The Anime Crisis Center > Reviews > Games > M
Mobile Suit Gundam: Gundam VS Zeta Gundam review by Rebel
# A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Gundam vs Zeta Gundam is the retool of AEUG vs Titans, the Japanese Gundam game, still popular in arcades, now on the PS2, based off of Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam. It's the 'sequel' to the earlier released Federation vs Zeon, also on the PS2. Gundam vs Zeta Gundam was expanded from its original design of just Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam mobile suits, to include many of the "classic" mobile suits you likely enjoyed in its predecessor. This is nice mostly on the fact that we "trained" on certain mobile suits and are really good at them, regardless of how awesome the new MS are.
Graphically, there's not much improvement here, there are more levels, and more MS than anyone cares to count, but Capcom, the game's developers, kept the game's graphics roughly the same. This is nice for two reasons; first, it keeps the game just this side of cartoony. They look realistically 3D, but they also have a somewhat animated and colored feel, to give the game somewhat of a "playing the TV series" feel to it. The movements of the old mechs are exactly he same, some of the damage has been retooled and some neat new systems have been introduced, but if you were a master at Fed vs Zeon, then you'll be a master at Gundam vs Zeta Gundam.
Adding to that, the controls are almost identical to the original game. What's new is that they have added the "awaken system" which is a play off new type abilities from the shows. You have three choices, and each one gives you abilities such as speed, strength, and health (your classic RPG components.) Gundam vs Zeta Gundam has progressed about as far as any 3rd person action/shooter/adventure game can go into the RPG department. Along with the new Awaken system, this game also added "battle points" which you earn depending on how well you did and these allow you to buy extra's and upgrade your MS during "Universal Century" mode.
There is MASSIVE replayability in this game and while there are only a handful of levels, you play them at least once, and then can take alternate history routes and you replay the level again, only this time history is different and your character is usually still alive. There are dozens of characters to play as, but sadly no custom ones, though this isn't really disappointing because there are so many other, premade characters, you'll invest tons of time playing as them first.
There are also 3 modes to pay in. Because this game was based on an arcade game, there is of course, arcade mode. In which you play as any character you've unlocked or a character with your own custom name. You can play about 10 levels with one extra level, just like your typical arcade, based off the TV series. There is also a survival mode in which you see how long you can last, and a vs mode, which is great for friends because you can have some really zany battles. You really NEVER get bored of this game since so much of the extra modes are simply random, and there are so many of them.
The sound in this game is acceptable...but not superb. It is, just like its predecessor, slightly retouched, but still just as corny, 80's giant robot music. Complete with horribly sun Japanese love ballads. As you complete more of the game and win more points, you can "buy" soundtracks and listen to all the music from Gundam and Zeta Gundam, along with a little bit other stuff thrown in for fun.
Overall, I'd give this game a 7 or 8 out of ten. It's very fun, but its size does lead to a bit of boredom if you aren't really into the game. And the number of MS is just a little excessive, and in their place it would be nice if they simply upgraded the graphics. There are at times, at least on my PS2, moments of lag, which are somewhat funny, but usually annoying, since they come at the worst times. I could care less for the music, but it certainly gives variety, instead of the same old piece of BGM being played 24/7 as you go through the levels. Great game, but for it's time, it could be better.
~ Rebel
