Gundam is another series that found its new home in Japanese PSP and after four successful games, the Gundam Battle team is launching a new series with a new title called Gundam Assault Survive featuring animes that have never appeared in Gundam Battle series and a couple of brand new systems, Linked Map and Teamworks. Here are some of the early info revealed in the recent Weekly Famitsu, who also did an interview with the producers.

Hirono Kay, producer from Bandai Namco, shares the reasons behind launching a completely new series. “With Gundam Battle series, there are things that we couldn’t produce due to various reasons. This is also the time I feel we must move on to new directions.” “By adding new content and revising the system of the previous games, we manage to further refine its mechanics but it make parts of the game too complicated. We feel it’s time to start from the beginning to make it easier for new players.” added Yagi Masanori, producer from Artdink.

Animes Featured

From the latest episodes of Mobile Suit Gundam SEED and Mobile Suit Gundam 00 to Mobile Suit Victory Gundam and Mobile Suit Gundam F91, GAS has enough content to keep Gundam fans happy.

Mobile Suit Gundam SEED: Relive the war between Coordinators and Naturals. Missions include escorting Arch Angel (second image above) and fight against Yzak Joule (top right).

Mobile Suit Gundam 00: Check out the Trans-Am (above left) and Celestial Being’s Gundam Meisters (above middle) in GAS.

Mobile Suit Gundam F91: Seabook Arno and his F91 guest appeared in Gundam Battle Universe but will have scenarios in GAS.

Mobile Suit Victory Gundam: V2 Gundam and its Wings of Light (above right).

Different Modes

The Universal Century part of the game allow players create their original pilot, collect different MS and pilots, upgrades their MS, and also pick the camp they want to side with.

As for SEED and 00, players will play through the view of the characters (or even your arch rivals) and relive stories from the animes. They are also scenarios in the game that are completely different from the animes. Battles against Rau Le Creuset (SEED) and Soma Peries (00) are inevitable. According to Kay, players who are good at action game can start with Universal Century while those who are not can start with SEED or 00. However, you are free to start from anywhere you want.

Linked Maps

In GAS, maps are created from a few linked areas. The mini map at the top left of the screen will indicates enemy forces sometimes. Setsuna, episode 25 of 00 is being used as example to explain the system here. The mission has two parts, the first half and the second half, each of them has its own objectives. The first part take place in the map above with Setsuna in his Exia, click on the images below to see what happened after this.

Kay feels that PSP is a “brand new communication tool” which previous games never really take advantage of. “We make ‘fighting together’ with friends the theme of this game and after several considerations, we feel that Linked Maps will reinforce this even further.” Masanori adds “Previously, we simply picked a scenario from the anime for players to play but with this title, we want players to fully experience the animes and take part in large scale battles.” The Chain Mission in GBU is quite similar to Linked Maps as noted by BEC’s Kayumi Shinsuke, who says the difference is that players can join a battle immediately here.

Teamworks

In single player mode, players can team up with two computer-controlled partners before heading into their missions (three because most animes in Gundam feature three MS in a team according to Kay). Players can issue orders like Attack and Defense to their partners. By issuing rescue command, defeated MS can help you again. With more than 300 MS in the game, making this most in a Gundam action game, players can form their favorite team easily.

You can check out the conditions of your partners from the HP and SP gauges at the bottom of the screen.

Obviously, this is more fun during multiplayer. Players can either co-op with their friends, fight between two teams or take part in free-for-all mode called Battle Royal. Co-op mode sounds like fun, as Masanori noted. “Players can split up based on the situation but team up when a strong enemy appears. Something that will make the gameplay even more fun.” However, splitting up is not possible if you are partnering with computer controlled partners. Certain missions are actually quite tough if player tackles them on their own, so Masanori hopes that players can team up with their friends in order to trigger more scenarios (there won’t be multiplayer only missions though).

There will be more elements to be announced according to Kay, who also announced that they are working with Weekly Famitsu for a special official website that will contains all the important information. Gundam Assault Survive is currently 75% done and will be out in Japan on March 18th. Pre-order is available at Play-Asia now… and I must say it’s a little pricey at $64.90.

Posted in PSP on Sunday, January 17th, 2010 at 3:37 am | Tags artdink assault survive bandai namco famitsu gas gundam gundam battle interview multiplayer team-based | Comments Feed | You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.