Gundam Discussion - Twilight Axis

[Edelweiss]

Probably doesn't warrant a new post... but i've gotten afew PMs asking about what we might see in Episodes 5 and 6 (and the possibility of UC being extended), plus some confusion over what they read on Gundam Wiki regarding the discrepancies between the OVA and novel. Since they were all kinda..similar, i'll just address them with a more public thing.

First, a major spoiler regarding Riddhe, the Banshee:

Spoiler: show

In the novels, Riddhe undergoes the most recent Cyber-Newtype treatments (I guess a good reference point would be to think of Gyunei from CCA; yes, this also includes the marked fixation, obsessiveness, and mental instability). Those parts exist already though for him; the treatments kind of exacerbate things. The novels are sort of ambiguous regarding any Newtype ability he may naturally have.

The Banshee should still not have the Laplace Program in the OVA. The equipment that is new to the OVA Banshee is both for differentiation from the Unicorn, but also to make it initially more powerful (in a way). Kinda unknown if those weapons will stay, when a certain event happens. The green psychoframe of the novel version results from the resonance with the Unicorn late in the novels; the same will probably happen in the OVA. Other than the lack of the Laplace program and visible differences, both of the Unicorn units are the same base MS.

As i've reiterated several times (maybe not always clearly..); the length of UC is sort of unknown right now. If the interviews are to be believed, we'll get an announcement on this with Ep. 5's release (in theaters, I assume). In my own opinion (based on knowledge of Gundam's Universal Century, the Unicorn novels, etc.) I think the OVA really compressed the Earth-side story too heavily and it suffered; Loni was made into an unsympathetic monster; her religion, continued Middle Eastern oppression by the Federation (first mentioned in ZZ's Africa arc), her motherly tendencies, etc. were all basicly not touched upon (nor the bonding with Banagher). They kept the desert talk between Zinnerman and Banagher thankfully; however it was still sort of ambiguous as to who was responsible for the massacre in the Garanciere's crew's hometown. Best fit would be the regular Federation army garrison or the Titans (the latter, if they bump the occurance of this up to late 0083 or thereafter).

Hence, my apprehension is that they will do it again, and skip important shit (which is still important even if they change the ending..). Frankly, they should have just set the initial target to 8 episodes; more than enough space to fit the novel's version of events. It'd probably be a decent working space for any new ending too. If you had access to Gundam UC ACE, then this may not be such an issue, with side-stories fleshing out on-screen details via the unseen or by providing backstories leading up to OVA scenes.

What's done is done though. I just hope they don't fuck the remaining stuff up by compressing or skipping things entirely (up to the point where the OVA diverges from the novel's ending). There's alot of things to resolve (conflicts, story, unresolved or ambiguous things inherited from previous works), hopefully they alot a large enough window to address the main things atleast.

[Edelweiss]

Well, minor update for a new manga series: MSG Thunderbolt and the latest Unicorn PS3 game trailer.

Spoiler: show

We'll probably get some Episode 5 stuff towards the end of the month/early March, as the media and information campaign begins in earnest for that episode. Unless something has changed; Japanese theatrical release on May 19, with the consumer media releases in early June.

Additionally, in a minor victory, the second half of the 0079 collection has sold rather well since its Feb. 7th release. Much too soon to really say anything good will come of it; but i'm sure we're all hoping. Also in this vein, Gundam UC won the OVA category at the Tokyo Anime Fair (not that it probably means anything important).

[Edelweiss]

So, minor update ahead of the Episode 5 media blitz:

MG Marasai - May 2012, first magazine preview images:

Spoiler: show

Rather happy about this, the Marasai is just one of many first-half Universal Century MS that are overdue for their MG debut. Hopefully it'll include a Feyadeen Rifle (the long beam rifle that is seen in the Zeta movies and Unicorn).

Anyway, it includes a LED monoeye. This makes it the first Gundam kit to have such a thing contained in the kit itself.

Now, onto Episode 5:

Novel colors:

OVA colors (along with the unknown grey Garuda-class, as well as Marida's new pilot suit):


The RAS-96 Anksha (GM-ized Asshimar) is confirmed as appearing; I believe it was hinted in a magazine interview some time ago that Riddhe will be moving over to it as the Delta Plus has damage to both the arm and frame (from firing the Unicorn's Beam Magnum at the end of Episode 4). The latter damage probably being the more serious cause of it being retired. Despite it being slightly better than the ReZELs.. it's a one-off prototype of the nearly decade-old Zeta program (and being a transformable MS, that frame damage basicly inhibits this function).

Word is to expect the official site (JP one anyway) to have profiles up for the first wave of Ep. 5 MS as soon as Friday (but more likely Saturday). Probably afew days delay for the English side.

[Insanecyclone]

[Edelweiss]

That would be a Bande Dessinee manga-exclusive Zulu variant (with MSN-01 High Mobility Psycommu Zaku leg-booster pods and... I guess the Hamma Hamma-type shield (x2) from the Rozen Zulu for the secondary arms, the arms I have no idea where they are sourced from).

Edit: Eh, vaguely HMP Zaku-ish arms.. so whatever, lol.

In reference to this:

[Insanecyclone]

[Edelweiss]

The gameplay looks good, too bad we'll likely never see an English release of it (we didn't even get fucking 0081..).

So, more complete scans of the Unicorn MSV (Mobile Suit Variation). I guess this kinda blanket rolls all game and manga "exclusives" into being official now, more or less. Anyway, onto the images:

Spoiler: show

None of these are especially new besides the Krake Zulu from previous posts, however this does mark the colored (not-greyscale) debut of the Sleeves-colors Dooben-Wolf. Think those Macross-esque FAST pack-like armaments on the ReZELs have been shown colored before.. but yeah. One final noteworthy point here, is that the Sinanju Stein (the original, rollout version prior to the "theft") makes a point of reference back to the Nu Gundam in the form of it's shield. Said shield mounts a beam cannon and four small missiles in the same configuration as the Nu.

Sorry if the image is small, best I can find right now (look towards the center of the image, those small red lines would be the missiles on their racks):


Finally, the JP-side of the official site now has profiles for the Ankusha and the namesake of the Garuda-class.. the Garuda. Translators also state that the profile mentions that the Garuda has been upgraded over the other five aircraft of the class (Sudori - destroyed in Z (Hong Kong), Audhumla - damaged in ZZ (Dublin drop), Melord - under Zeon Remnant control, and two unknowns). An interesting note is that they were intended to originally be mobile air bases of sorts, to run aerial patrols and such with sled-mounted MS; as such they were intended to patrol six "air zones" around the Earth (they also have the same capacity in emergency responses too). Of course, then the whole Jaburo and Hong Kong mess happened in Zeta.. between that and the colony drop in ZZ, three were effectively lost to the Federation.

Worth checking out just for the higher-quality art. Also, here's a better quality Gundam Ace preview for Ep. 5:

Spoiler: show

[Insanecyclone]

Speaking of 0081 I plan to import it next. But I believe it's mainly online, and I have shit internet, so idk. I haven't tried Extreme VS online yet because my connection shows red when I'm on the online menu. Oh and why did they choose a Linkin Park song as the main theme, what the fuck bandai?

[Edelweiss]

I don't think it's online.. atleast the single-player campaign for the Zeon Remnants and Federation. Multiplayer IS online though, for sure. Unless there's some kind of DRM shit going on (which is doubtful, would have heard about this after..like two-three years now).


As an aside; Gundam W: Frozen Teardrop is a trainwreck abomination, and there's a new SEED manga starting in Gundam Ace in March.

Humorous summary quote: "Much like Gundam the Origin did, this manga adaptation promises to incorporate original material of its own." Original content in SEED? Going to be a panel-by-panel clone of The Origin for afew installments (lol).

Know what? Fuck it, Zeonic Front intro too. Still one of the best:

[Insanecyclone]

Well what I mean is there isn't that much content from the SP alone to justify the purchase. The main component is the online, which looks fun from the streams I watched during it's release.

Speaking of Gundam, my copies of Gundam Wing, 08th MS team, 0080, and 0083 collections came in this week. Feels good to actually own these now.

[Edelweiss]

Oh, then yeah there are some MS (I don't recall which..) via DLC and shit. I think it...was some 0083 MS, and pre-Zeta stuff. Galbaldy Alpha too maybe.

Be sure to watch the UC Encyclopedia bonus segments on the 08th DVDs; some really informative stuff there (especially the explaination on how Char appeared to move so fast at the Battle of Loum). Also get to see the pre-Zaku I development prototypes (there's pretty scant visuals for those outside of afew books).

I should probably pick up the Wing and G box sets before they disappear; I keep putting them off over my kit purchases..lol

Anyway, in celebration, some glorious 0083 OPs.

[Insanecyclone]

Wing Collection 1
Wing Collection 2

[Edelweiss]

Any issues with your Wing set so far? IIRC, Disc 2 in the first box is the problem.

Also, full list of 0081 MS and ships, DLC, etc.

Updated this post also; the identity of the grey Garuda-class is now known along with some more information on the intended role of those lumbering behemoths. It also seems that the Garuda transported the Banshee into Torrington airspace, and air dropped it (as part of an ambush and capture mission).

[Insanecyclone]

Nope. No problems out of disc 2 in the first box. Was there a bad run before with the dvds?

[Edelweiss]

Yeah, check the Amazon comments for the first box. It seems afew episodes won't play or skip, etc.

If it's been rectified though.. cool.

[Akiyama]

On the note of Frozen Teardrop, yeah, I heard it was just an abomination of a comic.. absolutely horrendous.

It's possible to have SEED content that's original? I do not believe this.

Also love how this thread went from being about the new Gundam series to just Gundam stuff overall. A much better decision considering how bad the new series is.

and I remember Zeonic Front. <3

[Edelweiss]

The thread title could just be changed to Gundam General.. but since it's like maybe 12 people in total who ever come here (and the fact it's basicly just IC and I posting stuff outside of the hot period surrounding Unicorn episodes) it never really became something anyone forced. Honestly, I wonder if my negative comments on SEED and AGE have driven some people off (or that few have any interest in Gundam, here); I think they're terrible/below-average respectively, but surely there's shit to talk about or something. I personally like (highly) every other AU Gundam series.

I don't really know what they can honestly do with SEED's manga; it's the fucking 3rd or 4th attempt on the same series (why not fucking try and improve Destiny, those attempts thus far failed.. try again?). It's just some nonsense thing timed with the lolHD remaster business I guess. I don't know why they keep trying to improve or build upon the SEED universe. Every fucking attempt turns out to be a retarded waste of resources (repeating many mistakes or magnifying them); or it turns into a forgettable abomination like VS ASTRAY (and its hideous MS designs that got spammed upon us as kits).

AGE has it's moments (it might get better, but even for a pre-teen to young teen boy's show.. the writing leaves things to be desired); it's certainly not the worst of them. I doubt it will recieve a sequel series, given how poor the merchandise side is fairing. So atleast the possibility of an AGE Destiny remains highly doubtful. This 2nd arc has some (potentially) good female characters, and (hopefully) better use of the cast than the preceeding one.

And yes, Zeonic Front was something special (arguably, the first two Gundam Vs. PS2 games were as well). Encounters in Space was great as well.. Project Pegasus: The One Year War 0079 was also very good (and never had a US release).

Spoiler: show

[Eleven19]

Relevant



Always loved the opening to JtJ, made the Hyper Hammer and the head vulcans look so badass.

Edit, and Goddamnit I miss when Gundam games got licenses for their music. The DW:G games really pissed me off with their lack of licensed music the JP titles got. Remember Gundam vs Zeta Gundam for PS2? Had all of Zeta's music, loved the sound of it.

[Edelweiss]

Indeed; even retained some of them in their OST form (multiple songs, leading into eachother). Moreso it also included some of ZZ's OST as well (after you went about unlocking things anyway). Words cannot describe how pumped I was at the prospect of 1 vs. 3 in the ZZ while either "Silent Voice" or the ZZ's theme played (or the Axis battle theme, exclusive to that stage alone). Z and ZZ had that mix of orchestra and 80s synth pop/rock, and I fucking loved it.

Spoiler: show

[Akiyama]

JtJ! Oh god that game was amazing. I miss all the good Gundam games. :/ Sadly we just get rehashes/revamps of Gundam games that are modeled in the same way Dynasty Warriors is.