For those that may remember, the boxset of Gundam Side Stories contained a limited edition RX-80PR Pale Rider HGUC kit. Well now you will be able to get the Heavy Equipment Version kit via the Bandai webshop this April. While the game had issues, mostly to do with its budget, the mecha design for the Pale Rider was pretty damn great. Another of the EXAM System-esque mobile suits it played a key role in the Missing Link narrative, with its own version of the HADES system causing havoc. Admittedly this kit is a webshop exclusive but it’s nice to see that the design hasn’t been forgotten at least.

As for the more sporadic updates to the site as of late, that’s entirely down to the quiet patch of mecha game releases we are currently experiencing. Much of this is to do with large publishers thinking console gaming was “dead” and have subsequently been playing catch up since the new consoles have been selling like crazy. Modern games take a few years to make, so hopefully this year will see some more interesting mecha game releases.

Following on from the excellent Jigoku-hen released earlier this year, Bandai Namco announced Super Robot Wars Z 3 Tengoku-hen to be released on both PS3 and Vita next April. To accompany this announcement we’ve also been graced with a nice long promo video (shown below). In it we see new series like Gargantia and Gunbuster 2 are now included in the game’s roster but we are still blown away by how crazy nice the Zeta Gundam animations still are. Orguss is also back (as seen above) and that’s just great in and of itself really. The lack of Final Dancouga is somewhat saddening though.

In addition to the main game, for those that buy Tengoku-hen at launch they will also get a separate downloadable sidestory game called Rengoku-hen. This features characters from previous Super Robot Wars Z instalments over 15 unique missions. Most importantly of all, this won’t be available as a separate download at any point.

At a recent mini-show for Megahouse products, they revealed a bunch of lovely new toys. Most of these had been shown previously at places like WonFes but many of these were closer to final versions, so painted up and using the correct materials. One of this was the upcoming Variable Action Hi-Spec Orguss (shown above) from the anime of the same name. It looks frankly gorgeous and will transform across all four modes. Released next March it also costs an eye watering 35,000 yen. As it’s not an overly large figure, that’s a mighty big price tag. Regardless, we want one. Badly. If you want to check out the event, there is a nice gallery here.

What with the release of Gundam Breaker 2 only a few weeks away now, Bandai have rolled out an extended trailer. This time voiced, very enthusiastically, by Loran Cehack and Gym Ghingham. The video shows off just how big the game will be in terms of the number of mobile suits featured, as well as all the engine optimisations. It’s all looking very good indeed. The game is set for a December 18th release and you can pre-order it here.

Over at 4Gamer they have listed all manner of new units for Gundam Breaker 2. These feature the Ez8 (above), Rozen Zulu and Jesta among other things. It also shows off all manner of various melee weapons that will be made available in game. As an aside, if you bought the first tankobon of the Beltochika Children manga then you get a download for the Hi-Nu Gundam as well. The game is set for a December 18th release and you can pre-order it here.

Over the weekend we went to see Bandai’s Macross Chogokin Exhibit in Akiba. It was pretty great and showed off old and new tots alike. From the VF-19 Advance (above) to a new toy range, called Hi-Metal R, that featured all manner of classic designs. The latter might indicate the Harmony Gold legal situation might be changing too but we’ll see on that. We’re also getting a new anime too by the looks of it, by the name of Macross Delta. No real details as yet but they are getting ready for singing auditions. We covered this over at Forbes (yeah, we are also writing there now) but there’s also a nice little gallery of the event here.

To sweeten the deal for newer players buying Gundam Breaker 2 on release, Bandai have thrown in an incentive. For first time buyers of the game, they will be given a code for the new BG-011B Build Burning Gundam from Gundam Build Fighters Try (shown below). This means players will be able to use this unit’s parts to create their own version, as is the way with the Gundam Breaker games. The game is set for a December 18th release and you can pre-order it here.

Following up from the reveal that parts can be upgraded in Gundam Breaker 2 we now have more details on what that will look like in game. The main thrust is that weapons will acquire special type attacks depending on the type and upgrade, as well various stat increases. In addition, weapons are directly forged in this manner and the upgrades are a continuation of that. Again, considering how complex the customisation already was in the first game this seems a tad excessive. We’ll see once the game is released we suppose. The game is set for a December 18th release and you can pre-order it here.

What with the release of Gundam Breaker 2 around the corner we’ve now had a somewhat interesting game system revealed. Namely that parts can now be individually upgraded. Considering how complex the customisation system already is, makes this feel a tad overdone. That aside the new Gundam Wing units look pretty marvellous and shiny golden Beargguy is not about to get old any time soon. The game is set for a December 18th release and you can pre-order it here.

It’s rare to have an entire kit be an actual spoiler but this is what we have here. Specifically this kit is the AC that Blue Magnolia uses towards the end of Armored Core Verdict Day. Without going into too much detail, this ties into the game’s plot in a big way (if you don’t mind spoilers then check out the video below). In any case, this is part of Kotobukiya’s ongoing Variable Infinity line of kits and is set for release in February of next year for 7,800 yen. Like their other kits this looks pretty magnificent and the detailing is spot-on too.