“With tensions between the Earth and Planets reaching critical levels, the two sides chose the final diplomatic options – war.”

Well, the last time a reference book was cracked, the word “war” did not fall under the diplomatic heading. However, that is the pretense that does little more than give a cursory reason for Bandai’s release of Gundam Seed Battle Assault, a two-dimensional combat title for the Game Boy Advance that is rather typical of the genre.

Battle Assault does have a nice options package, and a wide array of play modes. The graphics are lush and may be indicative of the Cartoon Network series, but the animation is derived from that jerky style that does not move smoothly but has a style familiar to those who have played the DragonBall Z games, as well as previous Bandai fighters or Gundam Seed adventures.

There are six modes of play: normal, versus, training, time trial, time limit, survival and free battle. You select a fighter and either the second player picks their fighter or the CPU picks one and you enter an arena. While there are several different arena types, they really don’t matter. They are little more than printed backdrops that are static and offer nothing to the gameplay.

When the screen says fight that is what you do. Each fight is played out in stages, but this is merely another word for rounds. Win 2 of 3 rounds to win the fight.

You use the D-pad to move horizontally, or to crouch or jump. You can jump up and stay in the air, fighting your opponent above the ground. The A and B buttons triggers your attacks, with the A button for the ranged attacks. The L and R buttons are for a speed burst/attack and jumping.

This is a very simplistic title in many regards, and yet the game does offer challenge in the combat. While reflexive in nature, the fights will evolve as each CPU opponent gets tougher.

Gundam Seed Battle Assault is not an overly complex game. Nor is it that immersive. This is rather an average title sporting solid graphics.

As for the sound, it is best left turned way down. With combat sounds typical of the genre, the game also has eight bars or so of music that repeats over and over again. It gets positively annoying after a couple of minutes.

This title is typical of the genre and is your basic side-scrolling, two-dimensional fighter. If you are not looking for anything more, you may want to give it a look. If you are craving a little more depth in a fighter, then you may wish to pass. Battle Assault is good, it is just not innovative or different enough to warrant high praise.
 

Gameplay: 7

The game allows you to quickly get into the fight, and once there, the fight moves from beginning to end quickly. Load times are minor and the controls are very accessible allowing for smooth gameplay.

Graphics: 7.3

The graphical elements are typical of the style of fighter, and are brilliantly colored. The animation also fits the style of play, with its frozen frames. The special effects are repetitive and follow the same style as the game itself – meaning they do not flow freely, but rather are splashes of color that jump onto the screen, stutter through a few seconds and then disappear.

Sound: 6

Let’s take a few bars of music and repeat them over and over and over and over. Rarely has the GBA provided a stellar soundtrack, but this can get downright annoying. The battle sounds are very tinny and typical of what many of these titles offer.

Difficulty: Medium

This is a button-masher with four difficulty levels. The challenge comes in the combat and reflexive hopping, and attacking, while trying to avoid taking much damage.

Concept: 6

This has been done before – many times. This game does look nice and is accessible; it is just not overly original.

Multiplayer: 7

The game will support 1-2 players in the versus mode of play.

Overall: 7

This is a typical side-scrolling two-dimensional one-versus-one combat game that is rather typical of the genre on the GBA. It does offer bright graphical elements, and there is a nice array of gameplay options. The AI is tweaked to get progressively more challenging. Gundam Seed Battle Assault is the type of game that many may find a pleasant diversion. Just don’t expect to find a lot of originality.