BADCP - GPOW Tribute

Mechanical Error

DATE:
25 YEARS AGO

GPOW 25TH
A N N I V E R S A R Y



PLAYSTATION 4	BAD	GUNDAM VERSUS


			Gundam Versus comes from a family of games developed primarily on PlayStation-based hardware. Aside from Sega hardware for the first two, the team who made Gundam Versus has made every entry since on Sony hardware. Looking back, you could definitely see that no matter Sony's standing, the team loved their hardware. Gundam Versus carries on the tradition as a PlayStation 4 exclusive just as its predecessors were exclusive to the PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation Vita. Gundam Z AEUG VS Titans, Gundam VS Zeta Gundam, Gundam Seed Union VS Z.A.F.T., Gundam Seed Federation Union VS Z.A.F.T. Portable, Gundam Seed Destiny Union VS Z.A.F.T II, Gundam Seed Destiny Union VS Z.A.F.T II Plus, Gundam VS Gundam, Gundam VS Gundam, Gundam VS Gundam Next, Gundam VS Gundam Next Plus, Gundam Extreme VS, Gundam Extreme VS Full Boost, Gundam Extreme VS-Force, and the most recent Gundam Versus are all on Sony hardware.

The majority of these titles were on PS2-compatible hardware alone! Even after making all those games on the PlayStation 2, not even the runaway success of the Wii and Japanese adoption of the XBox 360 could tear them away from developing on the PlayStation 3. Despite the Sony's failure in convincing developers to stay with the PS3 as the lead hardware for their newest titles, the team behind Gundam Versus stayed loyal even during that time. Their production wasn't nearly as high as it was before, but they did still continue the series with three games in the Gundam Extreme VS series that maintained the popularity of the series. One might even say that these games were the reason to buy the PlayStation (next to Sengoku Basara 4 and Metal Gear Solid 4)! Gundam Versus may not be seen as the most impressive native PS4 game out there, but what it does, it does well. They optimized the PS4 hardware to power the game without a hitch. Even when each of the four players in a match each have their Strikers out (bringing the total number of fighters on screen to 8) during battle, I don't think I've seen much slowdown. Moreover, the 6-Player mode was just as impressive, even when the PS4 hardware was pushing its theoretical 12 machines in battle. Keep in mind that this is amidst all the explosions, sparks, smoke, and lasers piercing through the air during battle...online. There are games out there that can't even push two fighters in a match smoothly!

	31
	TWO
	Different.

	32
	PLAY
	Styles.

	33
	TRACING
	Effects.

	34
	STRAIGHT
	Outta Gundam VS. Gundam.

	35
	LASERS
	High above the city.

The development team has demonstrated superior command of Sony hardware in every generation. The beautifully-constructed Gundams, and the vibrant, splashy effects they pulled-off on the PS2 games were arguably the best of any 3-D title of the time, and what they've done with Gundam Versus on the PS4 is a vivid reminder of that. The player models are solid and each Gundam machine looks exactly as it should. Though they look similar to the PS3-based models of the Gundam Extreme VS series from the previous generation, there are still texturing and other visual techniques that demonstrate the PS4's graphics capabilities. The effects are great, thanks to Yebis 3. They seem to be better in Yakuza 6, but still look similarly great, nonetheless. Everything has a nice sheen to it that seems to be Yebis 3-characteristic. Collisions create glowing sparks on impact, and lasers streak through the air before slicing through their targets, turning them into smoldering machines that meet their end in fiery explosions of flaming shrapnel.

	36
	TRAILING
	Effects on cluster projectiles.

These all occur with a variety of bloom effects that have become increasingly bigger and splashier over the years. Just by looking at these effects, you can really tell that some of the people on the development team for Gundam Versus worked at Capcom before. They have a certain flair; a certain look to them that resembles the same craftsmanship of hit sparks in Capcom titles. The variety of brilliant, screen-filling effects in Gundam Versus even illuminate machine surfaces. There is some slowdown from time to time, perhaps due to the power required for the post-processing effects of the Yebis 3, but it's not often, and I have no problem at all with it. Some of the best games of all time had slowdown. It's quite impressive when you think about it, though, considering how many colorful explosions, sparks, missiles, smoke trails, lasers, and muzzle-flash are all taking place on the screen at the same time.

	37
	GUNDAM
	Wing(s).

	38
	BUILDINGS
	Crumble.

	39
	VIKING
	Robots?

	40
	TUBULAR
	Futuristic cityscape battleground.

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