Gundam fans can rejoice. Bandai has finally done the popular mobile suit justice in its latest effort - Mobile Suit Gundam - Zeonic Front. The title blends squad-based strategy with action gameplay to move the series out of the bunker and into the front lines.

Zeonic Front is played out with two or three squads in each mission, with up to three mechs per squad. Mobile Suits include the Zaku I, Zaku II, Gouf, and Dom. Get an "S" grade in a mission and you'll unlock more suits. Squad control can be switched on the fly by hitting down the on the D-pad. Players act as Team Leader of each squad and can command via a menu. The x button pops a command menu out that can halt the current squad, attack, or rally around the team leader. The menu is a tad difficult to use in a heated battle. But there are shortcuts to make commands to launch a battle code, reload, or command different team formations.

The Zeon wouldn't be able to take on the Earth Federation without a battle plan. In Zeonic Front, players get to lay out the course of every squad unit and execute specific battle codes. The route setup interface isn't the best, but it does the job. Here players can map out the track they want each squad to take in each mission. Map points can be laid all around the map, and the map view can be zoomed in twice to show ground specificities. Players can give specific advanced commands to the squad at any map point and lay out battle codes to halt all troops until the code is given. Advanced codes include a slow/fast avoid or a slow/fast attack. The slow avoid will have mechs walk while they avoid combat; in fast avoid, mechs run. The same applies to the attack command. For the most part, the AI works well under direction. There are times when the Team Leader dies due to squad failure [If the team leader dies, you lose control of the squad and the AI trucks on without you], but the crew usually gets the job done - even better if you plan every step.

In between each mission, still anime shots with moving mouths flesh out the story. The voice work is pretty good with the exception of a few actors. Each main character in the Fenrir Corps has advice to give in dialogue that has that same light-hearted humor and enthusiasm as the cartoon. Missions are varied and range from search and destroy to gathering data. The first missions are simple, while the later require you to plot your own routes and not rely on the default plans. Players can even train to fight in different battle conditions in simulators. As each mission is completed more sims become available.

The one factor that has plagued the Gundam series is horrible control. In Zeonic Front, it's been fixed. The left analog is used to move the Gundam, while the right analog is used to look. This makes turning, strafing, aiming - everything easier and more fluid. The only quip in control is the need to hold the L trigger to run - it can get tiring if you need to travel a distance. But there are several control setups to cater to each player. The Mobile Suit will automatically lock-on [or not if you change it in options] to targets. But it doesn't mean that it'll be easy to take out the Earth Federation. Enemies have varying degrees of detection that is displayed in a visual lock-on cue - Blue: Not detected; Yellow: Detected; Red: Ready to attack. If the lock-on is red, get ready to run. The enemies are smart and will fire immediately upon realizing your presence.

To detect enemies mobile suits have access to three different radars - standard radar, thermal, and sonar. The sensors can be switched with the circle button, but they work according to how many Minovsky Particles are in the air. The particles obstruct electromagnetic waves and vary in concentration in each mission. The Principality of Zeon never looked better in Zeonic Front. Each area is rendered faithfully in accordance with the anime, and is accompanied by mech movement and blast sounds straight from the show. When the action gets too heavy - i.e. three squads + enemies - the action slows and can hinder controls.

Zeonic Front is a strategic success. The mix of strategy and action blends well, and the controls do the Zeon justice. The menu access, route interface, and slow-down need work. But the 40 missions and strategy/action gameplay make the title a buy - fan or not.