Gundam 0079: The War for Earth
Gundam 0079: The War for Earth is a video game developed for PC, Macintosh and the Bandai Pippin in 1996 and on Sony PlayStation in 1997. The game has the unique distinction of being the only official and commercially released Gundam video game developed by a United States game developer. The War for Earth was developed by the 1990s game developer Presto Studios, a company whose most famous work was the Journeyman Project series of adventure games as well as co-developing Myst III: Exile.
During the period in which this game was released, the interactive movie genre which had begun in 1982 was beginning to subside as PC and console games with realtime rendered 3D were overtaking the genre. While it was the only game produced by Presto Studios in this format, the use of live-action footage featuring real actors combined with computer generated backgrounds and effects, as well as the use of entirely pre-rendered computer graphics was common among the majority of the studio's games. For the Japanese release, the game's voiceovers were dubbed in Japanese featuring the original cast reprising the voices of their characters, with minimal attempts at lip syncing.
Details
DeveloperPresto Studios
PublisherBandai Digital Entertainment
ReleasedDecember 31, 1996
StatusReleased
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About This Game
During a Zeon assault on Side 7, the Gundam's original pilot is killed by falling debris. The player steps into the role of an unnamed pilot believed to be a Newtype—boards the mobile suit, destroys a pursuing Zaku, and is forced out into space. Recruited by Commander Bright and introduced to Ryu Jose (known as Duke Jose) and Kai Shiden, the pilot becomes the White Base's primary defender. When Char Aznable's attack fails to destroy the Gundam, he deploys the Thor Cannon to cripple the White Base, forcing it to crash in North America near a gutted desert city. With the Gundam's legs too damaged to use, the pilot sorties in the upper torso mounted on the Guntank before a replacement pair of legs arrives by Gunperry. Breaking through Zeon defenses, the pilot destroys an MS-07B Gouf and eliminates the Thor Cannon. Garma Zabi's forces attack during the retreat; Char orchestrates his ally's betrayal, and Garma dies attempting to ram his Gaw into the White Base. Char then strikes the White Base directly, disabling the Guntank and destroying the Guncannon. The Gundam drives Char out through the launch catapult; Char seizes the beam saber before discovering it only functions on the Gundam's own power supply. The pilot damages Char's Zaku II and forces him to withdraw. Following Gihren Zabi's eulogy at Garma's funeral, the White Base turns toward Jaburo—with Char already in pursuit.