Honestly, if you told a mecha fan twenty years ago that we’d get a global, official English release of a mainline title on Steam, they’d probably have laughed you out of the room. Licensing is a nightmare. Always has been. Yet, Super Robot Wars 30 exists, and it’s weirdly ambitious for a series that usually sticks to a very specific, very rigid script.
It isn't just another tactical RPG. It's a massive, sprawling celebration of three decades of metal-on-metal violence, and for the first time, it feels like Bandai Namco actually cares about the audience outside of Japan.
The Tactical Shift You Might Have Missed
For decades, these games were linear. You go from Stage 1 to Stage 2, maybe you get a "secret" unit if you beat a boss with a specific character, and then you move to Stage 3. It was predictable. Super Robot Wars 30 throws that out.
They introduced the Tactical Area Select system. It basically turns the game into an open-world strategy map where you choose where to go next. Want to go recruit the crew from GaoGaiGar immediately? You can try. Want to grind out some resources in "Frontier" missions because you’re stuck on a boss? Go for it.
This change is polarizing. Some old-school fans think it messes with the narrative pacing, and they aren't entirely wrong. When you can do missions in any order, the story has to become more "modular" to compensate. It loses some of that tight, scripted tension that defined the PS2 era entries like Alpha 3. But the trade-off is freedom. You’re no longer stuck in a 60-hour corridor.
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The Roster: New Blood and Eternal Classics
Let’s talk about Knight’s & Magic. Seeing Ernesti Echevalier freak out over meeting Amuro Ray is meta-commentary at its finest. It’s a show about a mecha otaku being reincarnated into a mecha world, now interacting with the literal gods of the genre.
Then you have SSSS.GRIDMAN. It’s not even a "robot" show in the traditional sense—it’s tokusatsu—but it fits perfectly. The animations for the Gridman Calibur are stunning. Speaking of animations, the jump in quality for certain units is jarring. You'll see a high-definition, buttery-smooth attack from the Mazinger Z: Infinity units, and then you’ll see a slightly recycled animation from an older title for a side character. It’s a bit of a mixed bag, but when it hits, it hits hard.
The inclusion of Majestic Prince was a highlight for me. Those units move with a kinetic energy that most of the "clunky" Gundams just can't match.
Why the DLC Controversy is Valid
The base game is huge. Like, 100-hours-if-you’re-a-completionist huge. But Bandai Namco decided to lock some of the most iconic suits behind DLC. Voltes V, Ultraman, and even some Gundam variations weren't in the starting lineup.
It feels a bit greedy.
If you want the "full" experience, you’re looking at a significantly higher price tag than a standard $60 game. However, the DLC missions are actually voiced and have unique story beats. They aren't just "unit packs." They integrate into the world. If you’re a fan of Sakura Wars, seeing those steampunk mechs interact with the Victory Gundam cast is a fever dream come true.
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The AOS Update System is a Grind (But a Good One)
Instead of just upgrading individual robot stats, you now have the AOS Update system for the Dreisstrager, your home base ship. You’re spending MxP to upgrade everything from laboratory tech to the ship’s bridge.
It’s a massive resource sink.
It adds a layer of "management" that the series was missing. Do you prioritize getting more money per kill, or do you unlock the upgrade that lets your pilots gain more SP? It makes the "between mission" gameplay feel less like a chore and more like a strategy session.
But be warned: it is very easy to become overpowered. If you focus on the right AOS upgrades early, your units will be dodging 95% of attacks by the mid-game. For some, this ruins the tactical challenge. For others, it’s the ultimate power fantasy.
Difficulty: The Elephant in the Room
Super Robot Wars has a reputation for being easy. Super Robot Wars 30 doesn't really fix that on the standard difficulty settings. If you’ve played a Fire Emblem or a XCOM, you will breeze through this.
You need to play on "Hard" or "Super Expert" if you want to actually think about your positioning. On the lower settings, you can basically just send your strongest unit into the middle of the map and click "Counter-attack" until everyone is dead.
The "Auto-Battle" feature proves this. You can literally let the AI play the game for you. It’s great for grinding out those repeatable missions while you’re eating lunch, but it does raise the question: is the gameplay deep enough if a basic AI can handle it?
The depth comes from the Spirit Commands. Using "Soul" to double your damage or "Intuition" to guarantee a dodge is the core of the SRW puzzle. It’s about resource management. Can you save enough SP to take down the boss’s 200,000 HP in one turn before he regenerates? That’s where the tension lives.
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Acknowledging the "English-Speaking" Problem
For years, we had to rely on fan translations or "Asia-English" imports from Play-Asia. Super Robot Wars 30 being on Steam globally was a massive hurdle cleared.
But the translation isn't perfect.
There are some typos. Some names are translated inconsistently with previous localized media. For example, some fans take issue with how certain technical terms from the Universal Century Gundam timeline are handled. But honestly? It's readable, it's fun, and it captures the "hot-blooded" spirit of the dialogue. It's better than nothing, and it's a hell of a lot better than the machine translations we used to suffer through.
The Story: A Multiverse that Actually Works
The protagonist, whether you choose Edge or Az, is actually likable. They aren't just blank slates. Edge is a bit of a lazy drifter, which is a nice change of pace from the "I must protect everyone" tropes we usually get.
The plot involves "The Questors" and a looming threat to the entire multiverse. It's standard SRW fare, but the way it ties in the 30th Anniversary theme is clever. It feels like a "greatest hits" album where all the tracks have been remastered.
One thing that genuinely surprised me was how well they handled the Code Geass: Lelouch of the Re-surrection content. It picks up after the movie, meaning the characters have already gone through their major arcs. They act like veterans. They mentor the younger pilots. It adds a layer of maturity to the crossover interactions that you don't always see.
How to Maximize Your Experience
If you’re diving into this now, don't try to finish everything in one go. You will burn out. The game is designed for "episodes." Play a mission or two, then put it down.
- Prioritize MxP Upgrades: Focus on the AOS Laboratory first. The faster you get MxP, the faster you can unlock everything else.
- Don't ignore the "Supporters": This is a newer mechanic where non-pilot characters (like the girls from Magic Knight Rayearth or the Gundam bridge crews) give you passive buffs. They can be game-changers.
- Save your Skill Programs: Don't just dump them on your favorite pilot immediately. Wait until you unlock the "Attacker" or "Dash" skills, which are significantly more impactful than a +5 to Melee.
- Customize the Music: One of the best features of the PC version is the ability to use your own MP3s. If you don't like the MIDI version of "Beyond the Time," you can just drop the actual song into the folder. It changes the entire vibe of the game.
The Verdict on the 30th Anniversary
Is it the best Super Robot Wars ever? Maybe not. SRW W on the DS or SRW Z2 on the PSP often take that crown for their tighter stories and experimental mechanics.
But Super Robot Wars 30 is the most accessible.
It’s a giant, messy, loud, and incredibly heart-felt love letter to a genre of anime that doesn't get much spotlight anymore. It’s a game where a magic girl from a 90s shojo series can team up with a gritty mercenary from a 2010s sci-fi epic to punch a god in the face.
That’s something worth experiencing.
To get the most out of your playtime, check out the "Super Expert Mode Plus" if you find the base game too easy; it rebalances the entire economy and forces you to use every tool in your kit. Also, keep an eye on the mission "stars"—gold stars are story-critical, but the silver ones are where the best character development happens. Stick to a core team of about 15-20 units, or you'll spread your resources too thin and end up with a hangar full of glass cannons.