Gundam Side Story 0079: Rise from the Ashes

"Good enough to impress an "Anti-Mech" gamer"

I'm very surprised that this game has had so little attention since its release a couple of months ago. I have seen very few reviews, and most web sites and magazines have failed to give any coverage at all on it. This is hard to believe, considering how popular the Gundam franchise is in its homeland. Although it has only a cult-following in America, Gundam is celebrating over 20 years of widespread success in Japan. Anyway, this is the first game of its kind that I have decided to buy, simply because of complicated and unimpressive efforts of the past(Mechwarrior 2, Mechwarrior 3). Gundam was different though, because it was actually good enough to convince an "anti-mech-game" person like myself to enjoy it.

Graphics 9/10: From the first time I saw this game, it was easy to see that the graphics were going to be LIGHT YEARS ahead of its 32-bit predecessors. The level of detail is very high--you can clearly see each and every part that makes up the massive robots who populate the desolate(but great looking) terrain. Everything looks so polished and realistic that I often find myself distracted from the actual gameplay, and admiring the graphics. But this area of the game is not without its flaws. On some stages there is a noticeable amount of pop-up, and the animation of the characters could have been done better. Even though its not perfect, the overall visual presentation is well done.

Sound 6/10: There isn't much variety in the music, and the songs themselves are easily forgettable. The voice acting is ok, but it can become repetitive during longer missions. Explosions and other sound effects are somewhat impressive, and they will definitely make the floor rumble if you have a good stereo hooked up to your DC.

Control 6/10: Confusion is the biggest problem with the control in this game. What I mean by this is that you are using every button on the controller to maneuver and battle with these gargantuan machines. This fact not only makes learning difficult, but it makes it hard to react quickly in important situations. With practice things will get a little easier, but to me it was just a tad bit too complicated right off the bat.

Gameplay 9/10: Simply put, this is the only mech simulation that I have ever actually had fun playing. The missions have explosions and action at every corner, along with tasks that are challenging and engrossing. Not only that, but there is a real element of strategy involved as well. This is because in order to be successful, you must carefully devise battle plans and direct each member of your team to assist you in those plans. That, coupled with the adrenaline pumping fights that you frequently engage in make for tons and tons of robot bashing fun.

Final Thoughts: Gundam does have its problems in the control and sound departments, but it ultimately delivers in the most important area of all---gameplay. And that's what makes this a worthy purchase for fans and newbies alike.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 11/01/99, Updated 11/01/99