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Shin Kidou Senki Gundam Wing: Endless Duel is a 2D fighting game based on the anime series Mobile Suit Gundam Wing. It is published by Bandai in 1996 and released for the Super Famicom in Japan.

Bandai in the 1990s do not have the best history when it comes to releasing good licensed games in the U.S. Most of the ones they bring over were not great, so people don’t buy them. Because of that, gamers miss out on the good ones they keep in Japan. Gundam Wing: Endless Duel is one of those great games that never made it to the U.S., even though it really should have. It’s one of the best 2D fighting games on the Super Famicom.

Japan only box cover art (Image source)

The Story

Since the game is in damn Japanese, I can't fully understand all the text. But I'm pretty sure it's based on the anime series Mobile Suit Gundam Wing, so the story likely follows that plot.

Here's a summary: The story takes place in the year After Colony 195 and starts with "Operation: Meteor". It is a plan created by a group of scientists to get revenge on the military group known as OZ. As part of this operation, five teenage boys are each sent to Earth in powerful robots called Gundams. Each Gundam was built by a different scientist, and the boys carry out their missions separately.

Cartridge of the game. (Image source)

The Graphics and Sound

The graphics are really impressive. The giant robots/mobile suits are animated smoothly and look sharp, detailed, and powerful. When you use special moves, there are cool lighting effects that make the visuals stand out even more. The backgrounds of the fighting stages are also carefully designed and full of detail, which adds to the overall look of the game.

The music is also quite good. Many tracks are inspired by Gundam themes, and each one matches the mood of the stage it is played on. Even though the intro is short, the theme song is memorable, especially for fans of the series. The sound effects are almost clear, strong, and very fitting for giant robots. You can really hear the power behind every beam shot or when two metal robots clash. It is all very polished and satisfying.

https://youtu.be/U33ki3xi_qA?si=q9YWcNVH7yjuipJx 2 player Versus Gameplay video sample of Shin Kidō Senki Gundam Wing: Endless Duel. Watch in 360p for near TV resolution of that time.

The Gameplay

This is hands down one of the best anime-based fighting games on the Super Famicom. The gameplay is smooth and fast, and it has tons of cool combos where you can pull off 7, 9, or even 15-hit chains if you are fast enough! If you are a Gundam fan or a fighting game player, you will find a lot to enjoy here.

The game uses four main buttons: weak punch, strong punch, weak weapon, and strong weapon. What sets this game apart from other fighters is how each robot fights in its own unique way. Each one has different weapons, special moves, and styles, making every robot feel fresh and different.

One of the coolest features is the energy bar. It fills up to 300 units, and each shot or special move uses some of that energy. Regular attacks use a little, while powerful special moves can use up to 200. This adds a layer of strategy to every battle.

There are also other neat mechanics like dashing, long-range attacks, and tactical movement that keep the action exciting.

Nine playable fighters are used, including fan favorites like Wing, Wing Zero, Shenlong, Heavy Arms, and Sandrock.

The controls are simple and responsive with just four buttons, but they work great. You move smoothly and there’s almost no slowdown during fights. The only small downside is that the game does not use the shoulder buttons much, which feels like a missed opportunity.

Overall, this game delivers fast, exciting action and a fun experience for Gundam and fighting game fans alike.

Replay value is almost decent. There aren’t many secrets here, but it still offers plenty of ways to enjoy the game. You can sharpen your skills in Trial Mode and Versus Mode, and battling against your friends is always a blast. The game also features multiple difficulty levels, so as you get better, you can challenge yourself more and more.

That said, there are not many extra game modes to keep things feeling fresh if you get tired of just fighting. So if you are looking for variety beyond the core battles, you might find the game a bit limited.

Still, the game can keep you entertained for months, especially if you play on an emulator and use zBattle.net or similar online tournament services to fight people online. That adds a whole new level of replay value and fun competition.

My Verdict

Shin Kidō Senki Gundam Wing: Endless Duel is a game that everyone should try. Even if you don’t understand Japanese, it is okay since it’s a fighting game, you do not need to know the language to enjoy it. It is also a nice choice if you are new to Gundam or not usually into fighting games. So if you are a fan of fighting games, anime, or giant mecha/robots, you should definitely give this game a try.

Play it on the wonderful Super Nintendo/Super Famicom or play it on a beloved gaming emulator.

Let's keep on gaming in the free world!