We analyze the version for PlayStation 4 of this fighting arcade based on the Gundam series, offering a large number of characters and extra content
Little can be said about Gundam. One of the most popular series on the manganime scene and with a myriad of series under its belt that have been expanding the phenomenon through its variants of the original robot as well as its protagonists. In video games there have been several titles that the series has given to date, such as the Dynasty Warriors: Gundam, Gundam: Target in Sight and other titles, unpublished in these borders, which we review in a report dedicated to the mechas in video game.
The Gundam Versus series has been one of those that has been gaining presence through its latest games, which have been adapted from the original arcade games that appeared in Japanese salons. Although in the past we were left without Gundam Extreme VS and its subsequent Full Boost revision as the versions appeared on PlayStation 3 of these games did not come out, although we did see the title Gundam Versus for PlayStation 4 appeared three years ago. This time we get the conversion of the Gundam Extreme VS MaxiBoost On, a title that follows the guidelines seen in previous installments with some adjustments and a wide range of game modes, Mobile Suit and extra content to choose from.
This title lacks a story mode, offering instead several game modes in which to participate in battles against various enemies, showing in some of them the most iconic confrontations of the franchise, such as the last battle of Amuro Ray and Char Aznable. in the first Gundam series. The main mode, and one of the first in the selection list, is the Branch Battle mode in which, after choosing a Mobile Suit among the 183 models available from the game’s roster (ranging from the different series and films of the Universal Century to Iron -Blooded Orphans, through others such as Gundam Crossbone and Gundam Build Fighters), you can start a cycle of battles between five routes of different difficulty to later move to a woven map where there will be various branches to choose from, depending on the situation in it , with each one of them, with some exceptions, a normal confrontation but also an EX combat scenario of greater difficulty. The final enemy of each route is the same, the Extreme Gundam Mk. II of the Gundam EXA VS series, with the difference that the greater the difficulty of the route, the more powerful this boss will be and may have allies that will complicate the confrontation.
In this mode you have the support of an allied unit controlled by the AI although it has two variants that allow you to play in local cooperative with a second controller or through the online connection. On your own, you can change your partner’s behavior by pressing the L1 button with several different options, including evading attacks, staying together or dispersing. The combat takes place through various scenarios of different Gundam series, delimiting the confrontations to a delimited area, with the objective of defeating all the enemy units present in the combat area, avoiding in any case the destruction of the allied units, which The Force Gauge will decrease with each respawn of friendly units. If this is emptied completely it will result in defeat in combat. At the end of the confrontation, the total score of the combat is counted, deducting points for each destruction of the Mobile Suit controlled, and this will be added to the total score in this mode, having, in the case of being defeated, the option to continue the game without losing the score.
Each unit will be able to use different movements in combat that are equivalent to different types of weapons. In general, the button with the square and triangle buttons performs basic shooting and melee attacks respectively, while the R1 button performs a special shooting attack, R2 a special melee attack and L2 an additional attack, which will use different types of Extra weapons or movements, which sometimes lead to the transformation of the Mobile Suit, which in certain cases will lead to different movements. In certain cases it will be necessary to hold down certain buttons to use charge attacks that will use additional weaponry, as in the case of the ZZ Gundam that will use a burst of homing missiles towards the adversary. The X button for its part allows the use of propulsion, being limited to the energy of the bar that is on the right side of the lower bar, being ideal for moving quickly and also to dodge attacks.
At the bottom of the combat interface will be the Extreme Burst bar that will fill up with the attacks made. Once charged to a certain point, this technique can be activated by pressing the R3 button, which will mean a power improvement for a limited time until the bar is completely empty. There are three types of Burst in this game: Shooting allows a greater power of ranged attacks being able to alternate between the different types and reducing their recharge time, Extend to dodge attacks and counterattack the enemy in extreme situations and Fighting that increases the power of close-range attacks allowing, in turn, that they break the enemy’s guard. You can choose from these three types on the Mobile Suit selection screen.
Another of the game modes included is Maxi Boost Missions, in which different unlockable missions are offered progressively, being able to freely select any of the Mobile Suit from the roster of characters in most of them, while others will be subject to use. a specific one having in certain cases to face the missions with a partner while in others it will be alone. In this case the objectives will be different, having to meet different objectives that will require defeating the designated enemy, emptying the opponent’s force bar or surviving the attacks by running out of the time limit. Likewise, for each completed phase, performance will be assessed and a score will be awarded, with the difference that in this case a rank will be received, the lowest being D and the highest being S, with which different rewards will be unlocked such as GP points, additional experience and customization skills. The level of the missions will increase as you progress through the different areas that will be gradually unlocked, having to complete the missions until you reach the one that allows you to face the boss of the same. However, the level of direct confrontation against the boss will be too high, so it will be necessary to find the Break missions, which offer additional confrontations with which, after overcoming them, they will weaken the power of the boss and balance the confrontation. At certain points there will be reward nodes that can be obtained by simply reaching the point where they are, while there will be special missions of time attack and scoring.
Both the Mobile Suit and the AI companion in each phase will be able to equip customization skills that will grant improvements in combat performance such as greater attack power, defense, increased damage when using firearms or melee, improve defense against both attack types, boost boost, friendly AI upgrade, etc. through the MS Customization option, pressing triangle in this game mode. Each skill will require a series of nodes to equip them, these being limited at first but increasing when reaching certain levels when accumulating experience. On the other hand, most of these skills will be at level 1 and can be improved by spending accumulated GP points, reaching the maximum when reaching the third level. Although rare, some of these will be at the highest level when obtained.
The online game options include four different modes, in addition to the previously mentioned Branch Battle online cooperative mode option, including player games, in which to configure different parameters and search for opponents, and casual, in which players face off in teams, leaving later the Ranked Match game options of types Shuffle and Hold. In the first, the teams are automatically shuffled with different players in each new fight, while the second option offers the opposite, keeping the members, both allies and enemies, for the next fight. In these last two options they affect the rank and also the points won in each confrontation.
It also includes a free mode in which to configure battles being able to play alone fighting against the AI or, failing that, against another player locally, forming teams to face cooperating or fighting each other, in addition to being able to use it as a practice mode to know the movements of each of the Mobile Suits. The combat customization options in this mode allow you to configure the different aspects of the game such as the level of the bars, the points of the force bar, the combat time, while being able to select the scenario among 42 possible options and also choose combat music.
The Customize mode offers several configuration options for the game, among which the ability to configure the music options of the game stands out, being able to configure specific themes to listen to them in the menu of each mode, in the online lobby screen or in the screens of victory and defeat after each fight, being able to select between the more than 60 songs included as standard or load tracks in MP3 format using an external storage device.
Navi characters, both player and combat characters, can also be configured. The first will liven up the main menu as well as the pre-combat phases of the Branch Battle mode and also the victory and defeat screens, offering different comments, especially regarding the performance of the player in each combat. The second, for its part, will offer information on the different aspects during the confrontations such as providing support to the partner if he is besieged by the enemies or signaling when the propeller has been emptied. A total of 37 different characters can be selected, in which their continued use through combat in the different game modes will increase their level of affinity with the player, allowing new costumes to be unlocked on the selection screen. The Pilot option, for its part, allows you to configure the appearance that the character will have when choosing the Mobile Suit between different variants that will require spending PG points or, failing that, increasing the proficiency level, with continued use, up to a specific level.
The customization of the player’s card is also included, offering in this case a wide variety of terms and phrases related to the different Gundam series divided into several categories (bronze, silver, gold and others) to later select a frame, an effect text and a background effect, which can include small animations, and in turn choose, in another of the options, an emblem from those included, which refer to each of the factions that appeared in the different series of the franchise. On the other hand, the appearance of the combat interface can also be configured between several different designs including colors or related to specific series or Mobile Suit models. Likewise, most of the available options will be blocked and the progress of the game or the expenditure of accumulated PG points will open the option to select them.
In the playable aspect, this title preserves the playable virtues of the arcade machine, offering vertiginous confrontations in which it counts not only to hit the rival but also to evasion and use the attacks at the right time, in addition to supporting the teammate. The battles in the different solo modes offer a suitable challenge with different difficulties, most notable in the Branch mode while in the Maxi Boost Missions mode the challenge is progressive as you progress through each zone. As for the combats, they are addictive both for controlling the wide variety of Mobile Suits that the game consists of, all of them with different capacities and maneuverability in combat, and for the tension of the confrontations.
The graphic section of the game boasts a remarkable visual style both for the designs and effects of the Mobile Suits and their different attacks and for the wide variety of scenarios, although limited in size but in certain cases offering some striking details such as some buildings that They can be destroyed using continuous attacks or by throwing units that collide with them.
In terms of sound, the game offers a wide variety of themes taken from the different Gundam series, appearing in certain phases usually related to the Mobile Suits of each one of them. The variety they offer is wide, also having the option of being able to customize the tracks for different sections and also add personalized music by loading tracks from an external storage device, which is appreciated. As for the voices, the game only includes Japanese dubbing.
CONCLUSION
This new version of Gundam Extreme VS is, without a doubt and so far, the most complete to date as well as the game in the franchise with the most content, both due to the wide variety of Mobile Suits and the cast of characters offered, its different game modes and extra content. It is a title that fans of this fighting saga and fans of the series will appreciate in their fair measure. The negative point resides both in the language, having this title only texts in English, and the difficulty peaks in some of the phases of the game.
THE BEST
- The content of the game is quite extensive, including both a good variety of game modes and playable characters and extras that will be liked by fans of the franchise.
- Playable addictive through its different game modes alone, in local cooperative and also through online modes.
- The option to add your own music tracks via an external storage device.
WORST
- Texts only in English.
- At certain times the difficulty in some phases is excessive.
Very good
Remarkable finish game that we will enjoy and remember. A good buy, highly recommended for lovers of the genre. It is well cared for at all levels.
