Written by Nyushin/Asura
Ver 1.0
==================================================
Contents:
1. Introduction
2. Title
3. Concept
4. For Virtual On players
5. For beginners
5.1 Twin joysticks
5.2 Pedals
5.3 General control advice
6. Getting started
7. Your first battle
8. Further notes
9. FAQ
-- 1. Introduction --
One of the great things about Japan is the nature of Japanese arcades. If you
find a good one, they're huge, and full of games from the latest fighters to
the oldest 2D shooters.
Whilst for the experienced gamer, playing the latest Japanese Street Fighter
will not present much of a challenge, there are many Japanese arcade games
that are incredibly intimidating to the western gamer. However, with a
little trial and error, many of them CAN be played, and they offer unique
gaming experiences.
This is part of a series of guides for these Japanese games, that
involve ID cards, player cards, menus, character levelling, etc. They do
not provide translations of the game; rather they give the player the
information they need to know in order to at least play the games and
have fun - beyond that, some trial and error is required.
Kidou Senshi Gundam: Senjou no Kizuna is one such game.
-- 2. Title --
Loosely translated, the title of the game is
"Mobile Suit Gundam - Battlefield Team".
-- 3. Concept --
The basic concept of MSGSNK is that of a mecha simulation. It is
similar in concept and execution to earlier games such as Sega's
Virtual On, with twin-stick controls. Each player is part of a team,
taking control of a mobile suit belonging to either Renpou
(a.k.a. the EFSF) or Zeon.
Primarily the game is 4-on-4.
The object of the game initially is simply to destroy the enemy team.
There may be other mission types, but if so, these do not manifest
themselves until later.
The "team" aspect comes from the fact that players can bring a headset
into the cockpit with them, in order to communicate with their
teammates - in a similar manner to Xbox Live or various PC
applications like Ventrilo.
-- 4. For Virtual On players --
This part of the guide is for people that have played any of the Virtual
On games, as they have a head-start. If you haven't, please skip to the
beginner's section.
If you are a Virtual On player, then you should be able to go after
reading this section.
MSGSNK controls very similarly to Virtual On. The twin stick controls
to turn and strafe are identical, and the triggers on each stick control
weapons on either side of the mobile suit. The difference is that to
jump and dash, you use the footpedals, and the top buttons on the sticks
activate the mobile suit's secondary weapon(s).
As a Virtual On player I took to the control system within about 15
seconds of my first battle, so it should present few problems for you.
Happy hunting!
-- 5. For Beginners --
If you've never played any of the following games:
Virtual On
Steel Batallion
Cyber-Sled
Zoids Arcade Game
Then you should be reading this. If you've played the above, read the
Virtual On section, as you probably won't need this explanation.
- 5.1 Twin joysticks -
The controls for the game operate on a twin-stick system. As is
customary for games that use this unorthodox control method, each
stick is seen to control each side of the robot you will be piloting;
so the left stick controls the left leg and arm, and the right stick
controls the opposite side. So, to list the movement controls:
Turn left: Right stick tilted forwards, left stick tilted backwards.
Turn right: Right stick tilted backwards, left stick tilted forwards.
Run left: Both sticks tilted to the left.
Run right: Both sticks tilted to the right.
Run forwards: Both sticks tilted forwards.
Run backwards: Both sticks tilted backwards.
If you try to visualise it, you'll be able to understand how you
can move any direction with this system. It might be a little fiddly
at first, but after five minutes or so, you should have the hang of it.
- 5.2 Pedals -
The other matter is the footpedals. As well as run, the mobile
suit can jump and "dash", i.e. move quickly in one direction. This
uses the vernier "rocket" engines on the back and feet of the mobile suit.
Left pedal: Dash
Right pedal: Jump
You have fuel for these, and it does run out, but as soon as you
stop using the rocket jets, it recharges in a few seconds.
Bear in mind the pedals are pressure-sensitive, so if you use a
light touch, your movements are smoother.
- 5.3 General control advice -
Like other games such as Steel Batallion, "the light touch" is
the maxim for this game. If you jerk the controls around violently
every time you see an enemy, the mobile suit's movements will be
jerky and slow. You have to try and move smoothly from one action
to another.
-- 6. Getting Started --
Like some other Japanese arcade games, in order to play MSGSNK,
you need an "ID card". You can't just sit in the cockpit and "go".
This tends to cost 600\, but it could be more or less depending
on where you are.
Next to the cockpit machines, there should be a machine you can
use to get a card. This looks like an arcade machine with a
touch-screen, and should have a large plasma screen above it showing
the ongoing battle.
First, drop in 300\, then when it asks, pick the option for the new
card. It should be the one on the right when you are given the
choice. If in doubt, there are pictures to help you.
From here on, you'll go through several steps -
- Entering your name
- Choosing your side in the war, EFSF or Zeon (for Gundams pick EFSF)
- Choosing your pilot's uniform colour and voice type
You'll also need to enter another 300\.
Once this process is complete, you'll be given your card, upon which
your name should be printed. Easy, right?
-- 7. Your first battle --
Go inside the cockpit (but watch out for a queue first), and have
500\ ready. Insert your ID card and then drop in the 500\.
Then the screen should start. Relish the first few seconds of being blown
away by the screen that fills your vision, and the overall coolness of the
cockpit. You can also adjust the seat, consider doing this
now whilst you have the time.
After this, you'll be assaulted with a range of options. In reality,
these mean very little. That, of course, was a generalisation,
but for the beginner player, they mean very little. Keep selecting
the top option whenever prompted, using the lit blue button labeled "START".
You'll eventually be taken to the screen where you choose your mobile suit.
As a beginner you don't actually have a choice, so just keep hitting start.
You might have to stay at a waiting screen whilst the other players sort out
their equipment, wait patiently until the battle begins.
When the screen next lights up, your mobile suit will be stomping its way out
of the launch hangar. At this point, it's customary to say:
[name], ik-ki-mas!
or
[name], hashin!
This is similar to the Gundam anime series, in which the main
characters say similar things, such as:
Amuro Rey, ikkimasu!
Your team will likely do the same.
You're ready to begin stopping the Zeon Empire, or conquering Earth for
the glory of the colonies. Good luck!
--- 8. Further notes ---
This section will be updated as time goes on, but as an initial note,
after each battle, depending on your performance, you're awarded points.
These points are later exchanged for better weapons and mobile suits, using
the machine from which you obtained the ID card. This costs 300\ each time
you do it. If you intend to keep playing the game, it will become necessary
to use this system. This section will be updated later with information on
how to do this.
--- 9. FAQ ---
If you have any questions about this game, post them in the GameFAQs board
for this game. I will check in from time-to-time and answer them if I
can, and if they're relevent, I'll add them to this FAQ.
Q. Who are you?
A. My GameFAQs name is Nyushin, though normally I go by the alias Asura.
I'm an Englishman working as an assistant English teacher at a Junior High
School, in the Kanto region of Japan.
Q. Why are you writing these FAQs?
A. That's quite a long question to answer, but put bluntly, when I play
games like this one, and others like Gundam Cardbuilder, that are
quintessentially Japanese, I tend to attract a lot of attention, as it's not
the kind of game you would normally see a westerner playing.
Many people who would like these games are put off by the need for things
like ID cards, thinking that they'd need exceptional Japanese language skills
to play, when all they need is a little patience, and trial and error.
Additionally,
these are very good games, and it's a shame that the gamer community at
large doesn't know about them.
