Love & Destroy is a 1999 third-person shooter video game developed by Inti Creates and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation. Set in the near future, the plot depicts an alien invasion which nearly brings about human extinction. To save humanity, a scientist sends three remaining mechs and their robotic, female navigators back in time where they recruit the unnamed, male protagonist as a mech pilot to stamp out the invasion. Bringing out the full, offensive potential of a mech requires a positive, emotional link between the human pilot and navigator. Part of the gameplay in Love & Destroy is made up of 3D shooter missions, where the player battles enemies after choosing one of three navigators and her respective mech, each equipped with a unique set of weapons. These action segments alternate with romantic interactions between the player character and the navigators. The story unfolds differently depending on the player's use of navigator, on-screen choices, and performance during missions. Staff members for SCEI subsidiary Arc Entertainment were previously known for their work on the Arc the Lad series of role-playing games, while Love & Destroy marked new developer Inti Creates' second overall release. Love & Destroy features character designs by manga artist Masakazu Katsura and animated cutscenes by the studio Production I.G. The game sold poorly and critical reception has been mixed.
Gameplay
Love & Destroy is a third-person shooter consisting of a series of missions where the player uses a Battle Pod mech to eliminate either a single, large boss or a group of smaller enemies. These battles have a five-minute time limit and take place in large, 3D cityscapes through which the player can freely maneuver. The environments are highly destructible, allowing the player to demolish any building. The game supports DualShock controller functionality with the analog sticks mapped to movement and aiming. The player can choose one of three mechs and its respective Q-Tron navigator for any mission. All of them come equipped with a basic vulcan cannon for targeting and firing at enemies from a distance, though each Battle Pod varies in speed and has a unique set of weapons. ViVi's "V-Silhouette" is the fastest but uses mostly weak, short-ranged melee attacks; LuLu's "L-Silhouette" is the slowest but uses mostly powerful, long-ranged projectiles; and KiKi's "K-Silhouette" has balanced speed and uses medium-ranged lasers that deal intermediate damage. One Battle Pod may present more of an advantage over another depending on the situation. Performing well increases the player's score and unlocks more powerful upgrades. If the player's health gauge depletes, the mission is a failure though it will not result in a game over. The storyline will progress regardless of whether a player accomplishes or fails a mission. The game features dating sim mechanics between missions, which are shown as animated full motion videos (FMVs) depicting social and romantic interactions between the player character and the Q-Trons. During these sequences, the player can be presented with a choice of whether or not they like a particular Q-Tron. The plot unfolds differently and its outcome changes depending on the use of Q-Tron, on-screen choices, and mission success. Doing well in each mission and using the same Q-Tron repeatedly will foster the protagonist's relationship with her and result in a better ending for the characters. The player can also collect up to 100 voice clips from each Q-Tron. Some hidden clips break the fourth wall and require actions such as opening the PlayStation's disc lid.
Plot The story of Love & Destroy opens in the near future when an extraterrestrial entity known as "Germ" descended from the sky and began feeding off human stress, quickly spreading across Earth and leaving mass destruction in its wake. After a few decades, humanity developed measures to counter the invasion with "Battle Pod" technology. These weaponized mechs were equipped with "S.E.E.D." (Synchronized Energy of Emotive Dynamics), a system relying on positive, sympathetic emotions to effectively utilize their offensive capabilities. This would be best accomplished when each human pilot established a romantic connection with a robotic, female navigator called a "Q-Tron." After years of fighting, the plan ultimately proved unsuccessful and humanity was nearly wiped out. In a final attempt to salvage the planet's future, a scientist sends three Q-Trons, their Battle Pods, and an instructor back in time to present day Japan, just before the appearance of the Germ. It is there that they across the unnamed player character, a male highschooler whom they rescue when the Germ initiates its attack. He then joins them in defending the world against the alien threat.
Characters ViVi: Voiced by Mao Motomura. The second model of Q-Tron produced. Feisty, rebellious, and obstinate, she is highly confident in her fighting ability and hates to lose. She is skilled in mechanics and weapons maintenance. LuLu: Voiced by Natsumi Yanase. The prototype model of Q-Tron and leader of the group due to the vast amount of information she has accumulated. Calm and quiet with a sad disposition, she feels responsible for the deaths of many pilots during the war over the years. She is a machine operations and control specialist. KiKi: Voiced by Kozue Yoshizumi. The newest model of Q-Tron produced. Sweet, cheerful, and curious, she strives to gain more experience as a navigator. Data management and program engineering are her area of expertise. Egg: Voiced by Wataru Takagi. A robot instructor in the form of an anthropomorphic egg with wings. It coordinates the missions with the pilots and Q-Trons.
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