Megaton Musashi

Megaton Musashi

Company type	Multimedia franchise
Industry	Video games, anime
Founded	November 2021 (2021-11)
Founder	Level-5
Headquarters	Japan
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Akihiro Hino (Director)
Products	Action role-playing games, anime television series
Parent	Level-5

is a Japanese multimedia franchise created by Level-5. It began as an action role-playing game released in Japan for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5 platforms in November 2021. A free-to-play edition, , became available on December 1, 2022. The third installment, , was launched worldwide on April 25, 2024, for Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Windows. Additionally, an anime adaptation produced by OLM, Inc. was broadcast from October 2021 through March 2023.

Synopsis

Set in the year 2118, Earth faces an invasion by hostile extraterrestrials known as , who annihilate 99.9% of humanity during an event called . The remaining 1% of the population is confined within fortified , where their memories of the invasion are suppressed to maintain peace. Meanwhile, a unified global government wages war against the invaders. The Dractors penetrate Earth's core and replace it with an artificial one to terraform the planet, which is subsequently renamed .

Plot

Yamato Ichidaiji, a disturbed adolescent plagued by recurring memories of the invasion and his family's demise, is selected to pilot a new Megaton-Class Rogue alongside other youths: Teru Asami, a composed yet self-centered government agent; Ryugo Hijikata, a tough fighter; Reiji Amemiya, a pacifist; and Jun Kirishima, a skilled combatant. Their struggle against the Dractors will determine Earth's destiny and becomes more complex when Yamato encounters Arshem Laia, a Draktor princess who desires peaceful coexistence.

Rogues

To combat the Dractors, the global government engineered armored bipedal machines called Rogues. These were mass-produced as frontline units supporting more advanced models.

Subsequently, next-generation Megaton-Class Rogues were developed aboard Shelter Ixia. Constructed from Megatonium—a metal surpassing previous alloys in strength—they provide enhanced power and durability.

Musashi

The series' central mecha, named after Miyamoto Musashi, is primarily piloted by Yamato. Teru and Ryugo also operate it before acquiring Sparkman and Gaudia. Musashi is highly adaptable, wielding twin swords and firing beams from its torso-mounted Diffusion Cannon. It uniquely assembles in three segments through the Sky Build (スカイビルド, Sukaibirudo) formation at high altitude.

Arthur

A centaur-inspired mecha named after King Arthur, piloted by Reiji. It specializes in close-quarters combat with exceptional mobility.

Maximus

A ranged-combat expert named after the Pontifex maximus, piloted by Jun with co-pilot Momoka. It features homing missile pods.

Sparkman

Modeled after Thomas Edison and piloted by Teru, this Rogue generates electricity to enhance weapon effectiveness.

Gaudia

Drawing inspiration from the Spartan army and piloted by Ryugo, it is the physically most powerful Megaton-Class Rogue with high offensive and defensive capabilities.

Musashi-O

A Solon-manufactured variant based on Musashi’s design blueprints. Initially piloted by Masamune then Victor, it boasts improved maneuverability thanks to rear deifter vernier thrusters.

Fire Loader

A mecha inspired by classic American automobiles with fire-themed paintwork, piloted by Masamune. Developed by Takumi using Draktor Balrog combat analysis for flexibility and heat resistance.

Brahms Soldier

Themed after medieval soldiers with enhanced propulsion and cold resistance capabilities, piloted by Shizuka.

Mad Bison

A post-apocalyptic wasteland vehicle-style mecha focusing on high offensive power but limited defense. Constructed from salvaged parts in Solon and piloted by Tetsuo.

Dark Knight

A Draktor mech operated by Grieffas and others, equipped with force field generators to mitigate damage. Components salvaged during gameplay are used by Victor to assemble a Megaton-Class Rogue piloted by Arshem.

Pilots

A passionate youth fueled by vengeance following the loss of his family during the Draktor invasion. He initially serves as Musashi's pilot but begins to question his convictions after encountering Arshem.

A rebellious gang leader with a tender side, especially toward children and the elderly. A student at Seikoku Academy who refuses to wear the standard uniform. Acts as Musashi's co-pilot before becoming the pilot of the Gaudia Rogue. Resides at the Sunflower Garden nursery, which is run by his mother Minae.

A composed tactician striving for peaceful coexistence between humans and Draktors. Pilots Sparkman and serves briefly as Musashi’s co-pilot.

A transfer student possessing psychic powers developed at the Ixia Research Center. Orphaned by the Draktor invasion and adopted by Professor Simon Raider. Becomes Arthur’s pilot following initial combat engagements.

An energetic and well-liked gymnast, formerly an idol singer, who leads the anti-bullying group KJ. The main pilot of Maximus and briefly trained on a Robinson Diver-Class Rogue.

A courteous martial artist from a family that owns a dojo, serving as Maximus’s co-pilot and acting as Jun’s rival.

An unconventional android originally created to be targeted by bullies, later enlisted by Oblivion Bay as part of their crew. In the game, can pilot a Megaton-Class Rogue.

A mecha enthusiast and member of Seikoku Academy’s tech club who operates Kindaichi Industries Inc. Son of Dr. Ryusei Haruma, designer of Musashi, recruited as a mechanic and potential Megaton-Class Rogue pilot.

, Hazuki Ogino (Young)

A seasoned Rogue pilot heading the Ibushi Squadron and also working in construction. Pilots Zero No. 6 Diver-Class Rogue and briefly acts as Maximus’s co-pilot.

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The unofficial leader of Solon, prioritizing survival over conflict with Draktors. Escorts Arshem to secure resources and is revealed to be Momoka’s biological father as well as a principal builder of Musashi-O, which he pilots after Masamune's departure.

A formidable third-year delinquent secretly originating from Solon who manipulates memory systems to blend into society. Attempts to seize control of Ixia for Solon’s benefit but is thwarted. Former pilot of Musashi-O and later Fire Loader Rogue.

A stoic inhabitant of the surface allied with Victor who infiltrates Ixia alongside Masamune. After evacuation, enrolls as a first-year student at Seikoku and pilots a Megaton-Class Rogue, occasionally piloting Sparkman before being assigned Brahms Soldier.

A rugged yet devoted Rogue engineer from Solon who contributed to building Musashi-O. In the game, pilots his own Mad Bison Rogue ("Tetsuo-bot") after proving his capabilities in the Lost Village Colosseum.

Draktor

The ruling queen of the Draktors and mother to Arshem.

Daughter of Crouzade Laia and Draktor princess advocating for harmony with humans. Briefly pilots the Musashi-O in Solon and can be unlocked as an optional Megaton-Class Rogue pilot through a side quest in the game.

A faithful knight who has served Arshem since childhood.

The supreme commander of the Draktors, piloting a Dark Knight (Vohda) mecha capable of transforming into the Dark Knight Emperor (Zerk Vohda) utilizing technology similar to Mass Expander.

Video game

Revealed on July 27, 2016, and created by Level-5, the title debuted in Japan on November 11, 2021, for both Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4. Under the direction of Akihiro Hino, the game has been supported with complimentary updates and paid downloadable content (DLC) throughout 2022.

By March 2023, it had incorporated crossovers with prominent anime mecha series such as Mazinger Z, UFO Robot Grendizer, Getter Robo, Combattler V, and Voltes V. An English-language trailer was made available on September 20, 2023.

Anime

The franchise's anime television adaptation was announced concurrently with the game. Produced by OLM, the series was helmed by Akihiro Hino as chief director alongside Shigeharu Takahashi. The scriptwriting duties were handled by Hino, character designs were crafted by Takuzō Nagano, and Ken'ichirō Saigō composed the soundtrack. Broadcasting took place from October 1 to December 24, 2021, on Tokyo MX and BS Fuji. The opening theme, titled "Musashi," was delivered by Zuma of Nijiiro Zamurai, while the ending theme, Metsubou Sekai no Ballad, featured vocals from Mana.

The second season ran from October 7, 2022, until March 17, 2023. Its opening song, Song of Heroes (英雄のうた), was performed by Kodai Matsūra, with Mana returning to sing the ending track, Mayoeru Hitsuji-tachi no Banka. Due to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, several episodes experienced postponements; episodes 11 through 13 (overall episodes 24 to 26) were broadcast between February 3 and 17, 2023, with the concluding two installments airing on March 10 and March 17.

On April 25, 2024, Crunchyroll acquired streaming rights for the first season to release episodes weekly. Meanwhile, Medialink obtained distribution rights for East Asia (excluding China and Japan), Southeast Asia, and Oceania (excluding Australia and New Zealand), making the series available on Ani-One Asia's YouTube platform.

Reception

Within its initial three days on sale, the game moved a total of 11,378 copies—7,730 units on Nintendo Switch and 3,648 units on PlayStation 4.