Mobile Suit Gundam Seed: Never Ending Tomorrow

"Never Ending Tomorrow...Today"

This is normally where the pretty intro goes, but if you want one go read the back of the game's box. Honestly, you're here for a review so stop reading this.

Story : 8/10
Odds are if you bought this game then you know the story. As far as the game goes, it does an excellent job at recounting the events that transpired throughout the series and wonderfully highlights the best battles. However, this is by no means a substitute for watching the actual series, because you will miss out on a lot of character development. A nice feature is Athrun's POV, which allows us to see the war through the eyes of the enemy.

Graphics : 7/10
This game won't win any awards for graphical beauty, but its not ugly either. The game does an average job of rendering mobile suits and backgrounds. The backgrounds are usually pretty washed out and have a low level of detail, but you won't have your eyes on the background very much. The suits, however, could use a little work. Considering the nicely detailed suits we got in Gundam vs. Zeta Gundam, I have to say this is a bit of disappointment. Most suits have low polygon counts and blurry textures, but in the end they provide just enough detail to render each suit unique.

Sound : 5/10
I know what you're thinking, I gave this a low score because I hate the dub voices. Wrong, I enjoy the dub voices because there's nothing wrong with them. However, the fact that the US release does not contain any of Seed's BGM is incredibly disappointing. In turn we get a mix of rehashed music from other Gundam games such as Zeonic Front and Encounters in Space. Granted the music isn't horrible, but its not the music that belongs there. The sound effects are thankfully all in place and everything sounds the way it should. I have to say the voices in the game tend to be on the low side so you may want to tweak the settings.

Controls : 7/10
Its gonna take you a few minutes, even if you've played Encounters in Space, to get used to the controls. Though the basic layout hasn't changed, the way it affects the game has. You have more freedom of movement than previously shown in EiS, but that comes with a heavy burden since now its possible to lose sight of your enemy and have to actively go looking for him. The camera could also use some work since sometimes it seems like its being operated by a drunk man. Just give it time and you'll conform to the controls.

Gameplay : 9/10
There's plenty of things to do in this game. From two different storylines, versus, survival, to mission modes with characters most people have never seen. I have to say I enjoyed said mission mode, which is called MSV mission. MSV stands for Mobile Suit Variations and that's exactly what you get here, a mix of suits from TV, plastic models and manga. This mode is similar to Ace Pilots mode in EiS, only this time we get more choices and more backgrounds for the characters. Did I mention there's an item shop? Believe me, you'll have
plenty to do.

Extras : 9/10
I have to say there's plenty to look forward to here. From suits that need to be unlocked, to galleries with various art pieces, not to mention bios for many of the characters. There's also newly never before seen animated footage that will surely please any SEED fan. There's even a way to listen to the game's music, should you be compelled to.

Lasting Appeal : 8/10
Want to try that mission you barely passed with another mecha? Or perhaps a different pilot? Then go right ahead because the game allows you to replay mission and story mode with different mecha/pilots, which in most case radically changes difficulty and the sheer fun of blasting your enemies with ease. Unlocking everything isn't a simple task, so be prepared to dedicate your time if you want to have it all. The game has plenty to offer for the long run, that is, if you're willing to explore all the possibilities.

Last Call :
Gundam Seed: NET is a step in the right direction for the franchise on the PS2. It may not be the best Gundam game of late, with Gundam vs. Zeta Gundam beating it, but its definitely the best SEED offering on the PS2 thus far. If you like Gundam Seed, this game is a no brainer, however if you've never heard of the franchise you may want to rent this title first. Either way, someone is going to have fun.

Final Rating : 7/10

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 09/30/05