I haven't been happy really with most any anime- or JRPG-based RPGs thus far, save maybe the old Sailor Moon RPG (which is fantastically put together, but the subject matter is basically doomed at the table), and Jovian Chronicles.

BESM2 was a mess, and GOO went tits up before I got to see if BESM3 fixed it.  The various JRPG adaptations have largely been far too clunky to really be fun to play. Mekton Zeta is kinda cool until you get to the actual mech creation stuff and then my eyes glazed over at the amount of work involved.  

I've been tinkering with some ideas for a Shin Megami Tensei inspired RPG lately, for my next project after Hulks and Horrors or possibly as a break project.  I've wanted an SMT/Persona game since I played the first one on PS1, and so far nothing's really taken on that feel for me yet.  But I've learned that my best work as a game designer seems to come from being unsatisfied with something ...

For me:

Mobile Suit Gundam - I'd probably use Robotech or Rifts. I know the system and both have big mechs.

Afro Samurai - This one's tough. There's magic, unarmored swordfighters, and armored guys with miniguns. Just about any weapon/armor combo you can think of should be handled so that all are roughly equal. Hero would probably work, but it's way too complex for character creation. Maybe OVA or Mini6 would do well.

Cowboy Bebop - I'd probably use Traveller, just because I know it and it would work.

Mutants & Masterminds might work for Afro if HERO is a bit too heavy on the character-building end.  It's still involved, but not nearly as much.

I'm 50/50 on the system in actual play, though.  Works great for one-shots and forum play, but longer IRL play I can see it getting stale.  Definitely more about the creative energy brought to the table than engaging with the game directly.

Though, thinking about it, I think M&M might have Mecha & Manga supplement or something.  The system is definitely freeform enough in spots you could get it to work with a lot of gonzo anime.

Quote from: J Arcane;584520BESM2 was a mess, and GOO went tits up before I got to see if BESM3 fixed it.

Just as an aside, BESM3 did end up seeing the light of day, via White Wolf.

I liked Mekton II + MTS.

Plenty of Silhouette love here, especially Jovian Chronicles.

I recall looking into it once and finding the system horribly complicated, but I remember no details. What's the system like?

Quote from: The Butcher;584658Plenty of Silhouette love here, especially Jovian Chronicles.

I recall looking into it once and finding the system horribly complicated, but I remember no details. What's the system like?

It's actually pretty simple IIRC, though it's been a while since I read it.

Jovian Chronicles also had a killer setting.

Quote from: The Butcher;584658Plenty of Silhouette love here, especially Jovian Chronicles.

I recall looking into it once and finding the system horribly complicated, but I remember no details. What's the system like?

If you want to make all your own vehicles then the system gets a little complex. If you want to just play with the setting provided, it's as simple as Savage Worlds.

Quote from: J Arcane;584664Jovian Chronicles also had a killer setting.

Of course it had a killer setting. It was originally developed for Mekton II.

Quote from: The Butcher;584658Plenty of Silhouette love here, especially Jovian Chronicles.

I recall looking into it once and finding the system horribly complicated, but I remember no details. What's the system like?

I remember it had d6 dice pools, but I can't recall much else.

Quote from: J Arcane;584664Jovian Chronicles also had a killer setting.

Yeah, I remember being impressed by the "hard SF plus mecha" thing.

Quote from: Skywalker;584676If you want to make all your own vehicles then the system gets a little complex. If you want to just play with the setting provided, it's as simple as Savage Worlds.

Damn, I should really look into it then.

If all else fails, I'll convert it to Robotech.

Quote from: jeff37923;584703Of course it had a killer setting. It was originally developed for Mekton II.

I think the more suitable second sentence is "It was developed by Dream Pod 9."

The fact it's now available apart from Mekton is a plus to me.  

Quote from: The Butcher;584658I recall looking into it once and finding the system horribly complicated, but I remember no details. What's the system like?

Basic mechanic is a d6 die pool with the number of dice rolled equal to the skill level of the character.  To determine an activity total the highest die of the pool is taken an added to the attribute value of the character.  Each additional die which rolls a 5 or 6 adds +1 to the activity total.  This total is compared against a difficulty number.  Pretty standard stuff except for the dice gymnastics.

I don't remember much else.

Quote from: J Arcane;584730I think the more suitable second sentence is "It was developed by Dream Pod 9."

The fact it's now available apart from Mekton is a plus to me.  

Actually, Dream Pod 9 evolved from Ianus Publications who had done a lot of mecha/anime gaming material compatible with Mekton II - like Mecha Press and Protoculture Addicts magazines.

Quote from: Gabriel2;584735Basic mechanic is a d6 die pool with the number of dice rolled equal to the skill level of the character.  To determine an activity total the highest die of the pool is taken an added to the attribute value of the character.  Each additional die which rolls a 5 or 6 adds +1 to the activity total.  This total is compared against a difficulty number.  Pretty standard stuff except for the dice gymnastics.

I don't remember much else.

Combat starts with initiative determined by rolling your Combat Sense skill.  You go in order of skill check results.

Attacks are Opposed Rolls, with Defender winning ties.

Your Margin of Success, multiplied by your attack's Damage rating (e.g. x15), gets compared to your target's Thresholds (a secondary stat, to which you add Armor at each step; e.g. if you're at 20/40/60 naked, then wear Frickin' Full Plate (+50), while armored you're at 70/90/110 and damage results of 69 or less do nothing).  Armor degrades as it's hit, and there is a Death Spiral.  Don't get hurt, and try not to get hit.