INTRODUCTION

Macross Delta Scramble is the latest Macross flight/action combat developed by Studio d'Artdink to tie in with the 2016 anime series Macross Delta. The base game includes missions based on the first half of the Delta anime (as well as extra missions), and downloadable updates also provide missions based on the latter half of the Delta anime as well as other Macross series (SDF, Plus, Zero, Seven, Frontier, etc.). It is my hope that this translation guide help Macross' small, but dedicated Western fanbase better appreciate that fine legacy by playing—and understanding—this fantastic game.

As per my usual mantra: I have attempted to assemble all of the information contained herein in as logical, concise and organized a manner as possible. This guide is currently (and perpetually) a work-in-progress, and as such cannot be expected to be a fully complete, infallible resource. Over time, I shall endeavor to help this document evolve into an ever-bigger, ever-better, ever more useful guide. Regardless of its current state, I hope you'll find this guide to be a valuable resource as you play the game.

Please bear in mind that this guide is written with the assumption that the reader has at least a passing familiarity with the conventions and vocabulary of both gaming as well as the Macross franchise.

As you navigate this guide, you will notice many screenshots of the game. In an attempt to make the various menu translations easier to follow, I have taken the liberty of editing screenshots of the game to replace the Japanese text with English text. It is my hope that these photo-translations will make the translation segments of the guide more accessible, thereby increasing the efficiency and utility of this guide as a reference tool.

Current FAQ/Guide Status:

The guide is still incomplete, but all of the most important information is complete. 100% of photo-translations are in! 100% of pilot and character information is in! 100% of support set information is in! The rest will be added in due time.

GAME INFORMATION

Macross Delta Scramble is a fast-paced action-combat game with a great deal of customization. It was developed by the hugely talented and experienced Studio Artdink, who have been responsible for a number of fantastic Macross and Gundam games published on the Playstation Portable, Playstation Vita and Playstation 3 gaming consoles over the past decade, as well as several other licensed games that have been localized in English including Dragonball Battle of Z and Sword Art Online: Lost Song. This title marks Artdink's second mech game on the Playstation Vita (after Gundam Seed: Battle Destiny) and their first Macross game since the phenomenal Macross 30: Voices Across the Galaxy (PS3) in 2013.
Macross Delta Scramble focuses primarily on the events of the first half (approximately 12 episodes) of the Macross Delta anime series. The player creates two custom characters for each side in the conflict (one male, one female) to participate in the conflict, though you can also play as “canon” pilots later in the game once they have been unlocked. The base game contains a fair amount of content, which is nearly doubled through DLC updates. The first DLC is free and covers the events of the latter half of the Macross Delta anime series, while the last DLC contains missions based on other Macross properties (Super-Dimensional Fortress Macross, Macross Seven, Macross Frontier and so on).

Release Date	October 20, 2016 (Japan)
Platform	Sony Playstation Vita
Price	¥6,558
Rating	CERO B*
Publisher	Namco Bandai Games
Developer	Studio Artdink

Note: CERO is the Computer Entertainment Rating Organization, which rates electronic games in Japan using the following scale:

CERO A	Suitable for all ages.
CERO B	Suitable for ages 12 and up.
CERO C	Suitable for ages 15 and up.
CERO D	Suitable for ages 17 and up.
CERO Z	Not for children under 18.

CONTROLS

There are three preset control schemes for Macross 30. The first is based on the controls used in Artdink's earlier Macross titles on the Sony PSP; the second is based on third-person shooter controls; and the third is based around the camera-aiming mechanic. You can switch between these three control schemes at any time through the System or Options menus.

When using the Options menu, you will notice that there are two types of flight controls available. Normal controls are, unsurprisingly, the default. Real controls allow you to fly your aircraft like a fighter in an Ace Combat game—rolling with horizontal analog stick movement—which gives you greater control over your flight path. Unfortunately, selecting Real flight controls also introduces multiple obtrusive HUD elements that are very distracting, so I do not recommend it.

Please keep in mind that Macross 30, like most Japanese games, does not invert the default confirm/cancel keys. This means that the circle button is (correctly) linked to the "confirm" command, and the cross button to the "cancel" command. Saving and loading the game, however, uses the same command buttons as the PS3 hardware's region. This means that gamers playing on European and American consoles should be aware that the confirm/cancel buttons will "switch" on them while going through the saving process.

	Default Controls (press square to reset)
Camera	Right Analog Stick
Movement	Left Analog Stick
Transform (Fighter)	D-Pad Up
Transform (GERWALK)	D-Pad Left
Transform (Battroid)	D-Pad Down
Primary/Main Weapon	R
Secondary/Sub Weapon	Circle
Cycle Sub Weapons	Touchscreen or D-Pad Right
Melee	Triangle
Boost	Cross
Dash	Square
Target Lock On/Off	Touchscreen
Cycle Targets	Right Analog Stick (only when Target Lock is on)
Guard	L
Center Camera	L
In-Game Menu	Start
Issue Orders	Touchscreen

While in GERWALK mode, you will need to double-tap in the Boost button (cross) in order to descend.

As is the case with other mech combat games from Artdink, you have an SP meter that gradually fills as you take and receive damage; this meter can be depleted to use special moves and attacks.

Note that you can freely customize every control in the game (see the options menu photo-translation for details) and can always reset controls to their default settings by pressing the square button in the control customization menu.

Action	SP Cost	Command
AMS Anti-Missile System	0	Guard + Primary Weapon
Reload Weapon	0	Primary Weapon (double-tap)
Activate Support Skill	1	Dash + Boost or Touchscreen
Charged Ranged Attack	1	Guard + Secondary Weapon
Charged Melee Attack	1	Guard + Melee Attack
Charged Boost	1	Guard + Boost
Activate Support Skill	2	Triangle + Circle
Special Attack	2	Circle + Cross

Note that I gave the function-name of SP actions instead of the buttons to better accommodate custom control schemes.

GAMEPLAY TIPS

Macross Delta Scramble should be very familiar to anyone who has played any of Artdink's prior mech combat games (especially those on the PSP or PSV). The mechanics in Delta Scramble are largely unchanged from their prior games, though there are a few additions (chiefly that you can now select multiple support characters who can form link bonuses) and, sadly for any M30 fans out there (which should be every one of us) a few ommissions (no more RPG elements, simplified controls and combat mechanics, etc.). If you're already familiar with Artdink's games, you can safely ignore this section. If, however, you are new to Artdink's Macross games, I'd like to use this section to point out some tips to help make your time with Delta Scramble a little bit easier and a little less confusing.

General Tips

Don't forget that, like most Japanese games, the default confirm/cancel commands are opposite the default confirm/cancel commands in Western games: circle is confirm and cross is cancel. Try not to forget it, or you're in for a world of minor inconvenience and annoyance.
Remember to visit the store regularly! As you play through missions, you will earn rewards—new chacters, new aircraft, new equipment packs—but you will NOT be able to use them until you purchase them from the shop (accessed only from the main menu).
Don't stress out about SS-Ranks! As you play through the game you'll be able to tune your aircraft's weapons and base stats, as well as obtain optional equipment (like Armored Packs) and other aircraft, so it's much easier to hold off on those SS-Ranks until post-game when you can bring much more powerful aircraft to bear.
If possible, never take two of the same model aircraft together on the same mission! Both your aircraft and your partner's aircraft will earn tuning points, so assign an aircraft you don't want to play with personally to your partner to help grind TP.

Combat Tips

Your primary weapon (usually gunpod) can dish out a great deal of damage, but (especially prior to tuning) is not very accurate. To increase your accuracy, try staying in either Battroid or GERWALK mode and get as close as possible to your target by dashing.
Alternatively, while airborne, you can increase your accuracy by switching to GERWALK mode once you're close to your target and hovering while you unload all of your ammo. In general, Fighter mode has the least accurate guns as they have the narrowest firing arc.
Missiles have two basic firing modes: all-at-once (hold down the Sub Weapon button to lock-on multiple missiles at once, and release it to fire) and one-at-a-time. Firing missiles one-at-a-time is best for attacking single enemies as you have a better chance of scoring hits, while all-at-once is best for attacking groups of enemies and enemies at long range (where their capacity to maneuver away is diminished).
While in Fighter mode, dashing causes your aircraft to roll to in the direction you hold the analog stick. This is very useful for breaking, as well as avoiding enemy weapons fire. Also keep in mind that for situations where you cannot avoid incoming fire, you can use your AMS (Anti-Missile System) to shoot down incoming missiles (Guard + Main Weapon).
Different weapons have different firing arcs. A gunpod can typically only fire in a very narrow cone directly in front of the aircraft, but the head-mounted laser cannons (on most vehicles) have a wider arc and can rotate 180 degrees backwards, making them very effective against highly mobile enemies.

Tuning Tips

Though you have the option of purchasing tuning points (100TP for 500 credits), I would strongly recommend against doing so. I think it's important to get a good feel for an aircraft before deciding which stats and/or weapons you want to upgrade, as well as to get an appreciation for an aircraft's base stats.
Use your AI partner to grind TP for aircraft you don't like. This is especially useful for optional equipment that requires a massive amount of TP.
Your primary weapon (usually a gunpod) is extremely effective in all thre transformation modes and at both close and long range, which makes it absolutely essential to your survivability during missions. I would, therefore, recommend tuning the primary weapon(s) before anything else. Remember: a strong offense is better than a strong defense.
Every aircraft can only be tuned so much. However, as you play through the game you will unlock special Limiter Release items in the shop. Each aircraft has three different limiters: a Detune Limit Release; a Tune Limit Upgrade; and a Tune Limit Release. The Detune Limit Release allows you to remove base TP from an aircraft. If you want more TP to spend on one stat but don't want to grind, it's handy to transfer TP from a stat you don't care about. Tune Limit Upgrades increase the maximum amount of TP you can invest in any one stat, and the final Tune Limit Release will allow you to tune every stat on your aircraft to the absoute maximum. See the Tuning Limiters subsection of the Secrets and Extras section of this guide for details.
When you apply tuning points, you extend a green bar marking the increased stats. Eventually this bar will turn red. When you reach the “red threshold,” each additional upgrade will cost more TP. Red tuning is called “over-tuning,” and should not be done until after you have fully tuned all of the aircraft and weapon stats to their maximum yellow value unless you are specifically setting out to make a specialized build.
Most aircraft have multiple weapons. Generally speaking, it's better to choose whichever primary weapon suits your play style best, and only tune that weapon—at least until you have TP to spare.
When upgrading weapons, make sure to evenly spread out TP to cover speed as well as accuracy in order to maximize the chances of your hits landing. (The faster a projectile moves, the less time an enemy has to move out of the way).