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This article uses Creative Commons licensed content from Wikipedia's Shin Kidō Senki Gundam Wing: Endless Duel article.
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Mobile Suit Gundam Wing: Endless Duel (Shin Kidō Senki Gundam Wing: Endless Duel 新機動戦記ガンダムＷ Ｅｎｄｌｅｓｓ Ｄｕｅｌ?) is a head-to-head fighting game released exclusively in Japan in 1996. It was the first video game to be based on the Mobile Suit Gundam Wing anime series, and has never been released outside of Japan. The developers have used the same engine as previously used in another game, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Fighting Edition, but with some improvements added exclusively to this game.
Gameplay[]
In single player mode, the player fights a series of battles dependent on which Gundam they chose, although ultimately all Gundams but the chosen one will be fought against. When the player normally fights Wing Zero, if piloting the Wing Zero, the player will fight a more challenging Wing Gundam piloted by Trowa (a cheat sometimes called Heavyarms 88). After fighting Wing Zero, the player will fight against the Gundam Epyon. When using the Tallgeese, which is piloted by Zechs, who pilots the Epyon (under a different alias), Epyon is then piloted by Heero.
Upon completion of the game on the 'Hard' difficulty level, the player will learn a code to unlock Epyon in multiplayer mode. In addition to these modes, a further 'trial mode' was added, in which you can choose any Gundam (including Epyon) and fight a never-ending series of fights in increasing difficulty until the player is defeated. Afterwards the game would show the number of victories won. The maximum number of victories shown possible is 99.
Differences from other Games[]
Since every character is a mobile suit, during gameplay, it is possible to activate a booster at anytime. While jumping, a player could boost up to twice and could be used to jet forward or backwards. This along with air blocking made air combat much more significant than in other fighters of the day. After boosting in the air a player can "hover" by pressing down. The Tallgeese mobile suit has the unique trait of being able to "hover" the longest. Because of this, Endless Duel was an early example of a fighter that included vertically scrolling stages. The boosting also works on the ground as players could boost forward or backwards while blocking which made for effective advancing against an opponent with superior ranged abilities and adds an incredible sense of mobility. Also, several suits in the game can perform special and super moves in air along with air throws.
Mobile Suits / Ability Ratings[]
Gundams each had different Ability Ratings, mirror to the ones in the show. Playable suits include all five of the original Gundams, as well as the later Gundams Wing Zero and Epyon, and the mobile suits Tallgeese, Mercurius and Vayeate. Other suits from the series make appearances in the backgrounds of some stages.
Special Moves[]
During a match both characters have an energy counter underneath their health bars. The energy is used to perform powerful versions of special moves costing 100 of your energy. All characters with the exception of the boss Epyon have a "vulcan gun/ machine cannon" attack which also uses energy. Every character has one or two super specials that require 200 energy and plays a sound right before commencing giving the opponent a split second to respond. To recover energy the character must block attacks or successfully land attacks meaning a super special that is not blocked will often restore a large portion of the energy it used.
Sound / Music[]
The intro music is a synthesized version of "Rhythm Emotion", the second opening song for the series. Although "Rhythm Emotion" plays, the game's intro is somewhat of a homage to the series' first opening song "Just Communication," featuring the Tallgeese and Wing Gundam in a space battle.
Characters[]
- Heero Yuy
- Duo Maxwell
- Trowa Barton
- Quatre Raberba Winner
- Chang Wufei
- Zechs Merquise / Milliardo Peacecraft
- Lucrezia Noin
- Lady Une
Mechanics[]
- XXXG-00W0 Wing Gundam Zero
- XXXG-01D Gundam Deathscythe
- XXXG-01H Gundam Heavyarms
- XXXG-01S Shenlong Gundam
- XXXG-01SR Gundam Sandrock
- XXXG-01W Wing Gundam
- OZ-00MS Tallgeese
- OZ-13MS Gundam Epyon
- OZ-13MSX1 Vayeate
- OZ-13MSX2 Mercurius
- OZ-06MS Leo (not playable, appear in background)
- OZ-07MS Tragos (not playable, appear in background)
- OZ-02MD Virgo (not playable, appear in background)
- WMS-03 Maganac (not playable, appear in background)
Trivia[]
- The Vayeate and Mercurius appear as selectable fighters in the game, but are piloted by Lady Une and Lucrezia Noin respectively as opposed to Trowa Barton and Heero Yuy. Lady Une and Noin never piloted these mobile suits in the show itself.
- A bootleg hack of this game exist that makes it coin operated for an arcade environment.
- The hack also replaces the title menu with text that says "Insert Coin" or "Press Start" if credits are inserted. Oddly enough, the menu item boarder selector thing is still present, though it doesn't move.
- The copyright text was changed to say "Program by Akira 1997 Copyright" along side with a credit counter underneath.
Gallery[]
