Upon starting the game, the following options appear:
Mission - Select the side of the Earth Federation or Zeon and start ops
VS Mode - Select a 1P Battle or network wirelessly again up to 3 gamers
Gallery - MS Viewer / War Record / Museum galleries
Option - Set BGM Level, Voice Level, SE Level, and configure controls

Select Mission on the side of the Federation and the game starts with an encounter at Alice Springs. From the primer screen, we learn that the Field is Canyon and the difficulty level is ranked "D". Two Mobile Suits are selectable in this level, a GM with a default Beam Spray Gun and a GM[G] who hefts a default 100mm MG. Other weapons are available by moving the D-Pad left and right. If the game is started on the side of the Zeon, the first mission takes place in Hong Kong.

The game runs fast with well animated Gundam movement as clunky robots roam the landscape with convincing weight - each running step juts down like a heavy leg and each move has apparent gravity. A Search Radar is located on the lower left corner which tracks enemies on the field. Weapons are listed on the middle right of the screen and the thruster reserve is on the lower right. Players may jump jet around the screen for short distances to close in on a target or flee from trouble. Each mission has a time limit which counts down on the upper left corner.

The controls are as follows:
D-Pad - Move the Mobile Suit around
Analog Pad - Change world perspective
X - Launch thrusters for a short hop. Press again for sustained flight.
O - Fire primary weapon
SQUARE - Activate secondary weapon
TRIANGLE - Sword attack
R TRIGGER - Lock-on to enemy
L TRIGGER - Raise shield

Double-tapping the D-pad in any direction will force the mech to thrust in that direction.

The mission at Alice Springs is simple with the objective being the destruction of three ZAKU units (1 ZAKU II F-Type and 2 ZAKU I B-Types), provided you're playing on the side of the Federation. If playing the game on the side of the Zeon, the resistance from Federation forces is noticeably stronger with TYPE-G1MBT units, a Gun-Tank, and a Mobile Suit attacking in sequence.

As missions are conquered, subsequent levels increase in difficulty. Performing well will also unlock new higher performance Gundam units which may help turn the tide against the enemy. Ensuing missions consist of standard attack runs, deactivating time bombs strewn throughout a level, defensive stands against marauders, reconnaissance forays, playing the part of a guard, etc.

A multiplayer mode is built-in where up to four players may engage in head to head action where it's every man for himself, 2-vs-2 team action, and even a 3-on-1 beat down.

NCS Game Notes
• In the MS Viewer, there are 38 slots for mobile suits with most of the slots waiting to be unlocked. After completing the first mission on the side of the Zeon and Federation, the following mechs may be viewed:

Guncannon / Guntank / GM / GM[G] / Gundam[G]
ZAKU II F-Type / ZAKU I B-Type
GOUF B-TYPE / DOM / Z'GOK

• The War Record option under Gallery allows the viewing of previous mission performance data with information on kills, clear rate, and types of mecha destroyed.

• Museum Mode under Gallery collects unlocked BGM and movies as one progresses through the missions.

• Close combat with the sword weapon can be infuriating. The targeting button should target the closest adversary but it doesn't. If you're facing the opposite direction from an enemy or generally viewing askew, pressing the targeting button will pivot the cursor to an object far away or toward blank space while the local enemy is pounding away at your metal hide. The solution is to jump jet a small distance away, and then manually turn to face the enemy. Once the foe is visible, lock on and range close to perform a sword slash. Turning and repeatedly hitting the target button also works but it's clumsy.

• To close short distances quickly, perform a jump and double tap the D-pad forward or in whichever direction desired. This also works fine if you're aching to fly away from an expert enemy driver.

• If a mission is failed, the screen message is "Disappointed at you." We didn't want to fail. Really.

• Once an enemy mech is locked on, it's possible to run rings around it and fire away while the target is slowly destroyed.

• In the Odessa Day mission, we recommend using the Alex mech over the Mudrock. Both mechs use the Beam Rifle but the Alex slashes faster during close combat than the Mudrock which is integral for handling the second and third wave of attackers. Alex's sword hand is so fast that it can slash once and again before the enemy has fallen from the first blow.

View the back cover and screenshots.

Jan Code: 4543112378781

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