Mobile Suit Gundam: Extreme Vs. Full Boost review: a Gundamn good game

Let’s get real for a second. You will never be a pre-pubescent boy who somehow finds himself in the cockpit of a multi-billion dollar robot. You will never pilot said robot in a full-scale war, killing hundreds of adults with real military training and eventually saving humanity. But thanks to this game, you can come as close as it gets. You sicko.

I haven’t used the word ‘extreme’ this many times in a paragraph since the 90s

A follow-up to the extremely successful Mobile Suit Gundam: Extreme Vs.(EXVS), Mobile Suit Gundam: Extreme Vs. Full Boost (EXVSFB) is a game based on the iconic mecha anime series franchise Mobile Suit Gundam. The game has been out in Japanese arcades since April 2012, and the next entry in the series, Mobile Suit Gundam: Extreme Vs. Maxi Boost, is set to be released in Japanese arcades next month.

Don’t worry about playing an “outdated” game, though; the arcade version is highly unlikely to get a release outside of Japan, so for non-Japanese residents, this is going to be the latest version you can play for a very long time. Lucky for you, it’s a goodie. EXVSFB has been consistently ranked as the #1 arcade game all across Japan since its release, and it’s a title that has been well-earned.

The gameplay is pretty much the same as it was in the original EXVS; you pick a robot (or mobile suit, as they are known in the series), and proceed to team up with an A.I. or human partner to defeat the enemy team. Every time either you or your teammate’s mobile suit gets scrapped, your total team’s hit points (HP) goes down, and if your team HP hits zero, you lose. On the positive side, reducing the enemy team HP to zero makes them lose, which is nice. Good going, champ! Take that, mom who said I’d never amount to anything!

The deadly yet ridiculously named Tallgeese III.

As every gamer knows, what’s important isn’t winning, but how flashy you can look doing so. EXVSFB understands this perfectly. Each mobile suit has its own distinct playstyle, and they are all ready to display the myriad of EXTREME ways to kick ass. Fans of the series will be delighted to know that there are over 90 playable mobile suits in the game, with more on the way. If you’ve got a favourite Gundam, it’s probably in this game, and properly represented. Gundam Deathscythe Hell cannot mount a frontal assault, but is well suited for sneak attacks, and the Strike Gundam has multiple weapon packs which can be freely switched between to suit various situations, just like in the anime.

The iconic ‘Last Shooting’ pose from the original Gundam series.

Colonel Smirnov’s Top Secret Original Recipe for Fun

I think the reason behind the game’s immense popularity is the fact that it is incredibly accessible to all players. The basic controls can be picked up in a matter of minutes, and unlike traditional fighting games which have complex inputs, the commands are really easy to pull off. But the real secret behind the game’s appeal would have to be the fact that although it’s easy to play, it’s a real challenge to win at.

EXVSFB is incredibly fast-paced, and although you can’t physically feel the wind in your hair, the rush of speed is definitely there. The action can get real hectic, and whenever I have friends over to watch me play, the most common comment I hear is, “this game looks cool but I have no idea what’s going on.” EXVSFB really tests your reaction speed, and your ability to keep a cool head despite having dozens of missiles and laser beams raining down on you.

Another aspect of the game that adds a bit of extra challenge and really sets it apart from traditional fighting games is that it’s often played in teams of two, with up to four players going head to head. While individual skill is important, sometimes the game requires you to make decisions or plays that benefit the team as a whole. For example, I might be using a Gundam suited for long range support, but I might have to move into close range to draw attention away from my teammate, or to mount a stronger frontal assault. On the other hand, if I am using a Gundam which excels at melee attacks, I might have to temporarily retreat to a safe distance, waiting for my teammate to create openings for me to launch a surprise attack.