Mobile Suit Gundam vs Zeta Gundam

Reminiscing about a classic game from my teenage years, Gundam vs. Zeta Gundam played a major role in shaping my perspective of the Gundam series. While I might have first extensive exposure of Gundam through PSX Battle Assault 2, it was this PS2 title that truly left a lasting impression. I spent countless hours playing it with neighborhood kids, and the memories remain vivid.

Gundam vs. Gundam Maxi Boost still commands a strong presence in Japanese arcades, but if one wishes to trace the origin, Gundam vs. Zeta Gundam represents one of the earlier iterations of the series’ humble beginnings. Compared to the later, fast-paced Gundam vs. Gundam games, GvsZG’s combat is slower, fitting the early Universal Century timeline.

Despite lacking flashy modern mechanics, GvsZG boasts a respectable roster spanning the One Year War and Zeta Gundam era, including protagonist mobile suits and even ZZ Gundam as a secret unit. My personal favorites were RX-78-2 Gundam and Gaplant. RX-78-2, when equipped with the Gundam Hammer, could devastate enemy mobile suits in just a few well-placed hits, and could even take down massive mobile armors like Psyco Gundam by exploiting their blind spots.

The PS2 version also included a story mode, allowing players to explore the One Year War and Zeta Gundam storylines through the perspectives of featured characters. While the gameplay could become repetitive, players had the opportunity to unlock alternate storylines by saving characters who were supposed to die in the original timeline. Another impressive detail is the roster’s customization: mobile suits retained their faction-specific color schemes even when used outside their original teams, such as a Titan-colored Zeta Gundam.

Truly, Gundam vs. Zeta Gundam is one of the many hidden gems of the Gundam video game series during the PS2 era, combining nostalgia, strategy, and a deep appreciation for the Universal Century timeline.