Courtesy of our good friends at HobbyLink Japan, we’ve been sent a toy from Mobile Suit Gundam 0080 to review. Specifically, the new GM Sniper II from the Robot Damashii range. The gaming significance of this design is also quite interesting and this review is meant as a companion piece to the forthcoming “White Dingo” version.

The upcoming Gundam Extreme Versus is not only getting an opening song from Linkin Park but it’s also getting Gackt to take the role of the game’s main villain called “ex” (piloting the new Extreme Gundam, obviously). Gackt has a pretty long history of being a publicly vocal Gundam fan. From the somewhat surreal music videos of him piloting an RX-178 Gundam Mark.II for the Zeta Gundam films, to the opening song of the last Gundam Versus game (which was a cover of the classic Ai Senshi no less). Gackt also does some pretty cool impersonations of Toru Furuya (Amuro Rey) and Shuichi Ikeda (Char Aznable) amongst many others. One nice comment he’s made a few times was that when he went out drinking with the two actors he’d close his eyes and imagine that Amuro and Char were haggling over what beer to get. In any case, it’s kinda nice that such a nerdy fan of the original show has finally been given his own character.

As we mentioned previously, the upcoming arcade game Gundam Extreme Versus will have its opening movie accompanied by Linkin Park’s song The Catalyst.

Well, that movie is now online and shows how the music will fit the action. Interestingly, the actual functional audio is absent (as in beam rifle shots etc.) leaving the dulcit tones of Linkin Park to shine through. Whilst on one hand the new intro doesn’t feel very Gundam, the music does somehow fit – though in a bit of an odd and unexpected, but still welcome, way. The new opening movie is shown below.

The next episode in the anime adaptation of Harutoshi Fukui’s Gundam Unicorn novels is still set for release at the end of October. To commemorate the upcoming release of the “Red Comet” a new promo video has been going the rounds. Despite showing off the RX-0 Unicorn Gundam and MSN-06S Sinanju in more luscious detail, it’s really quite something to hear ShÅ«ichi Ikeda’s voice again. Now only if the episode could get here three times as fast…

Like with previous Gundam Versus games, you often get a Japanese singer to do a cover song for the intro (Gackt being notable in this regard). However, for the upcoming Gundam Extreme Versus things are going to be a little…different. Instead of using a Japanese artist, Bandai Namco will be using the American band Linkin Park and their song The Catalyst for the game’s intro song. Following on from this, they’ll also be releasing (in Japan) a modified HGUC kit of the RX-78GP01-Fb Gundam Full Vernian “Zephyranthes” from Gundam 0083 styled by the band. To make matters somewhat more awesome, the above press shot has the band dressed in Federation regalia from the same part of the Universal Century timeline, this is more than a little bit brilliant as far as we’re concerned (and classy too because they picked UC). In any case, this version of the single was released yesterday in Japan and the music video for the song is shown below.

Whilst wonderful games like Border Break Air Burst are being shown at this year’s JAMMA show, Bandai Namco don’t want to miss a trick either and have had Gundam Extreme Versus at the show too. They’ve even got the full intro for each series running on a gorgeously massive screen and as such it wasn’t long until some diligent fan captured the footage. We’ve subsequently linked the video below (the actual intros kick in around the 2 minute mark). Enjoy!

4Gamer has covered SEGA’s setup at this year’s JAMMA show and amongst the games on display is the upcoming Border Break Air Burst (effectively Ver 2.0 of the current game). As you know, we love the current game and this “sequel” also has clan support as well as what appear to be in-game dropships. The new game is still slated for a release later this year.

Whilst we know Darius isn’t strictly part of the mecha pantheon its recent entry, that of Darius Burst, had its designwork helmed by two renowned mecha designers; Kanetake Ebikawa and Takayuki Yanase. What with the new arcade version around the corner (and 4Gamer has an interesting interview with the developers on that) the rather small model manufacturer PLUM/PMOA (who also made those lovely Silpheed kits not that long ago) are making a 1/60 scale injection plastic kit of one of the latest Silverhawk fighter’s from the game.

GAGraphic has a very nice preview article showing the kit off (including its landing gear) and it is clear to see Ebikawa’s style shine through, especially from his recent designs from Gundam 00 (specifically the Exia, 00 Raiser and 00 Quan[T]). The kit will be released in September at a very reasonable 4,500 yen, you can pre-order it here and the PSP game is also still available here.

4Gamer has a nice bit of coverage on Gundam Extreme Versus’ presence at this year’s C3xHOBBY. Despite the presence of Kazuki Yao, the voice of Judau Ashta (amongst many others), the interesting announcement is the presence of a new Kunio Okawara design in the game, called the Extreme Gundam. Similar in many ways to the GAT-X105 Strike Gundam but it also has a reverse “face” currently hidden from view. This will be a boss unit in the game and there’s no word on whether it will be playable as yet.

Over at Comiket, Takara Tomy have unveiled the next set of Video Game Robotics gashapon that were meant for a June release (that are now scheduled for December instead). In total, the series will contain four mecha from four different games. They are the PDF-802 X-4+ from Power Dolls 2, a PC turnbased strategy game with mecha designed by none other than Hajime Katoki. Followed by the HIGH-MACS 12 from the original Gungriffon and then the V-MH GLORY from the super rare Metal Slader Glory adventure game on the Famicom (later ported to the Super Famicom). The last mecha, of the four, is apparently a new blast runner from the upcoming Border Break Air Burst. However, all this may sound and look wonderful but the last set of gashapon in the range were pretty awful and they cost 700 yen a piece, these new toys cost 400 yen each. Considering the poor quality of the previous set, reducing the price for the new one doesn’t exactly bode well really.