Custom Robo

 is a series of science fiction action role-playing video games developed by NOISE and published by Nintendo Co., Ltd. in 1999.
The series currently spans five games, and has titles on the Nintendo 64, Nintendo Game Boy Advance, GameCube, and Nintendo DS. Only the two most recent have seen a release outside of Japan. The most recent title in the series was first released in Japan on October 19, 2006, later seeing international release in 2007.
International release.
Beginning in 1999, the "Custom Robo" series has largely been exclusive to Japan. In 2001, however, Nintendo released "Super Smash Bros. Melee", a fighting game containing characters from throughout the company's history, worldwide. In the title's trophy room, three custom robos from "Custom Robo V2" appeared as trophies: "Ray Mk II", "Bayonette", and "Annie".
Stated by several issues of Nintendo Power, an international release of "Custom Robo GX", the third title in the series, was planned but later canceled. The fourth title in the series, "Custom Robo: Battle Revolution", would later be released in 2004, the first title in the series to receive and release outside of Japan. The fifth title of the series, "Custom Robo Arena", would become the first and only "Custom Robo" title released globally.
Gameplay.
"Custom Robo" takes place in a collect-customize-and-battle style role-playing video game genre similar to games such as "Robotrek" or "Front Mission", but with frantic action battles in confined 3D arenas (2D arenas in "Custom Robo GX"), similar to "Virtual On". In each game's story mode, players slip into the role of a nameable protagonist just beginning to learn about Custom Robo. In each game, the first Robo players obtain is always the latest model of the "Ray" series. The goal for players is to improve their skills and collect different Custom Robos in order to defeat everyone, including champion Custom Robo users.
The main objective of the game is to finish the storyline by collecting every Custom Robo and battle part, while winning every battle that moves players along through the story arc. In Custom Robo battles, the object is to reduce the opponent's hit points from 1000 to 0 by using different Robos, guns, bombs, pods, and dash attacks. Custom Robos are arranged in groups that are similar to their abilities. The endurance bar is located above the player's hitbox; once it runs out, the Custom Robo gets "downed" which means that it stays fallen for a couple seconds. After the Robo gets up, it goes into "rebirth" mode, a temporary state of invincibility lasting 3 seconds. Should the player repeatedly lose the same battle, the game will offer the option of reducing the opponent's initial health, in order to make the battle easier. If players continue to lose several times, the degree of handicap offered increases up to 75%, giving the opponent a starting HP of 250, rather than 1000.
Games.
The following is a list of games released in the series:
A sequel to "Custom Robo GX" was originally planned for release on the Game Boy Advance, but the project was discontinued. It was planned for release in late 2005 in Japan.