Baldr Force

Baldr Force is a 2D action-shooter game and eroge visual novel with action and detailed sprite characters. The game features a world in the not-so-distant future where humans are able to dive into the network, and fight using humanoid tools called "Simulacrum".

Plot
As a hacker of the renowned hacking group "Steppenwolf", Tōru Sōma (相馬 透) and his partners earn their living by hacking into servers and selling the information they steal.

As the last hacking before disbanding their group, they hacked into a military server, but soon they find this is a setup by the military to lure terrorists, and they were drawn into battle between two factions. At the end, one of Tōru Sōma's friends was killed by an unknown Simulacrum, while most other group members have been arrested. To investigate and avenge his friend's death, Tōru accepted the offer to join the military.

Steppenwolf

 * Tooru Souma (相馬 透)


 * Tsukina Sasagiri (笹桐 月菜)


 * Yuuya Nonomura (野々村 優哉)


 * Akira Nikaidou (二階堂 あきら)

FLAK

 * Minori Segawa (瀬川 みのり)


 * Ayane Shidou (紫藤 彩音)


 * Kaira Kirsten (カイラ・キルステン)


 * Yousuke Kashiwagi (柏木 洋介)


 * Souji Yagisawa (八木澤 宗次)


 * Gen Gondou (権堂 厳)

Fei Dao

 * Qu Wong (クーウォン)


 * Liang (リャン)


 * Genha (ゲンハ)

Others

 * Reika Tachibana (橘 玲佳)


 * Bachelor (バチェラ)


 * Ren Mizusaka (水坂 憐)

Baldr Force EXE
Baldr Force EXE is an updated version of Baldr Force, released for Windows, Dreamcast, and PlayStation 2.

Baldr Force EXE adds the following:
 * Bald hell mode
 * New weapon: gravity field
 * Super easy mode
 * Bald checker 1/2 data

The Dreamcast and PlayStation 2 versions removed the adult only scenes.

The PS2 version has a new voice casting, a new theme song, a new opening movie and a new cutscene. Hyper mode and time attack mode were also added to this version.

The Premium pack version, available at the PlayStation 2's rerelease, includes a mech figure. The Dreamcast Sega Direct online shop rerelease came with a Telephone card, poster and mech figure.

Baldr Force "Standard Edition"
It is the PC port of the PlayStation 2 version. However, the title song is still based on the original Windows games. It includes enhanced visuals.

An early order includes a full remake of the soundtrack CD.

Baldr Force Re-Action
It is a game included with Xross Scramble, which uses Baldr Force characters.

OVA
An OVA based on the game entitled, "BALDR FORCE EXE Resolution" was released on October 11, 2006. The OVA consists of 4 episodes and was directed by Takashi Yamazaki. Funimation licensed the OVA for North American distribution on July 21, 2007, and it was released on May 20, 2008, including all 4 episodes on one DVD. Funimation released the OVA under the name Baldr Force EXE, dropping "Resolution" from the title. The OVA's opening theme is "Face of Fact (Resolution Ver.)" by Kotoko, and the ending theme is "Undelete" by Mami Kawada.

Plot
An entire world exists unseen, a world that can be accessed only by the mind ... the Wired World. A place of freedom. And occasionally a place of death.

Tōru Sōma knows the land of the logged-in well, for he and his fearless gang of hackers once had the run of the place. But as tragedy came to call and the group disbanded, he was forced to join the ranks of FLAK; a military organization charged with protecting the hidden data paradise deep within the vast network of servers. Indentured into service and out for revenge, Tōru cannot let go of the dead of the past even as a ghost of the present takes shape.

Tōru with the loneliness and confusion of being trapped between two worlds, there is only one question ... What is reality?

Reception
Helen McCarthy put "BALDR FORCE EXE Resolution" into the book 500 Essential Anime Movies and stated that "the story is simple, but has plenty of well crafted CGI action".