Update: June 29, 2007
«©NCSX» The Deluxe Pack Edition of Evangelion Battle Orchestra includes the following bonus items in addition to the game software:

» An exclusive mini music box which plays an EVA tune
» Three cards which feature the three Evangelion in the game
» Tenth Angel Sahaquiel cellphone strap
» Miniature micro-fiber towel
» Evangelion sticker sheet

The Evangelion and Angels go to war once more in a pseudo 3D fighting game where the combatants punch, kick, and jump their way through the ranks. We term Evangelion Battle Orchestra a pseudo 3D fighting game because the action takes place on a 2D plane ala Naruto Narutimett Hero but the world is rendered in 3D which twists and turns with the action on screen. There's also a collection of cut-scenes that are shown during a fight when a special attack or weapon is triggered. The animation serves to break up the flow of the battle and perhaps energize the gamer with a feeling of power and authority.

The Evangelion are not tethered to any power source and they're free to ramble around the battlefield like free men. An EVA mech can attack with conventional blows, bladed weaponry, and firearms for distance attacks. Wooden crates that appear on stage may be cracked open to reveal power-ups and weapons for use in the battle. The Rumble Mode of the game features four-player fighting which gets a little cramped when all four combatants are in each other's faces and punching like felons. The D-pad or L-Analog can be used for movement; the controls are somewhat floaty but acceptable for an Evangelion game from Broccoli.

Jan Code: 4510417031000

View the back cover and screenshots on the main NCSX website.

» In the intro to the game, the Evangelion logo appears followed by Battle Orchestra text and a tree of character faces followed by images of the main characters, supporting cast, a ruined Tokyo, and Evangelion in swinging action against each other and against angels. Lilith on the cross is shown for a millisecond followed by more Evangelion in action and quick shots of the main characters before the title screen pops into view.

» Press START and the following options pop into view against a wall of Emergency hexagons and the sound of machinery:

STORY MODE.......... Select Shinji Ikari, Rei Ayanami, or Asuka Langley and play their respective stories
RUMBLE MODE......... Four player Evangelion fighting madness. The other players can be CPU-controlled or human.
PRACTICE MODE....... Train your EVA handling skills against a CPU-controlled opponent
ENDLESS MODE........ Select a character from five available choices and battle without interruption
SHOP & GALLERY...... Visit the shop and use credits to unlock gallery items or visit the Sound Library (BGM and character voices)
OPTION.............. Adjust sound volumes for BGM, SE, VOICE, Set joypad button configurations, toggle Dual Shock vibration, and load/save data

»» Note that the Sound Library in the GALLERY section is completely locked. Credits must be earned and used to purchase selections so that they can be accessed by the player.

»» At the outset of the game, the only characters that are available are:

EVA-01 as piloted by Shinji
EVA-00.P.T piloted by Rei Ayanami
EVA-02 as piloted by Asuka Langley
03th Angel: Sachiel
04th Angel: Shamshiel

There are 13 additional spots in the character selection screen but they're all locked.

»» Only four stages are available at the outset of the game but an additional 5 stages may be unlocked. The available stages are:

Tokyo 3
Geo Front
Aircraft Carrier
Submergence City

»» Either d-pad or L-analog may be used to control the EVA or Angels. The button controls are:

TRIANGLE........... Block. Jumping and then pressing the TRIANGLE button will trigger an artillery attack
SQUARE.............. Attack. Jumping and then attacking will force a mid-air strike
CIRCLE............... Weapon Attack
CROSS................ Jump. Press again in mid-air for a double jump
L1-TRIGGER....... Protective barrier that encases the Evangelion
R1-TRIGGER....... Berserker attack that is accompanied by a short cut-scene
R2-TRIGGER....... Power-up

»» In the PRACTICE MODE, the CPU can be set to stand still, crouch, continually jump, continuously punch, or attack and play the game normally.

»» In the Submergence City stage, a shark swims around in the water and will do damage to whomever is in its path. It'll swim up to a warrior and then perform a snout-butt attack.

»» When playing the STORY MODE, you can select EASY, NORMAL, or HARD mode. Shinji's story starts with a battle in Tokyo 3 against the Third Angel Sachiel. It's night time and beacons of light are scanning the skies in the background. Misato communicates with Shinji via telescreen (accompanied by voice acting) and gives him mission objectives. Sachiel is limber and has the penchant of throwing out a lot of attacks in quick succession. If you play Rei's Story Mode, she'll battle Sachiel in Submergence City during the daytime for the first battle. Asuka's Story Mode takes place on the Aircraft Carrier stage where she battles The Sixth Angel Gaghiel for her first encounter.

»» For a cheap way to beat Sachiel with Shinji in the first stage, simply stand atop one of the elevated platforms and punch Sachiel whenever he jumps upwards to attack. When he ranges far away and tries to jump up on the other elevated platform, just shoot him with your rifle. He'll occasionally be able to jump onto your platform and land a few blows but stand your ground and punch him down again. Sachiel will be beaten easily in due time.

»» Shinji's second battle is against The Fourth Angel Shamshel in Tokyo 3 during the daytime. Again, Misato communicates with Shinji to keep him apprised of his objectives and of the gravity of the threat posed by the Angel. Shamshel hops around like Gumby during the battle and whips its energy appendages around to attack. During this battle, NERV forces will attack both sides with missile strikes and tanks. A barrier will also rise up from time to time on the left side of the battlefield. Pummeling the barrier will knock it down but another one will replace it .

»» Rei's second battle is a cooperative mission where she teams up with a CPU-controlled EVA-01 against The Fifth Angel Ramiel. The angel shoots out a slow moving red laser that cuts multiple times when passing an EVA so jump to avoid it when possible. Ramiel is surprisingly easy to beat despite the below average intelligence of the CPU-controlled EVA-01. If you continue to play Rei's Story, she teams up with EVA-01 and EVA-02 against The Tenth Angel Sahaquiel. It's a powerful bruiser and you'll probably have to replay the battle a few times since it's a tough opponent and your game ends if any one of your compatriots are defeated. Sahaquiel can perform a barreling attack where it jams into the EVAs and bowls them over. If you're all standing together on a platform, the three Evangelion will get bowled over and suffer equal damage.

»» Each battle stage lasts 180 seconds.

»» Crates may be broken during battle to release bonuses and power-ups such as SPEED, POWER, and assorted weaponry such as the Spear of Longinus.

»» The hit detection seems a little off at times. For example, there were a couple of occasions when our EVA-01 was standing right in front of an Angel and its punches went right through the Angel without impacting any damage. Then the Angel counterattacked and slew EVA-01 like a rag doll.

This document is ©NCSX 2007. All rights reserved. No reproduction in whole or in part of this document may be made without express written consent of National Console Support, Inc.