Mechs- I LOVE MECHS! Robotech, Battletech, Gundam - I eat up anything with giant robotic vehicles bent on destruction! Much to my delight, I got to review Mobile Suit Gundam: Gundam Vs. Zeta Gundam, another addition in the line of Gundam titles from Bandai, whom you may remember from your days drooling over the Pink Ranger every afternoon….

Visually, this game looks great - if it was on the PlayStation. Sadly, it didn’t seem to get the memo that, yes, the PS2 is vastly more powerful than it's progenitor. The style looks just like the rehashed engine of other Gundam games of old. Jagged textures, lifeless environments and a general lack of detail greet you at every turn. The landscapes are really outdated and empty and it felt like I was playing the original Mechwarrior, infamous for it's bleak environs. The models themselves fair better, but are still not very smooth looking. When a game promises destructible buildings and all we get is a tiny explosion that fades away…. that's just weak sauce. It would have been even better to see damage done to your Gundam itself as well, but apparently they had the best wax job in existence, to remain so shiny under constant fire. Performance wise, lots of issues with slowdown in big battles, especially in the Versus mode with the larger Gundam.

The sound does redeem the value slightly, so take heart Gundam fans. Lots of vibrant sound effects, from your monstrous combatant's movments, lasers, cannon fire, grinding of metal on metal, etc. The game’s score is also pretty strong, and fits nicely with the pacing. Even the campy voice acting is dead on with the series, which may not be a good thing if you aren't a huge fan of zany, child-like characters.

Several game types are available in Mobile Suit Gundam: Gundam Vs. Zeta Gundam: Arcade, Survival, Versus, Training and the main story, called Universal Century mode (funky translation for the win!). Arcade and Survival can be played co-op or versus style, and provide some quick action, and training helps hone your skills.

The aforementioned Universal Century mode takes place in the year 0087 (what calendar are they using?) The background story is that after having defeated the Zeon rebels, the Earth Federation is trying to reestablish itself, despite the threat of enemies. Thus, the various factions, the Titans, the A.E.U.G. and the Axis, all battle for supremacy. At the heart of the fight lies a new hero, Kamille Bidan, who pilots the transforming Zeta Gundam. I know… I was a bit lost myself….

Missions take you to space, Earth, the moon and other exotic locales. You and a fellow mobile suit ally will usually have to deal with multiple enemies at once, wielding your Hyper-Bazooka or beam gun, and your trusty melee energy saber. Combine this with the ability to jump and hover, as well as a special "awakening" mode (similar to overdrive/berserk), and this adds up to some dynamic combat.

Or does it?

Unfortunately, most of the battles consist of awkward shots, clambering of legs and arms, all the while skirting through buildings, trees and the like. The lack of a wide array of weapons, unlike the Armored Core series, adds to the frustration and monotony. As you progress, you spend your battle points on upgrades for defense, strength, ammo and other goodies. Also, you Gundam fans should be ecstatic over the gallery points, where you can unlock mobile suits, illustrations, movies, etc. Sadly, you can’t use those unlocked suits in combat, you can only view them.

Mobile Suit Gundam: Gundam vs. Zeta Gundam should be easily figured out due to it’s straightforward approach to combat and menu systems. Coupled with a handy training mode, most gamers should breeze through this title in a few days or less. You just have to get past those wonky controls…

True, these are giant, complex machines, so naturally the controls should be similar in complexity. Unfortunately, you are correct. It is a pain to lock onto targets, while shifting around, dodging plasma beams and sabers. All the while, the funky camera system gets stuck constantly behind buildings and other large objects, effectively blinding you several times throughout the battle. Imagine playing… oh, lets say Metal Gear, and about every 30 seconds, your little brother comes running past the screen, or dances around in front of you. That’s what it is like. But, unlike your little brother whom you can shoo away, you can’t tinker with the camera settings.

Gundam vs. Zeta Gundam should make fans of the series content, but with outdated graphics, frustrating controls and a confusing storyline, most gamers should leave this title on the shelves. If you want your mech needs met, turn towards the earlier mentioned Armored Core series, or if you have a PC, the infamous Mechwarrior. These latter games are much more solid than this anime title.