Macross Games for Dreamcast?

[baronv]

Are there any import Macross games that will play on a U.S. version of the Dreamcast?

[Graham]

Only one Japanese Macross game was ever made for the Dreamcast, which was 'Macross M3'.

As to whether it will play on a US Dreamcast, I've no idea as my Dreamcast is an Asian version.

Anyway, M3, is widely regarded as being a very bad game with poor gameplay.

On the positive side, it has an excellent opening movie and intro song, a fairly interesting story, which provides more background information on what Max and Milia were doing during the period after Space War One, but before Macross 7.

Unless you are really a hardcore collector that must own every Macross game, I would avoid this one and pick up the far superior new Macross game for the PS2, or even the older VF-X2 or Macross Plus Game Edition for the Playstation, which are far superior to M3 IMO.

Graham

[jwinges]

I have M3 and didn't mind it. It works on a US dreamcast with a boot disk. Gameplay is rough but not horrible. I beat the game in about 2 hours. I wouldn't spend more than $20 on it though. I spent $22 shipped off ebay. Biggest problem with it is that you can't really follow the story line since it diverges quite a lot from the anime.

[Graham]

Biggest problem with it is that you can't really follow the story line since it diverges quite a lot from the anime.

Not sure what you mean when you say you can't follow the story of M3 as it diverges from the anime?

IMO, the story of M3 is pretty easy to follow and doesn't really contradict anything from the various Macross animes, as it is set in the period 2014 to 2030, i.e. after the events of Space War One and FB2012, but before the events in Macross Plus and Macross 7. In fact M3 ties in nicely with some of the events mentioned in Macross 7, such as Milia being the Eagle Nest Aerial Tactics Center instructor, which is shown in Macross 7.

Anyway, for those of you not familiar with the story of M3, here's what the Macross Compendium has to say: -

2014

United Nations Forces dispatch Maximilian Jenius and Milia Fallyna Jenius aboard the UN Forces cruiser Algenicus to form the Dancing Skull special forces team and combat internal revolts and conflicts.

M3 Episode 1 Aerial Dance [interception]. Battle of New Alabama Lake. The Dancing Skull special forces team intercept an enemy aerial unit attacking a UN Spacy replenishment base and a spy piloting a captured VF-4 Lightning III on the planet Neo York.

2018

M3 Episode 2 Dancing Tightrope [Annihilation]. Battle of New Nile Weaponry Base. The Dancing Skull special forces team assaults the New Nile weaponry base and encounter a Zentradi Variable Glaug on the planet Cristrania.

2020

M3 Episode 3 Escort of Visitor. Operation Escort VF-5000. The Dancing Skull special forces team escort the Shinsei Industry VF-5000 being tested aboard the UN Forces cruiser Algenicus over the planet Neo York. The Free York Liberation League launches two attacks to capture the VF-5000.

2022

M3 Episode 4 Black Celebration. Invasion of the Secret Relics Base. The Dancing Skull special forces team destroy an abandoned UN Forces biological weapons research base at the site of Protoculture ruins on the planet New Asia, after the base is deemed a biohazard.

2028

M3 Episode 5 Feast of Sandstorm [Defensive]. Battle of the Weapons Research Plant. The Dancing Skull special forces team protect the weapons research plant on the planet Susia from Zentradi guerilla land units and aerial bomber formation. Major Maximilian Jenius appointed as ship captain of the stealth space cruiser Haruna.

2029

M3 Episode 6 Fire Carnival [interception]. Battle at [Dahan's] Satellite Orbit. The Dancing Skull special forces team intercept an space unit and two Zentradi Variable Glaugs from a warship of the Zentradi terrorist organization Struggle in orbit over the planet Dahan. Captain Milia Jenius appointed as Eagle Nest Aerial Tactics Center instructor.

2030 April

M3 Episode 7 Devil Gate Drive. United Nations Government Chairperson Rescue Operation. Maximilian Jenius and Milia Fallyna Jenius temporarily rejoin the Dancing Skull special forces team with Moaramia Fallyna Jenius.

The Dancing Skull special forces team rescue United Nations Government Chairperson Lawrence Yun Kemal, being held hostage by anti-United Nations forces with two shield-enhanced Destroid Monsters on the planet Bellfan.

During the operation, the prototype YF-11s [also known as VFX-11s] are introduced into actual combat for the first time.

M3 Episode 8 Dancing Skull [interception]. Battle Over Susia. The Dancing Skull special forces team intercept two aerial attacks on the United Nations headquarters on the planet Susia, including one by three unidentified Zentradi combining units. After the completion of the operation, the two [Jeniuses] are granted special leave.

Graham

[Jolly Rogers]

Whoa, thanks for the very informative post Graham!

[Graham]

One of the biggest problems with gameplay in M3 is battroid mode, as the turning speed is so slow. IIRC, it's a little bit faster if you boost while turning, but not much.

I liked the idea of the giant bugs and they looked awesome in the opening movie. However, in the game the flying bugs were so disappointing and looked like giant fat Bumble Bees, no resemblance to the bugs in the opening movie!

Also, IIRC there was a stage were you have to shoot down two bombers. This was very bad as the bombers were just stationery in the air and it was as if your Vak were attached to a peice of string flying between the two bombers.

Graham