70s-Style Robot Anime Geppy-X—yes, that is its full name—is a title that not many people have heard of. Originally released in 1999 for the PlayStation, the game was a Japan-exclusive love letter to the glory days of super robot anime. Pulling inspiration from series created by Go Nagai (Getter Robo, Mazinger Z, Devilman), as well as other popular titles from the '70s, the game aimed to be an anime in video game form. Complete with fake commercial breaks—eyecatches included—and, of course, opening and ending themes, it was a truly unique title. While it might not have been the most polished shoot-'em-up in the genre, it was quite an experience, offering countless hours of replayability. Sadly, being a Japanese exclusive meant the game was hard to come by, but that has finally changed.
Released by Bliss Brain, 70s-Style Robot Anime Geppy-X has now been fully remastered for modern platforms. While the original Japanese voice acting, featuring multiple well-known actors, has remained intact, everything has now been subtitled in English, allowing Western fans to follow along with the story. The more than 8,000 hand-drawn animation frames have also been restored in HD, though the game itself allows players to swap back to the original resolution. Now that the game is readily available, however, the real question remains: how is it, and is it worth your time?
Well, after being given the opportunity to check the game out ahead of release and beating it six times, I am finally ready to share my thoughts. Honestly, it is addicting! However, it might not be everyone's cup of tea. It truly hinges on one's love for the over-the-top robot action series of days gone by. As a parody of the super robot genre, it isn't afraid to joke about things only hardcore fans would understand, or even poke fun at the "real robot" titles of the era—including Mobile Suit Gundam. Of course, 70s-Style Robot Anime Geppy-X can still be enjoyed without knowing a thing about the genre, but it definitely enhances the experience if those inside jokes actually land.
Stepping into a Super Robot Anime:
The game takes place in the year 197X and follows a group of three young men as they go to war against the ruthless alien forces known as the Space Demon Empire. As Earth's military forces fail to counter the Empire and their giant Space Beasts, a scientist named Professor Kureishi develops the super robot Geppy-X. Requiring three pilots, Kei, Jin, and Riki take control of their respective vehicles and combine them to form the full-powered version of the super robot.
Being a parody of the super robot shows of the '70s, every stage in the game follows the same standard format. "Episodes" begin with an opening animation and theme song, transition into an animated introduction, and then switch over to gameplay once the cast boards their transforming vehicles. Stages sometimes contain mid-level dialogue or mini-cutscenes, but after beating a mini-boss, an eyecatch is displayed before moving on to a fake commercial. These commercials are also parodies, often featuring Geppy-X-themed products like shampoo, and are followed by a second eyecatch as the "episode" returns. Beating a stage brings the episode to a close with ending credits and a sneak peek at "next week's" episode. Theme songs are handled by legendary anime artists Isao Sasaki, Akira Kushida, and Hironobu Kageyama, and they are featured throughout the entire experience—including during gameplay.
Although the game follows this standard format for the vast majority of its runtime, there is one exception where things get changed up quite a bit. In standard super robot fashion, Geppy-X receives a mid-season upgrade, introducing the Geppy-XX instead. Not only is this mech much stronger than the previous model, but it also opens up a split story path. While the stages themselves remain the same, there are three variations of the story players can work through from that point onward, increasing the game's overall replay value. Seeing all three paths helps paint a complete picture, as they are broken into what can be considered "bad, normal, and good" routes. After completing these, additional side stories become unlocked, showcasing the actions of other characters. While these are not as developed as the main plot and many do not even contain story content, they still add to the overall package.
With each playthrough lasting roughly 1 to 2 hours, depending on your skill level and willingness to watch the opening and ending themes each time, seeing all main paths can take in the 3 to 6-hour range, with an additional hour or so added for each side story. For completionists, it is a title that can easily last over a dozen hours, but its replayability is infinite—and that isn't even taking hard mode into consideration.
Controlling Geppy-X:
As previously mentioned, the title is a side-scrolling shoot-'em-up where stages always advance to the right, though they typically come to a halt during boss fights. Enemies fly in from off-screen, and players must pilot Geppy-X to avoid them while returning fire to take them down—though fighting isn't always the best option. What makes Geppy-X unique, however, is that it features both a main and sub-weapon, both of which can be charged for two additional attacks. For example, the standard shot can be charged into a laser beam, while the piercing shot turns into a slash attack. These attacks can also be powered up by picking up upgrades during a stage, but they are lost if Geppy-X's armor points reach zero.
In addition to all of this, Geppy-X has three transformations, each coming complete with its own unique set of four attacks tailored for different situations. One form is a hard-hitting, close-range attacker, while another is much quicker, making it easier to dodge enemies. While the story defaults Geppy-X to the "preferred" option for each stage, you can manually transform between the three with a simple button press. Combined with the ability to actually turn around and face the opposite direction—something not typically seen in the genre—Geppy-X is a highly maneuverable robot that can overcome any challenge. However, that is not to say things are easy.
Initially, 70s-Style Robot Anime Geppy-X limits how many lives a player has, and using up all of your continues once those lives hit zero results in a game over. Clearing the game once unlocks the option for unlimited continues at the cost of losing your high score, but until then, it can be quite a challenge. Enemies hit hard and bullets fly like crazy, demanding that players truly focus if they hope to survive. Thankfully, Geppy-X's hitbox is smaller than its body implies, though it takes some getting used to for those hoping to squeeze between a barrage of bullets and lasers. This remastered version does allow players to tone down the difficulty if they wish, and it includes a quick-save and rewind function. The rewind feature is extremely generous with how far back it lets you go, meaning everyone should be able to clear the game at least once, but it still isn't a complete cakewalk. The final bosses especially ramp up the challenge, so be prepared to learn attack patterns and swap between the optimal versions of Geppy-X—or rather, the XX—if you want to survive.
Following the completion of the game, multiple bonus modes become available, greatly expanding the total playtime. Each of these modes puts players in control of a different mech, pitting them against the entire main game once again. Because each machine contains its own set of attacks and varying amounts of armor points, they provide a fresh challenge and offer a unique way to experience the game. While some mechs are stronger than others, making the game easier to clear in the process, others are greatly toned down compared to Geppy-X and offer a much harder playthrough. Thankfully, the endless credits unlocked from beating the game carry over into these bonus modes as well. The same cannot be said for the boss rush mode, however, which maintains strict requirements.
Should you play it?
70s-Style Robot Anime Geppy-X is simply a blast to play, and it is a title sure to put a smile on the face of anyone familiar with the super robot genre. The theme songs playing during the stages themselves are almost guaranteed to get stuck in your head, and the unique transforming gameplay mechanics help the title stand out from others. Even so, it is the anime presentation that truly makes this one special, as there is no denying that "better" shoot-'em-ups exist, including many from the PlayStation era.
That being said, grievances with the title are thankfully minor. Quirks like a hitbox that takes a bit of getting used to, a slow turning animation, and controls that generally aren't quite as tight do not make the game any less enjoyable, but they are bumps in the road that players need to overcome. Additionally, it would also be nice to have the option to skip some of the mid-stage cutscenes, as they can slow down the pace on future playthroughs. As hilarious as it is to see a random character appear whom only one person recognizes—even though he doesn't really—just to get blown to bits a second later in true super robot style, it isn't something you need to watch time and time again. This is especially true if you are just replaying the game to see the alternate story routes.
Overall, 70s-Style Robot Anime Geppy-X is a one-of-a-kind shoot-'em-up that puts players directly into what feels like a 1970s anime. While it might not be the most mechanically solid entry in the genre, its transforming mech with over-the-top attack capabilities, catchy theme songs, fake commercials, and incredible overall presentation make it something you won't forget. It is simply a fun time, and now Western players can finally experience it for themselves.
VERDICT: Recommended
Reviewed on PlayStation 5
Review Copy was Provided
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