The time and place: near-future earth, where wars between the massive colonies of outer space and the planet's surface are a near constant in the lives of humans around the globes. The world and its orbiting structures are a fragmented patchwork, chaotic and raw, and the technology of battle has changed immensely from the old ways of war.

Now the chief combatants in major conflicts are giant robots piloted by men and women with nerves of steel and skills to match. Many of these robots are classified as Gundam, a name that makes many a soldier shudder. And now these tremendous mechanical beasts will take each other on, one on one, in a fight to determine the course of the future.

The Japanese anime series known as Gundam Wing is the basis for Gundam Battle Assault, a 2D one-on-one fighting game for the PlayStation. This robotic brawler pits Gundam against Gundam using a traditional side-view fighting engine.

The different robots that appear in Gundam Battle Assault spring forth from all over the series' lengthy fictional timeline. New fans will most recognize the Gundam Wing model, while those who've followed the different shows for a while will find many old favorites, such as Z Gundam, Qubeley, and Zaku II.

The basic object of the game is to destroy your opponent's three levels of armor and render their robot inoperable. The Gundam all have combo attacks and different missile weapons, as well as boosters that allow them to fly up and across the screen. Each Gundam also has a special super move that can be executed three times per bout.

The two main modes in Gundam Battle Assault are Versus and Story. Story mode puts you in the shoes of Heero Yuy, regardless of which robot you choose, as he marches his way through the other Gundam in his quest for planetary justice. Versus mode is for two-players only, allowing each player to choose a Gundam and fight it out on the battlefield.

Gundam Battle Assault (Sony PlayStation 1, 2000)