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Unlike [[Gundam Battle Operation Next|Gundam Battle Operation NEXT]], the first spinoff to the original [[Mobile Suit Gundam: Battle Operation]], Battle Operation 2 is closer to a true sequel that keeps and expands upon the gameplay mechanics of the original title, and completely abandons the fast-paced, arcade-styled elements of NEXT. |
Unlike [[Gundam Battle Operation Next|Gundam Battle Operation NEXT]], the first spinoff to the original [[Mobile Suit Gundam: Battle Operation]], Battle Operation 2 is closer to a true sequel that keeps and expands upon the gameplay mechanics of the original title, and completely abandons the fast-paced, arcade-styled elements of NEXT. |
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− | The game was initially only released in Japan, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. An English language option was added |
+ | The game was initially only released in Japan, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. An English language option was added on October 24, 2018. The game was released to western territories, Including North America and several European countries in October of 2019. |
==='''Gameplay'''=== |
==='''Gameplay'''=== |
Revision as of 13:01, 8 June 2020
Overview
Mobile Suit Gundam: Battle Operation 2 is an online free-to-play action game released exclusively for the Playstation 4 via the Playstation Store in July of 2018.
Unlike Gundam Battle Operation NEXT, the first spinoff to the original Mobile Suit Gundam: Battle Operation, Battle Operation 2 is closer to a true sequel that keeps and expands upon the gameplay mechanics of the original title, and completely abandons the fast-paced, arcade-styled elements of NEXT.
The game was initially only released in Japan, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. An English language option was added on October 24, 2018. The game was released to western territories, Including North America and several European countries in October of 2019.
Gameplay
Like the original Battle Operation, the game takes its playable roster of mobile suits exclusively from the Universal Century timeline, and battles are fought between two teams of between 1-6 players each via peer-to-peer connection.
In addition to the ground-based combat of the original game, Battle Operation 2 introduced maps for space combat. Space still operates using similar dimensions as ground combat, and the controls are relatively the same. However, a key difference is that instead of being limited to a singular plane or surface, movement has been redesigned to freely ascend and descend on a vertical axis. The jump command has been changed to "ascend" and crouch to "descend".
As in the original game, pilots can leave their mobile suits for a variety of tasks, including capturing spawn points, planting/disarming bombs at bases, commandeering enemy mobile suits, and using various vehicles parked around spawn points. A new addition to Battle Operation 2 is "Support Fire", which can be activated at spawn points in certain game modes. Support Fire has the ability to heavily damage and easily destroy enemies if they are caught in its radius. However, allies may be heavily damaged (though not destroyed) if they are caught in friendly Support Fire. Also, although they cannot see the marker, enemies will receive an alert 5 seconds into the Support Fire's countdown, giving them a chance to evade it. On ground, Support Fire is a sustained aerial bombing run in a relatively small radius. In space, Support fire is a beam barrage from faraway ships that are easily capable of instantly destroying any enemies caught in the line of fire.
Mobile suits have a set amount of HP not only to indicate the "health" of the overall unit, but of the head and legs as well. Significant damage to the head will impact radar performance, while a destroyed head will render the radar completely inoperative, and reduce the mobile suit's attack power. Significant damage to the legs will cause mobile suits to buckle under the stress and fall to the ground after boosting and jumping, leaving them defenseless and open to attack for several seconds. Destroying the legs will reduce basic movement speed to a slow walk, in addition to the previous effects. In space, Leg HP is replaced by Backpack HP. Damage to the Backpack is similar, but carries a couple key differences from leg damage. Backpack usage is not affected by heavy damage, however, as the backpack provides the sole means of motion in space, a unit with a destroyed backpack will not be able to boost or tackle, with basic movement being significantly reduced.
Combat utilizes a "rock-paper-scissors"-like gameplay mechanic, where mobile suits are assigned one of three classifications, visually identified in menus by graphic profiles of the suit's head in one of three colors (General/Blue, Raid/Red, Support/Yellow). Each classification generally fills a particular role, and experiences advantages and disadvantages when engaging each other:
- General/Blue types are generally flexible units with balanced performance in most categories, meant to engage at the front lines at mid to close range combat. They tend to provide the bulk of a team's fighting strength. They tend to deal more, and receive less damage from Raid types, but have a disadvantage against Support types.
- Raid/Red types replace the Melee type classification from the first Battle Operation. Many Raid types have limited effectiveness at long range, usually prioritizing speed and heavy-hitting melee attacks and combos at the expense of health and/or defensive capabilities. However, there are some exceptions that excel at ranged or balanced gameplay as opposed or in addition to melee abilities. Raid Types have an advantage against Support types, but are disadvantaged against General types.
- Support/Yellow types generally prioritize mid to long-range combat. Many Support types have relatively limited mobility compared to the other types, and tend to have very limited effectiveness at close-range. Most supports use powerful long-range weapons like cannons, missiles, and sniper rifles to deal massive damage from afar. Many have the ability to zoom in while sniping for more accurate shots. Support Types have advantage against General types, but are disadvantaged against Raid types.
Unlike the original Battle Operation, team rosters are no longer divided into "EFF" and "Zeon" factions, as the players are presented as being employed by a private mercenary group unaffiliated with either faction, called the "Private Military Union" or PMU. Players can freely sortie using whatever is in their entire roster of mobile suits they have acquired, so long as it is within the acceptable cost range for the sortie.
Instead of simple menu navigation, Battle Operation 2 utilizes a sizable social hub area called Base Camp, where players can interact with each other. Players must also interact with NPCs to access various features of the game. While in Base Camp and the mission preparation screens, players may access additional menus and customization options via the "H.A.R.O. Terminal", which is depicted as a handheld device heavily resembling the Gundam mascot, Haro.
New Mobile Suits and equipment can be acquired through several means, usually through the Supply Counter. The simplest way to acquire new MS and equipment is through the "DP Exchange Counter", where players may use DP, the game's primary currency earned through general gameplay, to choose from a static list of a variety of items that expands weekly.
The most notable means to acquire new content is through "Supply Drops", a gatcha system where players must spend either 3 or 30 "Tokens", the game's premium currency which can be acquired through a variety of means, to acquire between 1 to 10 mobile suits and weapons randomly from a large pool. The newest MS and weapon additions to the game are almost always introduced via the Supply Drop. As new content is introduced, old content is removed from the Supply Drop pool, and redistributed to the Recycle Counter.
If the player receives any duplicates from a Supply Drop, they are reimbursed with a secondary in-game currency called "Recycle Tickets", which are used to buy items from the "Recycle Counter". The Recycle Counter's selection changes daily, and, like the DP Exchange Counter, covers almost every type of item in the game, including two exclusive options for cosmetic items, "Marking" and "Pattern", which are not cycled daily, but receive regular expansion. More items will appear in the daily selection as players complete monthly missions and earn medals. As items are added to the Recycle Counter's rotation, older content is released to the DP Exchange Counter, however, the old content will remain in the daily rotation.
Characters
Scattered around Base Camp are various NPCs that provide access to important game functions not covered by the H.A.R.O. Terminal. After the initial tutorials, most of their dialogue is static, only presenting the most outstanding aspects of their personalities. However, more aspects of their history and personalities are presented in multiple scrolling text blurbs that appear when preparing for sorties. These NPCs also have unique dialogue during holidays, special events, and their birthdays.
- Neidhardt Heidegger - The manager of the Private Military Union (PMU) Base Camp, and Tenda's adoptive father. Neidhardt is responsible for giving the players their mission rewards. He is very fond of Tenda, and tends to be extremely overprotective of her. He tends to get suspicious and try to chase off anyone that tries to get close with her. Birthday is on 4/2.
- Tenda Begin - Orphaned during an unspecified war, she was adopted by Neidhardt Heidegger. Tenda is a very cheerful and excitable teenager, and seems to get along with everybody. Tenda is responsible for basic training and providing more advanced optional tutorials to new recruits. Tenda is the official mascot of Gundam Battle Operation 2. Birthday is on 10/9.
- Carrie Kadbury - A somewhat shy and modest young woman who runs the Mission Counter. She is responsible for assigning pilots missions and helping them get get ready to sortie. She also acts as a communications operator for pilots during missions. Birthday is on 6/17.
- Katarina Wenders - A provocatively dressed woman who runs the Supply Counter. Katarina tends to act very flirty, and has no problem using her looks to get people to loosen their purse strings. Despite what her bold appearance and demeanor may imply, it is all an act. Katarina is purely focused on business and increasing profitability. As such, her defense is rock solid, and she has rejected countless advances from customers that have tried to hit on her. Unlike many at Base Camp, Katarina is not actually a PMU employee, but an outside hire who works on commission. Birthday is on 7/7.
- Leona Lucraft - An expert mechanic and workaholic that, despite her relatively young age, has an expansive career working with machinery, dating back to when she was a child. She is supposedly so involved with her work as a mechanic that she actually lives in the hanger. She is seemingly diabetic, and always has candy on hand to replenish her blood sugar, lollipops appearing to be her preference. Leona is in charge of the Hangar, and is responsible for permanent upgrades to the player's mobile suits. Birthday is on 3/18.
- Adomin Granzman - A physically intimidating, but very kind-hearted man who runs the bar in Base Camp. He is responsible for Clan functions. Birthday is on 1/11.
- Oldem Koda - A stoic, bespectacled man responsible for assigning players ranks and promotions. Birthday is on 12/20.
- Patrick Curtis - An old war veteran. Patrick has an extensive knowledge of mobile suits, and has many stories to tell, making him popular around Base Camp. Has a bad habit of trailing off-topic. Patrick runs the PvE Battle Simulator. Birthday is on 5/25.
Playable Mobile Units
As a free-to-play online game that is funded via the optional purchase of Tokens, the premium currency of the game, Gundam Battle Operation 2 sees constant support, and new mobile suits and items are added weekly to encourage continued interest. A new "Banner" mobile suit is released every Thursday at 14:00 JST.
- AGX-04 Gerbera Tetra
- EMS-10 Zudah
- EMS-10F Zudah F
- FA-78(G) Full Armor Gundam Ground Type
- FA-78-1 Full Armor Gundam
- FA-78-1B Full Armor Gundam Type B
- FA-78-2 Heavy Gundam
- FA-78-3 Full Armor 7th Gundam
- FA-78 Full Armor Gundam (Thunderbolt Ver.)
- GM Camouf
- MS-05B Zaku I
- MS-05L Zaku I Sniper Type
- MS-05S Zaku I Commander Type
- MS-05S Zaku I Commander Type (Gerhart Schmitzer custom)
- MS-06D Zaku Desert Type
- MS-06E Zaku Reconnaissance Type
- MS-06E-3 Zaku Flipper
- MS-06F Zaku II
- MS-06F Zaku Minelayer
- MS-06F2 Zaku II F2 Type
- MS-06FS Zaku II
- MS-06FS Zaku II (Shin Matsunaga custom)
- MS-06FZ Zaku II Kai
- MS-06FZ Zaku II Kai (Fritz Helm)
- MS-06G Zaku II High Mobility Ground Type
- MS-06J Zaku II Ground Type (Heavy Combat)
- MS-06K Zaku Cannon
- MS-06K Zaku Cannon (Rabbit-ear type)
- MS-06R-1A Zaku II High Mobility Type
- MS-06R-2 Zaku II High Mobility Type
- MS-06R Zaku II High Mobility Type (Reuse "P" Device)
- MS-06S Zaku II Commander Type
- MS-06V Zaku Tank Cannon Type (Gundam Battle Operation version)
- MS-06Z Psycommu System Zaku
- MS-07B Gouf
- MS-07B Gouf (Visch Donahue custom)
- MS-07B-3 Gouf Custom
- MS-07H Gouf Flight Test Type
- MS-07H-8 Gouf Flight Type
- MS-08TX Efreet
- MS-08TX Efreet (Doug Schneid custom)
- MS-08TX[EXAM]Efreet Custom
- MS-08TX/N Efreet Nacht
- MS-09B Dom
- MS-09F/Br Dom Barrage
- MS-09F/trop Dom Tropen
- MS-09G Dwadge
- MS-09H Dwadge Custom
- MS-09K-2 Dom Cannon
- MS-09R Rick Dom
- MS-09R-2 Rick Dom II
- MS-09R-2 Rick Dom II (Guy Helmuth custom)
- MS-10 Pezun Dowadge
- MS-11 Act Zaku
- MS-11 Act Zaku Commander Type (Mallet Sanguine custom)
- MS-12 Gigan
- MS-13 Gasshia
- MS-14A Gelgoog
- MS-14B Gelgoog High Mobility Type
- MS-14B Gelgoog Uma Lightning Custom
- MS-14BR Gelgoog High Mobility R Type
- MS-14C Gelgoog Cannon
- MS-14D Desert Gelgoog
- MS-14F Gelgoog Marine
- MS-14Fs Gelgoog Marine Commander Type
- MS-14G Gelgoog Ground Type
- MS-14G Gelgoog Ground Type (Visch Donahue custom)
- MS-14Jg Gelgoog Jäger
- MS-14S Gelgoog Commander Type
- MS-17 Galbaldy α
- MS-18E Kämpfer
- MS-21C Dra-C
- MS-21D1 Dra-C Custom
- MSA-003 Nemo
- MSA-005K Guncannon Detector
- MSF-007 Gundam Mk-III
- MSK-008 Dijeh
- MSZ-006 Zeta Gundam
- MSM-03 Gogg
- MSM-03C Hygogg
- MSM-04 Acguy
- MSM-04G Juaggu
- MSM-04N Agguguy
- MSM-07 Z'Gok
- MSM-07E Z'Gok-E
- MSM-08 Zogok
- MSM-10 Zock
- MSN-00100 Hyaku Shiki
- MSN-01 Psycommu Test High Mobility Type Zaku II
- MSN-02 Zeong
- NRX-044 Asshimar
- ORX-005 Gaplant
- PMX-002 Bolinoak Sammahn
- RGC-80 GM Cannon
- RGC-80S GM Cannon Space Assault Type
- RGC-83 GM Cannon II
- RGM-79 GM
- RGM-79 GM (White Dingo Team custom)
- RGM-79[G] GM Ground Type
- RGM-79[G] GM Sniper
- RGM-79C GM Type C
- RGM-79D GM Cold Districts Type
- RGM-79F Desert GM
- RGM-79F GM Land Combat Type
- RGM-79FC Striker Custom
- RGM-79FD Armored GM
- RGM-79FP GM Striker
- RGM-79FP GM Striker Kai
- RGM-79G GM Command
- RGM-79GS GM Command Space Type
- RGM-79HC GM Guard Custom
- RGM-79KC GM Intercept Custom (Fellow Booster)
- RGM-79L GM Light Armor
- RGM-79LV GM Night Seeker II
- RGM-79N GM Custom
- RGM-79 Powered GM
- RGM-79Q GM Quel
- RGM-79SC GM Sniper Custom
- RGM-79SP GM Sniper II
- RGM-79SP GM Sniper II (White Dingo Team custom)
- RGM-79V GM Night Seeker
- RMS-099 Rick Dias
- RMS-106 Hizack
- RMS-106CS Hizack Custom
- RMS-108 Marasai
- RMS-117 Galbaldy β
- RMS-154 Barzam
- RMS-179 GM II
- RMV-1 Guntank II
- RTX-440 Ground Assault Type Guntank
- RX-110 Gabthley
- RX-178 Gundam Mk-II
- RX-178+FXA-05D Super Gundam
- RX-75-4 Guntank
- RX-75 Guntank Mass Production Type
- RX-77-2 Guncannon
- RX-77-2 Guncannon (Spray Missile Launcher)
- RX-77-3D Guncannon Heavy Custom Type D
- RX-77-4 Guncannon II
- RX-77D Guncannon Mass Production Type
- RX-78-1 Prototype Gundam
- RX-78-2 Gundam
- RX-78-3 Gundam "G-3"
- RX-78-4 Gundam Unit 4 "G04"
- RX-78-5 Gundam Unit 5 "G05"
- RX-78-6 Mudrock Gundam
- RX-78GP01 Gundam "Zephyranthes"
- RX-78GP01-Fb Gundam "Zephyranthes" Full Burnern
- RX-78GP02A Gundam GP02A Beam Bazooka Type
- RX-78GP02A Gundam GP02A (Type-MLRS)
- RX-78GP03S Gundam "Dendrobium Stamen"
- RX-78GP04G Gundam "Gerbera"
- RX-78NT-1 Gundam "Alex"
- RX-78SP Gunner Gundam
- RX-78XX Gundam Pixy
- RX-79BD-1 Blue Destiny Unit 1
- RX-79BD-2 Blue Destiny Unit 2
- RX-79BD-3 Blue Destiny Unit 3
- RX-79[G]Ez-8 Gundam Ez8
- RX-79[G]Ez-8 Gundam Ez8 (Weapons Rack)
- RX-79[G] Gundam Ground Type
- RX-79[G] Gundam Ground Type (Weapons Rack)
- RX-79[G] SW Slave Wraith
- RX-80PR Pale Rider (Ground Heavy Arms)
- RX-80PR Pale Rider (Space Type)
- RX-80PR-2 Pale Rider Cavalry
- RX-81AS G-Line Assault Armor
- RX-81FC G-Line Full Custom
- RX-81LA G-Line Light Armor
- RX-81ST G-Line Standard Armor
- TGM-79 GM Trainer
- YMS-09D Dom Tropical Test Type
- YMS-15 Gyan
- YMS-15E Gyan Eos
- YMS-16M Xamel
- YMT-05 Hildolfr
Map Vehicles (Pilots)
- HT-01B Magella Attack
- MP-02A Oggo
- PVN.4/3 Wappa
- RB-79C Ball Type C
- Type 61 Tank
Map Vehicles (MS)
Ships and Non-Playable Units
- ACA-01 Gaw
- C-88 Medea
- Chivvay-class
- Columbus-class
- Dabude-class
- Fat Uncle
- FF-S3 Saberfish
- H.L.V.
- Medea
- MRX-009 Psyco Gundam
- RX-9 Narrative Gundam (In-game model created to promote Mobile Suit Gundam Narrative
- RGM-86R GM III (Playable in the open Beta. Not yet added to full game)
Extra Links
Official website - https://www.bandainamcoent.com/games/mobile-suit-gundam-battle-operation-2
Official JP Site with English Translation: https://bo2.ggame.jp/en/
Game-specific wiki - https://gbo2.fandom.com/wiki/Gundam_Battle_Operation_2_Wiki