Gundam Versus is the latest entry in the Mobile Suit Gundam VS series. It is an action game that puts players in control of a variety of Mobile Suits old and new from the Mobile Suit Gundam series to battle against enemies in two-on-two team battles. The series gained popularity through arcade and home console versions, and celebrated its 15th anniversary this year. Gundam Versus follows the fundamental high-speed action that is defeating enemies by reducing their Resource Meter to zero, and is being developed specifically for home console as the first entry in the series on PlayStation 4.
■ 12 Mobile Suits Confirmed
The following 12 Mobile Suits were playable during the closed alpha test:
Gundam
Guncannon
Gouf
v-Gundam
Wing Gundam Zero
Tallgeese
Unicorn Gundam
Shinanju
Gundam Exia
Gundam Kyrios
Gundam Barbatos
Full Armor Gundam
■ New System: “Boost Action”
By filling up your “Boost Gauge,” you an perform quick actions and action cancels called “Boost Actions.” The Boost Gauge refills when you land, and in the closed alpha version, using it all up enters an “overheated” state that prevents you from taking any action until you land back on the ground. You may put yourself in a difficult situation if you don’t use it correctly, but it is a unique system that can be used to your advantage if you know how to operate it. Famitsu tried three actions in the closed alpha version, introduced below.
Boost Step
When triggered during a melee attack, you can cancel the attack action and move on to the next action. Since it’s possible to use to shake free from the opponent, you should use it to outwit the enemy when in close-quarters combat.
Boost Dash
Move at high speed for as long as the Boost Gauge remains. Since all actions are canceled to trigger it, you can use it between hit-and-aways and long-distance shooting to perform actions such as consecutive fire.
New: Boost Dive
A new action that in Gundam Versus where you fall from an airborne state at high speed. In previous games, the Mobile Suit that ends up airborne by jumping or other actions will fall freely unless actions such as Boost Dash are performed, and are often targeted when they land. However, by using this new Boost Dive system, it is possible to shift the timing of your landing. Since it’s possible to cancel from every action and trigger a Boost Dive, it should be difficult to read the enemy’s next move while they’re in the air.
■ New System: “Striker Select”
In previous games, certain Mobile Suits were able to call upon other Mobile Suits to attack as one of their weapons. In the closed alpha version of Gundam Versus, before selecting a Mobile Suit to play, players select two from three ally machines known as “Strikers” that can be called upon to attack at any time during battle. However, doing so consumes the “Striker Gauge,” which is built up over time. When a Striker is called upon, it attacks the enemy and quickly disappears, but various tactics such as diversionary actions and confinement are possible based on the player’s choices.
■ Select from Two “Awakening Systems”
While there are some differences in its name and content, the series’ familiar “Awakening System” will also be implemented in Gundam Versus. It is a system that offers a temporary power-up by consuming the “Awakening Gauge” that builds up as you receive damage. It also lets you perform a powerful “Awakening Technique.” In Gundam Versus, you’ll select from among two types of Awakening Systems with different effects before heading into battle. It should be noted that whichever you choose has the effect of recovering your partner’s Boost Gauge when in use.
Blaze Gear
An instantaneous-type awakening. It doesn’t last long, but has explosive power, and is most useful when you want to shoot everything at once. It also has effects such as increasing your melee following performance and mitigating the revision when combo damage reaches a certain amount or greater.
Lightning Gear
A continuous-type awakening. Its effects last for a relatively long amount of time, and is useful when fighting to make full use of your tactics.
In addition to extending the lock-on distance and recovering your partner’s Boost Gauge when activated, awakenings also have the effect of recovering your number of shots.
A release date for Gundam Verstus has yet to be announced. In addition to a Japanese release, an Asian English release is also planned. First gameplay footage is set to premiere on December 26.
Update 4:30 a.m.: 30 high-res screenshots are now available at the gallery.
