is a shooting game developed by

Artdink is a Japanese developer of video games, based in Tsukishima, Tokyo. By far Artdink's biggest international success was the award-winning '' A-Train'' (known in Japan as '' A Ressha de Ikou'', or "Take the A-Train") strategy game released for t ...

for the

PlayStation Portable The PlayStation Portable (PSP) is a handheld game console developed and marketed by Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on December 12, 2004, in North America on March 24, 2005, and in PAL regions on September 1, 200 ...

. The game is based on Studio Nue's popular ''

Macross 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 t ...

'' series, one of which is known in the West as the first generation of ''

Robotech ''Robotech'' is a science fiction franchise that began with an 85-episode anime television series produced by Harmony Gold USA in association with Tatsunoko Production and first released in the United States in 1985. The show was adapted from ...

''. It features original elements as well as characters, mechanics, episode plots and BGM borrowed from 1982's ''

The Super Dimension Fortress 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 ...

'' original TV series, the 1994 '' Macross Plus'' OVA series, the 1994 ''

Macross 7 is an anime television series. It is a sequel to the show ''The Super Dimension Fortress Macross'' that takes place many years after the events of the first series following a cast of mostly new characters. The show ran from October 16, 1 ...

'' TV series and the 2008 '' Macross Frontier'' TV series, as well as incorporating more elements from the 1984 '' Macross: Do You Remember Love?'' feature film and the 2002 prequel OVA series ''

Macross Zero is an anime prequel OVA to ''The Super Dimension Fortress Macross'' released for the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the ''Macross'' franchise during 2002 in Japan. It was created and directed by Shoji Kawamori and produced by Satel ...

''.

Gameplay

It is a 3D shooter action game with multiplayer capability (1 - 4 Players) over the PSP ''ad hoc'' feature. It features various characters and mecha from the last 25 years of the series, ranging from the VF-1 Valkyrie up to the most recent

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 fl ...

craft in the ''Macross'' universe, including the VF-25 Messiah and also featuring the VF-0, the VF-19 Custom Fire Valkyrie as well as various enemy class mecha from Zentradi, Varauta, Anti-UN and Vajra
/sup> forces. The game was developed using the '' Gundam Battle (series), Gundam Battle'' engine. The game allows single player and four-player network modes. Single mode includes Campaign and Freeplay. Network mode can be played

ad hoc Ad hoc is a Latin phrase meaning literally 'to this'. In English, it typically signifies a solution for a specific purpose, problem, or task rather than a generalized solution adaptable to collateral instances. (Compare with '' a priori''.) C ...

with up to four players, and it is compatible with ''adhoc Party for PlayStation Portable'' beta version for

PlayStation Network PlayStation Network (PSN) is a digital media entertainment service provided by Sony Interactive Entertainment. Launched in November 2006, PSN was originally conceived for the PlayStation video game consoles, but soon extended to encompass smar ...

. Gallery mode gathers unlockable collectible items such as character profiles (with voice preview), mecha profiles (with 3D model preview), pictures and songs.

Sequels

The success of ''Macross Ace Frontier'' resulted in a sequel called ''Macross Ultimate Frontier''. The six ''Macross'' installments included in ''Ace Frontier'' are also supplemented in the sequel by ''Dynamite 7'' and ''

Macross II is a six episode OVA in the '' Macross'' franchise. It was the first installment of ''Macross'' to feature a new cast of characters. ''Macross II'' was produced by Big West, with no involvement from the original series creators from Stud ...

''. The game also features playable mecha from the videogames ''Macross Digital Mission VF-X2'' and ''Macross M3''. New game elements include additional variable fighters, a "Missile Alert" system, new pilot and operator characters created exclusively for the game by ''Macross'' character designer

Haruhiko Mikimoto is a Japanese anime character designer, illustrator and manga artist. Mostly active during the 1980s, during that decade he rose to prominence and is considered one of the top character designers of his time. He graduated from Keio University ...

, and special missions as they were played out in their respective series, including those from the antagonists' point of view. The loading screens also feature screenshots from all ''Macross'' installments. ''Ultimate Frontier'' was released in October 2009 in Japan. The game is available in standard and limited versions. The latter features a preview of the first ''Macross Frontier'' movie (being released in Japan on November 21, 2009), a UMD which features all the opening and end titles from all the Macross titles released so far and an interview with ''Macross'' creator

Shoji Kawamori A is a door, window or room divider used in traditional Japanese architecture, consisting of translucent (or transparent) sheets on a lattice frame. Where light transmission is not needed, the similar but opaque ''fusuma'' is used (oshiire/ ...

. A sequel called ''Macross Triangle Frontier'' was released on February 3, 2011 in Japan for the PSP. It was also developed by Artdink and published by Bandai Namco and used the Gundam Battle engine. There are two modes in the game, "Campaign Mode" and "Academy Mode". Some missions have lower difficulties or changed scenarios.

References

External links

Official website
{{Macross series 2008 video games Artdink games Bandai Namco games Japan-exclusive video games Macross video games Multiplayer and single-player video games PlayStation Portable games PlayStation Portable-only games Video games developed in Japan