Macross Digital Mission VF-X

Macross Digital Mission VF-X (マクロス デジタルミッション ブイエフエックス Makurosu Ddejitaru Misshon Buiefu Ekkusu) is a 3D shooting game developed by UNiT and published by Bandai Visual for the Sony Playstation, released on February 28, 1997. The game takes place a year after the events of the Macross 7 television series and follows the VF-X Ravens unit. The game was followed by a sequel, Macross VF-X2 in September 2, 1999.

Overview 
This is a shooting game based on the Macross series, and is a wholly original setting not based on any previous works or series. It is set one year after the Macross 7, which had been the most recent of the franchise at the time. The game was initially planned as a fully polygonal 3D shooter, and the Sony PlayStation perfectly suited the game's ambition in terms of graphics.

Development began in 1995 and has long been shown on several game magazine's release schedule as software with a release date pending. The development involves the main creators of the Macross series, such as Shōji Kawamori (Valkyrie Design, Supervisor), Kazutaka Miyatake (Ship / Mecha Design), Haruhiko Mikimoto (Main Character Design). The game was noted for including the transformable modes of the VF-4 Lightning III, which had only been previously seen as a fighter on The Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Flash Back 2012.

Until the game's development, Macross-related games were released on family computers, PC engines and arcades without the involvement of Shōji Kawamori. Kawamori was uninterested in video game development at that point because he could only do 2D, but he had become interested when he learned the game was being made in 3D for the Sony Playstation.

Plot 
In A.D. 2047, the five member idol group "Milky Dolls", who had been scheduled to participate in the next "ZENTRADI sound project", are abducted by unknown hostile force during a U.N. Spacy commemorative ceremony. Escaping in a camouflaged spaceship, the abductors folded to the planet Elysion.

The U.N. Spacy high command then orders the VF-X Ravens and the crew of the Valhalla III to rescue the Milky Dolls and uncover the identity of the mysterious armed force. They turn out to be a rogue Zentradi militia.

Missions 
A series of missions takes place in the game under "Operation Orpheus". The enemies of the VF-X Ravens are primarily rogue Zentradi forces, consisting of Battle Pods

 Battle battle with VF-4G. Only the VF-1X-Plus SP Valkyrie can be used.
 Destroy enemy radar sites in urban areas. The VF-4G can be used in this stage.
 One of the Milky Dolls' members, Liatris is rescued.
 Destroy enemy satellites.
 Destroy enemy ground base. VF-11 Thunderbolt and VF-17 Nightmare are available from this stage.
 Destroy enemy air units.
 Elimination of enemies in the airspace around Valhalla III. Plunge into the atmosphere from the middle and pursue.
 Follow the enemy transport boat and locate and destroy the enemy weapon factory. The VF-19 Excalibur and VF-22 Sturmvogel II are be available in this stage.
 Eradication of enemy units in urban areas.
 Violeta speaks to the player.
 Final battle with the enemy fortress.
 The Milky Dolls persuade the Captain of the Valhalla III to perform on a battle stage against the enemy.

Characters

Valhalla III Crew 
 Main Character (VF-X)
 Valhalla III Captain
 Miho Miho
 Karen Allen
 Powan Howan
 Euri Yui

Milky Dolls 
 Aoi Tsuwabuki
 Liatris
 Molly
 Violeta
 Freesia

Unidentified Enemy 
 Enemy Commander (VF-X)
 Enemy Rival (VF-X)

Mechanic

Valhalla III 
 VF-1X Valkyrie Plus (Atmosphere Missions Only)
 VF-1X Super Valkyrie Plus (Space Missions Only)
 VF-4 Lightning III
 VF-11 Thunderbolt
 VF-17 Nightmare
 VF-19 Excalibur
 VF-22 Sturmvogel II
 VC-551 Valhalla III

Unidentified Enemy 
 Regult Kai
 Glaug Kai
 Quell Quallie
 Gnerl
 Fz-150 Feios Valkyrie

Music

Opening Theme 
 Try Again
 Lyrics- K . INOJO, Fukuyama Atsuko, composition- Yoshiki Fukuyama, arrangement - Tanaka Atsushi **Song - Fire Bomber

Theme Song 
 Only You
 Lyrics and composition- Mari Iijima, arrangement - Shimizu Nobuyuki, Milky Dolls
 Milky Dolls' theme song.
 Shimizu, who was provided by Iijima who played Lynn Minmay, was the arranger for Shimizu, who once served as the arranger for the song Do You Remember Love?, which Iijima sang.

Ending Theme 
 Rainbow Palette
 Lyrics-Composition by Hiroshi Hiroshi, Yamakawa Kekkoka and Milky Dolls

Reception 
The game received fairly negative reviews at the time. Gamespot is quoted saying "Macross VF-X looks elegant at times, but ultimately fails to capture the emotion, the excitement, and the sheer visual splendor of its source material.", citing how the game featured lengthy, boring missions and poor control flight mechanics, controls and physics. Many others have criticized the game's horrible audio / sound effects and poor music, which utilized MIDI arrangement. These criticisms would later be rectified in its sequel, Macross VF-X2.

Notes & Trivia 
 The Milky Dolls was one of the first appearances of a proper idol group for the franchise's history. The concept of idol groups had been seen with the Jamming Birds in Macross 7 and would later explored further with Walküre for Macross Δ.
 Maximilian Jenius' VF-1X Plus is an unlockable playable aircraft.
 The final Milky Doll song, "Only You", was written and composed by Mari Iijima herself.
 The game notably starred infamous voice actress Kikuko Inoue playing the role of Liatris of the Milky Dolls. She had previously played roles such in Kekko Kamen and Ikki tousen.

Related Products

Soundtrack 
 MACROSS DIGITAL MISSION VF-X ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK
 Victor Entertainment, released March 21, 1997, CD: VICL-789
 Otani is the composer of game music. Includes 20 BGM songs and 3 songs.

Strategy Guide 
 Macross Digital Mission VF-X Official Program
 Mediax, March 20, 1997, First edition. ISBN 978-4896137538
 Macross Digital Mission VF-X Strongest Capture Guide
 Shogakkan, April 10, 1997, First edition. ISBN 978-4091025777

Related pages

Series 
 Super Dimension Fortress Macross

Movies 
 The Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Flash Back 2012
 Super Dimensional Fortress Macross II: Lovers Again

Other websites 
 Macross Mecha Manual
 MAHQ

References 
 https://macross.fandom.com/wiki/Macross_Digital_Mission_VF-X#cite_ref-1
 https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/macross-digital-mission-vf-x-import-review/1900-2548176/
 https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/ps/197818-macross-digital-mission-vf-x/faqs/4549

PlayStation-only games
PlayStation games
Shooter video games
1997 video games
Japan exclusive video games
Video games developed in Japan