Mobile Suit Gundam: Zeonic Front

"Watch out, its the Feddies!"

The first thing I want to do is point out the Pros and cons of each section, Gameplay, Graphics, Story, Controls, Sound, Replayablity, and most of all Mecha (Since this is a game of big robots!). Let me start off with Gameplay.

Gameplay

Cons
Gameplay. Hmm, what has gone wrong during the game while I was playing it? First off, sometimes the camera angle while running around can be horrendous. This makes maneuvering a chore. Second, trying to lock onto a target can be a pain in the neck also. Once locked on, you pretty much have to fire at the target you got in your crosshairs. This doesn't happen often though, but it does get annoying. Third, when shooting your enemies, sometimes the shot goes right through them and doesn't even hit. Blah! Stupid collision detection. But that's all I found bad during my gameplay time.

Pros
Pros? Just about everything else. Moving around a robot monster is just how I envisioned it. If your a sucker for more realistic Gundam games, this is it. No ''take a million hits and not die'' here. In the beginning of the game, it's quite easy to die in fact, since all you're given is a dinky Zaku and Zaku II. But all the customizability (if thats a word) is truly amazing. You can equip your Zaku, Gouf, Dom, whatever with things like Stun Grenades, Mobile Suit Decoys, and Beam Armor! This just adds to the strategy involved, if you're one of those people. If you just like to plow through enemies in games, this is also a good game to do that. Sometimes, enemies seem to keep coming, which also keeps the game's action level up. I admit, there isn't very much strategy involved, but the true strategy lies in how you deal with your computer controlled teammates. Just make sure you don't send them into oblivion.

Gameplay Final Verdict - 7
However much you can do with your Mobile Suits, there are little tiny bugs here and there (Like firing at an important enemy in your way only to find your shell going right through and you screaming various obscenities) which can get really annoying. That and there should have been more strategy involved. Overall, the game play is what I expected.

Graphics

Cons
I understand for the sake of conserving the PS2's random access memory, trees were made to look very flat, and some buildings looked like complete crap.

Pros
Well, the mobile suits are extremely detailed, right down to the Zeon and Earth Federation insignias. I am truly surprised. This artists have outdone themselves. I mean come on! Those mobile suits in the games look exactly like my Gundam Action figures! Kudos to those guys!! Don't forget the CG movies! Those are great too! Everything is drawn to the smallest detail. That is to my liking.

Graphics Final Verdict - 9
Gee, I wonder why I gave it a nine? Well, other than some plainly drawn buildings and tree, and some cliffs, the graphics in the game are superb! Although I truly don't think this game deserves a 10, with very small incidents with ''jaggys'', that takes away from the 10. 9 is good though, so don't be mad. :)

Story

Cons
Well, some characters in the game do absolutely nothing to advance the storyline like Migaki, what the heck is he doing there?

Pros
Everything else! If you liked the 08th MS Team, you'll definitely like this. Like the 08th MS Team, this is a story of soldiers surviving through the One Year War, only this time you see it on the Zeon side. I don't want to give too much away. I especially loved some of the characters involved, like Schmitzer, Roher, and most of all, the psychotic mentally messed up Feddy pilot, Lt. Agar. It brings tears to my eyes. *Sniff*

Story Final Verdict - 10
Oh wait, I'm still crying about how this game has such a good story *sniff*. (For a Gundam game anyways)

Controls

Cons
No no, don't turn your back! Face that way! Controls can be awkward at times, and its hard to get used to. You tell your MS to go one way, and it goes the other. Bah. Not to mention, if you want to nudge yourself over a bit, the game doesn't like that, and doesn't do it at all.

Pros
Hmm, but when you do get everything in working order, everything is ok.

Controls Final Verdict - 7
Because they are hard to get used to. Well not too hard, but can be, again, annoying at times.

Sounds and Replayability

Cons
The fact that going through all sims and missions to get S ranks is a total b****. What? There are cons for sounds?

Pros
Weeeeeeeeelaaa! This game has great sounds, which go right back to its anime series roots. Replayability is great! Not only do you get 13, that's right 13 story missions, you can unlock a total of 33 Simulation missions! And thats not all! You can get secret pilots, MS's and even pilot those pesky Feddy mobile suits you've been fighting this whole time! What a deal!

Sounds and Replayabilty Verdict - 10
Could you have asked for more?

Mecha

Cons
Huh? I don't understand

Pros
The RX-78-6 Mudrock.....*drools*.

Ok, this game has a crap load of mecha. All of them are different in their own way. GM S-Armors, Zaku IIs, Doms, RX-78 Gundams, Guncannons are just few suits you can pilot. It's a mecha fans dream! There is a whole variety, which pleases even me!

Mecha Final Verdict - 10
Um, there's plenty of big robots to go around.

Overall - 8.83 (or a 9, whichever you prefer)
Gundam fans unite! This is a cult classic! This is my opinion though. Read other reviews. See if you might like this game. I admit, I am a sucker for Gundam. If I didn't like Gundam or didn't know what it was, I would have given it a lower score. (possibly an 8 or 7). If your a cult Gundam fan, this is a good game. If not, rent it and blow off a few hours, then return it. Zeonic Front is a great Gundam game, so go try it out now!

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 07/02/02, Updated 07/02/02