Custom Robo: History of a Vanished RPG Series

Image from Nintendo Japan

Custom Robo is a series that I first came across on the Game Cube. I enjoyed the game and wanted to explore the series history. I’ll cover the 5 games in the series, some of the different robots you can use in the games, and show some game footage.

Custom Robo

The First Custom Robo game was released for the Nintendo 64 on December 8th, 1998. It was developed by Noise and published by Nintendo. It was simply titled Custom Robo and was labeled as a robot action RPG. The premise revolves around your character operating a small robot that can swap out parts like weapons and armor to participate in tournaments. This game was only released in Japan.

In the near future, robotics (robot engineering) has been applied and put into practical use in various fields, and robots are becoming almost familiar to people (space exploration, rescue, weapons, medical treatment, etc.).
Robotics technology has already succeeded in producing a precise small robot with a body height of about 30 cm. People devised an action battle game using this small robot.

Nintendo Japan

Robo Models

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The game has a total of over 30 different models that you can use and customize. The different models have different abilities.

Weapon and armor customization is also a feature in this game as well as the others. Just like the models there are different weapon and armor pieces to choose from. The different weapons are guns, pods, and bombs. Each one doing different things. The armor that is customizable are leg parts.

Parts

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Model kits were also sold around the same time. It appears that they were only sold for this game and not the others. They were sold by Bandai Namco. Only third party companies sell these as Bandai Namco no longer does. They are essentially like the Gundam model kits that can be bought.

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Game Footage

Custom Robo V2

Custom Robo V2 is another Japan exclusive for the N64. This is the last game in the series that was released on this console. This game released on November 10, 2000. This game was also developed by Noise. The premise is the same as the previous game. Just like the previous game it is 3D.

“Custom Robo” that everyone is doing around. But the hero didn’t have a robo yet … However, one day, the latest custom robot “Ray Mk-II” was won in the sweepstakes I was applying for! Now, it’s finally time to challenge the longed-for custom robot battle!

Nintendo Japan

This game features new characters as well as new Robo models you can use. New Robo pieces are also available to use. Some of them have carried over from the previous game.

Robo Models

This games contains over 60 different Robo models to choose from, double that of the previous game. Also like the previous games you can once again customize guns, pods, legs, and bombs.

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Parts

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Game Footage

Custom Robo GX

Custom Robo GX was released on January 26th, 2002. This game was a Japan exclusive like the previous two. This game was for the Game Boy Advance and developed by Noise. From what I read on the site, the story takes place 3 years after the events of V2. This game is 2D unlike the others, due to not being able to handle the heavy graphics normally used in the series.

One day, when the main character woke up, a birthday present from my dad … When I opened the inside, I found a new robot ” X-Ray ” with new battle specifications . The main character of Custom Robo beginners headed to Robo Station with his friends Yusuke to enjoy a new Robo battle. 

Nintendo Japan

Robo Models

This game has less Robo models then the other series with a total of 24. I was unable to translate these names.

This game also features new customization options. Legs are no longer a customization option and pods have been replaced by sub-weapons. A new customizable part has also been added, called an action chip.

Parts

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Game Comparison

Custom Robo GX game play is on the left. This video compares it with Fierce Fight! Custom Robo.

Custom Robo Battle Revolution

Custom Robo Battle Revolution is the first game in the series to be released outside of Japan. It released March 4th, 2004 in Japan and May 10th 2004 in North America. Battle Revolution released on the Nintendo Game Cube, and was also developed by Noise. Outside of Japan it is known as Custom Robo. Releasing for the first time outside of Japan probably factored into this name change.

One day, our hero learns of a strange, autonomous robo of tremendous power. As he and his friends strive to unravel the mystery of this robo, they unearth hints of a greater secret concerning a catastrophic event that transpired centuries ago…Our story follows a young man acting on the last words of his long-lost father—he must become a custom-robo commander. With his father’s final words on his mind, he joins up with the bounty hunters of Steel Hearts.

Nintendo

Though the main focus of this game is turned away from tournaments, they are still present in the game. This is the only game in the series to connect to a previous entry. Using your Game Boy Advance you can connect GX with Battle Revolution to unlock secret battles.

Robo Models

Battle Revolution has the same amount of Robo models as GX with a total of 35. It looks like there are some new models as well as some returning ones.

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I chose not to include some models as they are tied to the story and will spoil parts of it, others weren’t listed on the official site.

Action chips are removed in this game as well as other changes such as bringing back leg parts and changing sub-weapons to pods. The changeable parts are gun, bomb, pod, and leg.

Parts

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Personal Thoughts

This is the first and only game in the series I had the opportunity to play. I remember seeing it on the shelf at a game store and buying it because it looked interesting. The story is probably the most surprising part about this game. It starts relatively innocent and takes a turn towards the darker side as you progress. The game play is also good. Instead of levels, like in typical RPG games, you’ll be swapping out parts to get through fights. Controls in fights are fairly easy to get a handle on, but can be a little difficult at times depending on the weapons used. I enjoyed this game and would recommend trying it out. I feel as though this game is a hidden gem on the Game Cube.

Game Footage

The video below shows multiplayer game play of Battle Revolution. This is a Custom Robo tournament from 2019.

Fierce Fight! Custom Robo

Fierce Fight! Custom Robo is the last game in the series. This game was released for the Nintendo DS and developed by Noise. It is known as Custom Robo Arena outside of Japan. Fierce Fight released in more countries than the previous entries:

• Japan – October 19th, 2006
• North America – March 19th, 2007
• Europe – May 25th, 2007
• Australia – September 20th, 2007

“Custom Robo” that everyone is doing around. But the hero didn’t have a robo yet … However, one day, the latest custom robot “Ray Mk-II” was won in the sweepstakes I was applying for! Now, it’s finally time to challenge the longed-for custom robot battle!

Tournaments return again in this game as the main story element.

Robo Models

This game features 50 different Robo models. Fierce Fight has the second most models to choose from in the series.

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Fierce Fight is the only game in the series to feature downloadable models, making use of the Nintendo DS WIFI feature. Below are the first three models you could obtain. Each person could only choose one model of the three that were first available.

Parts

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Game Footage

Spiritual Successor

There was a spiritual successor released for the series. It is called Synaptic Drive and is available on Steam. One look at the photos and you can tell that they were trying to recapture the look and feel of the Custom Robo series.

Unfortunately the game has received mostly negative reviews. From the reviews available on Steam, only 32% are positive. The developer is Thousand Games and the publisher is Yunuo Games. From what I saw on the developer site, this is the only game that they have worked on. The only other game from the publisher is a mobile game. The creator for this game, Kōji Kenjō, also created the Custom Robo series. I equate this game and reception to Mighty Number 9.

Conclusion

I hope that you enjoyed this different style of post. Researching was really fun for this post. All sites and YouTube videos that I used to write this article are listed below. All articles will need google translate. As always thank you for reading. If you want more content like this be sure to let me know. Have you played the Custom Robo series?

• Nintendo Japan – Custom Robo, Custom Robo v2, Custom Robo GX, Custom Robo Battle Revolution and Fierce Fight! Custom Robo.
• Nintendo – Custom Robo Battle Revolution.
• YouTube Channels – Solo Wing Fury, N64 Glenn Plant, drgaming, Duo Studios VODS, and Jared Kohaku.

If you want to follow me on other platforms or buy me a coffee, than feel free to look at my links.