Editing Tech Romancer

{{Short description|1998 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
|title=Tech Romancer
|image=DreamcastTR.jpg
|developer=[[Capcom]]
|publisher=Capcom<br>'''Dreamcast'''{{vgrelease|[[Japan|JP]] / [[North America|NA]]|[[Capcom]]|PAL|[[Virgin Interactive]]}}
|designer=
|composer=Yuki Iwai
|release='''Arcade'''<br />{{vgrelease|JP|September 1998|NA|November 1998<ref>{{cite book |last=Akagi |first=Masumi |date=October 13, 2006 |url=https://archive.org/details/ArcadeGameList1971-2005/page/n113/mode/2up |title=アーケードTVゲームリスト国内•海外編(1971–2005) |trans-title=Arcade TV Game List: Domestic • Overseas Edition (1971–2005) |language=ja |publisher=Amusement News Agency |location=Japan |isbn=978-4990251215 |page=113 |accessdate=November 30, 2024}}</ref>}}'''Dreamcast'''<br />{{vgrelease|JP|January 13, 2000|NA|June 15, 2000<ref>{{cite web |last=Gantayat |first=Anoop |date=June 15, 2000 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/06/16/tech-romancer-ships |title=Tech Romancer Ships |website=[[IGN]] |publisher=[[Ziff Davis]] |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190906152145/https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/06/16/tech-romancer-ships |archivedate=September 6, 2019 |url-status=live |accessdate=October 19, 2023}}</ref>|EU|July 7, 2000|JP|January 18, 2001<small> (for Matching Service)</small>}}
|genre=[[Fighting game|Fighting]]
|modes=[[Single-player video game|Single-player]], [[Multiplayer video game|multiplayer]]
|arcade system=Sony ZN-2
|platforms=[[Arcade game|Arcade]], [[Dreamcast]]
}}

{{Nihongo foot|'''''Tech Romancer'''''|超鋼戦紀キカイオー|Chōkō Senki Kikaiō|"Chronicle of Super Steel Warrior Kikaioh"|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} is a 1998 3D [[Fighting game|fighting]] [[arcade game]] by [[Capcom]] that draws heavily from the various subgenres of [[mecha anime]]. It was later ported to the [[Dreamcast]] console. The player controls a giant robot which is used to fight another robot in one-on-one combat. [[Studio Nue]] designed the robots in this game.

==Story==
The setting of ''Tech Romancer'' takes place in a far future of Earth, where advanced technology have made things calm and decent for the citizens of Japan and the rest of the world. However, the peace doesn't last long as an evil alien tyrant named Goldibus invades the planet with its loyal followers and seeks to conquer the world while enslaving the human race with an emotionless iron fist. An unlikely group of heroes band together to fight against the threat of Goldibus with their own unique mecha robots and all of them won't rest until Goldibus is defeated and the world is safe from the imminent danger.

==Game modes==
The game is primarily played in two modes: Story Mode, and Hero Challenge Mode. The Dreamcast version also had minigames that could be played on the [[Visual Memory Unit|VMU]] for points.

[[Image:Tech Romancer 480p.png|225 px|right|thumb|A screenshot from Tech Romancer's gameplay.]]

===Story Mode===
Each mecha has its own story mode, which plays out like an anime series, with each battle broken up by an episode title, [[eyecatch]], and dialog scenes before and after each battle. Each mecha has its own story (where it is the star of its own show), and decisions made in the dialog scenes, as well as the conditions under which a battle is won, can cause some stories to branch out and have multiple paths and endings. The other mecha and characters naturally make appearances, but their role may vary from their actual origins to fit the "star" mecha's story.

===Hero Challenge Mode===
An "Arcade-style" mode where the player fights through each of the major mecha and bosses. Various hidden mecha and pilots found in the game can only be used in Hero Challenge Mode. In the Dreamcast version, points earned in Hero Challenge Mode and the VMU minigames could be used to purchase hidden characters including boss characters and movies.

===Matching Service===
In Japan, the game is re-released as "Choukou Senki Kikaioh For Matching Service" because of its online functionality.

==Gameplay==
Battles take place mostly on a flat 3D plane, with buildings and other terrain features scattered around. Destroying the terrain (by attacking or walking through them) releases power-ups, which include three weapons (vary between each character/mecha), armor or life powerups, and the Hero Mode powerup, which increases the power of your mecha's attacks, and may also unlock additional abilities or moves.

Rather than rounds, the matches are decided by the life meters of the fighters. Each fighter has two life meters, and is destroyed when the second one is depleted. In addition, each mecha gets an armor gauge that, when broken by consistent brute attacks, lowers the mecha's defense and makes it harder to recover from attacks received.

Each mecha has at least two super attacks, as well as a Final Attack, which is usable when the opponent is down to the last 50% of their second lifebar. This attack, when activated and successfully connected, automatically destroys the opponent, winning the battle.

==Reception==
{{Video game reviews
| GR = 78%<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamerankings.com/dreamcast/250630-tech-romancer/index.html |title=Tech Romancer for Dreamcast |website=[[GameRankings]] |publisher=CBS Interactive |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190505054348/https://www.gamerankings.com/dreamcast/250630-tech-romancer/index.html |archivedate=May 5, 2019 |accessdate=May 16, 2022}}</ref>
| Allgame = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref>{{cite web |last=Ottoson |first=Joe |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=23163&tab=review |title=Tech Romancer (DC) - Review |website=AllGame |publisher=All Media Network |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141116063701/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=23163&tab=review |archivedate=November 16, 2014 |accessdate=September 6, 2019}}</ref>
| CNG = 6/10<ref>{{cite web |last=D'Aprile |first=Jason |date=June 21, 2000 |url=http://www.gamecenter.com/Consoles/Dreamcast/Techromancer/ |title=Tech Romancer |website=Gamecenter |publisher=[[CNET]] |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20000816090837/http://www.gamecenter.com/Consoles/Dreamcast/Techromancer/ |archivedate=August 16, 2000 |accessdate=May 16, 2022}}</ref>
| EGM = 8.17/10<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Smith |first1=Shawn |last2=Sewart |first2=Greg |last3=Kujawa |first3=Kraig |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/b/bf/EGM_US_131.pdf |title=Tech Romancer (DC) |magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]] |publisher=Ziff Davis |issue=131 |date=June 2000 |page=163 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408134403/https://retrocdn.net/images/b/bf/EGM_US_131.pdf |archivedate=April 8, 2023 |url-status=live |accessdate=October 19, 2023}}</ref>{{efn|In ''[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]''{{'}}s review of the Dreamcast version, two critics gave it each a score of 8/10, and the other gave it 8.5/10.}}
| EPD = 8.5/10<ref>{{cite web |last=Hudak |first=Chris |date=June 2, 2000 |url=http://www.elecplay.com/review.html?article=2569&full=1#mr_toppy |title=Tech Romancer (DC) |website=[[EP Daily|The Electric Playground]] |publisher=Greedy Productions Ltd. |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20020322055423/http://www.elecplay.com/review.html?article=2569&full=1#mr_toppy |archivedate=March 22, 2002 |accessdate=October 19, 2023}}</ref>
| EuroG = 7/10<ref>{{cite web |last=Corbettis |first=Chris "Klamy" |date=August 29, 2000 |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/r-techromancer-dc |title=Tech Romancer (DC) |website=[[Eurogamer]] |publisher=[[Gamer Network]] |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010107183000/http://www.eurogamer.net/content/r_techromancer_dc |archivedate=January 7, 2001 |url-status=live |accessdate=May 16, 2022}}</ref>
| Fam = 29/40<ref name=Fam>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=12552&redirect=no |title=超鋼戦紀キカイオー [ドリームキャスト] |language=ja |magazine=[[Famitsu]] |publisher=[[Enterbrain]] |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804174824/https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=12552&redirect=no |archivedate=August 4, 2020 |accessdate=October 19, 2023}}</ref>
| GI = 8.5/10<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Reppen |first=Erik |url=https://archive.org/details/game-informer-issue-88-august-2000/page/n87/mode/2up |title=Tech Romancer |magazine=[[Game Informer]] |publisher=[[FuncoLand]] |issue=88 |date=August 2000 |page=84 |accessdate=January 29, 2025}}</ref>
| GameFan = (J.W.) 75%<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Weitzner |first=Jason "Fury" |url=https://archive.org/details/Gamefan_Vol_8_Issue_04/page/n59/mode/2up |title=Tech Romancer [Import] |magazine=[[GameFan]] |publisher=Shinno Media |volume=8 |issue=4 |date=April 2000 |page=59 |accessdate=May 16, 2022}}</ref><br />(L.B.) 68%<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Buchanan |first=Levi |date=June 1, 2000 |url=http://www.gamefan.com/repre.asp?g=2060&t=r |title=REVIEW for Tech Romancer (DC) |magazine=GameFan |publisher=Shinno Media |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20000621222410/http://www.gamefan.com/repre.asp?g=2060&t=r |archivedate=June 21, 2000 |accessdate=September 6, 2019}}</ref>
| GameRev = B−<ref>{{cite web |author=G-Wok |date=May 2000 |url=https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/32248-tech-romancer-review |title=Tech Romancer Review |website=[[GameRevolution]] |publisher=[[CraveOnline]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926182524/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/tech-romancer |archive-date=September 26, 2015 |url-status=live |accessdate=September 6, 2019}}</ref>
| GSpot = 8.6/10<ref name="gs">{{cite web |last=Mielke |first=James |date=January 20, 2000 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/tech-romancer-review/1900-2540707/ |title=Tech Romancer Review [Import; date mislabeled as "May 5, 2000"] |website=[[GameSpot]] |publisher=[[Fandom (website)|Fandom]] |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160726145135/https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/tech-romancer-review/1900-2540707/ |archivedate=July 26, 2016 |url-status=live |accessdate=October 19, 2023}}</ref>
| GSpy = 8/10<ref name="GSpyDC">{{cite web |author=BenT |date=June 20, 2000 |url=http://www.planetdreamcast.com/games/reviews/techromancer/ |title=Tech Romancer |website=[[GameSpy|PlanetDreamcast]] |publisher=IGN Entertainment |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090125094409/http://www.planetdreamcast.com/games/reviews/techromancer/ |archive-date=January 25, 2009 |accessdate=September 6, 2019}}</ref>
| IGN = 8.9/10<ref name="ign">{{cite web |last=Gantayat |first=Anoop |date=January 21, 2000 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/01/22/kikaioh-import-tech-romancer |title=Kikaioh (Import . . . Tech Romancer) |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190906152148/https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/01/22/kikaioh-import-tech-romancer |archivedate=September 6, 2019 |url-status=live |accessdate=October 19, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Gantayat |first=Anoop |date=June 19, 2000 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/06/20/tech-romancer |title=Tech Romancer |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220928055931/https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/06/20/tech-romancer |archivedate=September 28, 2022 |url-status=live |accessdate=October 19, 2023}}</ref>
| NGen = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name=NGen>{{cite magazine |last=Orlando |first=Greg |url=https://archive.org/details/NextGen66Jun2000/page/n97/mode/2up |title=Tech Romancer (DC) |magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|NextGen]] |publisher=[[Future US|Imagine Media]] |issue=66 |date=June 2000 |page=96 |accessdate=May 16, 2022}}</ref>
}}

In Japan, ''Game Machine'' listed the arcade version in their November 15, 1998 issue as the fourth most-successful arcade game of the week.<ref>{{cite magazine  |url=https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/19981115p.pdf#page=11 |title=Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 |magazine=[[:ja:ゲームマシン|Game Machine]] |publisher=[[:ja:アミューズメント通信社|Amusement Press, Inc.]] |issue=576 |date=November 15, 1998 |page=21 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230321031158/https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/19981115p.pdf#page=11 |archivedate=March 21, 2023 |url-status=live |accessdate=October 19, 2023}}</ref>

The Dreamcast version received favorable reviews. In Japan, ''[[Famitsu]]'' gave it a score of 29 out of 40, just one point away from ''Silver Awards'' Editors' Choice.<ref name=Fam/> Greg Orlando of ''[[Next Generation (magazine)|NextGen]]'' said of the game, "It's not often when we get to step into our favorite anime and beat some metal ass. Now if only the fighting were as inspired as the off-the-wall anime plot..."<ref name=NGen/> James Mielke of ''[[GameSpot]]'' described the game as "a combination of great graphics and solid fighting fun". He noted that the game contains more replay value than ''[[JoJo's Bizarre Adventure (video game)|JoJo's Bizarre Adventure]]'', ''[[Street Fighter III]]'', and ''[[Plasma Sword: Nightmare of Bilstein]]'' combined.<ref name="gs"/> Anoop Gantayat of ''[[IGN]]'' described the game as having "the greatest single player mode ever in a fighting game" through both the game's ''[[Power Stone (video game)|Power Stone]]''-style rewards system and story mode which contained branching paths and multiple endings for the playable characters.<ref name="ign"/> BenT of ''[[GameSpy|PlanetDreamcast]]'' described the game as "a great surprise from Capcom" due to its Japanese anime stylings and superb character design, as well as the simple yet addictive gameplay, but criticized the overly simplistic gameplay and underwhelming graphics compare to other titles released for the Dreamcast around the same time (most notably ''[[Resident Evil – Code: Veronica]]'' which was also made by Capcom and ''[[MDK2]]'' from [[Bioware]]).<ref name="GSpyDC"/>

Kilo Watt of ''[[GamePro]]'' said of the game in one review, "If you're purely a fighting game fan or casual gamer, you might want to pass on ''Tech Romancer'' since it's not the pinnacle of robot fighting. For avid mech anime fans, this is one of those games you've dreamed about."<ref>{{cite magazine |author=Kilo Watt |date=June 30, 2000 |url=http://www.gamepro.com/sega/dreamcast/games/reviews/6001.shtml |title=Tech Romancer Review for Dreamcast on GamePro.com |magazine=[[GamePro]] |publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]] |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20041213075914/http://www.gamepro.com/sega/dreamcast/games/reviews/6001.shtml |archivedate=December 13, 2004 |accessdate=October 19, 2023}}</ref>{{efn|''[[GamePro]]'' gave the Dreamcast version two 4.5/5 scores for graphics and fun factor, 5/5 for sound, and 4/5 for control in one review.}} In another ''GamePro'' review, however, Jake The Snake said that the game "will appeal to serious fighting game fans who like the anime-style mech basher, but casual button-mashers and mech game fans may want to pass or rent first."<ref>{{cite magazine |author=Jake The Snake |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/a/a5/GamePro_US_141.pdf |title=Tech Romancer |magazine=GamePro |publisher=IDG |issue=141 |date=June 2000 |page=126 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220707090814/https://retrocdn.net/images/a/a5/GamePro_US_141.pdf |archivedate=July 7, 2022 |url-status=live |accessdate=October 19, 2023}}</ref>{{efn|''[[GamePro]]'' gave the Dreamcast version 4/5 for graphics, and three 3.5/5 scores for sound, control, and fun factor in another review.}}

''[[GameRevolution]]'' listed ''Tech Romancer'' as 44th on their list of the 50 Worst Game Names Ever.<ref>{{cite web |last=Ferris |first=Duke |date=June 12, 2006 |url=https://www.gamerevolution.com/originals/18-worst_game_names |title=The 50 Worst Game Names Ever |website=GameRevolution |publisher=CraveOnline |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070507070003/http://www.gamerevolution.com/features/worst_game_names |archivedate=May 7, 2007 |url-status=live |accessdate=January 29, 2025}}</ref>

{{clear}}

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{KLOV game|id=10041}}
*{{moby game|id=/9788/tech-romancer/}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070928201114/http://www.capcom.co.jp/newproducts/arcade/kikaioh/index.html Official Japanese Site] {{in lang|ja}}

[[Category:1998 video games]]
[[Category:3D fighting games]]
[[Category:Arcade video games]]
[[Category:Capcom games]]
[[Category:Dreamcast games]]
[[Category:Fighting games]]
[[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]]
[[Category:Video games about mecha]]
[[Category:Video games developed in Japan]]
[[Category:Virgin Interactive games]]