Gundam Side Stories Translation Guide - Introduction

INTRODUCTION

            Mobile Suit Gundam: Side Stories in a fast-paced action-combat game developed by Namco Bandai Studios specially for the 35^th anniversary of the Gundam franchise in 2014. Yoshiyuki Tomino's masterwork, Mobile Suit Gundam, first aired in Japan on 7. April 1979. Side Stories is something of a compilation game—over the years and decades, countless Gundam games have been produced. Many of these games offered Gundam fans new perspectives on their favorite conflicts—those that explored the untold stories of the One Year War and earlier eras of the Universal Century were “Side Stories.” These are the tales that birthed characters like Shin Matsunaga, and mobile suits like the Efreet. Many of these games—like Lost War Colony and Rise From the Ashes—are now fondly remembered as classics. Gundam Side Stories aims to introduce a new chapter into the side story canon—an appropriately titled Missing Link—as well as adapt several of the stories told in other games. Included in the game in addition to the main story content are special, extra side story campaigns for Blue Destiny, on the Sega Saturn; Rise From the Ashes, on the Sega Dreamcast; Zeonic Front, on the Playstation 2; Lost War Chronicles, on the Playstation 2; Space, to the End of a Flash, on the Playstation 2; and Cross Dimension 0079, on the Super Nintendo.

            (Note that “Space, to the End of a Flash” is the original Side Story campaign in the PS2 game, Mobile Suit Gundam: Encounters in Space. Like Mobile Suit Gundam: Side Stories, Encounters in Space was a compilation game that included both new and old story content).

            As per myusual mantra: I have attempted to assemble all of the information contained herein in as logical, concise and organized a manner as possible. This guide is currently (and perpetually) a work-in-progress, and as such cannot be expected to be a fully complete, infallible resource. Over time, I shall endeavor to help this document evolve into an ever-bigger, ever-better, ever more useful guide. Regardless of its current state, I hope you'll find this guide to be a valuable resource as you play the game.

Current FAQ/Guide Status:

            The guide is currently in a very early draft and is missing a great deal of crucial information. I will be slowly but steadily adding content to it on a daily basis and expect to have it completed—or at least all of the most necessary information included in it—by the first week of July, 2014.

GAME INFORMATION

            Mobile Suit Gundam: Side Stories is an squadron-based action combat game set mostly during the One Year War conflict in the early part of the Universal Century. It presents multiple story campaigns drawn from older Side Story games, as well as its own original story, titled Missing Link. The game allows players to take control of squadrons of up to three different mobile suits, and to cycle freely between each mobile suit at will. This ability to play missions from three different perspectives simultaneously grants combat a new tactical layer players will need to take advantage of in order to secure victory.

Release Date	May 29, 2014 (Japan)
Platform	Sony Playstation 3
Price	¥8,208
Rating	CERO A*
Publisher	Namco Bandai Games
Developer	Namco Bandai Games

            Note: CERO is the Computer Entertainment Rating Organization, which rates electronic games in Japan using the following scale:

CERO A	Suitable for all ages.
CERO B	Suitable for ages 12 and up.
CERO C	Suitable for ages 15 and up.
CERO D	Suitable for ages 17 and up.
CERO Z	Not for children under 18.

CONTROLS

            There are three preset control schemes for Gundam Side Stories. You can switch freely between the different control schemes, labeled A, B and C via the Options menu (see Menu Translations section for details). You can also alter the right analog stick's vertical and horizonal axises through the option menu.

            Please keep in mind that Gundam Side Stories, like most Japanese games, does not invert the default confirm/cancel buttons. This means that the circle button is properly linked to the “confirm” command, and the cross button to the “cancel” command. When you save or load game data, however, you will be using your PS3's XMB menus, which means the confirm/cancel buttons will be whatever you consider “normal.” For gamers with American or European consoles, this means that the confirm/cancel buttons will “switch” while saving or loading the game.

	Type A Controls	Type B Controls	Type C Controls
Jump / Up (Space)	L2	L2	L1
Guard	L1	L1	R2
	D-Pad Up	D-Pad Up	D-Pad Up
Cycle Player Unit	D-Pad Left/Right	D-Pad Left/Right	D-Pad Left/Right
Support Attack	D-Pad Down	D-Pad Down	D-Pad Down
Drop / Down (Space)	R2	R2	L2
Lock-on	R1	Circle	R1
Melee Attack	Triangle	Triangle	Triangle
SP Melee Attack	L1 + Triangle	L1 + Triangle	R2 + Triangle
Primary Attack	Square	R1	Square
SP Primary Attack	L1 + Square	L1 + R1	R2 + Square
Secondary Attack	Circle	Square	Circle
SP Secondary Attack	L1 + Circle	L1 + Square	R2 + Circle
Boost	Cross	Cross	Cross
Boost Jump	Cross (double-tap)	Cross (double-tap)	Cross (double-tap)
Movement	Left Analog Stick	Left Analog Stick	Left Analog Stick
Camera	Right Analog Stick	Right Analog Stick	Right Analog Stick
Sniper Mode	R3	R3	R3
Pause Menu	Start	Start	Start

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

MENU TRANSLATIONS

CHARACTERS and STORIES

SIDE STORY: MISSING LINK WALKTHROUGH

EXTRA SIDE STORIES WALKTHROUGH

VR MISSIONS

MOBILE SUITS

MISCELLANY