Mobile Suit Gundam: Battle Operation

[Pinky]

Free-to-Play RPG/MOBA style Gundam game. PS3 exclusive, and Japan exclusive. But, you can easily make a Japanese account that can access their servers on a NA or Euro console.

Making the account:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_Kfm0gCTX0

Navigating the JPS3 store to MSGBO:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7k9zSbV3Q8
Once you begin downloading the game you can switch back to your main PS3 account and finish, and play from English accounts.

Navigating the Main Menu screen:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oonJnSX4Owc
Translated screenshots of the menu, in-game HUD, and controls are at the MSG: Battle Operation wikia.

There's lots of lag since the game servers are on the other side of the earth, but you can get used to it. Plus, I figure the more English accounts show up on their servers, the faster they'll get the game released over here. ;D

Since it's F2P it's fairly limited. You use "sortie energy" to play a match (bottom left corner of all menu screens). Once the energy is depleted, you are prompted to buy "stored energy" or wait until the "regenerating energy" recovers. You can have up to 3 regen energy at one time, and they recover 1 every two hours (this energy gets used first). Stored energy has a limit of 99 units, and is also given to you for leveling up, or gifted to you on special days.

Like any MOBA, the first games will be brutal. Other players are more experienced, have better mobile suits & custom parts. But, the other day they released a new "Training Mode" that's only available to players level ten and under. Training still gives exp, currency points, and items like normal but uses no sortie energy -- so the first ten levels are unlimited play. It's a great way to start.

This is by far the best Gundam game I've ever played. A lot of activity involves *leaving* your mobile suit: repairing the suit, capturing waypoints, planting a bomb in the enemy base.

There's currently only four maps, but they've released a new map every month since launch and that'll likely continue, and there are dozens of mobile suits, weapons, and custom parts to unlock.