Medarot 2 Core
| Medarot 2 Core / Medabots メダロット弐CORE | |
| File:Medabots Metabee Version Cover.jpg | |
| Genre | RPG |
|---|---|
| Platform | Gameboy Advance |
| Developer | Natsume |
| Publisher | Imagineer |
| Release Date | EU: November 22 2002 NA: March 31 2003 JP: April 18 2003 |
Medarot 2 Core (メダロット弐CORE), released in english as Medabots: Metabee version and Medabots: Rokusho version, is probably the most well-known Medarot game. It was developed by Natsume and published by Imagineer for the Gameboy Advance, and was the first and only Medarot RPG to be released in english. As the name implies, it is a remake of Medarot 2, featuring updated graphics and mechanics.
The graphics style closely matches that of the anime series, and several Medarots from Medarot 1 that had appeared in the anime were added to the game. Otherwise, the story remains mostly untouched from Medarot 2.
Like the other RPGs, the game was released in two versions where the main difference is the player's starting Medarot: Kabuto (Rhinoceros beetle, Metabee) and Kuwagata (Stag beetle, Rokusho). In the english release, they were simply referred to as the Metabee and Rokusho versions. Along with the starting Medarots, there are some Medarots and Medals that can only be obtained in a specific version.
In an interesting turn of events, the english versions were actually released first, and Japan got it almost 5 months later.
Changes
2 Core incorporates many of the gameplay changes that happened in Medarot 3-5, while keeping the content similar to what it was in the original game.
From Medarot 2
- Not all Medarots are included, excluding 31 Medarots in the final versions.
- Medarots previously replaced by their updated versions are now replaced by their downgraded versions, for example, HellPhoenix replacing DeathPhoenix.
- The battle system was slightly replaced, making it more similar to Medarot 5 battle system.
- The japanese version corrects Metabee and Rokusho's series number, from KBT-0 and KWG-0 to KBT-1 and KWG-1 respectively.
- Replacing the Other skill is Interrupt.
- Medals have their names instead of the tinpets.
- The medals can be set with rotations.
From Medarot 5
- Medaskills are replaced once again by Medaforces.
- There are no Leader Skills.
- No branched evolution for Medals.
- Set-Up and Special have disappeared, leaving only Interrupt.
Japanese version differences
A special version of the japanese game was sold through Comic Bom Bom prior to the game's release. This special edition came with the manual signed by Horuma Rin and featured the names of everyone who ordered the special edition in the game credits. The normal edition was released in stores some months later.
An extra post-game event exists in the japanese games that isn't present in the english version. It involves talking to Milky who summons a mysterious masked Medarotter from the future (actually Koishimaru from Medarot 5, which was set several years after Medarot 2). Ikki then battles Koishimaru who uses an exact copy of the player's current team.
Pressing select on the parts screens also displays the part's model number. Presumably this was left out of the english version due to the model numbers being changed in the english version of the anime.
