is a Japanese

video game Video games, also known as computer games, are electronic games that involves interaction with a user interface or input device such as a joystick, controller, keyboard, or motion sensing device to generate visual feedback. This fee ...

developer that is known for its very unusual and inventive control and gameplay mechanics. The company was founded in March 2001 and is composed of former employees from

Human Entertainment was a Japanese video game developer and publisher founded in 1983. The company produced games for a number of platforms, including home consoles, portable consoles, and personal computers. Human declared bankruptcy in 2000 and disbanded. Its for ...

Games developed

PlayStation 2

2001 * '' Tekkōki Mikazuki Trial Edition'' Published by

Media Factory , formerly is a Japanese publisher and brand company of Kadokawa Future Publishing. History It was founded on December 1, 1986, and its headquarters are situated in Shibuya, Tokyo. It is a subsidiary of Recruit Co., Ltd. Media Factory was possi ...

only in Japan 2002 * '' Gigantic Drive'' Published by

Enix was a Japanese video game publisher that produced video games, anime and manga. Enix is known for publishing the ''Dragon Quest'' series of role-playing video games. The company was founded by Yasuhiro Fukushima on September 22, 1975, as . Th ...

, known in North America as ''

Robot Alchemic Drive ''Robot Alchemic Drive'', also known as ''R.A.D.'', and known in Japan as is a PlayStation 2 video game developed by Sandlot and published by Enix. It was released in Japan and North America. In the game the player controls a giant robot called ...

'' 2003 * ''Simple 2000 series Vol. 31: The Chikyū Bōeigun'' (''Earth Defense Force'') Published by

D3 Publisher is a Japanese video game developer and publisher founded on February 5, 1992. The company is known for the ''Simple'' series of budget-priced video games. Their games have been released for the Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS, Ni ...

, known in Europe as '' Monster Attack'' 2004 * ''

Tetsujin 28-go , known as simply ''Tetsujin 28'' in international releases, is a 1956 manga written and illustrated by Mitsuteru Yokoyama, who also created '' Giant Robo''. The series centers on the adventures of a young boy named Shotaro Kaneda, who ...

'' Published by

Bandai is a Japanese multinational toy manufacturer and distributor headquartered in Taitō, Tokyo. Its international branches, Bandai Namco Toys & Collectables America and Bandai UK, are respectively headquartered in Irvine, California and Richmond ...

only in Japan 2005 * ''Simple 2000 series Vol. 81: The Chikyū Bōeigun 2'' (''Earth Defense Force 2'') Published by

, known in Europe as '' Global Defence Force''

Nintendo DS

2006 * is a

mecha In science fiction, or mechs are giant robots or machines controlled by people, typically depicted as humanoid walking vehicles. The term was first used in Japanese after shortening the English loanword or , but the meaning in Japanese is ...

video game published by Nintendo only in Japan. Popular Japanese singer and voice actor

Ichirou Mizuki , better known by his stage name , was a Japanese singer, lyricist, composer, voice actor and actor best known for his work on theme songs for anime and tokusatsu. For over 50 years, he had recorded over 1,200 songs for Japanese film, televisio ...

sung its song heard in the game's Japanese television commercials and trailer. : The player uses the stylus to manipulate a Marionation Gear (MG) on the battlefield. MGs are giant mechas that have been developed from

marionette A marionette (; french: marionnette, ) is a puppet controlled from above using wires or strings depending on regional variations. A marionette's puppeteer is called a marionettist. Marionettes are operated with the puppeteer hidden or revealed ...

s. The touch screen shows a control panel which varies depending on which MG the player is operating. Actions are performed using the touch screen. They include shooting, jumping, swinging a mecha's arm or close-range weapon, changing form, shooting projectiles, etc. There are more than 100 mechas, some of which are able to transform from a vehicle form to a robot form and vice versa, similar to piloted robots from many Japanese television shows. : The gameplay of ''Chōsōjū Mecha MG'' is split into a series of over 120 missions, which can range from defeating enemy robots to winning first place in a race. Outside of battle, MGs can be purchased from various shops, and equipped with status boosting items. : In the 2008 crossover fighting game, ''

Super Smash Bros. Brawl ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'' is a 2008 crossover fighting video game developed by Sora Ltd. and published by Nintendo for the Wii. The third installment in the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series, it was announced at a pre-E3 2005 press conferenc ...

'', 3 Marionation Gears, which are the Warrior Mech Gauss, HM Mech Rosa, and Musketeer Daltania, appear as trophies and stickers. The

Beetle Beetles are insects that form the order Coleoptera (), in the superorder Endopterygota. Their front pair of wings are hardened into wing-cases, elytra, distinguishing them from most other insects. The Coleoptera, with about 400,000 describ ...

-like MG, Ningyou Kouchuu Viigaru, appears only as a sticker in ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl''. A remix titled "Marionation Gear" plays on a stage called Norfair, which is an area from the '' Metroid'' series, in ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl''. "Marionation Gear" returns in ''

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and (colloquially and collectively referred to as ''Super Smash Bros. 4'' or ''Smash 4'') is a group of two 2014 crossover fighting video games developed by Bandai Namco Studios and Sora Ltd. and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS ...

'' on the same stage. Gauss also appears as a spirit in ''

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate'' is a 2018 crossover fighting video game developed by Bandai Namco Studios and Sora Ltd. and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch. It is the fifth installment in the '' Super Smash Bros.'' series, succeed ...

'', with the song "Marionation Gear" returning as well, but this time it can only be played in stages not associated to any fighter.

Xbox 360

2006 * '' Chikyū Bōeigun 3'' (''Earth Defense Force 3'') Published by

, known in North America and Europe as ''

Earth Defense Force 2017 ''Earth Defense Force 2017'' is a third-person shooter developed by Sandlot, and published by D3 Publisher, for the Xbox 360. It is the follow-up to '' Global Defence Force'', and is the first game in the '' Earth Defense Force'' series (as well a ...

'' 2013 * '' Chikyū Bōeigun 4'' (''Earth Defense Force 4'') Published by

, known in North America and Europe as '' Earth Defense Force 2025''

Wii

2010 * '' Zangeki no Reginleiv'' Published by Nintendo only in Japan

PlayStation Portable

2011 * '' Chikyū Bōeigun 2 Portable'' (''Earth Defense Force 2 Portable'') Published by

only in Japan

PlayStation Vita

2012 * '' Chikyū Bōeigun 3 Portable'' (''Earth Defense Force 3 Portable'') Published by

, known in North America and Europe as '' Earth Defense Force 2017 Portable'' 2014 * '' Chikyū Bōeigun 2 Portable V2'' (''Earth Defense Force 2 Portable V2'') Published by

, known in North America and Europe as '' Earth Defense Force 2: Invaders from Planet Space''

PlayStation 3

2013 * '' Chikyū Bōeigun 4'' (''Earth Defense Force 4'') Published by

, known in North America and Europe as '' Earth Defense Force 2025''

PlayStation 4

2015 * '' Chikyū Bōeigun 4.1: The Shadow of New Despair'' (''Earth Defense Force 4.1: The Shadow of New Despair'') Published by

2017 * '' Chikyū Bōeigun 5'' (''Earth Defense Force 5'') Published by

Windows

2016 * '' Chikyū Bōeigun 4.1: The Shadow of New Despair'' (''Earth Defense Force 4.1: The Shadow of New Despair'') Published by

2019 * '' Chikyū Bōeigun 5'' (''Earth Defense Force 5'') Published by

Nintendo Switch

2021 * '' Chikyū Bōeigun 2'' (''Earth Defense Force 2'') Published by

only in Japan * '' Chikyū Bōeigun 3'' (''Earth Defense Force 3'') Published by

only in Japan

Notes

References

External links

*
Sandlot profile
at MobyGames

at GameFAQs.

at IGN. {{Authority control Japanese companies established in 2001 Video game companies established in 2001 Video game companies of Japan Video game development companies