Gundam Side Story 2: Ao o Uketsugu Sha

GUNDAM GAIDEN SIDE STORY 2: AO O UKETSUGU SHA
Sega Saturn
1 Player / 3D Shooter
© Sotsu Agency * Sunrise
© 1996 Bandai
Available Now
¥5000

Copyright © 1996 Bandai

— by Charles McCarter

Those who have played the first game in this series, BLUE DESTINY, may think that they know what to expect from this game, but even seasoned GAIDEN veterans may be in for a surprise or two.

The second installment in Bandai's GUNDAM SIDE STORY trilogy, "He Who Inherits the Blue" represents some significant advances in the story line of the game. The player resumes his role as Federation Mobile Suit Pilot Kajima Yuu and begins the game in his trusty (if somewhat plain) GM. However, along the way, you trade in your red and white for some dress blues--the Blue Destiny to be precise (the prototype that was stolen in the last game). But they don't just hand it to you--you have to earn it.

With the Blue come some nice upgrades to the player's mobile suit. In the armaments category, hand grenades get replaced by missiles, which represent a serious increase in firepower against the enemy mobile suits. The second upgrade is the on-screen radar. In the first game, players had to use the mission map to determine their location and the location of enemy mobile suits. However, the Blue comes with on-screen radar which allows you to track incoming enemies while simultaneously engaging in combat.

Though there are still numerous Zakus to confront...

Gundam Gaiden image
...you also battle other mobile suits early on, such as the MS-O8TX Efreet.

These improvements come none too soon, because the missions have become more difficult. First, the sheer number of enemy mobile suits increased dramatically. And those who tired of fighting mainly Zakus in the first game will get to cross beam sabers with Doms, Hygogs, and Efreets. The pilots of these mecha are more experienced than their earlier compatriots and regularly dodge out of the way of your fire. Another type of mission has been added as well. In addition to doing search-and-destroy and base defense missions, Yuu is now assigned to do escort missions and provide cover for Federation helicopters. The helicopter is basically a floating target for every enemy on the screen, and abandoning it for too long to engage an enemy always results in its destruction and, consequently, mission failure. Some of the missions are also timed, increasing the pressure to get in and out in one piece and in time.

Some friends and I really put this game through its paces one weekend and everyone was impressed. The graphics and game play are of the same quality as the first installment, and the new additions make the corresponding increase in difficulty workable for someone who isn't a NewType, which includes most of us.

The main player's GM is upgraded to the Blue Destiny.

GUNDAM GAIDEN still has the same problem with pop-up; sometimes the enemies don't seem to show up on visual until they are practically on top of you. The other drawback to this game is that it is possible to complete all the missions in a relatively short period of time. This is good in a sense because there is no save feature. I think this game was designed for players who will devote the extra time to the game to achieve higher grades and better ranks. The replay value comes from the fact that players can perform the missions many times and experiment with doing things differently.

This installment is also compatible with the VIRTUAL ON Twin Stick, but since I don't own one, I can't comment on its performance. Our loyal design editor (who reviewed the first installment last issue), however, seems to think that it would certainly improve control over your Blue, especially when it comes to making sharp maneuvers.

In conclusion, fans of mecha fighting games like MECHWARRIOR or of GUNDAM in general will enjoy this game. Fans of both will be delighted. And if Bandai makes a few improvements between this installment and the final one, the third should be even better.