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* ChekhovsGun: After managing to break up a TwoTimerDate incident, Harry receives the girl's phone number, and rushes out to get to her. He drops a paper and the camera zooms in on it, implying that it would become important later on. [[spoiler:That's because the immediate next mission involved breaking up your next door neighbors who were having an immense fight because the wife thought that her husband was cheating on her due to finding a phone number in his jacket, the same phone number Harry got.]]
** Actually, the phone number was from the girl who works at the training gym, not the one from the TwoTimerDate.
** Actually, the phone number was from the girl who works at the training gym, not the one from the TwoTimerDate.
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* ChekhovsGun: After managing to break up a TwoTimerDate incident, Harry receives the girl's phone number, and rushes out to get to her. his own date. He drops a the slip of paper with her number and the camera zooms in on it, implying that it would become important later on. [[spoiler:That's because the immediate next mission involved breaking up your next door neighbors who were having an immense fight because the wife thought that her husband was cheating on her due to finding a phone number in his jacket, the same phone number Harry got.]]
** Actually, the phone number was from the girl who works at the training gym, not the one from the TwoTimerDate.]]
** Actually, the phone number was from the girl who works at the training gym, not the one from the TwoTimerDate.
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If Carmen found it outside, how would she suspect Walter of cheating? The Hero could\'ve found it...
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* YourCheatingHeart: Subverted: One of Steel Hearts Missions involved trying to break up a fighting couple (who incidentally were also the main protagonist's next door neighbors), eventually having to fight each one and defeat them in order to calm them down. The reason why they were fighting is because the wife found a phone number sheet outside, she called and discovered it was a woman on the other line. She assumed that husband was having an affair on her, and was upset. Turns out that not only was the dad not even guilty of having an affair, but the phone number was actually the same one Harry got from the woman at the testing hall. It fell out of his pocket as he rushed off to call her the previous evening, thus indirectly, and unintentionally starting that mess. Incidentally, Harry was moping throughout the entire mission until he got the phone number back.
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* YourCheatingHeart: Subverted: One of Steel Hearts Missions involved trying to break up a fighting couple (who incidentally were also the main protagonist's next door neighbors), eventually having to fight each one and defeat them in order to calm them down. The reason why they were fighting is because the wife found a phone number sheet outside, in her husband's clothes,(which he picked up the other day) she called and discovered it was a woman on the other line. She assumed that husband was having an affair on her, and was upset. Turns out that not only was the dad not even guilty of having an affair, but the phone number was actually the same one Harry got from the woman at the testing hall. It fell out of his pocket as he rushed off to call her the previous evening, thus indirectly, and unintentionally starting that mess. Incidentally, Harry was moping throughout the entire mission until he got the phone number back.
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Walter=/=Lucy\'s Husband
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** In the Grand Battle, the landlady's balding husband regularly shows up wearing a series of ridiculous wigs, trying to find the right one. [[spoiler: He eventually settles on one that looks exactly like the protagonist's hair.]]
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** In the Grand Battle, the landlady's Carmen's balding husband regularly shows up wearing a series of ridiculous wigs, trying to find the right one. [[spoiler: He eventually settles on one that looks exactly like the protagonist's hair.]]
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Eliza/Isabella use upgraded Arc guns, not Pulse
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* FearfulSymmetry: Variation[[spoiler:Eliza and Isabella]] are left-handed and right-handed respectively. Their robos [[IncrediblyLamePun reflect]] this: They use the same bodies, legs, and pods, but [[spoiler:Eliza]] has an upgraded Left Pulse gun and Left Wave bomb, while [[spoiler:Isabella]] has an upgraded Right Pulse gun and Right Wave bomb.
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* FearfulSymmetry: Variation[[spoiler:Eliza and Isabella]] are left-handed and right-handed respectively. Their robos [[IncrediblyLamePun reflect]] this: They use the same bodies, legs, and pods, but [[spoiler:Eliza]] has an upgraded Left Pulse Arc gun and Left Wave bomb, while [[spoiler:Isabella]] has an upgraded Right Pulse Arc gun and Right Wave bomb.
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** Greybaum's illegal robos are also an example: Snipe, Freya, Violent Boar, Katana, Hadron and ''Jameson''.
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** Greybaum's illegal robos are also an example: Snipe, Freya, Violent Boar, Katana, Hadron and ''Jameson''. It's the one with the odd name out you [[ThatOneBoss have to be wary of]].
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* GiantSpaceFleaFromNowhere: In Arena Amun appears in a dream sequence at the start, but it's merely a glorified (and insanely strong, about on par with the final boss) pair of gatekeepers in the end-game.
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* GiantSpaceFleaFromNowhere: In Arena Amun appears Arena, your first experience with a [[ThatOneBoss Jameson]] is in a dream sequence at the start, but it's merely a glorified (and insanely strong, about on par with the final boss) glorified, and very powerful, pair of gatekeepers in the end-game.
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* MiniMecha: Say it with me: Eight to ten ''inches''.
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** It does pay off, somewhat in the Grand Battle, though. [[Spoiler:This is how you get the Oil Can and Rahu II parts sets, and Crystal Strike Laser.]] It also gives you a couple of Glossery entries you wouldn't otherwise get.
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** It does pay off, somewhat in the Grand Battle, though. [[Spoiler:This [[spoiler:This is how you get the Oil Can and Rahu II parts sets, and Crystal Strike Laser.]] It also gives you a couple of Glossery entries you wouldn't otherwise get.
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misuse of renamed trope (Mundane Made Awesome)
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* WhatDoYouMeanItsNotAwesome: The entire concept, really, but special mention must go to the Ray Sky: it's a ten inch high [[MiniMecha miniature mech]] with [[AnimeHair spiky blond hair]] and [[CoolShades aviator glasses]] that [[TransformingMecha transforms]] into a [[http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b146/OniMDK/RaySkyAnimation240x160.gif high speed fighter jet]]. And it can go [[DragonballZ Super Saiyan]].
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!!This series provides examples of:
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** One of the answers for the Class D License test on the Gamecube game is "Part [[HomestarRunner burninator]]."
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** One of the answers for the Class D License test on the Gamecube game is "Part [[HomestarRunner [[WebAnimation/HomestarRunner burninator]]."
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* ShoutOut: In ''Arena'', after repeated losses, a kid with a RichBitch EducationMama mentions his tutors have been replaced with "[[MaryPoppins a weird flying nanny from overseas]]" that "[[{{Musical}} says that and dancing will lead to me being a better commander]]."
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* ShoutOut: In ''Arena'', after repeated losses, a kid with a RichBitch EducationMama mentions his tutors have been replaced with "[[MaryPoppins "[[Film/MaryPoppins a weird flying nanny from overseas]]" that "[[{{Musical}} says that and dancing will lead to me being a better commander]]."
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* HeroicBSOD: Marcei underwent this when stumbling upon the masked person, being exceptionally reluctant to fight, and especially mumbling about her missing older brother before Harry shouted at her to snap out of it (in a very coarse manner, as well). [[spoiler:Turns out there was an extremely good reason why she was undergoing a HeroicBSOD during that time, as the masked man working for Oboro was in fact her brother, Sergei.]]
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** Although not Marcei's father, [[spoiler:Sergei]] qualifies as well, seeing how [[spoiler:he's her older brother, the one who went missing for quite some time, and was serving the Z-Syndicate.]]
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* DarthVaderClone: Sergei. He is one of the major heads of the Z-syndicate, TheDragon to Oboro, and the older brother of Marcia. He also wears a face mask that obscures all of his face save for his right eye. Likewise, he ends up defecting to the Heroes side due to his love for his sister (although he implies upon defecting that he wasn't exactly loyal to Oboro to begin with, either).
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* MoodWhiplash: The GCN game is all around hilarious, never pretending the player is taking the story seriously [[spoiler: then comes TheReveal of how the world has met a [[ApocalypseHow Class 6 Apocalypse]] via a rogue AI robo]]
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* MoodWhiplash: The GCN game is all around hilarious, never pretending the player is taking the story seriously [[spoiler: then comes TheReveal of how the world has met a [[ApocalypseHow Planetary Class 6 4 Apocalypse]] via a rogue AI robo]]
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* DevilInPlainSight: Why yes. I'll ''gladly'' choose the cackling, flamboyantly-dressed man named Evil for my bounty hunting needs.
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* PostEndGameContent: Beating Battle Revolution unlocks a second storyline revolving around the city setting up a series of tournaments for the protagonist to participate in in order to make him even stronger.
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* PostEndGameContent: Beating Battle Revolution unlocks a second storyline playable epilogue revolving around the city setting up a series of tournaments tournament for the protagonist to participate in in order to make him even stronger.
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** In the Grand Tournament, the landlady's balding husband regularly shows up wearing a series of ridiculous wigs, trying to find the right one. [[spoiler: He eventually settles on one that looks exactly like the protagonist's hair.]]
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** In the Grand Tournament, Battle, the landlady's balding husband regularly shows up wearing a series of ridiculous wigs, trying to find the right one. [[spoiler: He eventually settles on one that looks exactly like the protagonist's hair.]]
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* TournamentArc: The Grand Battle Tournament in Battle Revolution. Not quite a real tournament in practice, though, as it's ultimately every character in the game vs. you.
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* TournamentArc: The Grand Battle Tournament in Battle Revolution. Not quite a real tournament in practice, though, as it's ultimately every character in the game vs. you.
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** In the Grand Tournament, the landlady's balding husband regularly shows up wearing a series of ridiculous wigs, trying to find the right one. [[spoiler: He eventually settles on one that looks exactly like the protagonist's hair.]]
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* TournamentArc: The entire post-game storyline in Battle Revolution is a series of tournaments.
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* TournamentArc: The entire post-game storyline Grand Battle Tournament in Battle Revolution is Revolution. Not quite a series of tournaments.real tournament in practice, though, as it's ultimately every character in the game vs. you.
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* LightningBruiser: Rahu gets bigger and bigger over the course of the game, but never seems to slow down any as a consequence.
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* TournamentArc: The entire post-game storyline in Battle Revolution is a series of tournaments.
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* PostEndGameContent: Beating Battle Revolution unlocks a second storyline revolving around the city setting up a series of tournaments for the protagonist to participate in in order to make him even stronger.
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* AmbiguouslyBrown: Both Harry and his sister Mira in ''Battle Revolution''.
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I feel that this was a particularly confusing and funny part of the game that was missing from the list here.
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* ConvictionbyCounterfactualClue: Somewhat subverted in the case of Battle Revolution. Questions asked by the chief of police near the end of the game involve answers about the world and it's composition. [[spoiler: The correct answer is generally the opposite of what the player would choose without a second thought.]]
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''Custom Robo'' is an action/third-person shooter/RPG/whatever game by Nintendo. You're in a TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture game, with the biggest difference between us and them is that they have super advanced robots that fight each other. Sounds cool? Taking the HumongousMecha premise, kicking it squarely in the chin and [[InvertedTrope inverting]] it, these robots are [[strike:about 8 cm tall]] between eight and ten inches in height. They fight in Holosseums, which are areas designed specifically for this type of combat. They're controlled via "diving" into the robo, where they pretty much psychically become one with their robo. With about 200 different parts, including around 30 different robos, 5 customizable areas (Robo, gun, bomb, pod, legs), and a lot of options for each, the game is actually really fun.
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''Custom Robo'' is an action/third-person shooter/RPG/whatever shooter/RPG/[[GenreBusting whatever]] game by Nintendo. You're in a TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture game, with the biggest difference between us and them is that they have super advanced robots that fight each other. Sounds cool? Taking the HumongousMecha premise, kicking it squarely in the chin and [[InvertedTrope inverting]] it, these robots are [[strike:about 8 cm tall]] between eight and ten inches in height. They fight in Holosseums, which are areas designed specifically for this type of combat. They're controlled via "diving" into the robo, where they pretty much psychically become one with their robo. With about 200 different parts, including around 30 different robos, 5 customizable areas (Robo, gun, bomb, pod, legs), and a lot of options for each, the game is actually really fun.
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since isabella and eliza are united it\'s really only the first two, lol
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* EvilVersusEvil: Oboros, Eliza, [[spoiler: and Isabella]] can't stand the other's leadership, and there's infighting over leadership of Z.
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* EvilVersusEvil: Oboros, Eliza, [[spoiler: Oboros and Isabella]] Eliza can't stand the other's leadership, and there's infighting over leadership of Z.
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* EvilVersusEvil: Oboros, Eliza, [[spoiler: and Isabella]] can't stand the other's leadership, and there's infighting over leadership of Z.
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Exactly What It Says On The Tin is for names which literally describe \'\'everything\'\' important that is in the work. These names do not.
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* AceCustom: The game ''is'' ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin.
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* AceCustom: The game ''is'' ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin.AceCustom
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* BeamSpam: Jirou from ''Custom Robo'', ''V2'' and ''GX''. His signature tactic is to constantly spam homing beams with the [[AptlyNamed aptly-named]] Rayfall Gun. And since he uses a Metal Grappler model, the Metal Bear, he takes less time to reload.
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* BeamSpam: Jirou from ''Custom Robo'', ''V2'' and ''GX''. His signature tactic is to constantly spam homing beams with the [[AptlyNamed aptly-named]] aptly-named Rayfall Gun. And since he uses a Metal Grappler model, the Metal Bear, he takes less time to reload.
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** Also from ''Arena'', the [[AptlyNamed Carat]] robo. Also military-grade, but extremely gaudy and ''diamond-encrusted''. Something of a subversion though, as it is a RichBitch's custom design for her own personal use (see ScrewTheRulesIHaveMoney below).
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** Also from ''Arena'', the [[AptlyNamed Carat]] aptly-named Carat robo. Also military-grade, but extremely gaudy and ''diamond-encrusted''. Something of a subversion though, as it is a RichBitch's custom design for her own personal use (see ScrewTheRulesIHaveMoney below).
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''Custom Robo'' is a action/third-person shooter/RPG/whatever game by Nintendo. You're in a TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture game, with the biggest difference between us and them is that they have super advanced robots that fight each other. Sounds cool? Taking the HumongousMecha premise, kicking it squarely in the chin and [[InvertedTrope inverting]] it, these robots are [[strike:about 8 cm tall]] between eight and ten inches in height. They fight in Holosseums, which are areas designed specifically for this type of combat. They're controlled via "diving" into the robo, where they pretty much psychically become one with their robo. With about 200 different parts, including around 30 different robos, 5 customizable areas (Robo, gun, bomb, pod, legs), and a lot of options for each, the game is actually really fun.
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''Custom Robo'' is a an action/third-person shooter/RPG/whatever game by Nintendo. You're in a TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture game, with the biggest difference between us and them is that they have super advanced robots that fight each other. Sounds cool? Taking the HumongousMecha premise, kicking it squarely in the chin and [[InvertedTrope inverting]] it, these robots are [[strike:about 8 cm tall]] between eight and ten inches in height. They fight in Holosseums, which are areas designed specifically for this type of combat. They're controlled via "diving" into the robo, where they pretty much psychically become one with their robo. With about 200 different parts, including around 30 different robos, 5 customizable areas (Robo, gun, bomb, pod, legs), and a lot of options for each, the game is actually really fun.
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* [=~The Battle Didn't Count~=]: Used pretty frequently by villains. After being beaten, they just go on their merry way claiming that [[IAmNotLeftHanded they were just toying with you]] without actually trying to prove it.
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* [=~The Battle Didn't Count~=]: TheBattleDidntCount: Used pretty frequently by villains. After being beaten, they just go on their merry way claiming that [[IAmNotLeftHanded they were just toying with you]] without actually trying to prove it.
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[[quoteright:300:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/custom_robo_4277.png]]
''Custom Robo'' is a action/third-person shooter/RPG/whatever game by Nintendo. You're in a TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture game, with the biggest difference between us and them is that they have super advanced robots that fight each other. Sounds cool? Taking the HumongousMecha premise, kicking it squarely in the chin and [[InvertedTrope inverting]] it, these robots are [[strike:about 8 cm tall]] between eight and ten inches in height. They fight in Holosseums, which are areas designed specifically for this type of combat. They're controlled via "diving" into the robo, where they pretty much psychically become one with their robo. With about 200 different parts, including around 30 different robos, 5 customizable areas (Robo, gun, bomb, pod, legs), and a lot of options for each, the game is actually really fun.
Currently, the best-known ''Custom Robo'' to North American players is the GameCube release, since the earlier three [[NoExportForYou didn't quite make it out of Japan.]] The plotline of the most popular game involves a talkative protagonist, a smart-aleck womanizer, and a girl who can see the last memories of a robo commander. Everyone uses robos, including the police (who actually do some things), criminals, and you. Notable in that they actually explain (to an extent) why the hell nobody ever carries a gun (Robos are actually quite effective weapons even with safeties on [[spoiler:also, they are the only thing that can even hope to fight Rahu]]) , why custom robos are so popular ([[spoiler:They are the only reason humanity is still alive, though GovernmentConspiracy means no one remembers while at the same time ensuring robos remain popular to prevent the end of the world from happening ''again'']]), why you never get to pick which stage you fight on (A person can or can not "make" a stage as a genetic ability, the hero is among the ones that can't), and why you never seem to get paid (your boss is an extreme penny pincher, and everything you get goes to living expenses). Has a good sense of humor, but is more deep than you'd think.
Debuted 6 months after the very similar and unrelated ''AngelicLayer''.
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!!This series provides examples of:
* AceCustom: The game ''is'' ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin.
* AerithAndBob: The Supernovas, Bayside Academy's robo team. LostInTranslation in the English port, where they all have very common names beneath their pseudonyms, the Japanese version has Lenny (Lunax), Hugh (Terrax/Galax) and ''Jinpachi'' (Solax).
** Greybaum's illegal robos are also an example: Snipe, Freya, Violent Boar, Katana, Hadron and ''Jameson''.
* AmericanKirbyIsHardcore: Originally, the games had robos that looked like cute chibi anime characters in colourful costumes. For instance, the Shining Fighters looked like shonen heroes, the Aerial Beauties were essentially [[MagicalGirl magical girls]] and the Sassy/Sexy Stunners were basically vixens in leotards that possessed large breasts and [[FanService very visible thighs]]. The soundtrack was light-hearted, and even the sound effects were cartoony and humourous. However, starting with ''Battle Revolution'' - the first game to reach western shores - the games have received a visual makeover; all of the robos suddenly had complex armour, faceguards, [[CoolShades shades]] and [[GogglesDoNothing goggles]], and the more human-like ones only have visible skin on their faces. ''Battle Revolution'' is overtly hi-tech in appearance (but notably also the last game chronologically and set long after the others), while ''Arena'' is more of a happy marriage of the two styles, with an over-the-top rockified soundtrack.
** Of course, the GCN game is the only one that could display such a graphical style in the first place.
* AllInARow: Several times in both Arena and Battle Revolution
* AncientConspiracy: [[spoiler:The Gamecube game reveals that the entire world is in a dome, because a demon-possessed robo destroyed the rest.]]
** Actually, it was [[spoiler:some sort of unstoppable evil force, until it tried controlling a robo and got stuck inside of it]], which is why everyone uses Custom Robos. [[spoiler:It's so the govenment can find and train people like the hero, in case Rahu wakes up.]]
* AnimeHair: ''So'' much in the Japanese-only games, particularly in the cases of the Shining Fighter and Lightning Sky classes, and ''plenty'' of the human characters.
* ArtShift: A drastic one. See AmericanKirbyIsHardcore above.
* AwesomeMcCoolName: The criminal commanders of ''Arena'', particularly the members of Greybaum, have some pretty sweet ones (Spoilers ahead, as the character database is only unlocked once you've won the Great Robo Cup):
** Scythe's real name is [[spoiler:Morgan Graveman]]
** Kindjal's first name [[spoiler:Ignia]]
** Sling's real name is [[spoiler:Rann Nexes]]
** Cleaver, which is admittedly pretty sweet in itself, is actually called [[spoiler:''Ogre Bullock'' (in Japan, "The Bull" Ogre]]
** Coyote's gang has names like Clubba, Mr. Masher and Coyote himself (Dingo in Japan).
** Hunter Fraser (Sean Fraser in Japan)
** Eddy[=/=]Liv [[spoiler:Trainer]], [[spoiler:Viktor]] Stark and Dr. [[spoiler:Roland]] Mars may also count.
** Bull, Solax, Terrax/Galax and Lunax are actually all subversions; their ''real'' names are, in order: [[spoiler:Vern Angus, Lenny Milford, Hugh Lloyd and Jim Tarver]]
*** Certain classes of robo models have also some decidely awesome names. The Lightning Sky models[[hottip:*:modelled on [[TransformingMecha fighter jets]] ]] - a plain awesome name by itelf - are named after [[ThemeNaming missiles]] - Mistral, Hurricane, Tempest (''Arena''); Stingray, Patriot, Phoenix, ''Hellfire'' (''GX'').
*** The Strike Vanisher models[[hottip:*:modelled on [[InstantAwesomeJustAddNinja ninjas]] and [[EverythingsBetterWithSamurai samurai]] ]], the stealth models, are named after [[ThemeNaming bladed weapons]] - Pike, Javelin, Glaive/Bulova, Katana/Nagamitsu (''Arena''); Falchion, Kunai, Claymore, ''Excalibur'' (''GX'').
*** The Metal Grappler models[[hottip:*:modelled on burly mammals, bodybuilders and action heroes]], the brutes of the series, have names like Rock Hound, Metal Ape, Crazy Baboon, Violent Boar (''Arena''); Iron Leo, Tiger Glare, [[EverythingsWorseWithBears Metal Bear]] and ''[[EverythingsWorseWithBears Death Metal Bear]]''[[hottip:*:Note: not actually modelled on bears]], Bigfoot, ''Devil Rex'' (''GX'').
* BackupTwin: [[spoiler:Isabella to Eliza]] in Battle Revolution
** Also doubles as TagTeamTwins.
** [[RedOniBlueOni Yaiba and Tsurugi]] in ''V2'', when they merge their Lance and Spear to create the illegal Bayonette, which they then dual-dive into to battle the player.
* BeamSpam: Jirou from ''Custom Robo'', ''V2'' and ''GX''. His signature tactic is to constantly spam homing beams with the [[AptlyNamed aptly-named]] Rayfall Gun. And since he uses a Metal Grappler model, the Metal Bear, he takes less time to reload.
** The Crystal Strike Gun in the Gamecube game. It can kill the opposition in about 10 seconds with an unending stream of giant homing beams. 20, if they have a robo that can teleport around.
* BeastMan: The Burning Beast models. Same humanoid base as all other models, and somewhere between Wild Soldiers and [[MightyGlacier Metal Grapplers]] in terms of height and bulk, but each one is essentially an anthropomorphic beast, usually a predator. They also move on all fours in a feral fashion, and for some reason, they can [[FlashStep stealth-dash]].
* BigDamnHeroes: The Supernovas at Neo Brain's Encephalon Island facility. [[spoiler: almost the ''entire'' cast at the climax]].
* BlingOfWar: From ''GX'' and ''Arena'', the [[FunWithAcronyms A.I.R.S.]] [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin robo]], which has been drastically enhanced for military use, and is also ''gold-plated from head to toe''.
** Also from ''Arena'', the [[AptlyNamed Carat]] robo. Also military-grade, but extremely gaudy and ''diamond-encrusted''. Something of a subversion though, as it is a RichBitch's custom design for her own personal use (see ScrewTheRulesIHaveMoney below).
* BoobsOfSteel: The Sassy Stunner[[hottip:*:In Japan, ''Sexy'' Stunner]] robo class, both figuratively ''and'' literally.
* BubbleGun: ''Named'' that, in fact. Of course, every gun is named "Insert Something Here" Gun.
** The exception is ''Custom Robo GX'' for the [[GameBoyAdvance GBA]], where nearly every gun is uniquely named; for instance, Bubble ''Smasher'', Glider ''Wing'', Gatling ''Cannon'', to name a few.
* ButForMeItWasTuesday: [[spoiler: Dr. Mars/Scythe, on killing Liv/Eddy's father]] in Arena
* ButThouMust: Strategy speeches before battles all end with an option for "Got It," "Don't Got it," and a third, usually humorous, situation-specific option. Picking anything but "Got It" makes the speaker repeat himself or herself. Granted, the point was to get the speaker to repeat the strategic advice, but there's no reason that options like "Ha ha! They called you a jerk!" or "[=SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP!=]" should make Harry repeat himself. Also subverted at one point in ''Battle Revolution'' - by saying "no" enough times, you ''won't'' have to follow Harry into the enemy-filled bathroom.
** You can also use this on Harry's sister to give her your watch, thus forcing you to backtrack all the way back to Harry's house to get it back, thus interrupting the big long explanation of what Rahu is. It takes about 20 or so tries to get her to take the watch, and she starts finding it creepy that you're so anxious to give it away.
*** The backtracking isn't really worth it. Just keep the watch and shorten the whole Rahu scene...
** You can also keep refusing to go with the group to save the world, until Harry runs out of ideas to convince you to go with him, which ends in a Game Over, as the other heroes aren't strong enough to win without you [[spoiler:and your watch]]. Before this point, he'll even say "[[ThePowerOfFrienship If you won't do it for me]], then how about [[ThePowerOfLove doing it for Marcia]]?"
* CanonForeigner: Vanessa Gregar was the main focus of a short comic series available in three issues of Nintendo Power and was a prominent villain in the series, notable for her ability to hijack any robo at will from any distance to any arena she chooses. [[spoiler: Then it would reveal she was one of the last remnants of a government conspiracy regarding experiments done to get the ultimate robo commander and so her records were changed to make her a criminal]]. The series ends on a cliffhanger and the series never picks up afterward, let alone make any mention of this.
* CasanovaWannabe: Harry in Battle Revolution, full stop.
* ChekhovsGun: After managing to break up a TwoTimerDate incident, Harry receives the girl's phone number, and rushes out to get to her. He drops a paper and the camera zooms in on it, implying that it would become important later on. [[spoiler:That's because the immediate next mission involved breaking up your next door neighbors who were having an immense fight because the wife thought that her husband was cheating on her due to finding a phone number in his jacket, the same phone number Harry got.]]
** Actually, the phone number was from the girl who works at the training gym, not the one from the TwoTimerDate.
* ContemplateOurNavels: The gargantuan {{Infodump}} near the end of the Gamecube game. It's so long that the game offers ''two'' different save points in the middle of it just so that you can take a break and not have to sit through all of it again.
* ContinuityNod: Most of the previously recurring characters are absent from the titles that reached western shores, but Fukashi (Marv) has appeared in every game to date. Also notable is Cattleya (Angelica), who turns up in ''Arena''.
** Also in ''Arena'', the school computers' database mentions a "Mason", who had previously won the Great Robo Cup three consecutive times - in Japan, the name given is "Mamoru", a major supporting character from the first three games.
** Dual Diving is mentioned briefly in ''Arena'', which appeared in ''V2''.
** [[spoiler:Hadron]] of Arena shows abilities disturbingly similar to [[spoiler:Rahu]] from ''Battle Revolution'', though have dissimilar origins.
* CoolBigSis: Tamara (''Arena''; also a HotScientist)
* CoolShades: The Ray Sky had them first (in ''GX''), but since the franchise started being marketed to the west, most of the robos have gained either these or faceguards - presumably because American robots are ''[[AmericanKirbyIsHardcore hardcore]]''.
** [[spoiler: Ryuujin of Nikaidou's Four Heavenly Kings]] wears a pair of shades when he's masquerading as [[spoiler: Ryo]] at legal tournaments.
** [[spoiler: Eiji]], the commander of the [[spoiler: A.I.R.S]] in ''GX'', sports a pair of blue aviators identical to the ones on his robo.
* CrazyPrepared: In ''Arena'' Liv simply carries around a program to disable the safety lock on a Custom Robo and allow it to fight outside a Holosseum. Keep in mind such a program is ''illegal'' in the setting [[hottip:*:Robos are armed with real weapons that are only kept from attacking commanders via the Holosseum acting as a wall]].
* CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass: Solax in ''Arena''. Until the tournament at the Robocenter, he comes off as being very lazy, only fighting when [[HotBlooded Lunax]] forces him to. When you get to the tournament, he starts taking things seriously and actually makes it to the final round.
* EvenEvilHasStandards: Evil of ''BattleRevolution'', during a tag-team tournament, when your partner is in the middle of a HeroicBSOD, he tells his partner to stop fighting (making the match a 1 on 1) claiming he doesn't like fighting 2 on 1. Played for HypocriticalHumor as a BrickJoke in "The Grand Battle" epilogue, where he is your partner for the 2 on 1 tournament.
** It makes sense that he'd do that for show during the main story mode, since at that point, he's still supposed to be the hero that everyone likes. He's not [[spoiler:outed as a badguy, yet]]. He's just a jerk that runs a rival group of bounty hunters that everyone likes better than the Steal Hearts.
* DeadpanSnarker + OnlySaneMan: The GCN Hero, turned up a notch in "The Grand Battle".
* DeathFromAbove: Given the aerial nature of the robos and the firepower they possess, there is plenty of this, but special mention must made of the Lightning Sky models, as their 'Sky Dash' renders them the only ones capable of repeatedly raining bullets and bombs on their opponents while simultaneously soaring through the air, which is emphasised significantly by the fact that they assume the forms of ''fighter jets'' for this feat.
** Also, equipping an Aerial Beauty model with the High Jump boots allows one to often rain down death from above simply by jumping out of the range of most short to mid-ranged weapons and firing. Especially true with the gatling gun and others that fire multiple rounds at once.
** The Rayfall Gun, Sword Storm, and Crystal Strike Laser also like to do this. Though, the Crystal Strike Laser can turn into DeathFromBelow, if you use it to juggle an enemy to death.
* DefeatMeansFriendship: Bull (''Arena'')
* DefrostingIceQueen: Marcia.
* DifficultySpike: When it is revealed that [[spoiler:the world you know is a lie and the "real" world was destroyed generations ago]] the difficulty takes a noticeable increase from the rest of the game.
* EmotionlessGirl: Marcia keeps her distance from people and strong emotions. [[spoiler: This is because strong emotions overwhelm her]].
* FakeUltimateMook: Eliza's Fabulous Fighting Four. They're really just four generic mooks who made up a name hoping to scare the heroes away. This backfired, as the heroes went into the battle with gusto.
* FearfulSymmetry: Variation[[spoiler:Eliza and Isabella]] are left-handed and right-handed respectively. Their robos [[IncrediblyLamePun reflect]] this: They use the same bodies, legs, and pods, but [[spoiler:Eliza]] has an upgraded Left Pulse gun and Left Wave bomb, while [[spoiler:Isabella]] has an upgraded Right Pulse gun and Right Wave bomb.
* FlashStep: The Strike Vanishers and (bizarrely) Burning Beasts can perform a 'Stealth Dash', which differs from the standard Air Dash in that they briefly become invisible and immune to gunfire[[hottip:*:Not bombs and pods though]], effectively behaving like short-range teleporting, allowing for dazzling, flashy air manoevres that can confuse opponents.
** TeleportSpam: Quite a useful application of this ability.
* FragileSpeedster: The Little Sprinters and Little Raiders; they are the smallest classes of robo which also boast the highest speed in the game, but have low offensive power and pitifully low defense and endurace - a single hit from ''any'' weapon will knock it down.
* FullPotentialUpgrade: Why the Ray mk II needed to be replaced with the Ray mk III. Stark, as well, needs a specially made military Robo.
* FunWithAcronyms: The A.I.R.S. robo from ''GX'' and ''Arena'', [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin which is]] an '''A'''rmy-'''I'''ssue '''R'''ay '''S'''ky model.
* GameplayAndStorySegregation: [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Illegal Parts]]. They're supposed to put a mental strain on not only those using them, but also their ''opponents''. And in all battles involving the parts, you get ''no'' negative effects except a penalty to your score (And scores only pop up in the post-game). In ''Arena'' in that it's heavily suggested that your character is more than able to withstand the mental strain, though this doesn't explain the random opponents.
* GiantSpaceFleaFromNowhere: In Arena Amun appears in a dream sequence at the start, but it's merely a glorified (and insanely strong, about on par with the final boss) pair of gatekeepers in the end-game.
* GlassCannon: The A.I.R.S. in ''Arena''. It augments the damage output of any weapon to ludicrous levels, has extremely good control and aerial mobility, and can air dash ''twice''[[hottip:*: the standard [[TransformingMecha Lightning Sky]] models' unique 'Sky Dash' enables them to effectively ''fly'', but can only do it once in succession.]]; however, it takes high damage due to its low defense and gets knocked down quickly due to its low endurance
** In ''GX'', however, it is an outright GameBreaker
* GottaCatchEmAll: The robo parts.
* GuideDangIt: Induced by the language barrier resulting from being Japan-exclusive. While these games are typically very easy to complete without speaking a word of Japanese, ''GX'' has a point in the latter third of the game where a password must be used move forward, halting any English-speaking player with a lack of Japanese understanding.
** The solution is fairly obvious to Japanese players, as the password is used to obtain the Ray Sky robo. The password, as it turns out, is "レイスカイヤー" - Ray Sky.
* HealingHands: [[spoiler:Liv (''Arena'')]].
* HeroicMime: Your character in most of the games, as per usual for the genre.
** Averted for the Gamecube one, though. The protagonist is quite talkative.
* HotScientist: Linda in ''Battle Revolution''.
** You also have to admit, Kindjal is pretty good looking. And arguably, so is Dr. Mars [[spoiler: AKA Morgan Graveman]].
* HourOfPower: Soulboost.
* HumongousMecha: Inverted, natch.
* HypocriticalHumor: The character profiles in Arena say that SpyCatsuit wearing Billy dislikes people who wear pants that are too tight.
* InevitableTournament: A ''lot'' of this.
** Taken UpToEleven on the Gamecube game. There's around 5 of these in the main story and the Battle Royale epilogue is literally nothing more than back-to-back tournaments.
*** ''GX'' takes it [[SerialEscalation far higher than eleven]], as mandatory tournaments comprise ''the entire game'', excepting only the a small portion at the end where you storm the Nikaidou Group's headquarters to take out the BigBad and his elite henchmen. Then you get to the postgame, which is composed of - you guessed it - ''more tournaments''.
* JackOfAllStats: The Shining Fighter class of robos, with the most balanced stats and [[BoringButPractical the most basic but adaptable abilites]]. Particular mention goes to [[SeriesMascot the Ray series]]; at the beginning of each game, your character receives a Ray model with perfectly balanced stats.
* JokeCharacter: The Oil Can in ''Battle Revolution'' and the Chick in ''Arena''; they're worse in every way than the default.
** BraggingRightsReward: Getting a high win streak with the Chick in ''Arena's'' online mode earns you the title of "The Peerless Master"
** Oil Can parts are downgraded, and the Oil Can legs are the polar opposite of the Ultimate Legs, lowering all of your abilities.
* JustifiedTutorial: Usually done by making your character new to controlling robos.
* {{Mons}} [[XmeetsY meets]] RobotBuddy, just like {{Medabots}}, MetalWalker, {{Cubix}}, and {{Robopon}}.
* KatanasAreJustBetter: ''Arena'' has an illegal Strike Vanisher called Katana[[hottip:*:In Japan it is called Nagamitsu, after a renouned WWII-era swordsmith, who forged critically-acclaimed - you guessed it - katanas]], so it sort of fits...
** Not to mention it uses a sword-shaped gun, which it makes a habit of stabbing people with in [[CutscenePowerToTheMax cutscenes]] and fires massive energy blasts ([[SwordBeam sword beams?]]) during battles.
* LaserGuidedAmnesia: [[spoiler:The reason people don't remember that Rahu destroyed wrought havoc on the earth in ''Battle Arena''; also, the ultimate fate of the villains in the same game was to wipe their memories and make them actors.]]
* LateArrivalSpoiler: Restricted to Japan, but the music video for Identity -prologue- (a vocal song only in the Japanese version) makes the huge twist for the GCN game [[spoiler:it's AfterTheEnd]] clear.
* LikeRealityUnlessNoted: Double-subverted in ''Battle Revolution''. [[spoiler:When asked if the world is round or flat, saying that the world is round gets you chastised by your friends. Apparently, the world being flat is gradeschool knowledge. Soon enough, you find out that you've been living in a domed city and your "flat world" was actually the last inhabitable area of a ruined round planet.]]
* LostInTranslation: The "FKS" on Marv's hat is actually an abbreviation of his Japanese name, "Fukashi".
* LukeIAmYourFather: [[spoiler:In ''Battle Revolution'', the Z-Syndicate's late leader was the protagonist's father. Of course, this was before the Z-Syndicate was an evil organization.]]
* MarthDebutedInSmashBros: Some robo models, including the [[SeriesMascot Ray Mk II]], appeared as collectible trophies in ''SuperSmashBrosMelee''. This was the first appearance of these characters on western shores, which sparked interest in the franchise, leading to the release of ''Battle Revolution'' in the US, and the release of ''Arena'' in all regions.
* MercyInvincibility: For a brief period after recovering from Knockdown.
** Some weapons and Robo set-ups can completely make this a moot point. The Crystal Strike Laser is capable of knocking the enemy so far into the air that their invincibility has worn off before they hit the ground, allowing them to be knocked even further into the air.
* MightyGlacier: The slow but strong Metal Grapplers, but the blue ribbon goes to the Jameson. Originally a boss in ''V2'', in ''Arena'' it is incredibly slow, but absurdly powerful, as well as having maximum defense and endurance (i.e. it cannot be halted by ''any kind of attack'' - the only way to stop it is to deplete its HP.)
** Mind you, since it can't be knocked down, it doesn't get MercyInvincibility...
* MiniMecha: Say it with me: Eight to ten ''inches''.
* MoodWhiplash: The GCN game is all around hilarious, never pretending the player is taking the story seriously [[spoiler: then comes TheReveal of how the world has met a [[ApocalypseHow Class 6 Apocalypse]] via a rogue AI robo]]
* MorningRoutine
* MythologyGag: In ''Arena'' Liv, concerned the group's actions may get them in trouble, thinks of creating a program to erase the witnesses memories ([[spoiler:memory erasing programs are a key part of the plot for the GCN ''Battle Revolution'' title]]). Looking closely at Liv's shirt during a cutscene that occurs during said actions will have the light form the Z-Syndicate's logo between her breasts.
** Given the strong continuity in all of the other games, one could also consider this to be a ContinuityNod.
* MyGirlIsASlut: Eddy (jokingly?) suggests both the PC and Dennis are his sister's boyfriends, then compliments her on it.
* NakedPeopleAreFunny: In the Gamecube game, whilst StormingTheCastle, you run into a mook who had just taken a shower and came out in just his boxers. The Grand Battle tournament in that area consists almost solely of nearly-naked mooks, and one pops up in the Grand Battle tournament held in the restroom.
** [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] by the hero jokingly asking the guy running the fight if he's going to take off his clothes for the match, too.
* NebulousEvilOrganisation: Always with the aim of conquering the world with their newly-created "ultimate robo"; the Nikaido Group with [[spoiler: Dark Chimera]]; the Greybaum Syndicate with [[spoiler: Hadron]].
* {{Nerf}}: The Dragon Gun, formerly a GameBreaker in ''Battle Revolution'', but deprived of it's awesome accuracy in ''Arena''.
* NintendoHard: Subverted, in that the games get easier the worse you do.
* NoExportForYou: Neither of the N64 originals (''Custom Robo'', ''Custom Robo V2'') were ported to Western shores.
** Nor was ''Custom Robo GX'' for the Game Boy Advance.
*** ''Custom Robo: Battle Revolution'' [[SequelFirst made it to the US]] as just ''Custom Robo''. Not the EU, though, making ''Custom Robo Arena'' the '''only''' game available to the in all regions.
*** In a somewhat unusual example, the various versions of the games have region-locked Wifi, creating separate networks for each of the JP, US and EU versions. This basically means that a European player cannot battle Japanese or American players, and vice versa.
* ObviouslyEvil: Evil. Purple hair, hook nose, JerkAss attitude, and oh... [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin his name]].
** Subverted, because Evil's not actually evil at all... Just a jerk, and a very minor antagonist.
*** '''[[MostAnnoyingSound THAT]]'''[[EvilLaugh Laugh]].
** Also, the Z-Syndicate bosses after the schism: Oboro, Eliza, [[spoiler:and Isabella]] are very obviously evil by their personalities (and in at least Oboro's case, appearance). This would be perfectly normal, given that they are the heads of factions of an evil organization, but becomes FridgeLogic when we learn that [[spoiler:the original Z-Syndicate boss didn't intend for the Z-Syndicate to be an evil organization at all.]]
** Kindjal from ''Arena'' also borrows Evil's purple hair and sharp facial features for her own look.
* OldMaster: Stark (''Arena'').
** Stark is all but outright stated to be [[spoiler: the Chief of Police]].
* PowerGlows: Soulboost.
* RedOniBlueOni: A very obvious example in ''V2'''s TagTeamTwins, Yaiba and Tsurugi respectively.
* RichBitch: Angelica/Cattleya in ''Arena'' (See ScrewTheRulesIHaveMoney below).
* TheRival: Marv. He's the only consistent rival in all the games.
** In the Gamecube version, he's not the rival. He's just some guy who shows up and declares you his "rival", then is never heard from again.
* RocketJump: The "acrobat" bomb is made exclusivly for this. It does no damage but explodes instantly and launchs you in the air.
* RunningGag: As far as non-character related ones go, the Steel Hearts [[MyNameIsNotDurwood being known as]] the "bottom feeders" in Battle Revolution is one.
** Your landlady constantly having to wake you up in the morning is one, as are her various {{Mondegreens}} of the Steel Hearts.
* TheScrappy: Evil is something of an in-universe example of this, as the only people who seem to like him at all are his two sidekicks.
** Actually, he seems to be well-liked and respected, outside of the Steal Hearts.
** The Steal Hearts are more akin to the in-universe example, with everyone calling them "bottom feeders" and the game implying that they're generally treated like dirt before the hero joins up with them.
* ScrewTheRulesIHaveMoney: In ''Arena'', Angelica/Cattleya uses her custom-designed Carat robo in the strictly regulated Great Robo Cup, making it as far as the semi-finals. Said character is the absurdly wealthy granddaughter of the world's leading robo developer and chief sponsor of said tournament. Said robo and its weapons are ''military-grade'' and highly illegal in the competitive environment. But, being a [[RichBitch rich]] [[CaptainObvious bitch]] and all...
* SeriesMascot: The Ray series; every game begins by receiving a Ray model.
** ''Arena's'' Ray Mk III represented the series in ''SuperSmashBrosBrawl'' as an Assist Trophy.
** The Ray series is so popular in fact, that when they introduced the Lightning Sky class in ''GX'', the first obtainable one, the Ray Sky, was modelled on the Ray series, is featured prominently in the [[http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b146/OniMDK/RaySkyAnimation240x160.gif title screen animation]] and obtaining it is an vital plot point for progressing in the game.
* SeriousBusiness: And how.
* ShoutOut: In ''Arena'', after repeated losses, a kid with a RichBitch EducationMama mentions his tutors have been replaced with "[[MaryPoppins a weird flying nanny from overseas]]" that "[[{{Musical}} says that and dancing will lead to me being a better commander]]."
** One of the answers for the Class D License test on the Gamecube game is "Part [[HomestarRunner burninator]]."
* StaticStunGun: The Stun, Ion, and Thunderbolt guns.
* {{Synchronization}}: It takes a lot of mental energy to power a custom robo, and using them outside of holosseums risks causing physical and mental injury to the opponent.
* SuspiciouslySpecificDenial: From Custom Robo Arena-"Marv? Who's Marv? My name's Mar... Mart! Marty, I mean! And I'm certainly not wearing a disguise."
* TalkToEveryone: The Gamecube version at least has an archive for strategic advice and important terms and concepts. The archives are mostly filled up with pre-battle advice and plot monologues, but some of it is gleamed from talking to side characters at certain points. So, annoyingly enough, the plot will stop and force you to talk to everyone from time to time.
** It does pay off, somewhat in the Grand Battle, though. [[Spoiler:This is how you get the Oil Can and Rahu II parts sets, and Crystal Strike Laser.]] It also gives you a couple of Glossery entries you wouldn't otherwise get.
* TerribleTrio: ''Arena'' has Lunax, Solax, and Terrax, the "Supernovas" from Bayside Academy.
** Evil and his cronies from ''Battle Revolution.''
* [=~The Battle Didn't Count~=]: Used pretty frequently by villains. After being beaten, they just go on their merry way claiming that [[IAmNotLeftHanded they were just toying with you]] without actually trying to prove it.
* ThemeNaming: As mentioned above, the Supernovas ("Big Bang Guys" in Japan).
** The robo classes each have a recurring theme-naming scheme:
*** [[JackOfAllStats Shining Fighters]]: Light and darkness.
*** [[MagicalGirl Aerial Beauties]]: Celestial bodies of space.
*** Wild Soldiers: Famous men in history.
*** [[MightyGlacier Metal Grapplers]]: Animals.
*** Trick Flyers: LostInTranslation - in the Japanese games, their names have a common suffix of "head".
*** [[BoobsOfSteel Sassy]] [[MsFanservice Stunners]] (Sexy Stunners): Western female names.
*** [[FragileSpeedster Little Raiders]]: Birds.
*** [[FragileSpeedster Little Sprinters]]: Units of measurement.
*** [[BadassGrandpa Old]] [[RetiredBadass Timers]] (Funny Old Men): Also LostInTranslation - in the Japanese names, their names are all written in Kanji (Chinese letters).
*** [[{{Acrofatic}} Big Boys]] (Fatty Vices): Chemicals.
*** [[{{Ninja}} Strike]] [[FlashStep Vanishers]]: Bladed weapons.
*** [[BeastMan Burning Beasts]]: The animals that they resemble.
*** [[TransformingMecha Lightning Skies]]: Missiles.
** Evil.
* ThisIsADrill: The Drill Gun.
* TookALevelInBadass: When you first fight Solax, he's a bit of a pushover. Then you fight in a tournament and he's suddenly a lot harder to beat. This probably comes from the fact that he's BrilliantButLazy.
** The final string of battle in the Grand Battle mode. Everyone else has powered up their robos just so they can try to beat you.
** Also the Z Boss Battle challenge, where everyone is using illegal parts, including your friend.
* TransformingMecha: The Lightning Sky models, which have the unique 'Sky Dash' that enables them to fly over a long distance while simultaneously firing its weapons. During the Sky Dash, they tranform into [[http://www.nintendo.co.jp/n08/cr_gx/newrobo/index.html fighter jets]].
* TrueFinalBoss: [[spoiler:Eddy and Liv]] in Arena are unlocked by beating every other grudge match.
* UnskippableCutscene: In all games. This is so bad in ''Battle Revolution'' that during the cutscene where [[spoiler:Marcia's brother]] explains the truth behind Z, the game saves '''three different times.'''
* TheWallAroundTheWorld: The Gamecube game has this with a twist being that it's where the world ''actually ends''. [[spoiler: Or so you're all led to believe]].
* WeaksauceWeakness: The 7 foot 5 inch tall/286 pound criminal [[spoiler:Ogre]] "Cleaver" [[spoiler:Bullock]] from Arena dislikes the smell of milk [[InformedAbility acording to his profile]].
* WeCannotGoOnWithoutYou: In a 2-vs.-2 match, it doesn't matter if your partner is still alive - if you lose, you both lose. Naturally, both AI opponents will [[GangUpOnTheHuman target you most of the time]]. This makes sense when your partner is Harry (who is regularly noted to win by the skin of his teeth and likely won't be able to win on his own) who it most often is, but inexcusable when your partner is someone else.
* WelcomeToCorneria: Largely averted. While people will only say one thing between events, the events that change [=NPC=] dialogue can be as small as a single battle.
* WhatCouldHaveBeen: The Misty Mirage class of robos from ''GX'' have well rounded stats and a unique 'Mirage Dash', which rendered them completely invisible for a short period of time and enabled them to phase through walls, while retaining full regular movement instead of a quick burst of speed[[hottip:*:Unlike Strike Vanishers and Burning Beasts, however, they can't dodge gunfire during the Mirage Dash]]. While completely redundant against the AI, this allows for mind games and sneak attacks against human opponents. Sadly though, they have not appeared in either of the subsequent titles, likely because they'd be difficult to implement in a 3D environment.
* WhatDoYouMeanItsNotAwesome: The entire concept, really, but special mention must go to the Ray Sky: it's a ten inch high [[MiniMecha miniature mech]] with [[AnimeHair spiky blond hair]] and [[CoolShades aviator glasses]] that [[TransformingMecha transforms]] into a [[http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b146/OniMDK/RaySkyAnimation240x160.gif high speed fighter jet]]. And it can go [[DragonballZ Super Saiyan]].
* WolfMan: The Wolfen (''V2'', ''Arena'')
* YouAllLookFamiliar: Lampshaded in the GameCube game. During the police-sponsored doubles tournament, a pair of "Boy" characters claim that they are going to lose because they were unnamed, and would bemoan this fact every time they are spoken to. They manage to make it to the top eight pairs, however, because everybody in their tournament block was also a unnamed "Boy" character.
** Also pulled off somewhat strangely; the background characters may all look the same as similarly-categorized characters (Boy, Girl, Scientist, Customer, etc), but there are a large number of recurring background characters with distinct personalities and quirks, such as a scientist who always whispers and a "cop" who is actually just a fanboy wearing a police uniform. This is very easily missed by players who do not TalkToEveryone. Additionally, some side characters of absolutely no importance have distinct model differences, such as an [[GiantMook obese mook]] in Eliza's maze, and Paulie, a cop with PermaStubble.
* YourCheatingHeart: Subverted: One of Steel Hearts Missions involved trying to break up a fighting couple (who incidentally were also the main protagonist's next door neighbors), eventually having to fight each one and defeat them in order to calm them down. The reason why they were fighting is because the wife found a phone number sheet outside, she called and discovered it was a woman on the other line. She assumed that husband was having an affair on her, and was upset. Turns out that not only was the dad not even guilty of having an affair, but the phone number was actually the same one Harry got from the woman at the testing hall. It fell out of his pocket as he rushed off to call her the previous evening, thus indirectly, and unintentionally starting that mess. Incidentally, Harry was moping throughout the entire mission until he got the phone number back.
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''Custom Robo'' is a action/third-person shooter/RPG/whatever game by Nintendo. You're in a TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture game, with the biggest difference between us and them is that they have super advanced robots that fight each other. Sounds cool? Taking the HumongousMecha premise, kicking it squarely in the chin and [[InvertedTrope inverting]] it, these robots are [[strike:about 8 cm tall]] between eight and ten inches in height. They fight in Holosseums, which are areas designed specifically for this type of combat. They're controlled via "diving" into the robo, where they pretty much psychically become one with their robo. With about 200 different parts, including around 30 different robos, 5 customizable areas (Robo, gun, bomb, pod, legs), and a lot of options for each, the game is actually really fun.
Currently, the best-known ''Custom Robo'' to North American players is the GameCube release, since the earlier three [[NoExportForYou didn't quite make it out of Japan.]] The plotline of the most popular game involves a talkative protagonist, a smart-aleck womanizer, and a girl who can see the last memories of a robo commander. Everyone uses robos, including the police (who actually do some things), criminals, and you. Notable in that they actually explain (to an extent) why the hell nobody ever carries a gun (Robos are actually quite effective weapons even with safeties on [[spoiler:also, they are the only thing that can even hope to fight Rahu]]) , why custom robos are so popular ([[spoiler:They are the only reason humanity is still alive, though GovernmentConspiracy means no one remembers while at the same time ensuring robos remain popular to prevent the end of the world from happening ''again'']]), why you never get to pick which stage you fight on (A person can or can not "make" a stage as a genetic ability, the hero is among the ones that can't), and why you never seem to get paid (your boss is an extreme penny pincher, and everything you get goes to living expenses). Has a good sense of humor, but is more deep than you'd think.
Debuted 6 months after the very similar and unrelated ''AngelicLayer''.
----
!!This series provides examples of:
* AceCustom: The game ''is'' ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin.
* AerithAndBob: The Supernovas, Bayside Academy's robo team. LostInTranslation in the English port, where they all have very common names beneath their pseudonyms, the Japanese version has Lenny (Lunax), Hugh (Terrax/Galax) and ''Jinpachi'' (Solax).
** Greybaum's illegal robos are also an example: Snipe, Freya, Violent Boar, Katana, Hadron and ''Jameson''.
* AmericanKirbyIsHardcore: Originally, the games had robos that looked like cute chibi anime characters in colourful costumes. For instance, the Shining Fighters looked like shonen heroes, the Aerial Beauties were essentially [[MagicalGirl magical girls]] and the Sassy/Sexy Stunners were basically vixens in leotards that possessed large breasts and [[FanService very visible thighs]]. The soundtrack was light-hearted, and even the sound effects were cartoony and humourous. However, starting with ''Battle Revolution'' - the first game to reach western shores - the games have received a visual makeover; all of the robos suddenly had complex armour, faceguards, [[CoolShades shades]] and [[GogglesDoNothing goggles]], and the more human-like ones only have visible skin on their faces. ''Battle Revolution'' is overtly hi-tech in appearance (but notably also the last game chronologically and set long after the others), while ''Arena'' is more of a happy marriage of the two styles, with an over-the-top rockified soundtrack.
** Of course, the GCN game is the only one that could display such a graphical style in the first place.
* AllInARow: Several times in both Arena and Battle Revolution
* AncientConspiracy: [[spoiler:The Gamecube game reveals that the entire world is in a dome, because a demon-possessed robo destroyed the rest.]]
** Actually, it was [[spoiler:some sort of unstoppable evil force, until it tried controlling a robo and got stuck inside of it]], which is why everyone uses Custom Robos. [[spoiler:It's so the govenment can find and train people like the hero, in case Rahu wakes up.]]
* AnimeHair: ''So'' much in the Japanese-only games, particularly in the cases of the Shining Fighter and Lightning Sky classes, and ''plenty'' of the human characters.
* ArtShift: A drastic one. See AmericanKirbyIsHardcore above.
* AwesomeMcCoolName: The criminal commanders of ''Arena'', particularly the members of Greybaum, have some pretty sweet ones (Spoilers ahead, as the character database is only unlocked once you've won the Great Robo Cup):
** Scythe's real name is [[spoiler:Morgan Graveman]]
** Kindjal's first name [[spoiler:Ignia]]
** Sling's real name is [[spoiler:Rann Nexes]]
** Cleaver, which is admittedly pretty sweet in itself, is actually called [[spoiler:''Ogre Bullock'' (in Japan, "The Bull" Ogre]]
** Coyote's gang has names like Clubba, Mr. Masher and Coyote himself (Dingo in Japan).
** Hunter Fraser (Sean Fraser in Japan)
** Eddy[=/=]Liv [[spoiler:Trainer]], [[spoiler:Viktor]] Stark and Dr. [[spoiler:Roland]] Mars may also count.
** Bull, Solax, Terrax/Galax and Lunax are actually all subversions; their ''real'' names are, in order: [[spoiler:Vern Angus, Lenny Milford, Hugh Lloyd and Jim Tarver]]
*** Certain classes of robo models have also some decidely awesome names. The Lightning Sky models[[hottip:*:modelled on [[TransformingMecha fighter jets]] ]] - a plain awesome name by itelf - are named after [[ThemeNaming missiles]] - Mistral, Hurricane, Tempest (''Arena''); Stingray, Patriot, Phoenix, ''Hellfire'' (''GX'').
*** The Strike Vanisher models[[hottip:*:modelled on [[InstantAwesomeJustAddNinja ninjas]] and [[EverythingsBetterWithSamurai samurai]] ]], the stealth models, are named after [[ThemeNaming bladed weapons]] - Pike, Javelin, Glaive/Bulova, Katana/Nagamitsu (''Arena''); Falchion, Kunai, Claymore, ''Excalibur'' (''GX'').
*** The Metal Grappler models[[hottip:*:modelled on burly mammals, bodybuilders and action heroes]], the brutes of the series, have names like Rock Hound, Metal Ape, Crazy Baboon, Violent Boar (''Arena''); Iron Leo, Tiger Glare, [[EverythingsWorseWithBears Metal Bear]] and ''[[EverythingsWorseWithBears Death Metal Bear]]''[[hottip:*:Note: not actually modelled on bears]], Bigfoot, ''Devil Rex'' (''GX'').
* BackupTwin: [[spoiler:Isabella to Eliza]] in Battle Revolution
** Also doubles as TagTeamTwins.
** [[RedOniBlueOni Yaiba and Tsurugi]] in ''V2'', when they merge their Lance and Spear to create the illegal Bayonette, which they then dual-dive into to battle the player.
* BeamSpam: Jirou from ''Custom Robo'', ''V2'' and ''GX''. His signature tactic is to constantly spam homing beams with the [[AptlyNamed aptly-named]] Rayfall Gun. And since he uses a Metal Grappler model, the Metal Bear, he takes less time to reload.
** The Crystal Strike Gun in the Gamecube game. It can kill the opposition in about 10 seconds with an unending stream of giant homing beams. 20, if they have a robo that can teleport around.
* BeastMan: The Burning Beast models. Same humanoid base as all other models, and somewhere between Wild Soldiers and [[MightyGlacier Metal Grapplers]] in terms of height and bulk, but each one is essentially an anthropomorphic beast, usually a predator. They also move on all fours in a feral fashion, and for some reason, they can [[FlashStep stealth-dash]].
* BigDamnHeroes: The Supernovas at Neo Brain's Encephalon Island facility. [[spoiler: almost the ''entire'' cast at the climax]].
* BlingOfWar: From ''GX'' and ''Arena'', the [[FunWithAcronyms A.I.R.S.]] [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin robo]], which has been drastically enhanced for military use, and is also ''gold-plated from head to toe''.
** Also from ''Arena'', the [[AptlyNamed Carat]] robo. Also military-grade, but extremely gaudy and ''diamond-encrusted''. Something of a subversion though, as it is a RichBitch's custom design for her own personal use (see ScrewTheRulesIHaveMoney below).
* BoobsOfSteel: The Sassy Stunner[[hottip:*:In Japan, ''Sexy'' Stunner]] robo class, both figuratively ''and'' literally.
* BubbleGun: ''Named'' that, in fact. Of course, every gun is named "Insert Something Here" Gun.
** The exception is ''Custom Robo GX'' for the [[GameBoyAdvance GBA]], where nearly every gun is uniquely named; for instance, Bubble ''Smasher'', Glider ''Wing'', Gatling ''Cannon'', to name a few.
* ButForMeItWasTuesday: [[spoiler: Dr. Mars/Scythe, on killing Liv/Eddy's father]] in Arena
* ButThouMust: Strategy speeches before battles all end with an option for "Got It," "Don't Got it," and a third, usually humorous, situation-specific option. Picking anything but "Got It" makes the speaker repeat himself or herself. Granted, the point was to get the speaker to repeat the strategic advice, but there's no reason that options like "Ha ha! They called you a jerk!" or "[=SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP!=]" should make Harry repeat himself. Also subverted at one point in ''Battle Revolution'' - by saying "no" enough times, you ''won't'' have to follow Harry into the enemy-filled bathroom.
** You can also use this on Harry's sister to give her your watch, thus forcing you to backtrack all the way back to Harry's house to get it back, thus interrupting the big long explanation of what Rahu is. It takes about 20 or so tries to get her to take the watch, and she starts finding it creepy that you're so anxious to give it away.
*** The backtracking isn't really worth it. Just keep the watch and shorten the whole Rahu scene...
** You can also keep refusing to go with the group to save the world, until Harry runs out of ideas to convince you to go with him, which ends in a Game Over, as the other heroes aren't strong enough to win without you [[spoiler:and your watch]]. Before this point, he'll even say "[[ThePowerOfFrienship If you won't do it for me]], then how about [[ThePowerOfLove doing it for Marcia]]?"
* CanonForeigner: Vanessa Gregar was the main focus of a short comic series available in three issues of Nintendo Power and was a prominent villain in the series, notable for her ability to hijack any robo at will from any distance to any arena she chooses. [[spoiler: Then it would reveal she was one of the last remnants of a government conspiracy regarding experiments done to get the ultimate robo commander and so her records were changed to make her a criminal]]. The series ends on a cliffhanger and the series never picks up afterward, let alone make any mention of this.
* CasanovaWannabe: Harry in Battle Revolution, full stop.
* ChekhovsGun: After managing to break up a TwoTimerDate incident, Harry receives the girl's phone number, and rushes out to get to her. He drops a paper and the camera zooms in on it, implying that it would become important later on. [[spoiler:That's because the immediate next mission involved breaking up your next door neighbors who were having an immense fight because the wife thought that her husband was cheating on her due to finding a phone number in his jacket, the same phone number Harry got.]]
** Actually, the phone number was from the girl who works at the training gym, not the one from the TwoTimerDate.
* ContemplateOurNavels: The gargantuan {{Infodump}} near the end of the Gamecube game. It's so long that the game offers ''two'' different save points in the middle of it just so that you can take a break and not have to sit through all of it again.
* ContinuityNod: Most of the previously recurring characters are absent from the titles that reached western shores, but Fukashi (Marv) has appeared in every game to date. Also notable is Cattleya (Angelica), who turns up in ''Arena''.
** Also in ''Arena'', the school computers' database mentions a "Mason", who had previously won the Great Robo Cup three consecutive times - in Japan, the name given is "Mamoru", a major supporting character from the first three games.
** Dual Diving is mentioned briefly in ''Arena'', which appeared in ''V2''.
** [[spoiler:Hadron]] of Arena shows abilities disturbingly similar to [[spoiler:Rahu]] from ''Battle Revolution'', though have dissimilar origins.
* CoolBigSis: Tamara (''Arena''; also a HotScientist)
* CoolShades: The Ray Sky had them first (in ''GX''), but since the franchise started being marketed to the west, most of the robos have gained either these or faceguards - presumably because American robots are ''[[AmericanKirbyIsHardcore hardcore]]''.
** [[spoiler: Ryuujin of Nikaidou's Four Heavenly Kings]] wears a pair of shades when he's masquerading as [[spoiler: Ryo]] at legal tournaments.
** [[spoiler: Eiji]], the commander of the [[spoiler: A.I.R.S]] in ''GX'', sports a pair of blue aviators identical to the ones on his robo.
* CrazyPrepared: In ''Arena'' Liv simply carries around a program to disable the safety lock on a Custom Robo and allow it to fight outside a Holosseum. Keep in mind such a program is ''illegal'' in the setting [[hottip:*:Robos are armed with real weapons that are only kept from attacking commanders via the Holosseum acting as a wall]].
* CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass: Solax in ''Arena''. Until the tournament at the Robocenter, he comes off as being very lazy, only fighting when [[HotBlooded Lunax]] forces him to. When you get to the tournament, he starts taking things seriously and actually makes it to the final round.
* EvenEvilHasStandards: Evil of ''BattleRevolution'', during a tag-team tournament, when your partner is in the middle of a HeroicBSOD, he tells his partner to stop fighting (making the match a 1 on 1) claiming he doesn't like fighting 2 on 1. Played for HypocriticalHumor as a BrickJoke in "The Grand Battle" epilogue, where he is your partner for the 2 on 1 tournament.
** It makes sense that he'd do that for show during the main story mode, since at that point, he's still supposed to be the hero that everyone likes. He's not [[spoiler:outed as a badguy, yet]]. He's just a jerk that runs a rival group of bounty hunters that everyone likes better than the Steal Hearts.
* DeadpanSnarker + OnlySaneMan: The GCN Hero, turned up a notch in "The Grand Battle".
* DeathFromAbove: Given the aerial nature of the robos and the firepower they possess, there is plenty of this, but special mention must made of the Lightning Sky models, as their 'Sky Dash' renders them the only ones capable of repeatedly raining bullets and bombs on their opponents while simultaneously soaring through the air, which is emphasised significantly by the fact that they assume the forms of ''fighter jets'' for this feat.
** Also, equipping an Aerial Beauty model with the High Jump boots allows one to often rain down death from above simply by jumping out of the range of most short to mid-ranged weapons and firing. Especially true with the gatling gun and others that fire multiple rounds at once.
** The Rayfall Gun, Sword Storm, and Crystal Strike Laser also like to do this. Though, the Crystal Strike Laser can turn into DeathFromBelow, if you use it to juggle an enemy to death.
* DefeatMeansFriendship: Bull (''Arena'')
* DefrostingIceQueen: Marcia.
* DifficultySpike: When it is revealed that [[spoiler:the world you know is a lie and the "real" world was destroyed generations ago]] the difficulty takes a noticeable increase from the rest of the game.
* EmotionlessGirl: Marcia keeps her distance from people and strong emotions. [[spoiler: This is because strong emotions overwhelm her]].
* FakeUltimateMook: Eliza's Fabulous Fighting Four. They're really just four generic mooks who made up a name hoping to scare the heroes away. This backfired, as the heroes went into the battle with gusto.
* FearfulSymmetry: Variation[[spoiler:Eliza and Isabella]] are left-handed and right-handed respectively. Their robos [[IncrediblyLamePun reflect]] this: They use the same bodies, legs, and pods, but [[spoiler:Eliza]] has an upgraded Left Pulse gun and Left Wave bomb, while [[spoiler:Isabella]] has an upgraded Right Pulse gun and Right Wave bomb.
* FlashStep: The Strike Vanishers and (bizarrely) Burning Beasts can perform a 'Stealth Dash', which differs from the standard Air Dash in that they briefly become invisible and immune to gunfire[[hottip:*:Not bombs and pods though]], effectively behaving like short-range teleporting, allowing for dazzling, flashy air manoevres that can confuse opponents.
** TeleportSpam: Quite a useful application of this ability.
* FragileSpeedster: The Little Sprinters and Little Raiders; they are the smallest classes of robo which also boast the highest speed in the game, but have low offensive power and pitifully low defense and endurace - a single hit from ''any'' weapon will knock it down.
* FullPotentialUpgrade: Why the Ray mk II needed to be replaced with the Ray mk III. Stark, as well, needs a specially made military Robo.
* FunWithAcronyms: The A.I.R.S. robo from ''GX'' and ''Arena'', [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin which is]] an '''A'''rmy-'''I'''ssue '''R'''ay '''S'''ky model.
* GameplayAndStorySegregation: [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Illegal Parts]]. They're supposed to put a mental strain on not only those using them, but also their ''opponents''. And in all battles involving the parts, you get ''no'' negative effects except a penalty to your score (And scores only pop up in the post-game). In ''Arena'' in that it's heavily suggested that your character is more than able to withstand the mental strain, though this doesn't explain the random opponents.
* GiantSpaceFleaFromNowhere: In Arena Amun appears in a dream sequence at the start, but it's merely a glorified (and insanely strong, about on par with the final boss) pair of gatekeepers in the end-game.
* GlassCannon: The A.I.R.S. in ''Arena''. It augments the damage output of any weapon to ludicrous levels, has extremely good control and aerial mobility, and can air dash ''twice''[[hottip:*: the standard [[TransformingMecha Lightning Sky]] models' unique 'Sky Dash' enables them to effectively ''fly'', but can only do it once in succession.]]; however, it takes high damage due to its low defense and gets knocked down quickly due to its low endurance
** In ''GX'', however, it is an outright GameBreaker
* GottaCatchEmAll: The robo parts.
* GuideDangIt: Induced by the language barrier resulting from being Japan-exclusive. While these games are typically very easy to complete without speaking a word of Japanese, ''GX'' has a point in the latter third of the game where a password must be used move forward, halting any English-speaking player with a lack of Japanese understanding.
** The solution is fairly obvious to Japanese players, as the password is used to obtain the Ray Sky robo. The password, as it turns out, is "レイスカイヤー" - Ray Sky.
* HealingHands: [[spoiler:Liv (''Arena'')]].
* HeroicMime: Your character in most of the games, as per usual for the genre.
** Averted for the Gamecube one, though. The protagonist is quite talkative.
* HotScientist: Linda in ''Battle Revolution''.
** You also have to admit, Kindjal is pretty good looking. And arguably, so is Dr. Mars [[spoiler: AKA Morgan Graveman]].
* HourOfPower: Soulboost.
* HumongousMecha: Inverted, natch.
* HypocriticalHumor: The character profiles in Arena say that SpyCatsuit wearing Billy dislikes people who wear pants that are too tight.
* InevitableTournament: A ''lot'' of this.
** Taken UpToEleven on the Gamecube game. There's around 5 of these in the main story and the Battle Royale epilogue is literally nothing more than back-to-back tournaments.
*** ''GX'' takes it [[SerialEscalation far higher than eleven]], as mandatory tournaments comprise ''the entire game'', excepting only the a small portion at the end where you storm the Nikaidou Group's headquarters to take out the BigBad and his elite henchmen. Then you get to the postgame, which is composed of - you guessed it - ''more tournaments''.
* JackOfAllStats: The Shining Fighter class of robos, with the most balanced stats and [[BoringButPractical the most basic but adaptable abilites]]. Particular mention goes to [[SeriesMascot the Ray series]]; at the beginning of each game, your character receives a Ray model with perfectly balanced stats.
* JokeCharacter: The Oil Can in ''Battle Revolution'' and the Chick in ''Arena''; they're worse in every way than the default.
** BraggingRightsReward: Getting a high win streak with the Chick in ''Arena's'' online mode earns you the title of "The Peerless Master"
** Oil Can parts are downgraded, and the Oil Can legs are the polar opposite of the Ultimate Legs, lowering all of your abilities.
* JustifiedTutorial: Usually done by making your character new to controlling robos.
* {{Mons}} [[XmeetsY meets]] RobotBuddy, just like {{Medabots}}, MetalWalker, {{Cubix}}, and {{Robopon}}.
* KatanasAreJustBetter: ''Arena'' has an illegal Strike Vanisher called Katana[[hottip:*:In Japan it is called Nagamitsu, after a renouned WWII-era swordsmith, who forged critically-acclaimed - you guessed it - katanas]], so it sort of fits...
** Not to mention it uses a sword-shaped gun, which it makes a habit of stabbing people with in [[CutscenePowerToTheMax cutscenes]] and fires massive energy blasts ([[SwordBeam sword beams?]]) during battles.
* LaserGuidedAmnesia: [[spoiler:The reason people don't remember that Rahu destroyed wrought havoc on the earth in ''Battle Arena''; also, the ultimate fate of the villains in the same game was to wipe their memories and make them actors.]]
* LateArrivalSpoiler: Restricted to Japan, but the music video for Identity -prologue- (a vocal song only in the Japanese version) makes the huge twist for the GCN game [[spoiler:it's AfterTheEnd]] clear.
* LikeRealityUnlessNoted: Double-subverted in ''Battle Revolution''. [[spoiler:When asked if the world is round or flat, saying that the world is round gets you chastised by your friends. Apparently, the world being flat is gradeschool knowledge. Soon enough, you find out that you've been living in a domed city and your "flat world" was actually the last inhabitable area of a ruined round planet.]]
* LostInTranslation: The "FKS" on Marv's hat is actually an abbreviation of his Japanese name, "Fukashi".
* LukeIAmYourFather: [[spoiler:In ''Battle Revolution'', the Z-Syndicate's late leader was the protagonist's father. Of course, this was before the Z-Syndicate was an evil organization.]]
* MarthDebutedInSmashBros: Some robo models, including the [[SeriesMascot Ray Mk II]], appeared as collectible trophies in ''SuperSmashBrosMelee''. This was the first appearance of these characters on western shores, which sparked interest in the franchise, leading to the release of ''Battle Revolution'' in the US, and the release of ''Arena'' in all regions.
* MercyInvincibility: For a brief period after recovering from Knockdown.
** Some weapons and Robo set-ups can completely make this a moot point. The Crystal Strike Laser is capable of knocking the enemy so far into the air that their invincibility has worn off before they hit the ground, allowing them to be knocked even further into the air.
* MightyGlacier: The slow but strong Metal Grapplers, but the blue ribbon goes to the Jameson. Originally a boss in ''V2'', in ''Arena'' it is incredibly slow, but absurdly powerful, as well as having maximum defense and endurance (i.e. it cannot be halted by ''any kind of attack'' - the only way to stop it is to deplete its HP.)
** Mind you, since it can't be knocked down, it doesn't get MercyInvincibility...
* MiniMecha: Say it with me: Eight to ten ''inches''.
* MoodWhiplash: The GCN game is all around hilarious, never pretending the player is taking the story seriously [[spoiler: then comes TheReveal of how the world has met a [[ApocalypseHow Class 6 Apocalypse]] via a rogue AI robo]]
* MorningRoutine
* MythologyGag: In ''Arena'' Liv, concerned the group's actions may get them in trouble, thinks of creating a program to erase the witnesses memories ([[spoiler:memory erasing programs are a key part of the plot for the GCN ''Battle Revolution'' title]]). Looking closely at Liv's shirt during a cutscene that occurs during said actions will have the light form the Z-Syndicate's logo between her breasts.
** Given the strong continuity in all of the other games, one could also consider this to be a ContinuityNod.
* MyGirlIsASlut: Eddy (jokingly?) suggests both the PC and Dennis are his sister's boyfriends, then compliments her on it.
* NakedPeopleAreFunny: In the Gamecube game, whilst StormingTheCastle, you run into a mook who had just taken a shower and came out in just his boxers. The Grand Battle tournament in that area consists almost solely of nearly-naked mooks, and one pops up in the Grand Battle tournament held in the restroom.
** [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] by the hero jokingly asking the guy running the fight if he's going to take off his clothes for the match, too.
* NebulousEvilOrganisation: Always with the aim of conquering the world with their newly-created "ultimate robo"; the Nikaido Group with [[spoiler: Dark Chimera]]; the Greybaum Syndicate with [[spoiler: Hadron]].
* {{Nerf}}: The Dragon Gun, formerly a GameBreaker in ''Battle Revolution'', but deprived of it's awesome accuracy in ''Arena''.
* NintendoHard: Subverted, in that the games get easier the worse you do.
* NoExportForYou: Neither of the N64 originals (''Custom Robo'', ''Custom Robo V2'') were ported to Western shores.
** Nor was ''Custom Robo GX'' for the Game Boy Advance.
*** ''Custom Robo: Battle Revolution'' [[SequelFirst made it to the US]] as just ''Custom Robo''. Not the EU, though, making ''Custom Robo Arena'' the '''only''' game available to the in all regions.
*** In a somewhat unusual example, the various versions of the games have region-locked Wifi, creating separate networks for each of the JP, US and EU versions. This basically means that a European player cannot battle Japanese or American players, and vice versa.
* ObviouslyEvil: Evil. Purple hair, hook nose, JerkAss attitude, and oh... [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin his name]].
** Subverted, because Evil's not actually evil at all... Just a jerk, and a very minor antagonist.
*** '''[[MostAnnoyingSound THAT]]'''[[EvilLaugh Laugh]].
** Also, the Z-Syndicate bosses after the schism: Oboro, Eliza, [[spoiler:and Isabella]] are very obviously evil by their personalities (and in at least Oboro's case, appearance). This would be perfectly normal, given that they are the heads of factions of an evil organization, but becomes FridgeLogic when we learn that [[spoiler:the original Z-Syndicate boss didn't intend for the Z-Syndicate to be an evil organization at all.]]
** Kindjal from ''Arena'' also borrows Evil's purple hair and sharp facial features for her own look.
* OldMaster: Stark (''Arena'').
** Stark is all but outright stated to be [[spoiler: the Chief of Police]].
* PowerGlows: Soulboost.
* RedOniBlueOni: A very obvious example in ''V2'''s TagTeamTwins, Yaiba and Tsurugi respectively.
* RichBitch: Angelica/Cattleya in ''Arena'' (See ScrewTheRulesIHaveMoney below).
* TheRival: Marv. He's the only consistent rival in all the games.
** In the Gamecube version, he's not the rival. He's just some guy who shows up and declares you his "rival", then is never heard from again.
* RocketJump: The "acrobat" bomb is made exclusivly for this. It does no damage but explodes instantly and launchs you in the air.
* RunningGag: As far as non-character related ones go, the Steel Hearts [[MyNameIsNotDurwood being known as]] the "bottom feeders" in Battle Revolution is one.
** Your landlady constantly having to wake you up in the morning is one, as are her various {{Mondegreens}} of the Steel Hearts.
* TheScrappy: Evil is something of an in-universe example of this, as the only people who seem to like him at all are his two sidekicks.
** Actually, he seems to be well-liked and respected, outside of the Steal Hearts.
** The Steal Hearts are more akin to the in-universe example, with everyone calling them "bottom feeders" and the game implying that they're generally treated like dirt before the hero joins up with them.
* ScrewTheRulesIHaveMoney: In ''Arena'', Angelica/Cattleya uses her custom-designed Carat robo in the strictly regulated Great Robo Cup, making it as far as the semi-finals. Said character is the absurdly wealthy granddaughter of the world's leading robo developer and chief sponsor of said tournament. Said robo and its weapons are ''military-grade'' and highly illegal in the competitive environment. But, being a [[RichBitch rich]] [[CaptainObvious bitch]] and all...
* SeriesMascot: The Ray series; every game begins by receiving a Ray model.
** ''Arena's'' Ray Mk III represented the series in ''SuperSmashBrosBrawl'' as an Assist Trophy.
** The Ray series is so popular in fact, that when they introduced the Lightning Sky class in ''GX'', the first obtainable one, the Ray Sky, was modelled on the Ray series, is featured prominently in the [[http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b146/OniMDK/RaySkyAnimation240x160.gif title screen animation]] and obtaining it is an vital plot point for progressing in the game.
* SeriousBusiness: And how.
* ShoutOut: In ''Arena'', after repeated losses, a kid with a RichBitch EducationMama mentions his tutors have been replaced with "[[MaryPoppins a weird flying nanny from overseas]]" that "[[{{Musical}} says that and dancing will lead to me being a better commander]]."
** One of the answers for the Class D License test on the Gamecube game is "Part [[HomestarRunner burninator]]."
* StaticStunGun: The Stun, Ion, and Thunderbolt guns.
* {{Synchronization}}: It takes a lot of mental energy to power a custom robo, and using them outside of holosseums risks causing physical and mental injury to the opponent.
* SuspiciouslySpecificDenial: From Custom Robo Arena-"Marv? Who's Marv? My name's Mar... Mart! Marty, I mean! And I'm certainly not wearing a disguise."
* TalkToEveryone: The Gamecube version at least has an archive for strategic advice and important terms and concepts. The archives are mostly filled up with pre-battle advice and plot monologues, but some of it is gleamed from talking to side characters at certain points. So, annoyingly enough, the plot will stop and force you to talk to everyone from time to time.
** It does pay off, somewhat in the Grand Battle, though. [[Spoiler:This is how you get the Oil Can and Rahu II parts sets, and Crystal Strike Laser.]] It also gives you a couple of Glossery entries you wouldn't otherwise get.
* TerribleTrio: ''Arena'' has Lunax, Solax, and Terrax, the "Supernovas" from Bayside Academy.
** Evil and his cronies from ''Battle Revolution.''
* [=~The Battle Didn't Count~=]: Used pretty frequently by villains. After being beaten, they just go on their merry way claiming that [[IAmNotLeftHanded they were just toying with you]] without actually trying to prove it.
* ThemeNaming: As mentioned above, the Supernovas ("Big Bang Guys" in Japan).
** The robo classes each have a recurring theme-naming scheme:
*** [[JackOfAllStats Shining Fighters]]: Light and darkness.
*** [[MagicalGirl Aerial Beauties]]: Celestial bodies of space.
*** Wild Soldiers: Famous men in history.
*** [[MightyGlacier Metal Grapplers]]: Animals.
*** Trick Flyers: LostInTranslation - in the Japanese games, their names have a common suffix of "head".
*** [[BoobsOfSteel Sassy]] [[MsFanservice Stunners]] (Sexy Stunners): Western female names.
*** [[FragileSpeedster Little Raiders]]: Birds.
*** [[FragileSpeedster Little Sprinters]]: Units of measurement.
*** [[BadassGrandpa Old]] [[RetiredBadass Timers]] (Funny Old Men): Also LostInTranslation - in the Japanese names, their names are all written in Kanji (Chinese letters).
*** [[{{Acrofatic}} Big Boys]] (Fatty Vices): Chemicals.
*** [[{{Ninja}} Strike]] [[FlashStep Vanishers]]: Bladed weapons.
*** [[BeastMan Burning Beasts]]: The animals that they resemble.
*** [[TransformingMecha Lightning Skies]]: Missiles.
** Evil.
* ThisIsADrill: The Drill Gun.
* TookALevelInBadass: When you first fight Solax, he's a bit of a pushover. Then you fight in a tournament and he's suddenly a lot harder to beat. This probably comes from the fact that he's BrilliantButLazy.
** The final string of battle in the Grand Battle mode. Everyone else has powered up their robos just so they can try to beat you.
** Also the Z Boss Battle challenge, where everyone is using illegal parts, including your friend.
* TransformingMecha: The Lightning Sky models, which have the unique 'Sky Dash' that enables them to fly over a long distance while simultaneously firing its weapons. During the Sky Dash, they tranform into [[http://www.nintendo.co.jp/n08/cr_gx/newrobo/index.html fighter jets]].
* TrueFinalBoss: [[spoiler:Eddy and Liv]] in Arena are unlocked by beating every other grudge match.
* UnskippableCutscene: In all games. This is so bad in ''Battle Revolution'' that during the cutscene where [[spoiler:Marcia's brother]] explains the truth behind Z, the game saves '''three different times.'''
* TheWallAroundTheWorld: The Gamecube game has this with a twist being that it's where the world ''actually ends''. [[spoiler: Or so you're all led to believe]].
* WeaksauceWeakness: The 7 foot 5 inch tall/286 pound criminal [[spoiler:Ogre]] "Cleaver" [[spoiler:Bullock]] from Arena dislikes the smell of milk [[InformedAbility acording to his profile]].
* WeCannotGoOnWithoutYou: In a 2-vs.-2 match, it doesn't matter if your partner is still alive - if you lose, you both lose. Naturally, both AI opponents will [[GangUpOnTheHuman target you most of the time]]. This makes sense when your partner is Harry (who is regularly noted to win by the skin of his teeth and likely won't be able to win on his own) who it most often is, but inexcusable when your partner is someone else.
* WelcomeToCorneria: Largely averted. While people will only say one thing between events, the events that change [=NPC=] dialogue can be as small as a single battle.
* WhatCouldHaveBeen: The Misty Mirage class of robos from ''GX'' have well rounded stats and a unique 'Mirage Dash', which rendered them completely invisible for a short period of time and enabled them to phase through walls, while retaining full regular movement instead of a quick burst of speed[[hottip:*:Unlike Strike Vanishers and Burning Beasts, however, they can't dodge gunfire during the Mirage Dash]]. While completely redundant against the AI, this allows for mind games and sneak attacks against human opponents. Sadly though, they have not appeared in either of the subsequent titles, likely because they'd be difficult to implement in a 3D environment.
* WhatDoYouMeanItsNotAwesome: The entire concept, really, but special mention must go to the Ray Sky: it's a ten inch high [[MiniMecha miniature mech]] with [[AnimeHair spiky blond hair]] and [[CoolShades aviator glasses]] that [[TransformingMecha transforms]] into a [[http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b146/OniMDK/RaySkyAnimation240x160.gif high speed fighter jet]]. And it can go [[DragonballZ Super Saiyan]].
* WolfMan: The Wolfen (''V2'', ''Arena'')
* YouAllLookFamiliar: Lampshaded in the GameCube game. During the police-sponsored doubles tournament, a pair of "Boy" characters claim that they are going to lose because they were unnamed, and would bemoan this fact every time they are spoken to. They manage to make it to the top eight pairs, however, because everybody in their tournament block was also a unnamed "Boy" character.
** Also pulled off somewhat strangely; the background characters may all look the same as similarly-categorized characters (Boy, Girl, Scientist, Customer, etc), but there are a large number of recurring background characters with distinct personalities and quirks, such as a scientist who always whispers and a "cop" who is actually just a fanboy wearing a police uniform. This is very easily missed by players who do not TalkToEveryone. Additionally, some side characters of absolutely no importance have distinct model differences, such as an [[GiantMook obese mook]] in Eliza's maze, and Paulie, a cop with PermaStubble.
* YourCheatingHeart: Subverted: One of Steel Hearts Missions involved trying to break up a fighting couple (who incidentally were also the main protagonist's next door neighbors), eventually having to fight each one and defeat them in order to calm them down. The reason why they were fighting is because the wife found a phone number sheet outside, she called and discovered it was a woman on the other line. She assumed that husband was having an affair on her, and was upset. Turns out that not only was the dad not even guilty of having an affair, but the phone number was actually the same one Harry got from the woman at the testing hall. It fell out of his pocket as he rushed off to call her the previous evening, thus indirectly, and unintentionally starting that mess. Incidentally, Harry was moping throughout the entire mission until he got the phone number back.
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