Gundam Side Story 0079: Rise from the Ashes

by Acclaim Entertainment Inc.

Product Details

• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B00004SSN8
• Media: Video Game
• Release Date: April 26, 2000
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (50 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #11,015 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)

Product Description

Editorial Review

A first-person shooter/strategy game based on a Japanese animation series, Gundam Side Story 0079: Rise from the Ashes is strictly "fan fare." Set around the time of the original Mobile Suit Gundam cartoons, the war-story plot here is from the grunt's perspective, with players cast as the leader of a combat unit of Mobile Suits (think giant robots). Gameplay is broken down into missions in which players command their own Mobile Suit as well as issue orders to comrades.

Although recent Gundam converts may be less than thrilled with the old-school looks (circa 1978) of the Mobile Suits in Gundam Side Story 0079, the 3-D graphics and animation of the Mobile Suits are incredibly faithful to the cartoons, as are the sound effects. On the other hand, the experience of piloting a Mobile Suit leaves much to be desired, as it's not nearly as graceful as it looks in the cartoons, and feels more like you're piloting a tank. The controls here are oversimplified, and the first-person cockpit-view perspective is about as effective as a peephole in combat situations.

While Gundam Side Story 0079 is the first Gundam title to be released in the United States, it comes from a line of officially licensed titles that have always had a spotty history, one which this title simply doesn't rise above. --Joe Hon

Pros:

• Excellent Mobile Suit 3-D graphics and animation
• Sound effects faithful to the cartoons

Cons:

• Oversimplified controls; clunky combat
• Short game length

Product Description

This is the game Gundam Side Story . We stand by our products and offer a 60 day guarantee. If a game does not work within 60 days from the time you receive it we will gladly exchange it for you.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

54 of 60 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Shortlived but high intensity fun., May 13, 2000

By A Customer

= Durability:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Gundam Side Story 0079: Rise from the Ashes (Video Game)

The biggest problem with "Gundam Side Story" is that it's too short. Way too short. "You're kidding me that this game is only seven missions long, right?" too short.

In some ways, the game is more accessible than the Mechwarrior series, because it doesn't take a pilot's license to control the thing, although having the torso and the legs on seperate sticks can be a pain. An enemy lock-on button helps counter this, but in a multiple enemy fight, it can get a little hectic.

For those of you caught up in the "Gundam Wing" rush from Cartoon Network, I stress now that the year in "Gundam Side Story" is 0079, and "Gundam Wing" takes place in 0195, over a hundred years after the game, so don't expect to see Wing Zero or any of the other Gundams you may be familiar with if you've only seen "Gundam Wing."

Overall, "Gundam Side Story" is a great game for a fans of the "Gundam" universe, a good game for fans of action-shooters and only somewhat fun if shooter games aren't your thing. This isn't the game that will turn you into a shooter fan if you aren't one already.

But it does offer a solid weekend of fun. Maybe the upcoming mission disc will extend the gameplay a bit, but if a game leaves you wanting more, that can't be a bad thing.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great game, but a few problems., September 9, 2000

By 

"madericks" (Gillette, Wy USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gundam Side Story 0079: Rise from the Ashes (Video Game)

For those of you who wonder why they called this game "Gundam" Side-Story, it's because Gundam is a type of class of mobile suit based in the Gundam Universe. So technically there are "Gundam" class mobile suits in this game, but not the one's most people unfamiliar to the Gundam Universe are thinking of. (There is no Wing Gundam, no Death-Scythe or any of the mobile suits from Gundam Wing. Gundam Wing is based in an alternate timeline AND is a 100 years after when this game is based. If you're looking for a game based in the Gundam Wing universe, buy Gundam Wing battle for Playstation this winter.) So now that the rumors and questions are out of the way...how does the game itself play? Really well if you ask me.

Control-This is a breeze. It takes you a little while to get used to handling your Gundam's view point and manuevering seperately on the directional pad and analog stick, but that doesnt take long. The auto target button makes it a cinch to attack your enemy as well. Double tapping the directional buttons will let you use your verniers to get around easy. One gripe...down down shouldn't really crouch you, it should let you jet backwards. Besides that, control is very nice.

AI-This is kind of a double edged sword here. Your team's AI is great, they are responsive (at times they will kind of walk around though instead of heading directly to their goal) and do as they're told. Its a pain in the but when one of your buddies shoots rockets at you while yer saber dueling another mobile suit, but that isn't too damaging. However...enemy AI is kind of a let down. Most of the time they'll use their preset range attack (they have it set so AI controlled suits attack at long, medium, or short range) and not even move. Once your out of their preset range they'll move ONLY to get back into their specific range to attack. Only way to force them to change is to ram them and force them to saber duel you. While it may seem like you have the advantage when it comes to AI, it takes some of the fun and realism out of the game.

Graphics-Absolutely superb...enough said. I dont see one problem with these graphics, they're high res and the color count is just spectacular. This is the biggest place the game excels.

Sound-Another great feat in this game. Probably the only part of the game that reminds people of gundam wing. The sounds of movement of your gundam, the clashing sizzling sound of two beam sabers in a test of strength. That pretty much says it for sound effects, as for music it aint half bad. You dont really pay attention to it while in the heat of battle though, so it aint a big deal.

Gameplay-Fantastic. Put all the above together and you got one great game. The AI is flawed, but it can be forgiven with the way Bandai made the battle such a great experience. So the gameplay is almost perfect right? Wrong. While the gameplay itself is excellent, it doesn't last long. Ten missions goes by pretty quickly, if you're good at this game you can complete it in less than an hour. Right when you get to the end is when the game really stars to grow on ya. Replaying the game won't make up for it either, since the linear extras are unfulfilling. (You get to have a few photos placed in your cockpit and pick whatever weapons you want for your mission...this doesn't make replaying the expericence any better.) So while the game is short and enemy AI could have used some polishing, this is one game a Gundam fan can definitely enjoy.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The bes Dreamcast Game Ever, April 30, 2000

By A Customer

= Durability:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Gundam Side Story 0079: Rise from the Ashes (Video Game)

This is probably one of the most intense dreamcast game ever. The best things about it are the Star-Wars like beam saber battles! You can even customize your gundam before you enter the battlefield! You need to choose the right mech and weapons for each mission. I can describe this game in one word... AWESOME!