Gundam MS Front 0079 Playtest
Twenty years and one controller revolution later, a Gundam game that you'll have to try.
by Anoop Gantayat
July 27, 2007 - After twenty years and dozens of sequels, it seems that the formula for a Gundam game that isn't mediocre may have at last been found. On top of a quality job from the army over at Bandai's Gundam game conversion factory, we have the Wiimote to thank for that.
Released Thursday in Japan, Mobile Suit Gundam MS Front 0079 combines the classic big robot anime franchise with first person-style controls courtesy of the Wiimote and nunchuck combo. The result, at least through the first few missions that I've managed to play, is a fast, intense game of mech warfare with controls so intuitive that going back to a standard controller may be tough.
The basic control scheme in this second Wii Gundam game (the first one was SD Gundam, an enjoyable launch title that required that you pound the Wiimote like a hammer) is what you'd expect of a Wii FPS, with the nunchuck used for movement and strafing and the Wiimote for looking around, turning, and targeting enemies. You can dash and jump via the Z button and lock on to the nearest enemy by pressing C. Firing is done with the B trigger, with weapons easily selected by tapping the minus button.
The controls work well during long-range combat. It's easy to lock yourself onto an enemy and dash around while blasting away. So precise is the aiming, in fact, that I often find myself forgetting to lock on, but still have no problem keeping my sights set on a particular enemy craft. The only trouble I've had with long-range combat and overall navigation is with the jump and dash being placed on the same button; you have to come to a complete stop in order to execute a jump rather than a dash.
If you run out of bullets and can't find any powerups on the battlefield, or if you just want to take an enemy out real fast, you can move in close for hand-to-hand combat. Press A when nearby an enemy, and your Gundam unit will take out his sword. You can then swing the Wiimote horizontally or vertically for direct attacks.
The game has a simple combo-based melee combat system in place. You can block incoming melee attacks by holding down B, and counter blows with a well timed press of the attack button. With some well-timed counters on the part of both yourself and your opponent, it's possible to get into a Soul Calibur style face-off. Here, you emerge victorious by shaking your Wiimote furiously.
The ability to swing the Wiimote during melee combat is an obvious feature that one would expect of a Wii game. While the game could have definitely used a few more tweaks to the accuracy of this particular area of combat, it's still a nice bonus on top of the refined long-range combat system. Much like other games that require you to swing the Wiimote in order to slash enemies (Dragon Quest Swords comes to mind), it's surprising how much such an imprecise attack scheme can draw you into the fight. You'll definitely want to make sure to give yourself ample room to swing.
On top of the twitch-based action, there's a strategic element to the combat as well. You fight alongside up to two AI-controlled ally pilots. With the press of the "1" button, you can switch between nine formations, focusing on offense, defense, or balance.
You're also free to assign weapons to all the Mobile Suits in your group. While your arsenal grows with each mission, each weapon is assigned a point value, and you're limited in the total number of points that you can equip. One possible strategy is to get rid of one wingman completely and equip the remaining two with the best weapons.
Wiimote controls aside, this is your typical Gundam combat game, with all the elements we've come to expect over the years. In the story mode, which you can play from the perspective of either the Earth Federation Force or ZEON sides, the game is split rigidly into missions, taking you from a briefing sequence to a short conversation sequence between characters, to a customization screen, and finally to the battle field. There's nothing wild about the presentation, although it's worth noting that the game is fully voiced both during the between-mission conversation sequences and the numerous cut-ins during the missions.
The game has plenty of options for those who tire of the story mode. From the start, you have access to the Ace Pilot mode. Here, ten classic characters like Amuro Ray are at your disposal for a series of free missions.
Two players can also get in on the action via a few multiplayer modes. Versus mode lets you face off against the CPU or another player for a split-screen team-based battle. This can be played cooperatively, with two players facing off against a CPU team. Survival mode puts you and an optional second player on the battlefield for a three-minute test to see who can get the highest score. The game also includes the Combination Mode, which offers two player cooperative missions.
I've only played a few missions so far, but thanks to its intuitive control scheme, Gundam MS Front 0079 is already the most fun I've ever had with a Gundam game. The game hasn't been officially announced for America yet, so those wanting to experience the pairing of Japan's favorite mech with its favorite console will have to import.
