A review of the game adaptation of the classic robot anime "UFO Robo Grendizer: Even If My Life is Dying!

Based on the classic robot animation "UFO Robot Grendizer" from the 1970s! You can't take your eyes off of this exciting story filled with turmoil!

UFO Robo Grendizer: Even If My Life is Dying" is an action adventure game based on the TV anime "UFO Robo Grendizer". UFO Robo Grendizer" is a robot animation based on the original story by Go Nagai, the creator of "Mazinger Z," "Devilman" and "Cutie Honey," which was broadcast from 1975 to 1977. Such "UFO Robot Grendizer" will be broadcast as a TV anime "Grendizer II" in the summer of this year 2024. This reboot after a lapse of about 50 years is attracting a high level of attention.

I must confess that I was not familiar with the TV anime "UFO Robot Grendizer" until I played this work, partly because I am not from the same generation. However, as it turns out, this title is enjoyable even for players like myself who are not familiar with the original work. So, let us start with the story of this work.

The story takes place on the planet Freed, which was destroyed by the M. Bison Star Alliance. Duke Freed, a prince of the planet Freed who escaped to Earth, is rescued by Genzo Umon, the head of the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, and begins to live as an Earthling, Daisuke Umon.

However, his peaceful life is short-lived when the M. Bison Star Confederacy attacks Earth as well. ...... Daisuke Umon rides Grendizer, the guardian god of the planet Freed, hidden deep underground in the research center, and confronts the evil robots and saucer beasts to protect the earth.

The story of this film, which is a series of turbulent and exciting developments, is built around the story of the first half of the "UFO Robot Grendizer" anime series. The story is based on the first half of the "UFO Robo Grendizer" anime series, and the dialogue scenes are faithfully reproduced from Go Nagai's original work, making the player feel as if he or she is in the anime and reliving the story. Although the game is developed by a French game studio, the characters are voiced in Japanese, and the story is told by the lively voices of Duke and other characters.

In addition to the story, what I particularly liked was the music. The theme music of the anime "UFO Robot Grendizer" by Shunsuke Kikuchi was arranged and used as the game's background music. This BGM is very hot, and it really gets the player's heart pumping. The BGM is sure to appeal not only to fans of the original work, but also to those who do not know the original work.

Realistic 3D action!　Defeat your enemies with a variety of attacks such as the daiser punch and shoulder boomerang!

The main part of the game is the 3D action part from the third-person perspective. In this part, the player controls Grendizer and explores the field, defeating enemies and clearing missions. The vast field contains trees, rocky mountains, rivers, railroad tracks, and buildings, giving the player a sense of the scale of the giant robot Grendizer, as well as the feeling of "controlling a giant robot with your own hands. The controller also vibrates when dashing, giving the player a sense of the weight of the giant robot, and it is fun to feel as if you are actually on board Grendizer.

Grendizer has a wide range of attack methods. In addition to the basic melee attacks, Grendizer can launch a variety of other attacks, including the "Daiser Punch," which launches its fists like rockets; the "Shoulder Boomerang," which uses the crescent-shaped blades on each shoulder to fire with great force; the "Double Harken," a two-headed sickle; and the "Anti-Gravity Storm," a beam of light shot out from its chest. The game seems to offer a greater variety of attacks than most action games, and it takes some time to learn them, but I personally feel that the many unique attack methods, coupled with the voice acting that shouts out the names of the techniques when attacking, gives the impression that this is a "robot game only" and helps immerse the player in the worldview.

One might think that the wide variety of attacks would make the controls complicated, but in fact this is not the case.

Some techniques require a gauge, so you can't just use anything you want. Gauges are accumulated by fighting enemies, so it is necessary to manage the gauges. This element of juggling gauges adds just the right amount of spice to the game, making it a challenging game to play.

Grendizer can also use its gauge to "repair itself" and regain strength.
There is no limit to the number of times it can repair itself, and as long as the gauge is available, it can be performed as many times as necessary, allowing the player to continue playing without being easily knocked down even when attacked by enemies. However, it should be noted that it takes a certain amount of time for the self-repair to start and for the player's strength to recover. If you use it while surrounded by enemies, you will be attacked before the self-repair is complete, so you need to use techniques such as keeping a good distance from the enemy before using it or using Anti-Gravity Storm to stop the enemy's movement.

Some of the enemies have special characteristics that make them difficult to deal with. For example, some of them can only be damaged by certain types of attacks, such as punches and Double Harken, while others can only be attacked if their shields are deactivated by the Anti-Gravity Storm. You cannot win by hitting a series of one-patterned attacks. I felt that these mechanisms made the game more challenging as an action game.

The game also has a skill tree that can be used to enhance and develop skills. The player can upgrade Grendizer's various equipment using materials obtained by defeating enemies or destroying objects in the field.

The enhancement patterns are not limited to simply increasing the power of the weapon; some enhancements have special effects, such as a shoulder boomerang that can defeat enemies without armor, or an anti-gravity storm that lengthens the duration of the enemy's hardening period after hitting it.

New techniques can also be learned using materials. I personally recommend the " Hand Beam," which can be released by evading an enemy's attack just before it hits, not only because it is a powerful counterattack, but also because it is very pleasurable to play when it is executed well.

At any rate, there is no doubt that strengthening the character will help you win battles, so go ahead and collect materials and strengthen the character as much as you can.

Not only action! You can also enjoy two types of shooting parts: 3D and overlooking.

The main part of the game is 3D action using Grendizer, but there is also a shooting part in this game. In this part, you control Grendizer, which is docked with a disk-shaped support unit called "Spazer. The screen is a 3D shooter that scrolls toward the back of the screen, and its screen structure, combined with the sense of speed, creates an immersive experience that will make you move your body.

In this part of the game, the player shoots down enemies by using the "spin drill" and "spin saucer" attacks while avoiding enemy attacks. In addition, as you attack enemies and build up your gauge, you can unleash a powerful attack called the "Melt Shower," which you will want to fire when the moment is right. The spacer is damaged not only by enemies and their attacks, but also by approaching meteorites, cliffs on either side, and other terrain and obstacles, so it must be carefully avoided. If you are too late to avoid an obstacle by moving normally, you can press the "Emergency Evade" button to quickly avoid the obstacle while spinning around, so use this function as well as the attack.

There is also a 2D shooter part in which you control a disk-shaped mecha called TFO. This part is a so-called "barrage shooter" style. In this part as well, players must use emergency evasion to avoid attacks as they progress. It is quite a greedy specification to be able to enjoy not only 3D action but also two different types of shooting in a single title.

UFO Robo Grendizer: Even If My Life is Dying" is a game that can be recommended not only to fans of the original work, but also to a wide range of people!

So, here are our first impressions of "UFO Robo Grendizer: Even if My Life is Dying". The game has a lot to offer, from the immersive 3D action that makes you feel as if you are piloting the giant robot Grendizer, to the two different shooting parts, to the exciting storyline, BGM, and voice acting.

As mentioned at the beginning of this article, a reboot anime will be broadcast this year, so those who have not seen the original may want to prepare for the reboot anime by playing this title. This work is recommended for a wide range of players, including not only fans of the original work, but also robot animation fans, retro animation fans, 3D action fans, and shooting game fans.

• Title Information
• UFO Robo Grendizer: Even If My Life is Dying" (3goo)
• Genre: Action/Adventure
• Release date: April 18, 2024
• Price: Normal Edition: 5,800 yen (excluding tax) Collector's Edition: 7,980 yen (excluding tax)
• # #Go Nagai/Dynamic

©Go Nagai/Dynamic Planning ©Dynamic Planning, TOEI ANIMATION

UFO ROBOT GRENDIZER - THE FEAST OF THE WOLVES.

Produced and Published by Microids. Additional development by Microids Studio Paris.

Published and Distributed by 3goo K.K. in Japan.