< Super Robot Wars Compact 2

Super Robot Wars Compact 2/Characters


Kyosuke Nanbu (Voiced by Toshiyuki Morikawa)

You'll be seeing him and his derivatives...A LOT.

"I don't mind betting on tough odds!"

Debuts in the lowly Compact 2, but proved popular enough his game gets updated into Impact and becomes another protagonist for the first Original Generation, though his route becomes non-canon (the second half of it, anyways). Kyosuke's grumpy with a bad life-or-death gambling habit and takes war rather seriously. His partner's the extremely cheery Excellen Browning, which somehow makes up a good foil for his stoicism, for a good reason: without her, he may as well become too grumpy like his Evil Twin Beowulf in the Shadow-Mirror universe. He also has a rather unnatural luck: in the past, he was one of two shuttle crash survivors, coming out with just minor scratches and bruises. While usually calm, he has a Berserk Button: go ahead and endanger his woman, and he becomes a Determinator with a dangerous Tranquil Fury.

At first he's a new recruit to Sanger Zonvolt's ATX Team, but after Sanger's Face Heel Turn, he takes leadership of the team and proves himself to be equally as badass as Sanger in the role. He pretty much becomes the "leader guy" after the ATX and SRX Teams merge into one, eventually bringing Sanger back to the team... unofficially. His biggest contribution in Original Generation 2 is during the war against the Inspectors and the Shadow-Mirror, wherein he becomes The Rival to Axel Almer. He's also sort of targeted by the Einst, especially Alfimi, but he and Excellen manages to persuade her and kick the crap out of her boss. Original Generation Gaiden has Kyosuke suffer Heroic BSOD for three times, due to his apparent failure to protect his friend Lamia Loveless. Thankfully, Axel (who by this time gets a Heel Face Turn) manages to set him straight after a Dynamic Entry rescue. As of Another Century's Episode: R, he and Ryusei Date have been teleported to who knows where. Fortunately, he will return for the upcoming Second Original Generation.

Kyosuke pilots the very bulky Real Robot Genre Alt Eisen and its upgrade the Alt Eisen Riese, all that adheres to the Rule of Cool (so heavy it needs a Tesla Drive to stand up, and he's the only one who can use the Alt). They embody these tropes:

  • Ace Custom: Played with: the Alt Eisen's a Flawed Prototype, intended to be next-generation Gespenst MK III but it's bulk, speed, and unorthodox weapons rendered it too clumsy and impractical to be put into mass-production. The only model produced had been gathering dust in a hanger, with the Alt's mechanical designer about to scrap it, until Kyosuke's piloting abilities were noticed. Since he proved to be such a good match for it, the higher-ups decided to let him keep it, turning it into this trope.
    • Heads into Meaningful Name: translated loosely, Alt Eisen is German for "old/scrap iron".
    • Note the Mid-Season Upgrade, Alt Eisen Riese ("Old/Scrap Iron Giant"), is more impractical: it's so heavy it needs a Tesla Drive (a part normally used to make mechs and ships fly) to even stand up. That being said, it's specifically tailored for Kyosuke to use (he even had a hand in developing it), ultimately making it a true Ace Custom.
  • Ace Pilot: With the heavy-hitting Alt, Kyosuke most definitely is a "Steamroller".
  • Awesome but Impractical: "Trump Card": the Alt unloads its entire arsenal, making for one extremely powerful attack; unfortunately, it's a one-use thing per scenario. Bummer...
    • Note the Riese lets you use it twice in a scenario (excluding resupply via a teammate or battleship).
    • In-universe, the Alt Eisen IS this trope: see Ace Custom.
  • Badass: Oh, so VERY much.
    • Badass Normal: While most of his other Nakama are pilots with powerful Psychic Powers or not even human at all, he manages to kick ass and win battles solely by skill and loads of battle experience behind the cockpit (being the only person who can pilot the Alt Eisen/Alt Eisen Riese). The only thing that's abnormal about him is his insane luck giving him the capability to survive injuries that should ordinarily kill a person.
    • Out of the numerous Badass originals, he's considered among the top tier, right alongside Sanger freaking Zonvolt, which is really saying something.
  • Bandaged Dude: In Super Robot Wars Original Generation: The Inspectors, after he gets trashed by Axel.
  • Born Lucky: He got it after the shuttle crash. Since then, he's dead meat without it, which goes along with...

Kyosuke: "...I managed to survive... again."

  • Brooding Boy, Gentle Girl
  • Calling Your Attacks: Usually averted, due to him playing The Stoic. Maybe that's why Banpresto forced him to go Hot-Blooded when he's put into the Gespenst MK II Type-S.
    • They did it again in episode 7 of The Inspectors, though this is entirely justified due to the words "Shout Now".
  • Chekhov's Gun: In the prologue of The Inspectors, Axel defeats Beowulf using his Soulgain's Genbu Godan, which is seen impacted on Beowulf's Einst-ified Gespenst MK III. In the final battle, Axel and Kyosuke's combined attacks breaks open the once again transformed MK III's outer armor, revealing Soulgain's arm still lodged in its chest. Guess how Kyosuke, with no ammo left, takes down Beowulf?
  • Combination Attack: Rampage Ghost.
  • Determinator: He practically runs on this. Sanger once described Kyosuke as "a man who will charge headfirst into danger and always find a way to win, no matter how bad the odds."

Kyosuke: "Stop me... if you can."

  • Evil Twin: Beowulf.
  • Expy: Has two: Reiji Arisu of Namco X Capcom and Haken Browning of Super Robot Wars OG Saga: Endless Frontier.
    • The latter doesn't really count, as he's nothing like Kyosuke, not even in looks, and to boot, his entire storyline is that he's a W-Series model human clone of Lemon Browning...
    • Still played straight in Haken's stoicism (albeit, a brief one), gambling habits/references (more to Kyosuke, even!), a main weapon with a pile-driver spike on one end, leadership qualities and generalization he's the token protagonist of a game where the director was also the one in charge of Impact and Namco X Capcom.
    • Resident Little Miss Badass Vita from Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha shout many references to the Alt Eisen: her barrier jacket is predominantly red and black (with some white highlights), her armed device is called "Graf Eisen" which, while a hammer, functions as a barrier-piercing attack with a pike by spending cartridges and also has the power to attack her enemies with tons of iron balls. Also, she gets trounced by new characters quite frequently.
    • In-universe, as of the Second Original Generation, Ariel Org's Flickerei Geist from Real Robot Regiment.
  • Field Promotion: Is given full command of the ATX Team following Sanger's departure. After Ingram Prisken pulls his Face Heel Turn, he's promoted to lieutenant and practically overall battle commander of the Hagane and Hiryu Custom forces. Whoo! Talk about Breakout Character.
  • Five Temperament Ensemble: In the ATX Team, Kyosuke would be the "Choleric". He was "Phlegmatic" when Sanger was around, though.
  • Gameplay and Story Segregation: Even remember the time when he's the only person who can pilot the Alt Eisen? Yeah, the games seem to forget that.
    • He's not the only person who can pilot the Alt: he's the only person who can use it effectively.
  • Gatling Good: Alt Eisen Riese's Chaingun.
  • Get a Hold of Yourself, Man!: Did this to Sanger: "We don't need a moping fool. We need Sanger Zonvolt, The Sword That Cleaves Evil!".
  • Gut Feeling: Kyosuke has good instincts and his "hunches" tend to be spot on. Notably in Original Generation 2, he suspected Lamia was The Mole within minutes of meeting her, and correctly guessed she was working for a third-party.
    • Back in the first Original Generation, he also suspected that Ingram was a traitor.
    • Radha once asked Excellen if he was a Psychodriver like the characters from the Alpha series.
  • Heroic BSOD, due to I Let Gwen Stacy Die: Three times in Original Generation Gaiden. Absolutely mind-boggling he hasn't become The Woobie yet. Fortunately for him, the latter's subverted later on.
  • Hot-Blooded: While he usually comes off as cold, reserved, and apathetic towards just about anything, there are times on the battlefield where his emotions break through and he shows this trope.
  • Ignore the Fanservice: Slight subversion: it's not that he doesn't appreciate Excellen's antics, but her Ms. Fanservice hijinks are just inappropriate sometimes, depending on the situation.
  • Impaled with Extreme Prejudice: Alt Eisen Riese's Revolving Bunker works like this. Emphasis on "Extreme Prejudice".
  • Improbable Weapon User: Alt uses a pile bunker and carries Shoulders of Doom as weapons.[1] When it's upgraded to the Riese, it can't even move with the extra armor and weaponry: who in the right mind would want to use this machine?? Fortunately, Kyosuke's the only one who can ever use it and factor in his ungodly luck, here's a true example of a weapon not fit for anyone but him.
  • Kinetic Weapons Are Just Better: Even in a setting where super robots generally outclass real robots, the Alt Eisen manages to make the best of itself due to its armament that it can rival most supers in power.
    • In The Inspector anime, the Riese was able to physically overpower Axel's Super Robot classed Soulgain.
  • Leitmotif: Kotetsu no Beowulf ("Steel Beowulf").
  • Lightning Bruiser: Tanking and dealing high damage while still being able to dodge are all wrapped up in one Alt Eisen-shaped package. The Riese, if set up correctly, can be a potential Game Breaker.
    • Justified in-universe: the Alt was specifically designed to charge into enemy lines and for blitzing strategies, hence it's heavy armor and high acceleration. Incidentally, this is also why it's so difficult to pilot: it's set up for high-risk high-reward combat strategies (which, come to think of it, fits Kyouske's personalty like a glove).
  • More Dakka: The general idea behind the Alt's design.
    • Interestingly, most of the Alt's weapons are classified as melee-based, including its "Claymore" attack, which involves launching dozens if not hundreds of explosive giant-robot-sized balls.
  • Multicolored Hair: Brown and gold.
  • Official Couple: To the point where their Portmanteau Couple Name is "Kyocellen".
  • Patrick Stewart Speech: Him giving one to the Neue Regisseur ultimately convinces Alfimi to pull her Heel Face Turn.
  • Pietà Plagiarism: In The Inspectors when Excellen is rescued by Kyouske, their mechs are in this pose.
  • Rule of Cool: The whole premise of the Alt Eisen.
  • Savvy Guy, Energetic Girl
  • Shoulders of Doom: For once, entirely functional: the giant boxes that are the Alt Eisen's shoulders contain both the delivery mechanisms and the uncountable number of metal balls involved in the "Claymore" attack.
  • The Stoic: But Not So Stoic several times in Original Generation Gaiden.
  • Tranquil Fury: What will befall on those who piss him off.
    • Kyosuke's a master of this trope. He never looses his composure when his buttons are pressed and always stays focused on the task at hand; hell, he just becomes more determined to beat the crap out of the stupid bastard who pushed those buttons in the first place. A good example comes from Original Generation after a Federation officer turns traitor and abducts Princess Shine Hausen, then flees while a large enemy force attacks the heroes' base. Kyosuke orders his allies to focus on dealing with the more immediate threat rather than chase the kidnappers, prompting this exchange:

Katina Tarask: "He's cold."

Excellen: "Not really. Kyosuke's bad about holding a grudge."

Kyosuke: "We'll settle this later Hans. My way."

Excellen: "See."

      • Later, Excellen remarks that she feels sorry for the traitor because "He made Kyosuke mad."
    • Of course, the best example would have to be during the famous Scenario 35 event, when Ingram purposely goes out of his way to taunt him. Kyosuke, when confronted with Excellen, Brainwashed and Crazy by Ingram, goads Kyosuke to attack him. He responds by saying "I see", then calmly gives orders to immobilize her mech; he even exchanges a few jokes with Sanger. What follows is this:

Katina: "Wow. He can stay calm even through this?"
Ryusei: "No. I've never seen him this angry before."

Excellen Browning (Voiced by Yuko Mizutani)

Wanna see me in it?"

]

"Cheer up, nobody says you suck...even though you do."

This...err...extremely cheery Ms. Fanservice is partner and complement to Kyosuke, and his girlfriend to boot. Majorly flirty, loves to tease, can handle her alcohol good but still loyal to her boyfriend. She's not an Otaku but has a hint of geekiness intact - she makes some shout outs by herself. She also pretty much loves acting like a Cool Big Sis towards anyone younger than her. She's in fact 80% Einst, because she was involved in a shuttle accident with Kyosuke, but didn't survive, if only the Einst hadn't interfered and saved her life. She also plays the Damsel in Distress role several times: first by Ingram (now discontinued), then the Einsts. She befriends Robot Girl Lamia Loveless and showcases her traits as a Cool Big Sis towards her, making Lamia call her Ex-oneesama or Miss Excell (or maybe since Lamia's so clueless about human personality at the time, she accepts that kind of nickname). Thus far, she has two clones: Einst-girl Alfimi and Lamia's mistress Lemon Browning (although Lemon's more along the lines of Excellen's Alternate Universe self).

Excellen rides the sniping bot Weissritter and it gets upgraded/mutated into the Rein Weissritter. They embody these tropes:

Einst Alfimi (Voiced by Yuko Mizutani)

Let's say sometime during her earlier days, Excellen had an accident in a shuttle plane that would've otherwise killed her, were it not for Kyosuke. And let's just say for a brief time, before she was Deader Than Dead, she was hauled off by the Einsts, who proceed to rebuild her. But why stop there? Why not create a clone out of her, name it Alfimi, but instead of being a Manic Pixie Dream Girl Bottle Fairy, she's an emotionless loli?

Anyway, years later, the meddling Einst declare humanity needs a reboot, and they need their own Adam and Eve to make the planet grow again. Thus Alfimi's sent out to capture Excellen and persuade the "Adam" to agree to the Einst's plans. Instead, they pull out their own persuasion for Alfimi to break out on her own; ...it works and the bad Einsts are destroyed. Unfortunately, since she's tied down to the Einsts, destroying them means destroying yourself, but at least she was thankful she made friends...

...at least, until she suddenly doesn't want to die. In short, moments before vanishing for good, she comes across Axel Almer. Alfimi merges with him until her body regenerates, then wakes up when the new breed of Einsts, the Jetzt, starts doing a little havoc of their own. Out pops Alfimi alive and well, with her machine to boot, tasked with hunting down the Jetzt and putting them back to sleep. When the deed's done, she follows Axel, politely refusing to rejoin her old friends. And then she gets kidnapped and lands in the Endless Frontier...

Alfimi pilots the very scary-looking Einst mecha called Persoenlichkeit (shortened into "Lichkeit" for the English release because of space restrictions). Tropes associated with Alfimi:

  • Bittersweet Ending: Killing the Einst kills her...but then, in Original Generation Gaiden...
    • No One Could Survive That: She floats around space as as a soul, then fuses with Axel temporarily and gets her body and mech back in full later.
  • Cosmic Horror: Persoenlichkeit.
  • Expy: Endless Frontier's final boss is practically the Lichkeit, albeit without Alfimi and sentient.
  • Facial Markings
  • Heel Face Turn
  • Humanity Is Infectious
  • Katanas Are Just Better: Lichkeit's Weapon of Choice; coincidentally becomes Alfimi's weapon in Endless Frontier EXCEED.
  • Late Arrival Spoiler: Alfimi is Excellen's clone. Do note that she winding up resurrecting herself and Axel, all the way towards appearing in Endless Frontier EXCEED is STILL a spoiler.
  • Leitmotif: "Alchemist With a Wavering Heart"; localized as "Alchemist's Query".
  • Moe Moe: Alfimi was already adorable, but The Inspectors cranks it Up to Eleven.
    • Creepy Child: Depending on who you ask, the anime might extend to this, too.
  • Nightmare Fuel: The Persoenlichkeit's strongest attack involves her familiars pinning down its target. Alfimi gets up close and personal, unsheathes the Lichkeit's katana and stabs the living shit out of it. Skewering motions make the sight of the attack painful, until you realize Time Stands Still during the attack, meaning the target isn't even feeling anything until afterwards.
  • OT3: You think Kyosuke will just settle for Excellen and not both her and a loli clone? Fanworks say you're wrong.
    • Try OT4...of sorts: before her return in Original Generation Gaiden, there existed a LOT of fanart featuring the "Nanbu family" and their very, very cute twin daughters. See Dead Guy, Junior for more.
  • Perky Female Minion: First for the Einst, then she becomes Axel's.
  • Ship Tease: Arguably, Kyosuke, but by Original Generation Gaiden, Alfimi's been hanging around Axel the entire time and decides to go away with him. She even lampshades it by stating she's the "only one who understands Axel". Make of that what you will.
    • Made more obvious thanks to Endless Frontier EXCEED ascending them both to Battle Couple status.
  • Speech Impediment: Not really, but she talks really slow.
    • It's made more jarring considering who she's a clone of.
  • Spell My Name with an "S": Is it Alfimi or Alchemie?
  • Token Mini-Moe: Amongst the Impact originals.
  • You Gotta Have Blue Hair: Even when your origin is an orange-blonde Ms. Fanservice...

EINST/JETZT

The antagonists of Compact 2/Impact. Said to be have around since the beginning of time, they act like the guardians of the universe and eliminate those they consider to be a threat to the natural order of the universe and recreate life from the ashes. It just so happens they pick the universe where our heroes live in: bad idea. They speak telepathically and only Kyosuke and Excellen can hear them. A source of Epileptic Trees arise due to the Einst being responsible for Kyosuke's Evil Twin Beowulf in the Shadow-Mirror dimension. It also makes an appearance in Endless Frontier. In Original Generation Gaiden, they come back as the Jetzt. Tropes regarding of the Einst:

  • Blue and Orange Morality
  • Cloning Blues: Alfimi.
    • Taken Up to Eleven in Endless Frontier, where half the playable cast is cloned by the Einst and must be fought.
  • Colony Drop: In Original Generation 2, the Stern Regisseur attempts to ram the Earth with its 40 kilometer body.
  • Combat Tentacles: Featured on Glied and Regisseur types. Becomes Naughty Tentacles in fanwork.
  • Eldritch Abomination
  • A God Am I: Subverted with Neue Regisseur: when it explains the Einst's role, the heroes ask if it claims to be God, which Neue denies. Wahrschein Lichkeit of Endless Frontier didn't get the memo, and compares itself to "a Creator" with its last words (ironically, it did create the Endless Frontier).
  • Gratuitous German: All the names and attack names of Einst units and characters.
  • Hijacked by Ganon: In Endless Frontier, we find out they're the real enemies.
  • Hive Queen: Neue/Stern Regisseur.
  • Organic Technology: They can mimic mecha perfectly, the best example being the Einst Eisen, the Evil Knockoff of the Alt Eisen.
  • That's No Moon: The Stern Regisseur's corpse becomes the Einsts' dimension in Endless Frontier.
  • True Final Boss: Achieving a certain amount of Battle Masteries in Original Generation 2 nets you a final fight with a space-station-sized Stern Regisseur, after inhabiting the White Star.
    • Subverted and retconned by Original Generations: you'll be fighting it no matter what.
    • Also subverted earlier since Impact, where Char Aznable is the final villain if you achieve enough skill points.
  • The Virus
  • You Will Be Assimilated: Highlighted in The Inspectors, where civilians are slowly mutated into Einst hybrids via a fog.
  1. ↑ The Claymore Launchers fire Humongous Mecha-sized titanium ball bearings
This article is issued from Allthetropes. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.