who do we find but little Yuki? (Kaido)
: Are you still alive in there, Yuki? (Magami)
: The Kaiser…! Lts. Kaido and Magami?!
: Do you know them, Lt. Yuki?
: Avatars of death and decay... Harvesters of skulls, Hades’ ferrymen…!
: They are the missing Death Caprice Squad, the ones WSO sent here a week ago…
: And that unit is Mazinkaiser - the devil!
: The devil… Mazinkaiser?!
: Here you are, Skull-face! Your head’s mine for the taking today!
: Didn’t learn your lesson last time, did ya, Kiba? Or are ya just that much of a masochist?!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeAu3FOqnlY

: Gwaaaaargh!
: Heheh, how’dya like that?!
: Switch out, Kaido. I can’t take any more of your clumsy attacks.
: Aaw, come on, Magami!
: Don’t pout. I’ll educate you on how a real professional does things.

*Switch!*

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fYIIefeDU4

: A-Argh…!
: This is how a professional fights.
: That unit switches fighting styles in relation to the pilot?!
: Heh, heheheh… Not bad, not bad, Skull-face! But the fun’s just getting started!



: Hmph, as strong as a bull, and about half as bright! Switch out, Magami!

*Switch!*

: Alright, come one, come all! There’s plenty for everyone!
: Every single one of you will get to see Hell up close. Because…
: We are Hell!


And don’t lose the Mazinkaiser SKL, either.


Mazinkaiser SKL (Ken Kaido, Ryo Magami)
Pilot Skills – Kaido:
Prevail L5
Support Attack L1
All Attack L1
Infight L1
Pilot Skills – Magami:
Prevail L5
Support Attack L1
All Attack L1
Gunfight L1
Spirit Commands – Kaido:
Guts
Invincible
Spirit Commands – Magami:
Sense
Focus
Iron Wall
Mech Features:
Sword/Gun
Switch Pilot
Squad Bonus: Mobility +5, Accuracy +5 (Mobility +20, Accuracy +20, Armor +125)
Kaido’s voice actor: Shintaro Asanuma (other roles: Toshikazu Asagi in MJP, Kyo Sogoru in Zegapain, Shulk in Xenoblade and several more)
Magami’s voice actor:Satoshi Hino (other roles: Sai in Naruto, Cyborg 004 in the Cyborg 009 movie and several more)

The SKL stands for SKULL. This Mazinkaiser is a lot more flexible than the other Mazingers we’ve dealt with in the past, and while it won’t get any game-breaking combination attacks, it’s still pretty dang powerful.
As you saw above, Kaido’s more of the standard Mazin pilot in that he’s melee and defense oriented, while Magami is, surprisingly, range and evasion specced. In fact, Magami has an Evasion stat on par with Alto.

As far as the bot itself goes, while the overall stats are the same between each mode, Kaido’s has a bit less range, chugs more EN and hits somewhat harder. Magami is the opposite: more range, cheaper attacks and is slightly weaker.
In truth, you can go with whichever you want, but the norm is usually to use Kaido for bosses and Magami to hunt mooks – when we eventually start facing Festum again, you want to dodge reliably. You don’t have to commit to one of them as your main pilot, mind, as upgrades and Skill Parts are all shared between Kaido and Magami, so you can switch out whenever.


SRW UX - The Eternal Soldiers

: And it’s showtime! Let’s see you dance!
: Impudent devil! On the honor of the Garan Forces, I’ll strike you down!







SRW UX - The Eternal Soldiers

: Curse your ill luck for running into me. Now, I’ve a question: where would you like to be shot?
: Whaat?! You sonuva…!



And, finally, the next turn over…



: The Ptolemaios has been repaired!
: The Elshank is also good to go, Sir Ylbora!
: Good. Then deploy the combat machines immediately!
: Finally, we can get out there!
: The enemy’s coming at us in pairs. We’ll form squadrons of our own and engage them on equal footing.
: Form squadrons…?
: I’ll take care of it this time. All units, team up with your assigned partner and set out to the battlefield!
: Yes, sir!



: Are you alright, Major?!
: I-I’d never buy the farm at a place like this, girl…!
: Elshank, please recover Maj. Richard!



: Both the Major and the wounded WSO soldiers have been brought aboard!
: Send a medical team to the hangar immediately!
: Ms. Saya, I know you might not be too confident in working with me… but I swear I’ll fight to the best of my ability!
: …
: … I’ll put my trust in you right now, Ensign Berge. Let’s go!
: We’ll repay these villains in full for all that abuse!
: Shangxiang, please, don’t go too far ahead! We must pool our strengths together!
: Hey, Hayase! You better not hold us back, ya hear?!
: Right back at you! Make sure you keep up with the Linebarrel!
: Oh, wow, I got paired with Moritsugu! Now I’m really raring to get going!
: Heh… I’m counting on you out here, Yamashita.
: Watch my back, alright, Rennie?
: Well, I am the only one who can keep you out of trouble! Don’t worry about a thing!
: Mike, if things start getting dicey, just give the word and I’ll switch to the front whenever!
: Hey, now, I’m a real man here! You know how pissed my bro’d get if I sent a girl out ahead?
: You go plowing the front-lines, Setsuna! I’ll hang back and start sniping stuff down!
: Roger that… Engaging the targets!
: You punks need a lesson in pain! I’ll kill the lot of you myself!
: Your main target’s that unit! Take out the leader and the remaining forces should scatter!
: Hahah… Sorry, folks, but you ain’t snagging my prey!


And, finally, now we just need to kill Kiba’s Bakuryuki. But he’s so far back that you might as well kill everything else as well.
Squads work the same way they did in L: you can have your main and sub unit attack their respective targets in the enemy squad, or converge on a single one. Or you can have only one attack, and the other defend, evade – keep that in mind when feeding kills to secret-relevant characters.
As for Squad Bonuses, each unit in a pair will share its bonus with the other, and vice-versa. For example, in Joe and Rennie’s group, they both have S ranks in Air and Earth due to each other’s bonuses. Certain features, like the regen from Repair/Resupply Modules, will also affect the partner.


SRW UX - Tales of Mirisha ~ The Brave Legend





SRW UX - Linebarrel







SRW UX - The Eternal Soldiers

: Don’t chicken out on me, now! Come and try taking the Kaiser’s head, why don’t ya?!
: Why, you! I’m gonna put you in your place, Skull-face!
: Hahaha, yeah, here we go! That’s the kinda attitude a fighting man’s gotta have!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bebY8Pleio

SRW UX - The Eternal Soldiers

: Bring it on already! I’ll trash every last one of you!
: Insolent whelp! Neither of you’ll be leaving here with your lives!



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZ7X7VmSpHo
Chain attacks are still in the game in the form of the All Attack skill, but now you’re no longer limited to C-Weapons. Any attack can chain, so long as the pilot has the skill and he’s running solo.

SRW UX - Love Survivor












Bakuryuki (Kiba)
Pilot Skills:
Prevail L3
Support Attack L1
All Attack L1
Mech Features:
Sword
All-Canceller
Kiba’s voice actor: Nobuyuki Hiyama (other roles: Gai in Gaogaigar, Haken in SRW OGs and EF, Shiro in 8th MS Team, Azrael in SEED and a ton more)

Bulky, bulky, bulky – Kiba’s got a ton of armor and defenses, so that 50k might just be enough for him to survive being killed in one round. All-Canceller means our debuffs won’t do jack, so you need to just throw whatever you can at him and start wearing the Bakuryuki down.
Its strongest attack is range 1-3, so try to attack from beyond that if you can. If you can’t down him in one round, that’s fine, as he’ll usually focus on high HP targets like the Kaiser and your ships – they can take the hit just fine.


SRW UX - Linebarrel

: You got the face of a demon, eh? Then get over here and show me what you got!
: Oh, I will! And what I’ve got is gonna blow your mind!









SRW UX - Love Survivor

: So this is their boss? It’s like I’m looking at an animal running wild!
: Works for me, ‘cause I can never get of enough of ripping zippy punks like you to shreds!





SRW UX - Future-Bound Fighting Spirit

: We didn’t come here to fight anyone, so why are you attacking us?! This whole thing is ridiculous!
: Hmm? “Why”?! Because it’s fun, crap for brains!







SRW UX - Shadows that Rend Darkness

: (I’ve to end this battle ASAP, or the Major’s body will…!)
: Heheheh, I see someone’s in a hurry! And that’s an express ticket to Hell in the battlefield!











SRW UX - The Eternal Soldiers

: HYAAHAHAHA! A woman?! You’re gonna try to take my head with those skinny arms?!
: Hrm… I won’t be beaten! Our defeat here would mean the end of the entire world!





SRW UX - Tales of Mirisha ~ The Brave Legend

: Heheheh… I don’t pull my punches even when I’m up against midgets!
: Yet another foul Shura who seeks nothing but battle?! You are as bad as Lu Bu!









SRW UX - Envoy from Jupiter

: You dare come waltzing into my turf?! That’s gonna be the last mistake of your life!
: It’s impossible to talk to this man… And, in that case, I’ll also show no mercy!













SRW UX - The Eternal Soldiers

: Hmhmhm… Yeah, this is it! I’ve been waiting for a battle like this!
: Think you can keep up with me, Skull-face?!
: Oh, boy, Kiba’s really let loose now!
: Heh… The three of us are men who only feel alive while fighting…
: So a friendly little fight to the death is right up our alley!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpCggE7Gmb0
Captions are available.
Our reward for beating him is a Kaido’s Hand-to-Hand Teachings (Melee +10, Defense and Evasion +5)


: Hrgh… If you think I’m going down from that, think again!

*Bloop.*

: B-Boss! The bulk of Garan’s army is on the move!
: What?! And Garan?! Is he coming over?!
: We’re pinging his mech! Looks like he is, yeah!
: Tsk, we could’ve rushed the Octagon if he’d just sit on his ass and watch things play out like he always does…!
: You guys lucked out – I’m letting you keep your sorry lives! If we meet again, though, you’re all dead! DEAD!



: The hell’s he smoking to take that kinda attitude? What a complete idiot.
: Hmph, look who’s talking…
: Eh? You wanna run that by me again?!
: Lt. Kaido, Lt. Magami! What has the Death Caprice Squad been doing this past week?!
: “What we’ve been doing”, she asks. What’s it look like?
: We all got dragged into this island’s war as soon as we arrived. Everyone but us is dead.
: Least it’s not a total loss like your Gren Falcon Squad, right?
: E-Excuse you! Cpt. Scarlet was wounded, but she’s still very much alive!
: What, she’s still kicking? Stubborn broad, that one.
: Wouldn’t you miss her angry shrieking if it was gone, though?
: Hah, maybe, maybe. Butch women like her ain’t too bad, I guess.

*Tweeep.*

: ?! This is…!
: Hm? What’s up, Setsuna?
: Something… Something’s headed this way!
: What was that?!



: That one? Is that the “devil from the outside” that Lady Aila spoke of? (Hurricane)
: It sure looks like it! But what about those other people? I’m sensing a very strong power coming from all of them – just like Shou's!
: Ch-Cham, wait! You can’t just fly outside like that! It’s dangerous! (Flash)
: Wh-What the?! There’s a tiny girl flying around that bot?!
: I-Is that a fairy…?
: Heheh, all Overworlders think “fairy” when they see their first Ferario!
: I’m Cham! Cham Fau, a Mi Ferario!
: “Overworlders”? “Ferario”? Everything you just said made absolutely no sense to me!
: We’ll explain everything soon. But know that we are not your enemies.
: We’d like to ask that you accompany us back to Lady Aila… to the Octagon.
: “Octagon”… That man we just fought also mentioned it…


Over by Garan’s castle, the boss man has heard of Kiba running off in a panic and he tells Himiko that that’s good enough. They’ll carry on observing how things progress and biding their time – impatience is the quickest way towards defeat in war, after all.
After a while, Garan asks what she thinks the outside world will be like: does she want it to be a land where they’ll all find peace, or one of endless strife? Honestly, all Himiko wants is to find out the truth about the world itself. The truth? “Why were we born? Where are we headed…? We might just be able to find some semblance of an answer when ‘Sleeping Beauty' awakens,” she ponders.
However, Garan’s vision, his dream, is one of a warrior: he’ll take up the burden of subjugating and restoring this hell on earth and, in due time, usher in a world of peace.


Location: Octagon – Aila’s Chamber

: So this is the Octagon…
: There’re only women in here… what a weird place.
: Oh? Do you have a problem with women?
: N-No, not at all… B-but please don’t hold me so close! Your boobs are…!
: Easy, cowboy. You’re gonna drool all over the floor!
: Hurricane, stop pestering our guests! (Misty)
: Ahaha… I’m just playing around!
: In any case, we’re all happy to have you at the Octagon. All these visitors from the outside have really helped liven up the place!
: By visitors from the outside, do you mean Cham as well?
: Yes, but there are also some machine-looking people, just like them.
: Your Highness, do you think she’s talking about us?
: “Gundam”, “machine-looking”… everyone keeps calling us nonsense, but do they care? Nope!
: But there’s no other way of putting it…
: Setsuna’s really gonna have to watch what he says around you folks, I think.
: ...
: Regardless, could people that look like us be…

: Ooh, the food is great, the girls are all so pretty… This is the good life, bro!
: …
: Am I imagining things, or did that voice sound very familiar…?
: Hey, you feel like staying here for good? Because I’d be 100% on board with that! (Zhang Fei)
: There you go, making inane suggestions again… Why can’t you stop and think for five seconds before opening your mouth? (Guan Yu)
: What’d you say there, furface?!
: Settle down, both of you! We must all… (Liu Bei)
: Liu Bei! Zhang Fei, Guan Yu!
: …?! Why, if it isn’t Sun Quan! What are you doing here…?!
: Liu Bei, Zhang Fei and Guan Yu… the protagonist of Romance of the Three Kingdoms and his sworn brothers finally step into the spotlight…
: Hmm. I presume you were also transported to this world from the Battle of Red Cliffs, yes?
: Ack! That feather fan, that serene attitude… It can’t be!
: A pleasure to meet you all. I am Zhuge Kongming, chief strategist of Liu Bei’s army. (A.k.a. Zhuge Liang)