Gadget Trial
Gadget Trial (ガジェットトライアル) | |
|---|---|
 Cover of the DVD case | |
| Developer(s) | KOGADO Studio (Kuma-san Team) |
| Platform(s) | PC (Windows) |
| Release | JPN June 23, 2006 |
| Genre(s) | Visual novel, Bishōjo game, Turn-based strategy |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
Gadget Trial (ガジェットトライアル, Gajetto Toraiaru) is a Japanese PC game that combines turn-based strategy gaming with visual novel elements, using the common anime style of artwork for its character designs. It was developed by KOGADO Studio's Kuma-san Team (which is one of the several in-house development teams of the studio), and was released in Japan on June 23, 2006. The game is commercially distributed for 8800 yen. Its original language is Japanese, and there are no official translations; however, an unofficial, fan-made English translation patch is freely available on the Internet, both for the demo and the full version of the game.
Overview
Gadget Trial takes place in the future, decades after an unidentified world war, and focuses on the so-called E-Series. This is a new generation of military equipment, representing a very advanced level of technology, developed by an organisation called Eastern Treaty Union (ETU) under the codename Project 'Next E'. The E-Series units are human-like cyborgs or bio-computers, constructed from various organic bio-alloys, and they are capable of regeneration and reproduction, similar to bacteria. Also, they can utilize Reinforcement Units, special machinery which extends their capabilities beyond regular war machines. Furthermore, their artificial brain greatly surpasses human mental abilities, calculating complex mathematical problems in very short times, and deciding very quickly between various options on how to complete a certain task.
However, there are two kinds of the initial prototype units; Type Black and Type White. The Black E-Series are made with pure focus on effectiveness, laying importance on machine-like obedience and precision. The White E-Series, in opposition to the Black ones, have AIs which are programmed with human-like personalities, so they act like real humans, displaying various emotions and showing different states of mind depending on their mood. Thus the military executive staff decided to have field trials, to test which design is better in battle, prior to a pending mass-production. The player gets the role of a young major who has to train and lead a team of Type White units against a group of Type Black E-Series. Regardless of their type and function, all the units look like attractive young females, with their appearances ranging from the pre-pubertal elementary schooler girl to the well-endowed young lady well in her twenties. Thus, Gadget Trial can be considered a bishōjo ("beautiful girls") game, which is an anime-related game genre popularized in Japan.
First, the story and the White team is introduced to the player in a visual novel section. After this, the first trial begins. After a successful maiden battle, a visual novel interlude comes again, which gives way to the next mission. Visual novel parts are always inserted between battles, for comic relief and to introduce the next mission. Albeit one-part turn-based strategy and one-part visual novel, the game does not feature any sexually offensive content. Thus, the similarity to eroge, such as Shuffle! is limited to the graphic style itself, the dialogs and the interface. Naturally, there is indirect violence depicted while engaging opposing units in a turn, but it only shows flashes and explosions in a playful manner, without showing any blood or gore.
Characters
(Notes: Names are in the western order. Those characters who does not have the "Voiced by:" notion are unvoiced.)
Type White team
- Major Shitoshi Mihara
Mihara is in charge of the Type White team as the leader, always trying to act serious and a little bit harsh. He is often amused (in the negative sense of the word) by the girls' antics, comments and their overall diversity in their personalities. The player assumes his character role in the game.
Voiced by: Tomokazu Sugita
- Colonel Fujimoto
Fujimoto is the superior commander of Mihara. He is the chief officer of the home base of the Type White team, and is close to retirement.
- Izen (Model Number EPN-001GF IZEN)
(Pronounced "Aizen".)
Izen is the infantry and healer unit. She has very limited offensive and defensive force, but she is the only unit capable of infiltrating an enemy building, turning it over to the player's side. Izen is the archetypal "sunny idiot" or genki girl of the team; thinking positively, acting cheerful and making silly comments. For example, she likened themselves to regular vacuum cleaners, although a bit fancier. Her favorite snack is dynamite, and she envies Sōka, because she can fly everywhere she wants.
Voiced by: Ryō Hirohashi
- Sōka (Model Number EPN-002AF SOUKA)
(Known as "Souka" in the fan-translation; pronunciation is the same.)
Sōka is the jet fighter, carrier helicopter and bomber unit. She has good offensive power and a very large range of movement. She is overly confident with her superiority compared to ground forces, which fuels Yu-ri's and Hisoka's constant teasing, stating that she is a perfect killing machine with her ranged, emotionless, shoot-and-forget attacks, thus making her feel very awkward. Sōka can be compared to the stereotypical ōjo (high self-esteemed, selfish, princess-like) characters in anime and manga.
Voiced by: Ryōko Shintani
- Nei (Model Number EPN-000GF NEI)
Nei is the tank, scout and Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) unit. She has heavy offensive and defensive force, but with a limited movement range. She is the most respected member of the team, both because her combat power and her thoughtful, refined, feminine personality. Nei acts like an older sister (onee-san) figure to the rest of the girls.
Voiced by: Shizuka Itō
- Mini Nei
Mini Nei accompanies Nei while she uses one of her Reinforcement Units. Mini Nei looks like Nei super deformed.
- Yu-ri (Model Number EPN-003GF YU-RI)
Yu-ri is the automated artillery and anti-airforce (AA) rocket unit. She is only capable of powerful long-range attacks, so other nearby units must protect her. She is the youngest-looking member of the team, and her personality fits her loli image well, although sometimes she makes the most ironical and satirical comments towards the others.
Voiced by: Rika Morinaga
- Hisoka (Model Number EPN-004MF HISOKA)
Hisoka is the submarine, carrier hovercraft and warship unit. She has good offensive force, but she is vulnerable if she is near a shoreline. She is the most cold-headed amongst the five, being an exact opposite to Sōka. Hisoka is rather calm thinking about her purpose, talking about war and killing with a slight smile on her face. She is also the one and only team member who does not complain about the G-force test trainings, but endures them silently, reaching a test score far above even Nei's. Hisoka can be likened to the passive, dull, emotionally empty/introverted character archetype of anime and manga, such as Neon Genesis Evangelion's Rei Ayanami.
Voiced by: Kaori Nazuka
Type Black team
- Major Yūki Wakabayashi
Wakabayashi is the leader of the Type Black team. She acts rather rude and superior to Mihara and his team, firmly believing that her obedient soldiers can easily beat the "weirdos" of the Type White team.
Voiced by: Sango Minako
- Black Izen
A replica of White Izen without a personality.
- Black Sōka
A replica of White Sōka without a personality.
- Black Nei
A replica of White Nei without a personality.
- Black Yu-ri
A replica of White Yu-ri without a personality.
- Black Hisoka
A replica of White Hisoka without a personality.
Music
Gadget Trial's opening theme is called GoGo Girl!!. On July 21, 2006 Five Records released a collection of songs and background music pieces, titled ガジェットトライアル PERFECT AUDIOTRACKS (Gadget Trial Perfect Audiotracks) for 2940 yen.
ガジェットトライアル PERFECT AUDIOTRACKS tracklist
1. オープニング「さあこいモンキー野郎ども！」
2. GoGo Girl!!
3. BGM resolution
4. BGM we're on the march
5. CMですよ！（その１）
6. トーク「このゆとり教育世代め！」
7. BGM message
8. BGM quack！
9. CMですよ！（その２）
10. トーク「少佐に聞け！」
11. CMですよ！（その３）
12. BGM DI
13. BGM pitiful me
14. ショートドラマ劇場「百円ショップより愛をこめて」
15. BGM get well soon
16. BGM supersonic
17. BGM ?stimulants
18. CMですよ！（その４）
19. エンドトーク
20. みんなで歌おうGoGo Girl!!（カラオケ）