Gundam: Battle Assault 2 was released primarily as a hype-builder for Mobile Fighter G Gundam which was airing on Cartoon Network. In other words, it’s a whole game designed specifically for the American audience, released well in the later years of the Playstation. Despite this, Battle Assault 2 is an excellent game. It expands on the elements from Battle Master and Battle Assault tenfold, adding many new characters and finally incorporating the expanded universes.
The combat engine has been refined as much as it possibly could be. The roster is also by far the most pleasing, with thirty mechs altogether. The Zeta characters have been removed, but replaced with fourteen alternate universe characters; the Endless Waltz editions of the Gundam Wing mobile suits – Wing Zero, Deathscythe Hell, Heavyarms, Sandrock, Shenlong, Epyon (piloted by Treize), Tallgeese III – and many of the characters from G Gundam – God Gundam, Maxter, Master, Dragon, Rose, Bolt, and Devil. The Z-Gundam, The-O, Hamma Hamma (from ZZ, not Z), and Qubeley are missing, but are still in the GBA2 code and fully playable through any code manipulation device.
Characters
Treize Kushrenada
Treize, from Gundam Wing, is the charismatic leader of the OZ organization, which develops mobile suits for the Alliance Federation. Treize loves war and chivalry and believes that human beings are at their best when at war. He eventually develops the Epyon, a frighteningly powerful Gundam equipped with a system that enhances the pilot’s performance, but in turn causes them to become battle-crazed.
Ulube Ishikawa
Ulube, from G Gundam is a member of the Neo-Japan military and seeks to hunt down and destroy the Devil Gundam along with Domon Kasshu and Rain, whose father, Dr. Mikamura, is a close friend of Ulube’s. However, like many characters in G Gundam, Ulube turns out to be in league with Kyoji and the Devil Gundam, and eventually betrays Domon. Like that creepy mask didn’t totally give it away.
Shiro Amada (Shiroh)
Shiro, from Gundam 08th MS Team, is the young leader of a group of mobile suit pilots who engage in guerilla warfare in the jungles of Southeast Asia. In classic star-crossed-lover formula, Shiro becomes smitten with Aina Saharin, an ace pilot for the Principality of Zeon. Shiro and Aina decide to throw away their status as enemies and fall for each other, though this leads to some major complications. Shiro is all around a good leader, being very level-headed and tactical. Here he pilots the Ball mobile suit.
Valder Farkill (Valdor)
Valder is from Gundam Wing: Last Outpost, and is an ace pilot under the OZ organization. He is possibly even more skilled than Zechs Merquise himself. He is the main antagonist of the Last Outpost manga, which takes place in the same universe as Gundam Wing, but in the asteroid belt far, far away from the events of the TV series. He pilots the Hydra Gundam, which is far and away the most powerful mobile suit in the Gundam Wing timeline.
The game also has a new mode called “Street”, where several characters from various Gundam universes travel through story arcs that loosely follow the progression of their respective series’. There’s also a slew of different survival modes. The progression of the game is a lot like that of Soul Calibur, where most of the content needs to be unlocked. You start with very few characters and end up with a massive roster at your disposal.
In all, Battle Assault 2 is easily the best Gundam fighting game yet. It offers the most variety and refinement, and considering its status as a mere marketing plug for a mediocre TV show, it’s a damn fine addition to any fighting game aficionado’s collection, especially if they harbor any feelings for Gundam.
Gundam: Battle Assault 2 was split up into two budget release games in Japan, released separately as Simple Characters 2000: Kidou Butouden G Gundam The Battle, and Simple Characters 2000: Kidou Senki Gundam W The Battle. The English voices were removed, God/Devil’s name was restored, and Maria was added back as pilot of Psycho Mk.III, meaning Ulube’s gone. It’s possible to load the save file from one Simple 2000 version to the other, but this ONLY allows you to add the six main G Gundam or Gundam Wing Mobile Suits. Other Mobile Suits unique to each version are not added. Yes, this means that Gundam: Battle Assault 2 is far better.
