For some reason, Bandai Visual decided to release the concluding OVA from Super Robot Wars first, and then follow that up with the TV series that actually should come first.  That was pretty confusing, and though the OVA is pedestrian and uninspiring, especially if you haven't seen the show first, the TV series is actually quite enjoyable.  In volume two the show starts to become more fleshed out and though it is still a standard mecha show, it has a lot of action and some fun, if typical, characters.  It's unfortunate that BV has priced this disc so extraordinarily high ($50 MSRP) for a three episode disc, that means most otaku won't be able to watch this enjoyable show.

Series background:

In the future the earth is a very different place.  After being hit by two giant meteors and going through a series of wars, the Earth Federation Government united all the peoples of Earth under one flag and restored the peace.

Then the third meteor struck, but this one was different.  Inside was a cache of alien technology and proof that invaders were coming to take over.  The technology that was discovered was used to create mecha, called Personal Troopers, in order to defend Earth.

Ryusei Date is a teenager who is crazy about Personal Troopers and is very good at the popular game Burning PT where opponents fight mecha in a virtual reality world.  Little does he suspect but Burning PT is actually a training ground to find likely Trooper pilots.  When aliens attack just after a PT tournament, the government sends out an unmanned Trooper that Date climbs in and uses to defend his girlfriend.  Of course playing in virtual reality and real life are two different things, but with his life on the line, Date doesn't have a lot of time to adjust to the differences.

This volume:

These three shows introduce some more of the cast.  Date meets his new teammate Raidiese Branstein after some time in the Trooper simulator.  After some goading, Raidiese climbs into the mock mecha and proceeds to best Date's high score without breaking a sweat.  It turns out that this new member used to be one of the Federation's hottest pilots until a mysterious accident caused him to retire.

The team is headed by Aya Kobayashi, who is insecure in her ability to lead the small fighting group, but she's determined to give it her best.  In their first exercise the three PT pilots fight a mock battle against a group of tanks.  Convinced that there's no way a tank can beat a PT, Date rushes into the fray and is quickly defeated, which leaves his teammates vulnerable and they soon fall too.  In their second practice battle, Date is determined to do better.  When an unknown enemy arrives to fight them however, it's evident that the time for practice is over.

The three episodes on this volume start to flesh the series out a little bit.  The dynamics of the Earth government and the terrestrial opponents of the Earth Federation forces have started to become clearer.  It turns out that Prof. Bian Zoldark, the person who discovered the third meteor along with the technology inside it and now heads the EOTI (Extra Over Technology Institute), is using his advanced knowledge to build his own personal army.   Armed with weapons that far exceed the power that the Federation forces has, his plans are still unknown.

This show comes as a two DVD set with the second disc reserved for extras.  They come in a single width keepcase with a page for the second DVD.  There is also a 24-page booklet with character sketches and technical specs of the various mecha.

Audio:

Once again Bandai Visual has released a disc without an English dub.  For the amount they are asking, you wouldn't think it would be too much to provide an English soundtrack for those who prefer watching dubbed anime.  As it is the original Japanese audio is only in stereo but it sounds pretty good.  The track had a fairly wide dynamic range and the impacts when two mecha were fighting had a fair amount of bass.  Of course a multi-channel mix with a dedicated subwoofer track would make the fights more exciting, but you take what you can get.  Overall this is a nice sounding disc.

Video:

The video quality of the 1.78:1 anamorphic image was very good, much better than the OVA that was released earlier.  The image was pretty sharp with lines being tight and well defined.  The colors were bright and solid and the blacks were deep.  With only two episodes on the disc compression artifacts weren't a problem.

Extras:

Zip.  Nada.  Ziltch.  Nothing.  Just an 8-page insert.  For the amount that they're charging for this disc, I was expecting something more.

Final Thoughts:

With only three episodes and a running time of 72 minutes, the $50 retail price is outrageously steep.  Add to that the fact that Amazon, DVD Planet, and DVD Empire have declined to carry the title, and you've got a receipt for disaster.  That's too bad because the show is a fun, if typical, mecha show and would probably be getting a lot more buzz if people could actually afford it.  I can't say I'd buy this at or near retail price, but cost aside the show itself is recommended.