SD The Great Battle - Aratanaru Chousen (1990)
SD The Great Battle - Aratanaru Chousen (literally "SD Great Battle: New Challenge") is a hybrid action-strategy game developed and published by Banpresto for the Super Famicom on December 21, 1990. It is the second installment in the Compati Hero series, which features super-deformed (SD) chibi-style versions of iconic characters from the Ultraman, Gundam, and Kamen Rider franchises in a crossover universe. Banpresto, known for its licensed anime games, created this series to capitalize on the popularity of these three pillars of Japanese pop culture, and the game became a surprising success due to its unique blend of genres and its charm.
Gameplay and Genre Hybridity
The game is split into two primary phases: a real-time strategy map phase and an action platformer battle phase. On the world map, players control a team of heroes and must strategize their movements across a grid-based battlefield, capturing enemy bases, managing resources, and deploying troops to weaken the enemy stronghold. The strategy layer is surprisingly deep, requiring players to consider unit strengths, terrain advantages, and supply lines, adding a layer of tactical thinking rarely seen in licensed anime games of that era. Once the player's hero encounters an enemy unit or reaches an enemy base, the game transitions to a side-scrolling action stage where the player takes direct control of one of the heroes, fighting through waves of enemy soldiers and mechanical monsters using punches, kicks, and special attacks.
Each hero has unique abilities: Ultraman can fire his Specium Ray, Gundam can use its beam saber and vulcan guns, and Kamen Rider can perform his signature Rider Kick. The action segments are fast-paced and require quick reflexes, with the SD art style making the battles feel lighthearted and humorous despite the serious stakes. The game also features a character progression system where defeating enemies earns experience points, unlocking new moves and enhancing stats, encouraging players to engage with both the strategy and action phases equally. The integration of the two gameplay styles was innovative for 1990, and it gave the game a sense of scope and adventure that was rare for a licensed title.
Cultural Impact and Trivia
SD The Great Battle was a commercial hit in Japan, selling over 800,000 copies and launching a long-running franchise that would eventually span over 20 games across multiple platforms, including the Great Battle series for the PlayStation and the Battle Dodgeball spin-offs. The game's success helped establish Banpresto as a major player in the licensed games market and paved the way for the company's later masterpiece, the Super Robot Wars series, which would adopt a similar crossover formula but with tactical RPG mechanics. Interestingly, the game was never released outside of Japan, making it a cult classic among Western import fans who appreciate its playful mashup of iconic characters. The chibi art style became a defining characteristic of the series, influencing numerous other crossover games in the 1990s. The game also featured a then-novel "password save" system that allowed players to continue their progress across multiple sessions, a welcome feature for such a lengthy campaign. Today, SD The Great Battle remains a nostalgic treasure for Japanese gamers and a fascinating artifact of the era when licensed games began to be taken seriously as creative works in their own right.