True to the spirit and design of the NDS, Cross Drive is controlled entirely with the touch pen from unit movement to squad formation to triggering attacks. There is no support for the d-pad or the face buttons which is a game play limitation but the sole use of the stylus is acceptable.

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» The game is played with the touch pen. For the most part, the D-pad and face buttons have been disabled by default even in the menu selection screens. One exception is during the story and dialogue scenes where you can push "LEFT" on the D-pad to move the story along. Another exception is on the main battle map where you can use the D-pad to look around the play field.

» To move a unit, tap on it and then drag it to an area that is within the pulsating blue grid that shows range of movement for the unit. After moving, the following options will pop up:

Attack
Capture
Contact
Action End
Back

» Start a new game and the story takes place in 0079 with an image of Earth in the background as the prologue unreels in the foreground and military music plays from the speakers. In the next scene, a host of Zaku are in space as indicated by icons with red outlines. Two of them are attacked and destroyed by a Gundam driven by Ray Amuro. Char and Amuro have a short dialogue before Char moves his Zaku adjacent to Amuro and launches a strike. Amuro moves northwards where he's aided by two friendlies who arrive to give him some support. After their short interlude, Char presses the attack once again and the first battle of the game begins.

» To make Amuro act, tap on his icon and the following attack options pop up since he's right next to Char:

Attack
Range Attack
Capture
Contact
Separate Move
ID Command
Formation
Order
Back

» The available options from that set are Attack, ID Command, Formation, and Back. Select the "Attack" option and then tap on Char's mech to ignite an attack which is shown in short animated sequences where Amuro thrusts through space and fires three laser blasts. The first two laser attacks missed the third one hit Char's mech squarely in the chest. After your strike is over, Char will counterattack by shooting out his mech's gauntlets which fly through space and shoot lasers at Amuro's Gundam once they're up close and personal. The back and forth attacks go on for another round but in the next sequence, Amuro's laser fire will destroy Char's mech but its head remains which escapes. You'll be prompted to save your progress after the battle.

» The game commands are bilingual with the main text in Japanese along with English "subtitles" below the kana for each command. The dialogue and storyline in the game is entirely in Japanese however.

» There's a MAP focusing slider located on the bottom of the touch screen which allows for three different magnifications of the action on the touch screen. There's a faraway option (red bar) which checks out the action from a good distance away, a normal viewing distance (orange bar), and a close-up view that's in your face (yellow bar).

Jan Code: 4582224491643

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