My Review of NEON GENESIS EVANGELION: BATTLE ORCHESTRA

[NAveryW]

Now that I have a Playstation 2, Swap Magic and Magic Switch, I am able to play Region 1 PS2 games, including Neon Genesis Evangelion: Battle Orchestra.

You may have seen some gameplay videos at the game's official site. It looks a lot like Super Smash Bros., doesn't it? Indeed it is!

The main difference in gameplay between SSB and NGE:BO is that Battle Orchestra is HP-based instead of knock-the-character-off-the-screen-based (though SSB actually does have an option to play in HP-mode). Even SSB-style crates full of items occasionally appear with NGE-themed weapons and health-restoring items. Despite the fact that the game is a SSB clone, it is still quite fun. A lot of it is in English, so it's easy to navigate through the game.

You start out able to play as Unit 01, Unit 00, or Unit 02, though you can probably unlock Kensuke and possibly Kaworu, considering the opening.

You can play Story Mode on easy, medium, or hard. You face different enemies depending on which Evangelion you choose. Sometimes you have one or both of the other Evas assist you in battle. I beat easy modes for Units 01 and 00, but Unit 02's final battle is against three MP Evangelions at once... and once you beat them, they respawn with all their health. I haven't been able to figure out how to win that stage. Perhaps you just have to survive until the timer runs out, but that usually results in you losing.

Now, this game absolutely does not take itself seriously, and that's part of what makes it fun. Leliel throws punches by jutting parts of itself outward. Sahaquiel is now Evangelion-size and can do a barrel roll to attack. One of the items you can use is PenPen, which you throw at your enemy to inflict minor damage. The list goes on.

One of the levels is the Nerv HQ pyramid. I do wonder if Broccoli knew if it was supposed to be a vagina. If they did know, it's even funnier. The concave pyramid is filled up with water (representing an overactive Bartholin's gland?) and a not-nearly-to-scale PenPen is floating in it, watching your battle. There are also floating platforms, and there is another one of those large, flat skyscrapers on the other side of the pyramid as well, meaning this particular vagina has two clitoral hoods, one of which is nowhere remotely near the clitoris.

You earn points by winning, which you can then use to shop for things like crystal meth... erm, additional BGM. As I die a lot, I don't usually end up with many points and haven't unlocked much yet.

That's about it. I recorded the opening intro, so I'll probably upload that for those of you who wish to see it. I'll also probably add some stuff to the wiki's entry for the game. I bet the wiki doesn't even have an entry for this game yet.

[Sailor Star Dust]

Naisu, NAveryW!

By the way, do you mean Region 2? And I don't think the Japanese games really have regions, but...

Anyway, now I'm sort of interested in playing it, too. The only thing is, something about the artstyle bothers me...Not sure why or what it is.

Oh, and the MP Eva Series also happen to restore their health (all 9 of em) in the Evangelion2 game, like in the film, which of course makes it REALLY hard to beat. -_-

[BobBQ]

I think I saw some people playing this at Otakon '07. It looked like fun, though I didn't get a chance to play it myself.

[NAveryW]

By the way, do you mean Region 2?

Sure, why not.

There was one thing I forgot to mention in the review, by the way: whenever there are several characters on the screen and a battle effect occurs (which happens VERY often against Sahaquiel, as it is a three-on-one battle and Sahaquiel uses a bunch of graphics-intensive attacks), the frame rate drops quite considerably. It doesn't bother me that much, but some people hate things like that.

[universalperson]

Do you know who pilots the Green Evangelion? I know Kaworu pilots the golden one, but...

[NAveryW]

I'm pretty sure the greenie is piloted by Kensuke.

[fadingreminder]

I've really been wanting this game, hearing about all of the features and stuff included makes me want it even more... Swap Magic and Magic Keys does allow me to play burned games, this makes it very tempting to start scouring torrent sites later... hm...

[universalperson]

I'm pretty sure the greenie is piloted by Kensuke.

No cause Kensuke pilots Unit-04, this I'm sure of, I've seen it on YouTube.

[NAveryW]

Then Toji must be the remaining pilot.

[NAveryW]

http://www.mediafire.com/?1kjwzf4m5xa

Behold the high quality intro recorded at its native resolution!

[universalperson]

Then Toji must be the remaining pilot.

Nope he pilots Unit-03.

Which has an alternate Bardiel setting.

Look Kaworu pilots the winged Golden Eva, and then there this Green Eva that I don't who the pilot is! At least I know who pilots the mecha that wandered in from another anime.

[ungenesis]

So, any more info to offer on this game? How are the 'clone' characters (Beserk Eva-01, Eva-00', Bardiel, etc) and the 'new' Evas (Alpha and Beta?)?

[NAveryW]

So, any more info to offer on this game? How are the 'clone' characters (Beserk Eva-01, Eva-00', Bardiel, etc) and the 'new' Evas (Alpha and Beta?)?

Actually, I haven't really been playing it. >_> NGEs2 takes priority.

[Sailor Star Dust]

NAveryW, this file doesn't want to play either. (By "either", see what I mentioned in the Another Cases Eva2 topic)

[majlund]

I haven't experienced any problems.

[NAveryW]

NAveryW, this file doesn't want to play either.

And I wish you didn't have the Devil's curly hair.

[Sailor Star Dust]

*Me cries ala Rod, or Todd. Whichever one it was*

[NAveryW]

/is also curly-haired

[Soljer13]

I bought a I Pirate version of the game, the Green Eva(Eva Unit Beta) is apparently controled by the Dummyplug. there also an unlockable Gunbuster. Dont know about the story, but what I DO know is that if you play as Zeruel, Just hitting Foward and SQUARE, he does this double slap thingamajig, wich is REALY cheap, and makes the game easy even on Hard setting.

PS: Can anybosy tell me how to get Rei to love me in Ayanami Ikusei Keikaku And Asuka Hokan Keikaku PS2? Plus how to make her remember me? THNX n' ADVNCE!

[universalperson]

I bought a I Pirate version of the game, the Green Eva(Eva Unit Beta) is apparently controled by the Dummyplug.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!