''The Super Dimension Fortress Macross'' is a 3D shooting game based on the animated science fiction series of the same name and released in October 2003 in Japan for the

PlayStation 2 The PlayStation 2 (PS2) is a home video game console developed and marketed by Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on 4 March 2000, in North America on 26 October 2000, in Europe on 24 November 2000, and in Australia on ...

console.Sony PlayStation 2 Compatible DVD-ROM Video Game. ''The Super Dimension Fortress Macross''. SLPM-65405. Sega AM2/Bandai. Japan. Y6800. 2003, October 23
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Production

The game was produced by Bandai and created by the

Sega AM2 previously known as is a video game development team within the Japanese multinational video game developer Sega. Yu Suzuki, who had previously developed arcade games for Sega including '' Hang-On'' and ''Out Run'', was the first manager of t ...

team that programmed

Aero Dancing ''AeroWings'', known in Japan as , is a flight simulator for Sega's Dreamcast video game console. The player can train with squads, learn the ropes of handling the aircraft, and doing tricks after mastering the different stunts. The difference b ...

. The game features a blend of arcade shooting and aerial combat similar to the ''

Ace Combat is an arcade-style combat flight simulation video game franchise published by Bandai Namco Entertainment, formerly Namco. Debuting in 1995 with '' Air Combat'' for the PlayStation, the series includes eight mainline installments, multiple spi ...

'' series.

Gameplay

In the game players play through the events of either the television animated series or the movie. In the longer yet less difficult TV series version of events, players take the pilot role of Skull Seven (スカル７番機 ''Sukaru Nanabanki'') who is then promoted to command of the Purple Team as Purple Leader. In the shorter yet more difficult movie route, the character is referred to as Skull Seven (スカル・セブン ''Sukaru Sebun'') and later on as Apollo Leader. In both versions, the player's wingmen are two original characters named ''Eddie Juutilainen'' and ''Bruce Rudel''. In addition, another original character called ''Emma Granger'' acts as the team's tactical officer from aboard the bridge of the

SDF-1 Macross is an anime television series from 1982. According to story creator Shoji Kawamori, it depicts "a love triangle against the backdrop of great battles" during the first Human-alien war. It is the first part of two franchises: The ''Super D ...

. The player's character in the game is unnamed. This character never utters a word and his face is never seen during any of both the TV and movie paths of the entire game. Other differences between routes include the armament of the

VF-1 Valkyrie In the fictional ''Macross'' Japanese anime series and its English adaptation ''Robotech'', the first mass-produced transforming aerospace fighter mecha is called the VF-1 Valkyrie. The VF-1 Valkyrie is referred to as a "variable fighter" in '' ...

variable fighter A variable-sweep wing, colloquially known as a "swing wing", is an airplane wing, or set of wings, that may be swept back and then returned to its original straight position during flight. It allows the aircraft's shape to be modified in fli ...

s (the later upgrades used in the movie route are more well equipped), boss fights (the only constant is a duel with

Milia A milium (''plural'' milia), also called a milk spot or an oil seed, is a clog of the eccrine sweat gland. It is a keratin-filled cyst that can appear just under the epidermis or on the roof of the mouth.Freedberg, et al. (2003). ''Fitzpatrick's ...

, a

Zentradi The are a fictional, militaristic race of alien, humanoid giants and often the main antagonist in '' Macross'' media mix and its '' Robotech'' (1985) cartoon adaptation. It is transliterated as Zentradi, Zjentohlauedy, Zentrady, and Zentraedi ...

Meltrandi is a Japanese science fiction mecha anime media franchise/media mix, created by Studio Nue (most prominently mecha designer, writer and producer Shōji Kawamori) and Artland in 1982. The franchise features a fictional history of Earth and ...

ace pilot), and the song that pop idol

Lynn Minmay Lynn Minmay ( Japanese: リン・ミンメイ ''Rin Minmei'', Chinese: 鈴明美 / 林明美 ''Líng Míngměi / Lín Míngměi'') is a fictional anime character from the '' Super Dimension Fortress Macross'' television series and '' Macross: D ...

sings during the final battle. In the course of the game, players will occasionally encounter characters from the series, such as receiving briefings from

Roy Focker The following is a list of all the fictional characters within the ''Macross'' anime franchise. ''The Super Dimension Fortress Macross'' Humans * Hikaru Ichijyo ( Arihiro Hase and Kenji Nojima/Vic Mignogna)The Super Dimension Fortress Macross ...

or duelling with

Quamzin Kravshera The following is a list of all the character (arts), fictional characters within the ''Macross'' anime franchise. ''The Super Dimension Fortress Macross'' Humans * Hikaru Ichijyo (Arihiro Hase and Kenji Nojima/Vic Mignogna)The Super Dimension ...

References

2003 video games PlayStation 2 games PlayStation 2-only games Japan-exclusive video games Video games developed in Japan Video games scored by Kentarō Haneda {{flightsim-videogame-stub