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Girlfriend of Steel
Developer(s)	Gainax Network Systems
Publisher(s)	Bandai
Release date(s)	February 1998 (JP)
Genre(s)	Visual novel
Mode(s)	Single player
Platform(s)	PlayStation, Sega Saturn, Windows, Macintosh
Media	CD-ROM

Girlfriend of Steel (鋼鉄のガールフレンド, Kōtetsu no Gārufurendo^?) (also called Iron Maiden) is a video game based on the Gainax anime/manga series Neon Genesis Evangelion, released officially only in Japan. Some fans also consider it an additional episode of the series because whilst it was interactive to a small degree, it principally played out like a segment of the anime's story, fitting in just before the mood of the series started to get darker, but unavoidably before the Eleventh Angel, Iruel, attacks NERV, because the simulation bodies are shown in use during the early stages of the game, and after being infected by Iruel, successfully restoring the simulation bodies before the 13th Angel incident (which would have hindered Toji from appearing in the game as he does) a highly unlikely event.

In April 2006, a "special" edition is released for the PS2, as part of EVA's 10th year anniversary. A Windows version is scheduled for release in Sept. 2006.

A shy female character, Mana Kirishima, starts at Shinji Ikari's school and immediately admits to finding him cute. Gradually, a relationship unfolds and they end up going on a date where they kiss. It turns out, however, that she is one of three test pilots of the TRIDENT (alternatively named the "Country Crawler") units, a new competitor to the Evangelions, similar to Jet Alone, thus the name Girlfriend of Steel. Eventually, the TRIDENT goes berserk and the Evas have to destroy it.

Throughout the game, Asuka Langley Soryu is constantly jealous of Shinji and Mana, consistent with her widely-speculated romantic feelings for Shinji. (Mana is, in fact, much disliked by many fans of the Shinji/Asuka pairing.) Rei Ayanami is present but plays a rather background role in the story.

The interactivity in most of the game is limited to walking around areas until the next plot event is triggered. However, the one true branch occurs at the end of the game, where the player may choose to focus on Mana, Asuka or Kaji. This choice determines which of the game's three endings are shown.

In the Mana ending, Mana is discovered not to have been killed in the battle. Shinji rescues her and brings her back to his apartment. She showers, emerges wearing only a towel, and teasingly asks Shinji if he would like her to remove it (this is similar to a scene involving Shinji and Asuka in Yoshiyuki Sadamoto's Evangelion manga, in which Asuka actually does remove the towel—revealing that she has on a sleeveless, strapless top and short shorts underneath). In discussion with Misato, however, it is agreed that Mana has to leave Tokyo-3, and she says a teary goodbye to Shinji who has won her heart.

In the Asuka ending, Asuka helps Shinji to get over Mana and the two children grow closer as a result. This ending contains the most romantic images of Asuka and Shinji together that have been officially produced by Gainax, including a moving scene where Asuka hugs Shinji emotionally.

The third ending with Kaji does not focus on any one character as much as the other endings do. Mana is also discovered not to be killed, and says goodbye, with Shinji replying "I'll be waiting for you".

The ending song is 予感 (Yokan, "Premonition"), sung by Yoko Takahashi.

• Kirishima Mana, the female lead in this game, is voiced by the seiyu of Rei (Megumi Hayashibara).
• Though this game was officially released only in Japan, English fan translations can be found on the internet.

• Official site
• Walkthrough in English of the game
• Fan-translation of the three endings to Girlfriend of Steel
• Review and further information
• IGN: PC Saturn PS
• Information on the Special Edition

v • d • e Neon Genesis Evangelion
Creators:	Hideaki Anno • Yoshiyuki Sadamoto • Gainax
TV Series:	Neon Genesis Evangelion
Films:	Death and Rebirth • The End of Evangelion • Revival of Evangelion • Rebuild of Evangelion • Untitled Evangelion live action movie
Characters:	Asuka • Gendo • Kaworu • Misato • Rei • Ritsuko • Kaji • Shinji • Toji • Yui
Glossary:	Eva Units • Angels • Human Instrumentality Project • Timeline
Video Games:	Ayanami Raising Project • Girlfriend of Steel • Girlfriend of Steel 2 • Evangelion 64 • Shinji Ikari Raising Project • Shinji and Good Friends • Neon Genesis Evangelion 2
Misc:	List of media and episodes • "A Cruel Angel's Thesis" • "Komm, süsser Tod" • Angelic Days manga • Red Cross Book • ReDeath • Topics