8Bit/Digi

The Biggest Gundam Party of the Year

Mobile Suit Gundam AX VIP Event was among the many special events hosted during the Anime Expo 2022 weekend. It was an opportunity to highlight the franchise’s rich history and showcase what is coming. At the same time, it allowed members of the community to mingle among each other in the comforts of the lounge.

Hosted in Lounge 21, the Gundam AX VIP Event took place on Sunday from Noon to 5 pm. Attendance was only open to influencers within the Gundam community and invited members of the press.

Gundam Panels

Mobile Suit Gundam AX VIP Event was not just about the community meeting up for a special get-together. It was also an opportunity to see what is new in the Gundam community. Three panels were presented during the event that highlighted the latest Gunpla kits, the upcoming games, and anime titles.

Gundam Games

With numerous Gundam games coming out or having been released, this was an opportunity to check them out. Demo stations were set up for attendees to play them. These are the games I got to check out during the event. 

Mobile Suit Gundam Battle Operation Code Fairy is an original story that follows a group of Zeon special forces during the One Year War. The gameplay itself is basically Battle Operations 2 with some minor tweaks to accommodate the needs of the experience. This presents fans with a sense of familiarity as they could hope in and go straight into the action. Check out my review of the game for a better understanding. 

SD Gundam: Battle Alliance brings the concept of the SD series into a fast-paced third-person squad-based experience. Players get the chance to relive iconic moments from the series while characters are swapped into the action. The demos available featured the tutorial along with two missions. The missions featured in the demo were based on Mobile Suit Gundam and Iron-Blooded Orphans. 

Retro Gundam Games

Given the series’ rich history, there have also been numerous Gundam games released. Guests were invited to try some of these classics. While not everyone’s favorites could be displayed, there the titles that guests got to enjoy: 

G Gundam Fighter is a fighting game based on the Gundam series of the same name. It was released for the Super Famicom back in 1994. 

MS Saga: A New Dawn is a turn-based JRPG set in its own world while using the iconic Gundams. Players take on the role of Tristan who seeks to avenge the death of his friends using the RX-78-2 Gundam. The game was released back in 2006 for the PlayStation 2. 

Gundam: Battle Assault II was practically every old-school fan’s first Gundam game. Released back in 2002 for the PlayStation, it’s a fighting game set in three different Gundam universes. Players would take on the role of pilots from Mobile Suit Gundam, Mobile Fighter G Gundam, and Gundam Wing.

Gunpla Showcase 

It’s just not a Gundam event without an opportunity to showcase the many model kits. The Mobile Suit Gundam AX VIP Event featured numerous Gunpla models on display from a variety of series, including the upcoming The Witch from Mercury. A Gunpla building table was also present for those who have never built one but want to learn. 

Did you get a chance to check out the Gundam VIP Event or other events at Anime Expo 2022? If so then share your story in the comment section below.

Disclaimer: Anime Expo provided me with a pass for the weekend

8Bit/Digi is an independent media outlet that provides an insight into the video game community and industry of the San Francisco Bay Area.