Medarot 2 - Kabuto Version (Japan)

Medarot 2 - Kabuto Version is a Japanese Game Boy Color RPG released in 1999. Part of the Medarot series (known as Medabots overseas), this version focuses on the Kabuto beetle-themed robot line. The game was developed by Natsume and published by Imagineer exclusively for the Japanese market. It's a turn-based role-playing game where you collect and customize mechanical partners called Medarots.

You take on the role of a young Medarot trainer exploring a world where these robots are used for battles and everyday tasks. The core gameplay involves exploring towns, talking to NPCs, and engaging in turn-based combat with teams of Medarots. Customization is key: you can swap parts like heads, arms, and legs on your robots to change their stats and special moves. The story unfolds through text-heavy dialogue, all in Japanese, so a guide or language knowledge helps.

For retro RPG fans, Medarot 2 stands out for its deep customization and unique robot-collecting hook. It's a solid entry in a series that later gained popularity in the West via the Medabots anime. While it never left Japan, emulation makes it accessible today. The sprite work is charming, and the battle system offers more strategy than typical monster-collecting games of the era. If you enjoy Pokemon-like gameplay but want more mechanical depth, this is worth a look.