Super Robot Wars Alpha

Super Robot Wars Alpha is a tactical role-playing game that Banpresto developed and published for the PlayStation in 2000. A Dreamcast version, titled Super Robot Wars for Dreamcast, followed a year later.

The Alpha sub-series begins with this game, which is the first in the Super Robot Wars franchise to include fully animated attack sequences. Chronologically, the story continues in Super Robot Wars Alpha Gaiden, then moves to the PlayStation 2 with 2nd Super Robot Wars Alpha, and concludes with 3rd Super Robot Wars Alpha: To the End of the Galaxy. The game introduces a "Skill Point" system (localized as "Battle Mastery"), where player choices during and between battles affect difficulty and the chance to unlock stronger units and items. It contains roughly 100 chapters.

The story is set in the year 179 of the New Western Calendar. The One Year War between the Earth Federation and the Principality of Zeon is interrupted when an object crashes onto South Atalia Island. The Extra-Over Technological Investigative Institute finds it to be an alien battleship with advanced technology. Despite warnings from Dr. Bian Zoldark, the Federation conceals evidence of extraterrestrial life and uses the time to build up its military. Bian forms the Divine Crusaders to develop weapons from the alien tech to defend Earth. Meanwhile, economic strain from the Federation's buildup fuels anti-Federation groups like Neo-Zeon, which had retreated to the asteroid Axis. The Federation responds by creating special forces such as the Titans and OZ. Other threats, including the Demon Empire (from Brave Raideen) and Dr. Hell, are repelled by teams from Mazinger Z, Getter Robo, and Raideen. In the year 186, the battleship Excelion (from Gunbuster) fights Space Terrible Monster Crowd forces but is attacked by another alien fleet, the Aerogaters. From this point, the player chooses either a super robot or real robot storyline, commanding either the Grungust Type-2 or the Huckebein MK II.

The Dreamcast version is an enhanced remake with 3D battle animations instead of the PlayStation's 2D sprites. It features higher difficulty on many stages and adds a new boss character. Originally scheduled for July 26, 2001, its release was delayed to August 30, 2001 for quality improvements.