Triggerheart Exelica Enhanced

Triggerheart Exelica Enhanced (トリガーハートエグゼリカエンハンスド Torigāhāto Eguzerika Enhansudo), also known as Trigger Heart Exelica Enhanced and TriggerHeart EXELICA ENHANCED is the second remake of Triggerheart Exelica and the last console version made. It was released by Warashi & Alchemist for the PlayStation 2 on March 26, 2009. A Nintendo Switch re-release was announced for 2025.

Plot[]

In an unknown alien galaxy far away from the Milky Way, a war is waging between a group of human-like people called C.H.I.L.D.A. and a mysterious race of violent robotic vehicles known as the Ver’mith. C.H.I.L.D.A. employed their elite squad consisting of humanoid weapons known as Triggerhearts, three of the Triggerheart units, TH60 Exelica, her programmed sister TH32 Crueltear, and their ally TH44 Faintear were busily fighting the Ver’mith during an attack when a portal known as "Gate" opened and sucked Exelica and Crueltear, along with their Transport ship C'rna_dyne, while Faintear was captured by the Ver'mith fleet.

Materializing on planet Earth, Exelica and Crueltear soon made this planet their new home as they had no means of return, and losing their reasons to fight as they were also uncapable to know the outcome of the Interstellar Wars or Faintear's fate. Upon their arrival, both Triggerhearts were later adopted by an old man called Skiltall, and they lived as a normal family.

Some time later a new Gate opened and the surviving Ver'mith forces appeared. Intent on making Earth their primary fortress of attack and main operations base, the Ver'mith quickly eliminated the majority of Earth’s defenses. As the destruction spreads, the once buried fighting instincts within Exelica and Crueltear re-awoke. The final battle against the Ver'mith has begun, but this time the Ver'mith have their own version of a Triggerheart unit, a copy of the original Faintear known as Faintear Imitate. Meanwhile, the original Faintear arrived on Earth after escaping from her captivity, and reunites with Exelica and Crueltear.

Outnumbered, but with their fighting instincts awoken, with a reason to fight, and with the original Faintear on their side again, the future of planet Earth and the entire galaxy rests on the three Triggerheart units.

New Features[]

Animated opening video with the theme song "GRAVITY ERROR" by Ayane.
Arrange Mode is not included in this version.
The original Triggerheart Faintear is now playable.
Event CG cutscenes for Story Mode.
Stage 0 in Story Mode (Faintear Only)
Concept-only characters like C'rna_dyne, it's AI (Artificial Intelligence) C'r_na, Skiltall now appear in the game.
Unlockable Gallery

Gameplay[]

Arcade Mode[]

The Arcade Mode of Triggerheart Exelica Enhanced differs from the Dreamcast version since it uses the restructured XBOX Live Arcade version instead of being a direct port of the original arcade game. Thus, the ending conditions of the XBLA port are present on the PS2. To achieve the "True Ending" in the PS2 version you must unlock the battles with Faintear Imitate in stages 1, 3, and, as a PS2-exclusive condition, unlock a third battle in stage 5, and survive the game without continuing once.

Story Mode[]

The Story Mode a greatly revised version of the Dreamcast exclusive mode. The main improvement was the inclusion of the Event CG, images used as the cutscenes of the story during the prologue and after completing a stage and a much deeper emphasis in the game's lore, filling gaps within the plot which were once unsolved.

Differences between PS2 and XBLA versions[]

Difficulty[]

The overall difficulty of the PS2 version is reduced as the game speed is slower than the XBLA port, allowing the player to navigate through tight spots much easier.

Graphics[]

The PlayStation 2 port is graphically superior to the Arcade and Dreamcast versions, however if we compare the in-game graphics with those of the XBLA version, they're toned-down, and the resolution is lower.

The possible reasons behind the sacrifice of graphic quality are the inclusion of Faintear, the Event CG and Stage 0.

TH44 Faintear — The original Faintear makes her appearance in this game.

Triggerheart Faintear[]

Main Article: Faintear (Triggerheart)

The main feature of this game is the Triggerheart unit TH44 Faintear, whose speed is the fastest of all the Triggerhearts, along with the most powerful weapon in the game: The Laser Form (Laser F.) shot, due to the weapon's hability of create more Bonus Items and her speed, Faintear is ideal for either expert players and hi-score enthusiasts.

Special Edition[]

The game was both released in a standard edition and a Special Edition including a Nendoroid Exelica with both A'rstear and D'rfend made by Good Smile Company.

Incompatibility with PlayStation 5[]

Sony originally announced the upcoming PlayStation 5 will feature backwards compatibility from PlayStation to PlayStation 4 VR, making very possible that Triggerheart Exelica Enhanced could be included in the PlayStation 2 compatible titles either region-free or not.

Unfortunately, it was revealed that the PS5's backwards compatibility, called "Legacy Mode" will range from PlayStation 4 and PS4 Pro , excluding all the previous consoles, and claiming the console "couldn't reach the implementation of such capabilities", becoming the final nail in the coffin for any hope of playing Exelica Enhanced on the PS5.

Nintendo Switch Re-release[]

Exelica Second Revival Support Project — Announcement pic of the Switch version

In September 11, Cosmo Machia announced an upcoming re-release of the game for the Nintendo Switch for an unspecific date of 2025. On September 20th, A Makuake site was opened under the title 復活応援プロジェクト第二弾「トリガーハートエグゼリカエンハンスド」(Fukkatsu ōen purojekuto dai ni-dan Torigāhāto Eguzerika Enhansudo) [lit. "Second Revival Support Project: Triggerheart Exelica Enhanced"].

Like the previous re-release, it also uses the XBOX Live Arcade version as engine, addressing the downgraded graphics issue of the PlayStation 2 version. It is currently unknown if the game retains the censorship of the XBLA and Switch versions.

While it seems there's no stretch goals being planned currently, the FAQ mentions...

That the port will be basically similar to the previous port (graphics and mode wise), but with the included PS2 content too.
A Steam port would be planned at some point, but adding in multi-language support will take a while for such a port to get made.
As for ports outside Switch and Steam, they can't do it themselves, and that they need a publisher (even though they already got Red Art Games to bring out the overseas physical releases of the original which have yet to come out, they could just ask them again).
Making any more figures similarly based on the Limited Edition version, which they cannot, as the previous prototypes were destroyed and cannot be made again. However, they can look for a new licensee with an emphasis on quality.
And as for a possibility of a sequel, they are rethinking plans and specifications for that right now.

Videos[]

Dai Ransou Dash or Dasshu!! Collaboration[]

On August 13th, 2014, Alchemist announced a collaboration with Planet G's action game Dai Ransou Dash or Dasshu!! (大乱走ダッシュ or 奪取!! lit, Great Runaway Dash or Capture!!) featuring card like items with artwork from Triggerheart Exelica Enhanced.

Curiosities[]

This game is the only version where the original Faintear is playable.
This is the second and last console port to feature the Story Mode.
The toning down of graphics in favor of more contents is very similar to Thunder Force V: Perfect System on the PlayStation, where Tecno Soft sacrified the graphic details for the sake of extra features and faster loading times than the original Thunder Force V on the Sega Saturn. The upcoming Switch release retains the graphic quality of the XBLA engine.
The "OTHER" section of the Gallery can be unlocked without playing the game. Once the anime opening is over (or exit the Main Menu), you'll be on the title screen, wait until the company logos appear, once the Warashi logo disappears, a black screen with the word "TRIGGERHEART EXELICA" will appear, wait until it fades, and a slideshow with the Story Mode prologue will begin, wait until it ends and you'll return to the title screen, then press start (or circle), then head to gallery, select "Other" and the images will be unlocked.

Links[]

http://products.alchemist-net.co.jp/products/exelica/ Alchemist's Exelica Enhanced official site (Backup from Internet Archive's Wayback Machine) [Japanese Only]
https://exelica-enhanced.cosmomachia.co.jp/ Cosmo Machia's Exelica Enhanced official site [Japanese Only]