Atlus finally brings the hit tactical strategy role-playing game series, Super Robot Taisen: Original Generation, to the Game Boy Advance here in the States with some mixed results. While this game doesn't break any boundaries and delivers some somewhat clichéd anime style storytelling, there's no denying that the game offers an underlying charm that fans of the genre can sink their collective teeth into.

This first chapter in this series that is so popular in Japan comes to North America faithfully translated to English by Atlus, offering U.S. fans a meal comprised of customizable mechs, tactical turn-based combat, anime styled scenes with lots of dramatic and over-the-top dialogue and a fair share of pretty girls. This turn-based strategy game that was originally released in Japan in November 2002 by Banpresto isn't for everyone though.

The story in Super Robot Taisen: Original Generation takes place nearly two hundred years after mankind makes its way past the moon and into the solar system, pushing the boundaries of technology and the quest for knowledge of the grand universe we live in. It is during this time in Earth's history -- dubbed the "Space Era" -- in the 21st century history that a terrible cataclysm occurs. The Earth is struck by two massive meteors that destroy much of the planet and send civilized society into chaos. A third meteor strikes the Earth harmlessly but houses something powerful and very dangerous: a strange alien technology called Extra-Over Technology, or EOT. The ruling powers of Earth also learn that an alien invasion is imminent and immediately begin developing this technology into war machines called Personal Troopers. From there the story is told focusing on two pilots as they battle countless mechs, engage in witty banter and unravel the lies that seem to greet them at every turn..

The first time you launch this GBA title, you'll choose one of two pilots, a skilled rookie named Ryusei or a seasoned test pilot with an iron will and gruff exterior named Kyosuke. Each characters has different sets of supporting characters that they'll interact with, though the story (for the most part) follows the same plot path revealing a terrible secret about what's really going on with EOT and the Earth's leaders.

Gameplay is pretty straightforward, served up in three basic phases - the story (which plays out in stills before and after missions with colorful characters and lots of pretty girls), the maintenance phase (where you can customize your robot with new weapons, improve current weapon systems, add enhancements, micro manage your pilot's skills and more) and the battle phase where you take to the tactical map and slug it out with other mechs.

The battle phase is played out on a grid-based battle field where your army and the enemies are represented by icons on the map which you'll move around and attack using melee or long range weapons. Whatever your bot is armed with, when you get close enough to attack you can engage them using the simple text-based menu interface. This menu offers options based on what you have equipped and your pilot. When you've selected what you want to do you'll see a 2D animated battle between you and the unit you're engaging.. or not - you can let the game resolve it for you quickly. The gameplay is pretty straightforward and easy to understand and by turning the animation off it feels more like a war game than a strategy gaming experience.

Combat is a very tactical affair, and as you delve deeper into each mission, you'll be challenged with more and more enemies to take on and have more pilots at your disposal to help in these fights. The battles are enhanced further by the myriad of personalities you'll take with you, offering sometimes corny one-liners through radio chatter from your comrades or bravado ladened threats from your adversaries. And the chatter you'll hear is really dependant on the pilots themselves and the mechs they are assigned and even what weapons are equipped. This is one of the features that makes gameplay fun. It's all heavily anime flavored, and sometimes cheesy but it adds a nice cool factor to what would otherwise be a run of the mill strategy experience.

Another nice element is the ability to change things up on your bot and your pilots. During the maintenance phase players can get to work on improving their robots and pilots by using the experience and money they've earned during combat. This money can be used to improve weapon systems, train pilots, or add enhancements for fighting on specific terrain types, or even improving armor mobility. The ability to train pilots can prove to be the edge in those more drawn out missions where you're heavily outnumbered, just like the ability to tweak your weapons systems to your liking - every little bit of help you can get in those tight tactical exchanges can't hurt, after all.

Even without all the cool window dressing, Super Robot Wars: Original Generation is a pretty solid mech battle game that works great on the Game Boy Advance (If you own a GBA player for the GameCube the game is infinitely easier to play because you can see everything better, but it's not required to enjoy this game). What OG is not is a game for everyone. If you despise tactical RPG's or anime inspired storylines then you honestly have no business even thinking about playing this game. For the rest of us, Super Robot Taisen: Original Generation is a good start for Atlus with this series in the United States and for fan boys that cried about its exclusivity to Japan. Learn more by checking out Atlus.com . - James Fudge.