The Gundam universe is kinda scary. There's no question that giant robot battles are fun. But fans approach the series' long history with a fetishistic attention to detail that makes it seem like a cult. For devotees, the huge scope of Gundam games often presents a microscopic look at the storyline. But for outsiders, it's difficult to tell one game from another. Mobile Suit Gundam Versus Zeta Wing doesn't break the pattern.

Robot on Robot Action

The basics of Zeta Gundam are pretty simple. It's essentially a fighting game played with two characters on each side. Players can play against each other, with computer assist on each side or cooperatively against the computer. Solitary players are joined by a computer partner against the enemy.

Like most fighting games, episodes in Zeta are organized into short rounds. Each side has a battle gauge, from which a value is subtracted every time a mobile suit gets destroyed. Different suits incur varying costs when lost. The first side to empty the points in its battle gauge loses the round. In some modes, there's a bit of story to string players from one battle to another, but generally the combat takes place in a narrative vacuum.

Gundam Suits Me

At the start of each episode, in addition to choosing Gundam suits for use on the ground and in space, players select an Awaken type. The three awakens--attack, recovery and speed--are the game's special attacks, and can be activated once players have dealt enough damage. The game offers little explanation of each attack's effect, however.

In fact, this Gundam title doesn't offer much explanation of any detail. It features many dozens of Mobile Suits and sets of Mobile Armor, but no data about any of them on the select screen. They look great, with all sorts of armor and weapons, most of which are subject to varying degrees of damage, but forget about making a wise choice without your handy Gundam bible.

In fairness, there is detail about each suit buried within the game's Gallery menu item. But to see it, players must unlock data cards by earning points and purchasing each suit. Of course, the best way to win is to choose suits wisely, which can't be done without winning first.

When Robots Attack

Zeta Gundam does serve up some of the carnage you'd hope for when giant robots collide. Weapons get damaged, arms can be torn off, and buildings crumble in urban centers. None of the effects are very impressive, though, and it often looks little better than a Dreamcast game. The only time there's a real sense of the immensity of the suits is in space battles, where maneuvering the large machines can be a slow, cumbersome task.

Zeta often plays like an old-school game, as well. The controls aren't very fluid, and after knocking an enemy back, they'll be invulnerable for a few seconds. That's a sure sign of unbalanced gameplay. Invariably, each battle comes down to getting the drop on the enemy, then pummeling them until they're destroyed. Then repeat.

If more of the attacks were entertaining, that might not be so bad. But aside from a few dynamic hand-to-hand combos, there's just not much that's fun to watch. The rifle and rocket attacks are pretty generic and infrequently satisfying. Only a few hand weapons, like the long whips and flails, offer much excitement, and even that wears off quickly.

It's probably no surprise that Mobile Suit Gundam Versus Zeta Gundam is wholly geared towards long-standing fans of the series. There is some story here, but it probably won't make much sense to Gundam neophytes. At least with pre-existing knowledge of the strengths and weaknesses of each suit, the game will flow better.

A Gundam Shame

The simple truth is that Mobile Suit Gundam Versus Zeta Gundam is just not a good game, no matter how much you love the Gundam universe. It's repetitive and unchallenging and not at all up to the system's capabilities. As soon as fans realize that not buying this repetitive snoozer is the best way to ask for better Gundam games, the sooner we might all enjoy the thrill of battling in giant suits of armor.