is a

shooting game Shooter video games, or shooters, are a subgenre of action video games where the focus is on the defeat of the character's enemies using ranged weapons given to the player. Usually these weapons are firearms or some other long-range weapons, an ...

developed by

Artdink is a Japanese video game developer based in Tsukishima, Tokyo. While Artdink had released a large variety of games, they are best known in Japan for the '' A-Train'' series. They are closely associated with Sony Computer Entertainment since t ...

for the

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

. The game is based on

Studio Nue Studio Nue, Inc. () is a Japanese design studio formed in 1972 (as Crystal Art Studio) by Naoyuki Kato, Kenichi Matsuzaki, Kazutaka Miyatake, and Haruka Takachiho. Crystal Art Studio would change their name to Studio Nue in 1974. They were know ...

'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 an American-Japanese science fiction Media franchise, franchise that began with an 85-episode anime television series produced by Harmony Gold USA in association with Tatsunoko Production; it was first released in the United St ...

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

The Super Dimension Fortress Macross is a Japanese science fiction anime television series. It is the first part of the ''Super Dimension'' trilogy and the ''Macross'' franchise. The series aired in Japan from October 1982 to June 1983. According to story creator Shoji Kawam ...

'' original TV series, the 1994 ''

Macross Plus is a four-episode anime Original video animation, OVA and theatrical movie in the ''The Super Dimension Fortress Macross, Macross'' series. It was the first sequel to the original ''Macross'' television series that took place in the official ...

'' 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, ...

'' TV series and the 2008 ''

Macross Frontier is a Japanese anime television series and the third Japanese anime television series set in the ''Macross'' universe. It was broadcast on MBS from April 4, 2008 to September 26, 2008. ''Macross Frontier'' is the story of a human spa ...

'' 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 Satelig ...

''.

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 In the ''Super Dimension Fortress Macross, Macross'' Japanese anime series and its English adaptation ''Robotech'', the first mass production, mass-produced transforming aerospace fighter aircraft, fighter mecha is called the VF-1 Valkyrie. The ...

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 modified during flight, swept back and then returned to its previous straight position. Because it allows the aircraft's shape to ...

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 The are a fictional alien race of militaristic giants. They are antagonists in the ''Macross'' franchise and its ''Robotech'' adaptation. It is transliterated as "Zentradi", "Zjentohlauedy", "Zentrady", and "Zentraedi" for the Japanese ''Macro ...

, 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 List of Latin phrases, Latin phrase meaning literally for this. In English language, English, it typically signifies a solution designed for a specific purpose, problem, or task rather than a Generalization, generalized solution ...

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 smartp ...

. 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 Studio N ...

''. 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

Shōji Kawamori is a Japanese animation creator and producer, screenwriter, visual artist, and mecha designer. He is best known for creating the ''Macross'' mecha anime, mecha animated franchise and the ''Diaclone'' toyline, which were in turn the basis for t ...

. 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