On December 01 2005, Bandai released a Gundam strategy game under the name of SD Gundam Gashapon Wars, exclusively for Game Cube console. Gashapon Wars is different compared to the latest SD Gundam G Generation series. It most resembles the old school Gundam game under the name of SD Gundam G Century, which was released for PSone and Sega Saturn console back in 1998. Featuring 150 units from Gundam universe of 0079, 0080, Zeta, ZZ, Seed, Destiny and etc. Best of all, it never gets old because this game features a multiplayer mode, where up to 4 people can play together. You can have tons of hours re-enacting episode from anime with your friend. And no one will simply know the result, since the out come will depend on your skill both in map and in battle, selecting your units, and of course with a little bit of luck too. If you buy the full color gashapon stage 61 capsule toys, there is a password in each figure that you can put in to get the respective unit on the game. Password mode is available once you meet certain conditions.

Will Gashapon Wars live as a part of the legendary SD Gundam Generation series?

Preface note
When you play for the first time, only scenario mode is available to play (aside from the multiplayer). This 14 stages of scenarios is only serving as a tutorial to the game. The real game starts when you play the Capsule Wars and the mini games of 100 Battle. Let me explain the 100 battle first. The 100 battle is used to unlock a rare new unit for the Capsule Wars as well as for your gallery collection. It’s basically consisted of battles with a twisted event, such as Seed team VS Zeta team, 61 tanks vs 2 Zaku, and an event battle like Kira VS Athrun. Some battle such as Kira VS Athrun has multiple reviving units. In other words, you start with Strike VS Aegis, and then if Aegis got destroyed, Justice will come out. Once Strike got destroyed, Freedom will come out. Once you beat 25 battles, you will get a rare new unit. By rare I mean a Psycho-Gundam.

Gameplay (95 / 100)
The game flow is very simple. On the map, you will rotate your analog to get cards. It will determine who goes first, then 3 starting unit pops up on the main base. Your mission is to defeat all enemy units and / or acquire 70% of the map tiles. Every time your non-fly unit walks on the map, it will mark the map as blue. Try to occupy as many base as you can, because when you occupy base, your next available unit will come into play. There is many stars scattered on the map, it’s basically just HP recovery or an item to gain advantage on the battle. Every beginning on a turn (they call it as “DAY”), you will get a card, which vary in effect from HP recovery to 5 tiles on the map automatically become yours.

If the computer or you gains the majority of the map tiles, your unit will become invisible to the other side, so they have to scan an area to see if your unit nearby or they may possible bump into your unit while moving to an area on the map. Thus, when your unit or enemy unit land on the same square, we will enter the battle mode. Keep in mind that battle mode only consist of 3 VS 3 units. If you get attacked on the map, any adjective units will join the battle. However, to attack with 3 units, you must surround the enemy with your units.

Now we’re in battle mode. In the beginning of each battle, all units are in sleeping position. Then it will wake up just like in the anime when you are about to fight. If you’re being attacked on the map, your units will stun at the beginning of battle and you’ll need to rotate analog and pressing A to regain control, vice versa for the computer unit if you attacked them on the map. Before battle, you can choose which unit you will control and the other will be controlled by the computer. The battle is fast paced and really fun just like in the anime. Dashing left and right, use your shield, fire the beam rifle, and dash to your enemy and use your beam saber. You can guard and use shield, use long range attack, short range attack, tackle, transform into MA, charge long and short attack (resulting in upgraded attack such as hyper hammer from the previously beam saber), or use special weapon (such as Fin Funnel) once you have a green item from the battle. All those functions are assigned on each button on the controller.

Some units can use a few funnel but to maximize the number of funnel, you have to consume the green item. Once a unit makes an attack, it will reload for some times, so it means that the same button cannot be abused. Change your attack from tackle, to short, to long and so on to maximize the potential of your unit. There are some items that can stun the enemy or recover your HP. There is a lock-on button but it’s only for the 100 battle mode. Fortunately, there is an auto aim system, which will help your beam rifle to hit the target on an average accuracy of 70%, provided that the enemy unit is visible on your view. Once you win the battle or lose, the game will proceed back on the map and repeat the procedure until you win.

Graphic (95 / 100)
This one has superb graphics. All models were cell-shaded and created in very detailed fashion. The models are smooth and crisp. No detail is overlooked. It looks just like the anime or even better, but they all come in SD size. What’s more interesting is that the FPS stays constant, which means there is no slow down on the battle field, even when there are tons of missiles and beam rifles going around. There are also terrain graphic effects for under-water, extreme heat dessert, and earth’s atmosphere. For example, the unit will appears in red and looks like it’s burning down with all the flickers when they fight in the earth’s atmosphere. Really just like in the anime. For Seed fans, there is a graphic for the Phase-Shift up and down animation for the Seed unit. So when you are about to start the battle, your unit will be running in gray and turned into colors. In the middle of battle, your unit become gray if certain condition are met or if it’s about to be destroyed.