Kidou Senshi Gundam: Renpou VS Zion Concise Guide (Version 3.5) Current Update: Wednesday, 31 October 2001 Previous Update: Sunday, 28 October 2001 Created: Sunday, 20 May 2001 By Don "Gamera" Chan (crs1219@hotmail.com) Note: This FAQ is primarily based on the first arcade version, not the second "DX" arcade version or the PlayStation 2 version. 0. Wanted 1. Acknowledgements 2. Nutrition Information 2.1 1st Impression 2.2 2nd Impression 2.3 DX Arcade Version 2.4 PlayStation 2 Version 3. Commands 3.1 Basic Commands 3.2 Advanced Commands 3.3 Hidden Commands 4. Specifications 4.1 Mobile Suits 4.2 Weapons 5. Strategies 5.1 Zion 5.2 Federation 5.3 Stages 6. Links "Setsunasa!" (*1) 0. WANTED I'm looking for: - Strategies for this game: Common, Mobile Suit-specific, stage-specific, one-player and multi-player, et al. - Hints for this game, from articles in the magazine Arcadia. - A complete list of all mecha in this game. (Aircraft, ground vehicles, Mobile Armours, Mobile Suits, warships, &c.) - Voice actor list of this game. - Transcripts, in Japanese or Roomaji, of General Gihren Zabi's speeches in First Gundam. - A Greek translation of the Disclaimer (see below). - Osama bin Laden, dead or alive. Disclaimer: I send the newest version of this file to only five Websites: - http://www.gamefaqs.com/ - http://vgstrategies.about.com/ - http://DLH.Net/ - http://www.gamesover.com/ - http://www.cheatcc.com/ If you downloaded or read this file at other Websites, the SysOps of the other Websites probably leeched it from one of the above Websites. Dementi: J'ai envoye la plus recente version de ce fichier a seulement cinque sites webs. - http://www.gamefaqs.com/ - http://vgstrategies.about.com/ - http://DLH.Net/ - http://www.gamesover.com/ - http://www.cheatcc.com/ Si vous avez telecharge ou lu ce fichier a partir d'autres sites, les responsables de ces sites l'auront probablement pompe a partir de l'un des sites ci-dessus. 1. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Thanks to these sierra hotel persons/organisations: - Gordon Kam, for strategies. - Jean-Luc Barbera of France, for the French translation of the Disclaimer. (After all, Canada's official languages are English and French.) - Kenta, for transcripts of two of General Gihren Zabi's speeches. - Philip In of Hong Kong, for being yet another non-Japanese friend who works in Japan. - Raiblade, for URLs about the DX arcade version. - Jones Kingsu and Wavehawk of Philippines, for feedback. (Social democracy in action.) No thanks to these lima delta persons/organisations: - The EVIL terrorists responsible for the attacks in the USA in the morning on (Tuesday) 11 September 2001 (local time). - Banpresto of Japan. (_ _) Zzz... - Ray5555, for flaming me. - Osama bin Laden and his Al Qaeda. In memory of: - The victims of the terrorist attacks in the USA in the morning on 11 September 2001. God bless America. - Inoue Daisuke. Music composer, arranger, singer, and player of flute and saxophone. He sang several First Gundam songs, including "Kaze ni hitori de", "Ai senshi", "Beginning", and "Meguriai". His real name was Inoue Takao. He was 58. He was born on 13 September 1941, and committed suicide on 30 May 2000. - Shiozawa Kaneto. Voice actor. In First Gundam, he voiced the Zion REMF and Gyan pilot Colonel Ma Kube. His real name was Shiozawa Toshikazu. He was 46. He was born on 28 January 1954, and passed away on 10 May 2000. - The 118 sailors and officers on the Oscar II class submarine, K-141 Kursk, of the Northern Fleet, Russian Navy. She sank in the Barents Sea on Saturday, 12 August 2000. Her wreck was raised on Monday, 8 October 2001. "I pray, pray to bring near the new day." - "Ai senshi", insert song, Kidou Senshi Gundam II: Ai Senshi Hen 2. NUTRITION INFORMATION (Introduction) Title: Kidou Senshi Gundam: Renpou VS Zion (Mobile Suit Gundam: Federation VS Zion) Genre: Team battle action Rating: ? Players: 1-4 OS: Arcade, PlayStation 2, Dreamcast (announced) Maker: Bandai, Banpresto, Capcom http://www.gundam.channel.or.jp/goods/videogame/evsz_dx/ http://www.gundam.channel.or.jp/goods/videogame/evsz/ On Sale: March 2001 (arcade), 14 September 2001 (DX arcade), 6 December 2001 (PlayStation 2), unknown (Dreamcast) (Warning: As I'm a Gundam fan since First Gundam (I first watched First Gundam about one year after it was first aired in Japan), I use the old and possibly political incorrect spelling of "Zion" (pronounced as "jee-orn"), instead of the current "Zeon". Sieg Zion!) 2.1 1ST IMPRESSION This game isn't Gundam Battle Online (GBO), which is another Dreamcast game. Also, this game isn't Kidou Senshi Gundam (Journey to Jaburo) or Zeonic Front: Kidou Senshi Gundam 0079, which are other PlayStation 2 games. 2.2 2ND IMPRESSION In an one-player game, when the player's piloting a Gundam, the CPU (computer-controlled) friendly MS can also be a Gundam. Likewise, when the player's piloting a Char MS, the CPU friendly MS can also be a Char MS. In a two-VS-one or a two-VS-two game, to try to confuse the hostile player(s), the two players on one side can choose the same MS and input the same pilot name. The MSs that appear in the CG animation before a stage can be inconsistent. I once saw, in the CG animation before a battle in the Jaburo Outside stage, a normal Gelgoog standing beside the player's Char Gelgoog before the player's MS steps out of the Gau's hangar. When the battle begins, the CPU MS wasn't a normal Gelgoog. [Ramble ON] After 911, now it's chilling to see the buildings in this game vertically collapse. FYI, based on the anime and not on this game, my Top Three of the One Year War era Zion and Federation MAs and MSs are: 1. Gouf. 2. Ziong. 3. Gelgoog. My favourite female and male chara of First Gundam are: F. Sayla Mass. (No relation to Sailormars.) M. Kai Shiden. (But my favourite male chara amongst all Gundam anime is (expectedly) Amuro Rei.) "ikinukitakunai no! anata nara dekiru wa." - Sayla Mass BTW, to the female fans of Gundam Wing who are reading this file: Midorikawa Hikaru is married, so move along. WRT arcade fighting games with 3D mecha, no, I didn't play Kikaioh (Tech Romancer) or Virtual-On. (But I wrote and posted a Kikaioh command list anyway.) Revision history of this file: Version 0.5 (Limited Edition): Wednesday, 23 May 2001 Version 1.0: Wednesday, 11 July 2001 Version 1.5: Wednesday, 25 July 2001 Version 2.0: Wednesday, 22 August 2001 Version 2.5: Saturday, 15 September 2001 Version 3.0: Saturday, 29 September 2001 [Ramble OFF] 2.3 DX ARCADE VERSION Compared to the first arcade version, the second DX ("Deluxe") arcade version has three more Federation MSs, five more space-based stages, new movement commands in space-based stages, and modified game balance (movement rates, attacks, weapons, &c) for all MSs. IMPORTANT! In the DX version, when one side has only one player, that player can press the Start button to command the friendly CPU MS. The commands are: normal, shoot, melee, fire support, and evade. The "fire support" command seems to be the most useful, because the friendly CPU MS attacks the player's current target. When one side has two players, a player can press the Start button to send a message about the health of his MS to his partner. When a player starts a new game or joins an existing game, he chooses a non-space MS and a space MS. The game automatically changes the player's MS depending on whether the next stage is space-based or not space-based. The three additional Federation MSs are: - RX-79(G) Ground Combat Gundam - RGM-79(G) Ground Combat GM - RB-79 Ball (IMO, the Ball is "Definitely the Choice of the New Generation" in the later space-based stages, where the CPU is deploying the Byg Zam, Elmeth, Gelgoog, Rick Dom, and Ziong. Also, this is the RB-79 Ball in First Gundam, not the RB-79K Ball in Gundam:08MS.) The Ground Combat Gundam has 480 HP. It has a choice of five shooting weapons: - Beam Rifle (The good old BR.) - 100 mm Machine Gun (Has good speed and tracking.) - Rocket Launcher (Similar to bazooka.) - 180 mm Cannon (Similar to Magella Top cannon.) - Missile Launcher (Two missiles per shot and six missiles per reload.) The Ground Combat Gundam's sub weapon is its chest-mounted Vulcan. Its mid-air dash melee attack is a shield tackle. Its special melee is a Shouryuuken-like beam sabre cut. Its cost is approximately less than a Guncannon. The Ground Combat GM has 420 HP. It has a choice of two shooting weapons: - Beam Rifle - 100 mm Machine Gun The Ground Combat GM has no Vulcan. It has no sub weapon at all. The Ball, to be polite, s_cks so hard it can replace gravity. It has one cannon and two pincers. Its cannon shots are slower than snail mail. Its pincers have very short reach. It doesn't look as cute (?) as the Zion's Zakrello either. OTOH, the Ball's cost is extremely low. (The Ball isn't for novice players.) The five additional space-based stages are: - Satellite Orbit 1 - Satellite Orbit 2 - Solomon Space - Side 6 Space - A Baoa Qu Space In a space-based stage, combat is 360 degrees. The player presses the Jump button to move in the vertical axis, that is, to move up and down. The distance between the player and the target, and the edges of the battle area, are hard to estimate. In the Satellite Orbit 1 stage, Zion units include the Char Zaku II, Zaku II, Char Musai, Don Escargot (?), and Musai. Federation units include the GM, Guncannon, Core Fighter, Salamis, and White Base. The warships will fire their guns. AFAIK, the players can't destroy a warship, but they can lock-on the turrets of a warship. I don't know how many HP a turret has, but it can survive one beam rifle shot. In the Satellite Orbit 2 stage, Zion units begin with two Zaku II and one Zakrello. Zion replacements include the Rick Dom. The stage has a lot of grey metal panels and the wreck of a Federation warship. In the Side 6 Space stage, Zion units include the Rick Dom. The stage has a lot of brown asteroids and grey metal panels. The background song is "Meguriai" by Inoue Daisuke. The A Baoa Qu Space stage has a lot of grey metal panels and the wreck of a Zion warship. The background song is "Meguriai" by Inoue Daisuke. Now the MAs (Azzam, Gallop, Grabro, Zakrello, Byg Zam, Elmeth, &c) are more aggressive. In the Belfast stage, after the Grabro is KIA, a normal MS, such as a Zgok, replaces the Grabro. WRT the other MSs, now hand-held melee weapons can parry each other, such as the Gouf's heat sabre VS the GM's beam sabre. Just as the Zgok's melee attacks include the Shouryuuken (a la Ken and Ryu of the SF series), the Zaku's melee attacks now include the Tetsuzankou (a la Akira of the VF series). After the (RX-78-2) Gundam's shield is destroyed, in its special melee attack, it uses both beam sabres. Also, it can spin its Hyper Hammer like the Gelgoog's beam naginata. The Core Fighter and Guncannon now appear even in the first Side 7 stage. If Matilda Ajan wasn't a Federation operator in the first version, she's an operator in the DX version. 2.4 PLAYSTATION 2 VERSION The PlayStation 2 version reportedly will have a Mission Mode where the player has to gain, maintain, and repair his MSs. 3. COMMANDS (This section is incomplete and under construction!) Note: Correct me if I'm wrong. 3.1 BASIC COMMANDS [?] means hold the stick or button. STICK [u] Walk forwards. [ul] Walk forwards and left. [ur] Walk forwards and right. [l] Walk left. [r] Walk right. [dl] Walk backwards and left. [dr] Walk backwards and right. [d] Walk backwards. u,u Dash forwards, to dodge linear attacks from the player's left or right. l,l Dash or side-step left, to dodge linear attacks from the player's front or back. r,r Dash or side-step right, to dodge linear attacks from the player's front or back. d,d Dash backwards, to dodge linear attacks from the player's left or right. On the ground, a MS can dash or side-step in four directions. In mid-air, while a MS is hovering or jumping, it can dash or side-step in eight directions. After a MS is knocked down and lands on the ground, the player can tap the stick in a direction to roll the MS, and get out of the way of an incoming attack or enemy, before the MS gets up. BUTTONS T Target. Choose the target (enemy unit) that the player tries to lock-on. S Shoot. Attack the target with the player's primary weapon, such as beam rifle. [S] Hold the Shoot button to fire a burst of shots at the target, when the player's primary weapon is a machine gun-type weapon (Zaku, Zaku II, Gouf, &c). F,(F),(F) Fight. Attack the target with the player's melee weapon, such as beam sabre. S+F Shoot at the target with the player's secondary weapon (sub weapon), such as Vulcan. [J] Jump. Beware the Boost guage. (while dashing) F+J Special fight. When the lock-on cursor is red, the target is inside the range of the player's shooting weapon. When the lock-on cursor is yellow, the target is inside the range of the player's shooting weapon, but is immune to damage. For example, the target is knocked down. When the lock-on cursor is green (dash line), the target is outside the range of the player's shooting weapon. 3.2 ADVANCED COMMANDS GOUF After the Gouf launches its heat rod (whip)... [l]+Shoot or [l]+Fight causes the Gouf to whirl its heat rod to the left, then rear. [r]+Shoot or [r]+Fight causes the Gouf to whirl its heat rod to the left, then right, then rear. ZIONG As the Ziong launches its (supposedly wire-guided) forearm... (stick) defines the forearm's direction of attack. 3.3 HIDDEN COMMANDS (Bugs, codes, undocumented features, urawaza, &c) When the player inputs the pilot's name, instead of pressing Omakase to choose a Gundam chara's name, when the player inputs an original name, the game normally doesn't display the pilot's appearance or quotes. But... If the player inputs "Kyasubaru" as the pilot's name: Char Aznable becomes the pilot. The game displays "Kyasubaru" as the pilot's name ("Kyasubaru" is Char's real name "Casval" in katakana), but his appearance and quotes are the same as the regular Char's (he still wears his helmet and mask). If the player inputs "Aruteishia" or "Seira" as the pilot's name: Sayla Mass similarly becomes the pilot. (I don't think this allows Char to pilot a Federation MS, or Sayla to pilot a Zion MS.) Evidently, inputting shortened forms of the name of a chara already in the game, such as "Ma" (short for "Ma.Kube"), also causes the existing chara to become the pilot. (Unconfirmed: Christina MacKenzie of Gundam:0080 is reportedly an hidden or time-release Federation pilot.) 4. SPECIFICATIONS The following Mobile Suit and weapon specifications are primarily from the magazines: - Shuukan Dreamcast Magazine, Vol.XX/2001 (2001.04.13). - Shuukan The PlayStation 2, Vol.240 (2001.04.20). - Shuukan Dreamcast Magazine, Vol.13/2001 (2001.05.11-18). - Bi Weekly Dorimaga, Vol.5/2001 (2001.07.27). These specifications currently don't include the new Mobile Suits and weapons in the DX version. 4.1 MOBILE SUITS Mobile Suit: Self-explanatory. Terrain: E = Earth (amphibious). S = Space. Cost: In the upper left corner of the screen, each side has a war potential (resource) of 600 points. In a two-player VS one-player game, the one-player side gets 750 points. HP: Hit Points. Armour Class: Self-explanatory. Lock-On Range: Self-explanatory. Speed: Self-explanatory. Reportedly, CPU MSs have lower Cost and HP than player MSs (20% discount). ZION Mobile Suit Terrain Cost HP Armour Lock-On Speed (Player) Class Range (m/s) Zaku E,S 150 400 B 480 35 Zaku II E,S 160 440 B 500/800 35 Zaku II, Char E,S 175 400 C 510 35 Gouf E 200 480 B 490 45.5 Dom E 225 480 B 630 54 Rick Dom S 225 480 B 630 54 Gelgoog E,S 300 520 B 590 40.4 Gelgoog, Char E,S 325 480 C 600 42.5 Gyan E,S 245 520 B 600 39.6 Gogg E 200 640 B 550 24 Acguy E 170 440 B 550 42.5 Zock E 200 600 A 700/1400 36 Zgok E 200 520 B 580 36 Zgok, Char E 220 480 C 580 42.5 Ziong S 375 520 A 600 49.2 Mobile Suit Terrain Cost HP Armour Lock-On Speed (CPU) Range (m/s) Zaku E,S 75 320 B 480 35 Zaku II E,S 80 352 B 500/800 35 Zaku II, Char E,S 90 352 C 510 35 Gouf E 100 384 B 490 45.5 Dom E 115 384 B 630 54 Rick Dom S 115 384 B 630 54 Gelgoog E,S 150 416 B 590 40.4 Gelgoog, Char E,S 165 416 C 600 42.5 Gyan E,S 125 416 B 600 39.6 Gogg E 100 512 B 550 24 Acguy E 85 352 B 550 42.5 Zock E 100 480 A 700/1400 36 Zgok E 100 416 B 580 36 Zgok, Char E 110 352 C 580 42.5 Ziong S 190 416 A 600 49.2 FEDERATION Mobile Suit Terrain Cost HP Armour Lock-On Speed (Player) Range (m/s) Guntank E,S 200 640 A 760/1400 39 Guncannon E,S 250 560 B 650/800 35.4 Gundam E,S 375 520 B 600 43.4 GM E,S 195 400 D 540 38.6 Mobile Suit Terrain Cost HP Armour Lock-On Speed (CPU) Range (m/s) Guntank E,S 100 512 A 760/1400 39 Guncannon E,S 125 448 B 650/800 35.4 Gundam E,S 190 416 B 600 43.4 GM E,S 98 320 D 540 38.6 4.2 WEAPONS ZION Ammo: The number of rounds a weapon can fire before its magazine is empty and the weapon automatically reloads. Reloading takes time, and the player can't force a weapon to reload when its magazine isn't empty. Mobile Suit Weapon Damage Ammo Range MS-05 Zaku (Block 1) Shoot 120 mm Zaku Machine 16x5 Burst 120 300 Gun Fight Fight 40-100 - - Sub Cracker 16/16x6/16x6 50 150 Note: Cracker damage is hit/fragmentation/blast. MS-05 Zaku (Block 2) Shoot 280 mm Zaku Bazooka 80/40 20 380 Fight Fight 40-100 - - Sub Cracker 16/16x6/16x6 50 150 Note: Zaku Bazooka damage is hit/blast. Cracker damage is hit/fragmentation/blast. MS-06 Zaku II (Block 1) Shoot 120 mm Zaku Machine 16x5 Burst 120 300 Gun Fight Heat Hawk 80-100 - - Sub Cracker 16/16x6/16x6 2 200 Note: Cracker damage is hit/fragmentation/blast. MS-06 Zaku II (Block 2) Shoot 280 mm Zaku Bazooka 80/40 20 380 Fight Heat Hawk 80-100 - - Sub Cracker 16/16x6/16x6 2 200 Note: Zaku Bazooka damage is hit/blast. Cracker damage is hit/fragmentation/blast. MS-06 Zaku II (Block 3) Shoot 175 mm Magella Top 100 30 800 Cannon Fight Heat Hawk 80-100 - - Sub Cracker 16/16x6/16x6 2 200 Note: Cracker damage is hit/fragmentation/blast. MS-06 Zaku II (Block 4) Shoot 120 mm Zaku Machine 16x5 Burst 120 300 Gun Fight Heat Hawk 80-100 - - Sub Missile Pod (60/40)x3-x6 6 525 Note: Missile Pod damage is hit/blast. MS-06S Zaku II, Char (Block 1) Shoot 120 mm Zaku Machine 16x5 Burst 180 300 Gun Fight Heat Hawk 80-120 - - Sub Cracker 16/16x6/16x6 2 200 Note: Cracker damage is hit/fragmentation/blast. MS-06S Zaku II, Char (Block 2) Shoot 280 mm Zaku Bazooka 80/40 20 380 Fight Heat Hawk 80-120 - - Sub Cracker 16/16x6/16x6 2 200 Note: Zaku Bazooka damage is hit/blast. Cracker damage is hit/fragmentation/blast. MS-07B Gouf Shoot Multiple 75 mm 8x5 Burst 80 490 Machine Guns Fight Heat Sabre 80-120 - - Sub Heat Rod 64x? - - "Zaku toha tigauno dayo! Zaku toha!" - Captain Ramba Ral MS-09 Dom Shoot 360 mm Giant Bazoo 60/40 10 525 Fight Heat Sword 80-120 - - Sub Spread Beam 40 2 - Note: Giant Bazoo damage is hit/blast. MS-09R Rick Dom Shoot 360 mm Giant Bazoo 60/40 10 525 Fight Heat Sword 80-120 - - Sub Spread Beam 40 2 - Note: Giant Bazoo damage is hit/blast. MS-14 Gelgoog Shoot Beam Rifle 120 10 600 Fight Beam Naginata 80-120 - - Sub Naginata Spin 80 - - Note: The Gelgoog's spinning Beam Naginata, like a shield, protects the Gelgoog from most shooting weapons, except shooting weapons that cause blast damage. MS-14S Gelgoog, Char Shoot Beam Rifle 120 10 600 Fight Beam Naginata 80-120 - - Sub Naginata Spin 80 - - Note: The Gelgoog's spinning Beam Naginata, like a shield, protects the Gelgoog from most shooting weapons, except shooting weapons that cause blast damage. MS-15 Gyan Shoot Needle Missiles 8x5 10 600 Fight Beam Sabre 90-130 - - Sub Hide Bombs 20x5/20x5 10 - Note: Hide Bomb damage is hit/blast. 6-7 seconds pass before Hide Bombs explode. The Gyan's shield cannot be damaged or destroyed. Also designated as YMS-15. MSM-03 Gogg Shoot Mega Particle 20x12 2 200 Cannons Fight Iron Nails 100-140 - - Sub Torpedoes 60x2/40x2 12 300 Note: Torpedo damage is hit/blast. MSM-04 Acguy Shoot 105 mm Head Vulcan 10x8 Burst 20 300 Fight Claws 40-120 - - Sub Rocket Cannon 55 10 300 MSM-05 Zock Shoot Mega Particle 48x4 8 1000 Cannons Fight Claws 40-60 - - Sub Head Mega Particle 120 1 1000 Cannon MSM-07 Zgok Shoot Beam Cannon 80 10 400 Fight Claws 85-120 - - Sub 240 mm Head Rockets 16x6 48 400 MSM-07S Zgok, Char Shoot Beam Cannon 80 10 400 Fight Claws 85-120 - - Sub 240 mm Head Rockets 16x6 48 400 MSN-02 Ziong Shoot Hand Beam Cannons 42x5 50 700 Fight Head Beam Cannon 80 1 600 Sub All Range Attack 42x5 50 700 Note: The Ziong has no melee weapon. When the Ziong is destroyed, its head doesn't detach and continue to fight. FEDERATION Mobile Suit Weapon Damage Ammo Range RX-76 Guntank Shoot 180 mm Recoilless 60x2 6 1000 Cannons Fight 40 mm Bob Missiles 8x8 Burst 90 150 Sub - - - - Note: The Guntank has no melee weapon. The Guntank cannot be knocked down. RX-77 Guncannon Shoot Beam Rifle 100 4 600 Fight Fight 60-80 - - Sub 240 mm Cannons 60x2 6 800 "o, ore datte, ore dattee!" - Kai Shiden RX-78-2 Gundam (Block 1) Shoot Beam Rifle 120 10 700 Fight Beam Sabre 80-120 - - Sub Vulcan 8 50 150 "Renpou no Mobile Suit ha bakemono ka!? kore dake no kougeki demo mada..." - Major Char Aznable RX-78-2 Gundam (Block 2) Shoot Hyper Bazooka 100/40 15 600 Fight Beam Sabre 80-120 - - Sub Vulcan 8 50 150 Note: Hyper Bazooka damage is hit/blast. RX-78-2 Gundam (Block 3) Shoot Hyper Hammer 200 - - Fight Beam Sabre 80-120 - - Sub Vulcan 8 50 150 RGM-79 GM Shoot Beam Spray Gun 75 12 600 Fight Beam Sabre 70-90 - - Sub Vulcan 6 50 150 5. STRATEGIES (This section is incomplete and under construction!) Don't stand still. Keep walking, jumping, or hovering (tap J in mid-air), unless both hostile MSs are in front of you AND you see they aren't shooting at you. When an hostile MS shoots at you, side-step to dodge its shot, and shoot back at it while it's recovering from its shooting. If it's close enough, side-step and fight it. This basic tactic is especially effective against a Guntank, which has no melee weapon. (This is also a basic tactic in Soul Edge and Soul Calibur.) Shoot at a landing MS as its feet just touch the ground, when it has little or no time to side-step. A lot of players don't use enough of the Federation MSs' Vulcan sub weapon. After their beam rifle or beam spray gun has hit an enemy MS two or three times, they waste many seconds to aim for another beam weapon hit, when a few rounds from their Vulcan could've cheaped off the enemy MS's remaining HP. A beam weapon can penetrate the objects that its shot hits, except dense objects like buildings and warships. For example, when a Dom and a GM shoot at each other, the GM's beam spray gun shot may hit and detonate the Dom's giant bazoo shot, then hit and stagger the Dom, then hit a building behind the Dom. A cannon, like those on the Guntank or Ground Combat Gundam, doesn't need an unblocked line-of-sight to its locked-on target to hit the target. Cannon rounds can arch over the object or terrain between it and its target. An attack that damages or destroys a shield doesn't damage the MS holding the shield. In a two-player game, both players shouldn't attack the same enemy MS from the same direction, or from directly opposite directions. A shot aimed at the enemy MS may hit the friendly MS's back. Or, the shot may hit or miss the enemy MS, then hit the friendly MS behind the enemy MS. (The Jet Stream Attack isn't for novice players.) Some weapons, such as beam rifles and machine guns, hit and stagger the target MS, but don't knock down the target MS. Two MSs, such as two Gundams or two Zaku IIs, shooting at the same target MS can time their shots such that after the first shot hits and staggers the target MS, the second shot hits and staggers the target MS again just as it recovers from the first stagger, and so on with the third and subsequent shots. However, beware of target fixation. See and know where and what the other enemy MS is doing. 5.1 ZION "kokumin yo! kanasimi wo ikari ni kaete, tate yo! kokumin!" - General Gihren Zabi A confident (or bored) Gyan player may place an hostile MS to the Gyan's front-left, and cautiously walk towards the hostile MS. Because the Gyan's shield is always partially covering the Gyan's front, the hostile MS's non-explosive shooting weapon may hit and get absorbed by the Gyan's shield. (Likewise, I've seen GM and Gundam players place an hostile MS to the GM or Gundam's left, and side-step leftwards to approach the hostile MS. When the GM or Gundam is holding its beam rifle, its shield is facing its left.) 5.2 FEDERATION Note: The following strategies, contributed by Gordon Kam, are based on difficulty level 8, damage level 4, and time limit 180 seconds. YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary). From Gordon Kam: (Note: Gordon Kam's strategies are based on the first arcade version, difficulty level 8, damage level 4, and time limit 180 seconds. YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary).) Basic Strategies (Single Player): In order to succeed, it is best to defeat the minimal amount of enemy targets as possible due to the limit on time and ammo. This is accomplished by first attempting to defeat the more powerful MS. For example, in Side 7, there are 3 types of enemies: Zaku, Zaku II, and Char Zaku II. The resource that a Char Zaku II will take from the enemy resource bar is more than a normal Zaku II would, and thus this method would allow you to defeat the minimal amount of MS as possible. In some stages, you would be coming up against enemy MA. It is often difficult to defeat an enemy MA because there are two other MSs that are currently attacking either you or your NPC. So concentrating your fire on a MA would leave yourself open to enemy attacks. As a general rule of thumb, MA that has high mobility is ignored and hope they don't shoot you at a bad time. Again, exceptions to a rule, in A Baoa Qu Outside, sometimes the Newtype MA Elmeth, piloted by Lalah Sone, will become your enemy. The Elmeth's Bits can take approximately 200 HP from you. It would be in your best interest to take it out before you are obliterated, although this is only possible with some MSs. As mentioned before, destroying the minimal enemy units is the key since time and ammo are not on your side. Also, depending on computer AI level and a whole lot of luck, your NPC is usually not long for this world. The computer has a tendency to run into the thick of things, ignoring the overwhelming odds, and charge the opposition. Personally, this doesn't bother me initially, but when your NPCs die, they take a portion of your resource bar with them. This I cannot overlook, and neither should you. It is often more convenient to let the NPC handle an enemy by himself and let you take your time at dealing with one enemy. However, sometimes the NPC will die and it will quickly become a 2-on-1 game on you. This at most times is inevitable, and the game could end due to the NPC dying off. When your resource bar is reduced to about 20 percent, it is time to protect what is left of your NPC. Against the Zaku II: The Zaku II is the Zion's mass-produced MS and can be found in many stages in this game. Due to the Zaku II's lower cost than the GM, playing as the Federation side, you will have to kill more units in general. The Zaku II's major weakness is its low mobility, low HP, and weak weaponry. The Zaku II can only carry conventional weapons such as: Zaku machine gun, Zaku bazooka, crackers, Magella Top cannon, and missile pods. All Zaku IIs also carry a heat hawk as a melee weapon. - Zaku machine gun: Most often you will be fighting against the Zaku II equipped with this weapon. It has continuous 5 round fire. Depending on the type of Zaku, the speed at which the bullets come at you can vary. A single bee sting will annoy you, but a hundred bee stings can kill you. Keep this in mind when fighting the Zaku IIs with machine guns. They don't do a lot of damage, but it is easy to get nicked with a few every time they get near you, and multiply that with the amount of Zaku IIs you have to kill, it can be very dangerous. Avoiding machine gun fire is not difficult, but that still depends on the MS you are using. - Zaku bazooka: The Zaku IIs carry this in Stage 2 mostly. Bazookas have some homing capabilities at long-range. It is easy to get hit by them if you do not move to avoid them early. As for other missile type weapons, they are slower moving, but this is also how they can hit you when you don't pay attention. Bazookas are only powerful in long-range and short-range. In medium-range, you are usually moving to get into firing position and easier to avoid the bazooka round. In short-range, they can be dangerous. When holding a bazooka, the Zaku IIs will fire directly in your direction. So at close-range, when they decide to fire, they will turn and fire at you. The effective range of the bazooka round is farther than the machine gun and the blast radius even larger, so it is easier to get hit up close. It would be advisable to keep your distance against a bazooka. - Cracker: This is also a very common weapon. The cracker is a secondary weapon that appears with machine guns, bazookas, and cannons. This is a fragmentation device versus an explosive. When it is thrown and lands at the target lock location when it is released, the explosion will fragment and cause collateral damage in a small region. This is the least damaging of the Zaku II's weapons and often doesn't do full damage, since it requires an enemy to stand still. - Magella Top cannon: It is a long gun that fires single rounds rather slowly. This only appears in one stage and that is in Odessa. These cannons are the Zaku II's solution for long-range fire. The single round travel speed is comparable to the Guntank and the Guncannon's. When fired, the Zaku II will bounce back due to recoil. This is not very intimidating, since the animation for the gun is so long. However, when your back is turned, it can catch you off by surprise. - Missile pods: This is another sub weapon for the Zaku II and can only accompany the machine gun. These missiles can cause a lot of damage if they all hit. However, when they are fired, the Zaku II must stand still, which in this game means "Shoot me please." You can see them coming, but don't be fooled at long-range. They do have homing capabilities, so watch out. - Heat hawk: The Zaku II's last resort. These weapons are slower than any Federation melee weapon. They don't pose much of a threat, due to its slow speed and lack of range. They do serious damage, however, but all that is needed is to stay a comfortable distance from the Zaku II. From Don "Gamera" Chan: Against the Zock: The Zock's quadruple Mega Particle Cannons are very awesome, though they have a relatively long lag time between shots. Stay to the Zock's left or right, and shoot at it before it can turn towards and shoot at your MS. When the Zock is facing your MS, jump out of its front arc. 5.3 STAGES These stages currently don't include the new stages in the DX version. Side 7: Zion units: Zaku, Zaku II, Char Zaku II Federation units: GM, Guntank; Type 61 main battle tank "ko, kore ga... ta, tatakai..." - Amuro Rei Great Canyon: Zion units: Zaku II, Char Zaku II; Gau Federation units: GM, Guncannon; Midea New York: Zion units: Zaku II, Char Zaku II; Gau, Magella Attack Federation units: GM, Gundam; White Base "watasi no otouto! syokun no aisitekureta Garma Zabi ha sinda! naze da?" - General Gihren Zabi "bouya dakara sa." - Major Char Aznable Takla Makan Desert (Xin Jiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China): Zion units: Gouf, Zaku II; Azzam, Gallop, MS trailer truck Federation units: Guncannon, Guntank; Gunperry IMO, when the player begins a game from this stage, the CG animation of the Mobile Suits entering this stage is way cool. It has Mobile Suits, armour (tanks), and infantry (soldiers) on the ground, and close air support (fighters) in the air. Destroying the Azzam is worth relatively few points. Black Sea South Coast Forest Area (Turkey): Zion units: Dom; Dodai YS Federation units: G Fighter, Midea Odessa (Ukraine): Federation units: Big Tray Belfast (Northern Ireland, United Kingdom): Zion units: Zgok; Grabro Federation units: Gunperry Jaburo Aboveground (Venezuela): Zion units: Gogg, Gouf, Zgok Federation units: Guncannon BGM: "Ai senshi" by Inoue Daisuke Jaburo Underground (Venezuela): Zion units: Acguy, Char Zgok, Gogg, Zgok, Zock Federation units: GM; Type 61 main battle tank BGM: "Ai senshi" by Inoue Daisuke (When the CPU deploys two Zocks, their multiple Mega Particle Cannons are very deadly.) Solomon: Zion units: Char Gelgoog, Rick Dom; Byg Zam Federation units: Ball (I haven't seen anyone destroy the Byg Zam, and don't know whether it has I Field, that is, whether the ByG Zam is vulnerable to beam weapons. Eventually, Jones Kingsu said he destroyed the Byg Zam a couple of times (but still lost because of his lousy AI partner), and noticed the Byg Zam does have I Field, since his Gundam's beam rifle doesn't seem to hurt it.) A Baoa Qu Outside: Zion units: Gelgoog, Rick Dom, Ziong; Elmeth (I don't know whether a Federation MS can hit the Elmeth's Bits?) A Baoa Qu Inside: Zion units: Gelgoog, Rick Dom, Ziong; Zanzibar "hurueru ka sora [kanzi: utyuu] meguriae yo inoti" - Kidou Senshi Gundam III: Meguriai Sora 6. LINKS - http://www.gundam.channel.or.jp/goods/videogame/evsz_dx/ The official HP of Kidou Senshi Gundam: Renpou VS Zion DX. - http://www.gundam.channel.or.jp/goods/videogame/evsz/ The official HP of Kidou Senshi Gundam: Renpou VS Zion. - http://www.gameworld.ne.jp/gundam/index.htm - http://www.geocities.co.jp/Playtown-Dice/4116/gundam.html - http://www.geocities.co.jp/Playtown-Toys/2089/ac_gundam/ac_gundam.html - http://www.power-smash.com/gundam/ - http://www2.cds.ne.jp/~ojiman/gamers/renze.html Some HPs with hints, info, message boards, reviews, screen shots, strategies, and urawaza for Kidou Senshi Gundam: Renpou VS Zion. - http://www.gundamproject.com/ Gundam Project, by fellow Usenetters and Gundam fans, Keith Rhee and Mark Simmons. - http://www.fujikyu.co.jp/highland/attraction/gundam/index.html The official HP of "GUNDAM THE RIDE: Uchuu Yousai A Baoa Qu" in the Fujikyu Highland amusement park in Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi, Japan. - http://www.sunrise-inc.co.jp/z-gundam/ Mobile Suit Z GUNDAM WEB, the time-limited (till 30 September 2001) official HP of the TV anime Kidou Senshi Zeta Gundam. - http://fraubow.com/ (http://www.fraubow.com/) Frau Bow.Com, by Hanabatake Sanjuurou of Japan. A Frau Bow fan page. (-_-;) - http://selios.free.fr/ Selios' Lairs, by Jean-Luc Barbera of France. "Selios' Lairs is primary a fan site on different things I enjoy a lot, some of which are not well known outside Japan or by rare fans worldwide. "Les Antres de Selios sont avant tout un site de fan sur differentes choses que j'apprecie beaucoup, dont certaines sont tres meconnues en dehors du Japon hormis de rares fans de part le monde." - http://village.infoweb.ne.jp/~nomura/daisuke/ - http://www.ann.hi-ho.ne.jp/izutsu/shInoueDa.htm Inoue Daisuke fan pages. - http://www.zakzak.co.jp/geino/n-2000_05/g2000053010.html - http://www.zakzak.co.jp/geino/n-2000_05/g2000053106.html News articles about Inoue Daisuke's death. __ Don "Quess Paraya haters unite!" Chan (No offense to Kawamura Maria han.) http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/recognition/146.html *1 "Sakuretsu!"