Gundam Side Story 0079: Rise from the Ashes - Sega Dreamcast

Although recent Gundam converts may be less than thrilled with the old-school looks (circa 1978) of the Mobile Suits in Gundam Side Story 0079, the 3-D graphics and animation of the Mobile Suits are incredibly faithful to the cartoons, as are the sound effects. On the other hand, the experience of piloting a Mobile Suit leaves much to be desired, as it's not nearly as graceful as it looks in the cartoons, and feels more like you're piloting a tank. The controls here are oversimplified, and the first-person cockpit-view perspective is about as effective as a peephole in combat situations.

While Gundam Side Story 0079 is the first Gundam title to be released in the United States, it comes from a line of officially licensed titles that have always had a spotty history, one which this title simply doesn't rise above. --Joe Hon

Pros: Excellent Mobile Suit 3-D graphics and animation Sound effects faithful to the cartoons Cons: Oversimplified controls; clunky combat Short game length