Gundam's forgotten FPS - Gundam Side Story 0079: Rise from the Ashes (1999)

[@BunkerDweller]

Thought you guys deserved a little Christmas gift. Happy holidays fellas

[@clokkoflokko318]

Thank you, Andy, for all the work that you do and the time and effort you put into your videos.

[@3L_B4R7O]

Thanks for the great video and happy new year.

[@billyboleson2830]

The slower paced combat is honestly accurate to the one year war period in general. Its kinda funny how the common opinion of Gundam from other mech fanbases like Battletech and Votoms is that they are these super anime jets with legs that fly like dragon ball characters when that was never really the case initially. In the original gundam unless it was Char in Space the mobile suits were rather slow and not absurdly powerful even the gundam itself. Like they werent super slow either they were more like average human speed for their size, but like the damn thing couldn't even fly initially. They didnt really become these super fast agile one man armies until later entries like Chars counter attack, G, and Wing. People often attribute Gundam as "fast mecha" when really that was actually Macross's gimmick of having hyper fast robots zipping at impossible speeds.

[@enriquecadlum189]

Its just a generalization that unfortunately stuck. As the saying goes first impressions last, and so the idea of Gundam being some predominantly some childish power fantasy "japanimation" where the character is some angsty teen with baggage started to crop up. The west did get dubs and subs a little later and for a majority only got into it when Wing aired, so maybe that might have also might have immediately changed people's opinons. (I also like to point out that nowhere in the original UC timeline did we see Amuro out of his mobile suit, run around with a katana fighting a platoon at gunpoint and winning, nor did he pilot a literal Samurai mech with a mech sized katana into battle or ever have literal cat girls around even in mention... and yet a mercenary post amaris civil war in that exact situtation, the Hatamotochi and Canopis cat girls were a thing in Battletech. If that aint weeb as shit and by extension a practice of double standards, i dont know what is )

[@patrickflying17]

Early on yeah, but even shows like origins kinda stick to mobil suits being zippy little bastards in space, so even the modern show runners want to go with them being agile even when they return to UC 0079.

[@androyus]

Have you actually seen the OG Gundam TV show where Suits like Acguy & Z'Gok are agile like monkeys when they fought in Jaburo? Let alone the Gundam. They are called *Mobile* Suits for a reason.

[@TheRibbonRed]

Macross is fast because they're transforming super jets. Other than their machine guns, missiles, the last-resort knife/punch, and the occasional laser cannons... They don't have much weaponry to fight. Hence the big use on crazy mobility.

[@lordterra1377]

This is why I liked Heavy Gear. The mobile suits felt like real weapons. Gundam lost me when they started doing awful DBZ type stuff.

[@SixerMason]

The way you say Gouf, Andy. I'm reminded of that scene in Inglorious Basterds where the British spy gives himself away, lol. Don't worry, I think the pronunciation varies, most dubs say goof, some say guff. Don't think I've ever heard gowff though 😂 Have a good Christmas.

[@DIEGhostfish]

I thought he had to fight the Gaw flying carrier! I missed the F completely.

[@BillRandy-r9i]

Lol I always say it like "goeffff"

[@BillRandy-r9i]

Almost Like "go f***ur self" idk best way I can explain it

[@sanikku7359]

Since no one is mentioning, yes Zeonic front is awesome, but MS Sensen 0079 for the Wii is practically a direct spiritual successor to this one. It's a Wii game and it uses motion controls, but with emulation you can set it up basically play like a PC FPS game with a system shock style aiming. The game lets you play as both Zeon and the Federation and honestly, it's pretty fucking cool. I'd recommend it if you enjoyed this.

[@billyboleson2830]

@@sanikku7359 sensen honeslty in a way feels more like a fps armored core hybrid then anything else.

[@declanhinshaw4791]

Monkeys paw, we finally get all the Gundam games in America, but the quantity has drastically gone down

[@Supramedical68]

I watched Gundam Wing and UC Gundam on Toonami back in 2000-2001, and that got me into Gundam Side Story 0079, Journey to Jaburo etc.

[@dalek4463]

Remember kids, your Mecha series *must* destroy Australia in some way.

[@TheV8maverick]

I would love another Gundam game in this same vein, looks awesome. I'll have to give it a try

[@MILDMONSTER1234]

Zeonic front is the closest

[@barrybb5409]

Bkue desrijy for the saturn ir operation troy for the 360. Theres also a ps1 gundam game with cockpit view but thats about it since rfta.

[@FoxB117]

Men what a christmas gift, one of my favorite internet man, talking about one my favorites franchises, meanwhile I'm scribing and custommizing an 1/144 GM. I need to make a wihite dingo GM Sniper II

[@BillRandy-r9i]

I'm doing Nightingale rn just finished mg zeta

[@Dana_Ruiz]

Wonderful video. I totally agree on how great it is that all these oft-forgotten pieces of Gundam media are still canon and referenced in media even today. Visch Donahue appeared as recently as 2016’s SD Gundam G Generation Genesis.

[@BigFalconar]

I’m about 20 minutes into this review and DUDE!!! THANK YOU! This easily the BEST coverage on this title that I have seen so far. I’ve been playing it on my Steam Deck and having a blast. You’ve also explained a couple things I completely neglected in my first playthrough. Absolutely play Zeonic Front and Crossfire when you can.

[@CursedShinobiClown]

Honestly I wouldn't recommend the OVAs to newer fans. What makes the OVA trilogy (War In The Pocket, 08th MS Team, Stardust Memory) unique is that they feel almost *ENTIRELY* different from the standard Gundam formula so a lot of fans go from those to one of the shows and might be put off from how different they feel. Hell theres a surprisingly large chunk of Gundam fans that *only* like the OVAs (mainly americans) and straight up hate the rest of the series for being different from them

[@cipher0329]

Come for the Halo 4 takedown, stay for the unfathomably based obscure Gundam FPS reviews. I’m a total noob who’s only seen the 79 tv series and theatrical cuts, this will be fascinating.

[@TotallyBossDetective]

As someone who's been on a bit of a Gundam binge recently, this video is very appreciated. I'll definitely check this one out soon enough.

[@Commarades]

Big U.C. Gundam fan, and I've been digging through its library for a while now - completely missed this one! Thanks for bringing it to my attention! (And the EVO shoutout, RIP 🪦🕊 )

[@ebookjapan8054]

Zeonic Front on PS2 is more or less the successor to this one and is worth a play. Get to pilot most of the Zeon suits and does the "unwinnable war" brand of story telling as you're stuck in a tug of war with the events of 0079. It has the squad management mechanic but way less cumbersome. Also U.C. 0001 may have been intended to be 2000 A.D. originally. The series has gone on long enough they won't confirm when humans colonized space to keep the setting current to avoid a Blade Runner "Los Angeles 2019" situation.

[@Alte.Kameraden]

Rise from Ashes, Zeonic Front and Battle Record 0081 are my favorite Gundam games. I had to Import 0081. Also Universal Century Gundam Online was one I played for a while and still play on private servers.

[@CrimFuryX]

I had this game! It was good, but too short.

[@ic3olate]

I remember seeing this as a kid and thinking it looked amazing, but we couldn't find it anywhere despite a thorough search. I had been playing MechWarrior games since I was 5 or 6, so that was my idea (and still is) of what a mech and mech game should be: not clumsy, but somewhat slow and deliberate just from sheer size and weight, and leaning towards the simulator side. Thanks for reminding me it even existed, I will have to try this on an emulator soon!

[@BansheeNT-D]

Zeonic Front is THE BEST Gundam game. You should give it a try. The first Mass Produced Mobile Suit was the Zaku I, but the Zaku II was the true game changer for Zeon.

[@LegendaryOverfiend]

Slight correction. Gundam wasn't really an unknown when the game came out, just before the games US release Gundam Wing was already airing on toonami and it was a MASSIVE hit. Its not an exaggeration to say that the show was nearly rivaling Dragon Ball Z in numbers when that aired in the states too. The problem is that Wing aired prior to the original 79 show leaving many Americans confused on UC content like Rise from the ashes and 79 because they only knew about Wing which was completely unrelated to UC

[@BunkerDweller]

Hate to ‘um actually’ you but for clarification, Gundam ‘79 had it’s English dub release via VHS tapes around 98/99. Gundam Wing didn’t air on Toonami until March of 2000. Rise from the Ashes released in North America about a month later, in April of 2000. I recognize that Gundam Wing was a big phenomenon here in the US but it has barely begun airing when Rise from the Ashes released.

[@JackDandyHG]

Awesome vid! I really gotta try these sometime. The Blue Destiny titles too. Can you do a Heavy Gear 2 video sometime?

[@KittRembo]

Ahhh I want them to remaster all these games. This, Zeonic Front, Federation vs Zeon, and Journey to Jaburo were my fav Gundam games. Fed vs Zeon in particular blew my mind as a kid getting to play as all the Gundams from the UC One Year War universe. Better yet need a gundam Armored Core game

[@SR-388]

Honestly interesting game I might try it, and it’s cool to see something set in aus, I don’t see that often in video games, it’s also just bizarre to hear places like Broken Hill as a location in this game haha, since outside of it being the film location for some of the mad max movies, I would not expect it in any other game or series

[@Lando00100]

Dude I was so happy to get rgm 79 gm gunpla for Christmas lol

[@sammon1415]

Being Australian myself, I loved recognising all the real places that appear in this game and the anime - mispronounced names and all. Watching my home city get blown the hell up at the start of every O.Y.W. story never gets old. I imagine this must be similar to how Americans feel when playing GTA-likes that are set in their home city.

[@valunoth8204]

I remember getting this game and Blue Stinger for my Dreamcast as a kid, it was a strange Christmas.

[@TwinTailThrust-K]

I'd love to see you cover SRW at some point. If possible, of course. Merry Christmas, Mr. Bunker Dweller. Also, 90s Gundam games have the best grills.

[@Calmor25]

You deserve more love, my guy. Great video!

[@TheDistantman]

I love this game so much as a kid, i bought this game again during COVID

[@catrazilla]

your review makes me want to try it too! thanks for the review!

[@vianenhive]

I like the game dungeon vibes

[@Z.cromski]

Good work as always Andy. Have a good Christmas.

[@jimberjamber8540]

This game and Gundam Wing were my intros into the Gundam universe. I actually still have my Dreamcast and this game. It's unfortunately scratched to shit, but I'll never throw it away.

[@keatonkitsune4064]

This type of game and a Front Mission 3 esque game are games that I wish Gundam would chase.

[@Specsp421]

Encountering only a handful of MS per mission makes perfect sense with the timeline. Back then there were a lot less MS running around, hell the Battle of Jaburo only involved around 40 MS on Zeon’s part (not counting the aquatic MS infiltration team). Wasn’t really until Solomon and A Baoa Qu that you saw massive shit show battles with hundreds of MS on both sides.

[@cnhnx]

Gundam: Lost War Chronicles on PS2 has similar slow tactical gameplay with 2 teammates you can order around. It's 3rd person though, and Japan only. But it's awesome and has a lot of environment variety (some look better than others). You can play both as EF and Zeon and variety of MS from basic GM to even GP01 (as bonus, definitely not canon). Check it out because it's pretty manageable even as JP only release.

[@krono5el]

Always just called it gundam side story but damn i luved this game on release. the destructibility of the cities and the close combat or even the long range shooting was just so awesome for a gundam fan. from Gungriffon on Saturn to this on Dreamcast Sega kids had some insane mecha games to play back then.

[@JackIsMe1993]

Well you easily earned another subscriber so a few suggestions for games you might like that are "somewhat simillar "Battle Engine Aquila and Phantom Crash...well that's if theirs a working version of either, Thanks for the review beat this when I was 11 with the help of a spare set of hands from a mate over the space of 4 weeks certainly a unique control scheme.

[@harbingerofdeath4746]

The way the controls are described reminds me of Mechwarrior. Super cool.

[@treifeske2077]

Actually owned this as a kid. I remember seeing Gundam on toonami a few years earlier, but the controls… yeah there was also that KISS Nightmare Circus game that had similar control issues. I did like how heavy you felt, the weight in the movement and I didn’t feel like a God in the game.

[@woodrowwilder481]

I somehow beat this game on my 2nd or 3rd play through with just or mostly the beam saber. early 00s were some crazy times.

[@0xPRIMEgs]

my fave gundam game. I loved playing this on dc

[@MenacingThreat]

This video came at the perfect time. I just picked up my first Gunpla and know nothing about the lore.

[@Ironclad17]

Every time you say "MS 8th Team" a GM explodes.

[@IanFiebigwi]

Oh man! I think this was the single largest factor in me buying my Dreamcast. I did not know of the other disk. I had a EU copy of Shenmue, and burned Blue Shift. I probably would have looked into that as well.

[@26th_Primarch]

I'd totally see someone taking the time to rebuild this FPS version of the game into a more functional build.

[@christophercurtis9392]

God I loved this game. I remember getting the sniper custom 2 and just feeling like a god

[@MILDMONSTER1234]

People are gonna be mentioning Zeonic Front as like a spiritual successor third person shooter of this game, but another gundam game i like is Encounters in space as its kinda like a hybrid between the grounded gameplay style of those games and the power fantasy elements of other gundam games.

[@pampasgrass5176]

This game looks so rad! The only gundam game i've played is crossfire and the 3rd level for zeon is....wildly hard.

[@WelkinNoSeiDe]

There is another fps game. Operation Troy on Xbox 360. It is mostly a multiplayer game, but it has a single player campaign as well A much more simplified experience than the Side story series, but still fun

[@peradolia]

Halo and Gundam? hell yeah!

[@neskey]

missed this intro

[@Corbett-CM]

Would love to see a video on Zeonic Front

[@BroderChasyn]

this game slapped on Dreamcast

[@SirLordMasterSaverKangDrPaulAs]

Wall, call all of us mommy, because Back Door Santa just came early for Christmas this year ;)

[@hoobaguy]

I'd say the 3 on the saturn were more obscure than the dreamcast one.

[@isamuominae]

I have both originals. The pre order disc is impossible, you need destroy Guncannon, Guntank and Gundam on the same time. Amuro's beam riffle damage is insane too.

[@EthanTheDinoNerd]

I need you to review more Gundam games. I'm a recent Gundam fan with only 2 games, 2 federation suits and 2 SD Zeon. I need more normal Zeon(mostly Zakus) figures but I keep finding Gundams from later shows which I'm not a fan of. I like the designs of the originals. Simple over complex.

[@theholygamer969]

You think THIS is a weird control scheme? There was a third-person shooter game on the Dreamcast called Fur Fighters that had you aim with the left thumbstick, and move with the ABYX BUTTONS. I NEVER finished it.

[@darkprinc979]

Man, I would absolutely love for a Mechwarrior style Gundam game to come out in this day and age. Having been exposed to Mechwarrior 2 back in the nineties, and then later on Mechwarriors 3 and 4, it always disappointed me that Gundam related games opted for third person action or 2d fighting games rather than in the cockpit simulator style. There was also that Dynasty Warriors style game that was released years ago, but those types of games seem to be more about power fantasy than anything else. As far as mobile suit design goes, I have to say that Wing is my favorite. Even though there's some pretty futuristic tech, the designs of the mobile suits and even the vehicles feels closer to present day than something that is supposed to be in the far future, which makes it feel more grounded in reality. Story-wise, I think I liked Iron Blooded Orphans the best. Rather than being about one large scale conflict like most Gundam series, Iron Blooded Orphans is more about the struggles of the characters, going from being slaves with basically nothing to a well known mercenary group. It has the same tight knit character dynamics of something like 08th MS team, but has a lot more freedom of movement since the characters are ultimately not beholden to a specific governmental authority.

[@Wzrd8]

loving all the kids reviewing this game today not really getting you don't use the look stick that much in normal combat.

[@barrybb5409]

Nice video. I have 1 of the world records for this game, new game mode. It definitely is a flawed gem, but make what you will of that. There actually was suppose to be sequel games on the dreamcast, but due to its failure in the usa, the games were cancelled and the team was shifted to work on journey to jaburo and other ps2 titles. I was in high school, ne and 2 friends would come to my house after school and watch sailor moon and dragon ball z after school ended. When wing came out I had seen a fee episodes and then stumbled on this game setup in the eb games in the mall. Was mostly confused but had a great time with the demo. Ended up buying a dreamcast for this game and becoming a huge gundam fan, picking up 0080 vhs tapes at the mall. Also very odd seing the goufs spawn 1 at a time in stage 4. Typically I wipe the zakus out and it triggers the cutscene, but it will trigger after some time passes, however I tend to finish off the last zaku when that happens. The game has some quirks. But most stages do have variations to the cutscenes, stage 3 for example you can ignore the gaw completely, let it pass outside of the map and cross the white borderline after oasis gives a radio message. Only time the game allows that as far as I know.

[@tumblrvictim]

I wish we had a tactical gundam game

[@Mugen-0088]

Char Aznable did nothing wrong.

[@dalek4463]

I would say that a good way to start with Gundam UC would *maybe* be the Origin series.

[@TheCreapler]

YA I Recently watched the original show, and I was surprised how good it was for a 1980s ish anime.

[@tomtheconqerur]

It would be dope if the game had a remaster similar to that of the recent soul reaver remaster.

[@Serjmeister]

We genuinely need a Mechwarrior type of Mobile Suit game

[@eaglesblades]

Helllll yeah. Love some 0079.

[@IanThatMetalBassist]

If they had set up the controls like the Dreamcast ports of Quake III Arena or Unreal Tournament (Looking with the stick, moving with the face buttons) it would probably be more playable on original hardware

[@MayumiC-chan9377]

my husband loves this game he ported it to his pc and use two joysticks

[@OmegaEnvych]

Listening to your words at the end - You HAVE to at least try Zeonic Front now. No, seriously. Just imagine same ideas - you are the Cannon Fodder, but now game is combination of Gundam, Mechwarrior and early Rainbow Six games. And I mean Rogue Spear early. It's a game where you pilot Zakus, Goufs and some other MS's but your real hard time is the GMs and Guncannons. And the very first mission that takes away your automatic mission routes is both a stealth and survival horror mission. It will be a bit spoilery but it's definitely worth it. Imagine the worst nightmare for Zaku 2 pilot... That's right - you need to perform observation on White Base and its MS unit. Imagine a mission where your worst nightmare - is being seen by Gundam. Because Amuro will fuck you up!

[@Trent957]

To continue to spoiler: I believe its also the mission where you first get the Proto Gouf and you're like "Cool, starting to get the more advanced Zeon tech." Only to go out and listen to Amuro count the bodies as you routed the rest of your team a little too close. Here are your cool new toys, now go after the White Devil and the Trojan Horse after they wasted some of our best aces already. Most busted unit in the game tho is still Manning's Zaku I with Reloader III and a rifle. Basically an invisible sniper that could fire as fast as a machine gun.

[@zarthes]

Huh, funny you mentioning the north america campaign they made a recent manga about that called Rust Horizon, maybe someday. Also while it is 3rd person and faster by some degrees. I'd give the Battle Operation series a look. Sure if you get in a gundam you feel faster, but grunt suit piloting is viable and slower.

[@Mobilesuitk9]

Interesting timing 🤣

[@Metaknight145]

You know it's such a fucking shame no one ever made a VR Mecha pilot game. Seems like such an obvious idea. Probably not Gundam, but maybe a Megas inspired one to have a game controller in the cockpit for immersion.

[@countphil1]

You can try underdog vr for a meele mech game(is a rougelike).

[@patchmoulton5438]

Vox Machinae?

[@MewsHeart151]

Lol I still own this game and played it on the actual console😂I never had any issues controlling,even in a gm cannon I would handle all the enemies mostly by myself close combat isn't that hard watch the movements block and swing they have a down slash and side slash but now even after beating it I only replay with beam rifles🤣

[@Revok998]

This rules

[@relhimp]

...just turn your controller upside down. This is Armored Core 101. (not really tho, no one played like this, but memes...)

[@ebookjapan8054]

After War Gundam X is underrated, if you like the OYW shows you'll probably like X. It's basically an alternate timeline where Char's Counterattack ends in the worst possible way for Earth.

[@billyboleson2830]

X deserved better, its the best of the 90s shows imo next to Turn a and G

[@msyon.]

GMs are cool.

[@wun1gee]

Oh you HAVE to play Zeonic Front. It is the best Gundam game, period. Not the best PS2 Gundam game. The best Gundam game, full stop.

[@BillRandy-r9i]

Gentlemen this is democracy manifest!!!!! What is the crime? Succulent Chinese meal?

[@justletmelistthese]

My problem with Gundam (and like 99% of mecha), as combat units not a as a setting or story, they are just "spess samurai with swords against railguns, but big, but also robot". I just can't stand fugg huge mechs getting into knife fights.

[@patchmoulton5438]

I think youd like Battlemechs then. While a few were built with melee in mind, most are essentially fusion powered walking tanks.

[@MILDMONSTER1234]

Gundam fights usually only involve melee combat when needed. A lot of action scenes only involce beams from range unless its G gundam where the entire point is martial arts brawling. Armored Core is like that too where melee is awkward as fuck. The infaumous gundam seed in particular is like 90% laser beams and maybe 10% melee combat