Mobile Suit Gundam: Crossfire preview

You have to admire the tenacity of Namco Bandai as it continues to bring us more Gundam, and yet even more Gundam. The Japanese developer has confirmed that the next instalment in the Gundam series will be released as Mobile Suit Gundam: Crossfire later this year in America.To some the thought of mech gaming is a strange universe, populated by geeks and engineers too concerned with life outside their own small bedroom. However the genre maintains a massive following in Japan, and a steady underground base in Europe and America.What can we expect from Crossfire itself? Well, the storyline itself sees the player thrown into a futuristic Earth, which as been devastated by the invasion of the Zeon forces. You find yourself caught in the crossfire between the Earth Federation and Zeon forces nine months into the conflict. The real drama is the timing of the conflict - as at the brink of annihilation, Earth Federation Forces are mobilizing to launch a massive counter assault against the occupying forces. Call for arms have been made, and you must respond. However things are not that clear-cut as you are given a choice to either join the Federation Army to repel the invaders from the Earth or pledge their alliance to Zeon to claim the Earth! Made possible by the immense power of the PlayStation 3 system, 'Mobile Suit Gundam' will take gamers right into the futuristic war zones, brought to life by both CG quality high-definition graphics and ultra realistic destruction physics, said Naruo Uchida, Namco Bandai Games America Inc.s Vice President. Along with stylised game play and stunning graphics, the opportunity to experience firsthand the epic mobile suit warfare will surely excite any sci-fi fan.So far Mobile Suit Gundam: Crossfire has shown little to really confirm the immense power that the Playstation 3 promises. The first wave of mech titles for any new system have a history of disappointing eager enthusiasts, with the real tangible benefits coming from quick-fire sequels. Even so with this in mind, Crossfire faces a real struggle to make its mark outside of Japan and survive the critical barrage.