If you can't read Japanese, this is going to be a tough pill to swallow, but you can trust us ... right? It seems another Gundam game is making its way to the PSP -- this one's based on the Gundam ZZ license and has some familiar faces from the show, if you can remember back that far. This is a classic one, back when giant robots were still relatively fresh. Or not. Anyway, there are plenty of screenshots to check out, so do check them out. It looks rather nice!

The Japanese can never have too much Gundam. PSP has been home to a number of Gundam titles, and each one has sold a fair share of copies. The upcoming Gundam Batlte Universe is an unsurprising addition to the PSP library, all things considered.

It's yet another compilation game, which combines many decades of Gundam lore into a single title. Tipster Torin V. says that it plays like Virtual On -- we'll take his word on that.

Check out the entire scan at GAForum.

Despite the fact that there's not much PSP action in North America this week, the two other major regions are getting some games that should please just about all PSP owners.

North America Games

• Downstream Panic!
  

Europe Games

• Final Fantasy
• Final Fantasy II

Asia Games

• Mobile Suit Gundam Gundam: Giren's Ambition - Axis no Kyoui
• Bomberman Land Portable (Hudson the Best)
  
• Coded Soul: Uke Keigareshi Idea
• NBA Live 07 (EA Best Hits)

It seems weird that the Final Fantasy remakes are just now getting their European releases, since they were released Stateside in June and July last year. In Asia, gamers are getting yet another Gundam title, and they usually sell like hotcakes so it will be interesting to see how well it does.

[Edit: Oops, we were wrong, or should we say Sony's official PSP site failed to list Downstream Panic! as shipping this week.]

The next limited edition PSP system is designed for the new Gundam game. Sporting a red face and a black back, the system is tattooed with the "Principality of Zeon" and a logo. This limited edition system comes bundled with the upcoming game and will be priced 25,890 Yen (around $212). The bundle hits the Japanese populace on February 7th.

[Via PSPHyper]

Have you ever casually approached a friend and asked, "Want to play a game of Kidou Senshi Gundam: Giren no Yabou, Axis no Kyoui?" We doubt it, but come February 2008, you might. Well, you'll refer to it by its English title, Mobile Suit Gundam: Giren's Ambition, Threat of the Axis, which is still a mouthful. This is the first Giren offshoot title in five years, and it's coming straight to your PSP.

The game is a hexagonal strategy game, distributing your forces and moving them about in a strategy phase, then battling enemies in turn-based combat -- sort of like Fire Emblem titles. But with gigantic robots. In this game, you'll find scenarios from plenty of other Gundam franchises to play through, so no matter which Gundam floats your boat, you'll find something to enjoy. That is, if promises of a 20-30 hour game with 400 robots hitting PSPs at the end of February isn't exciting enough.

PSP Fanboy offers the latest and greatest movie and game trailers, formatted for the PSP in this new weekly feature. Check it out every Saturday. PSP owners can download files wirelessly via m.pspfanboy.com.

Instructions: Save all movie and thumbnail files to the VIDEO folder. These high resolution 480x272 videos require firmware 3.30 or above. (Note: OE custom firmware will also play these videos.)

New for PSP: Get selected videos delivered automatically to your PSP via our new RSS feed.


The following videos are featured after the break: Lair (PS3), Rise of the Argonauts (PS3, 360), Sicko, Interview

Who would've thought that a licensed anime game could ever look so enticing? Ruliweb got some hands-on time with the newly released Japanese import, and it looks absolutely fantastic. The battles look like a blast (pun intended), with some miraculous mech action on display. The game has all the production values from the original anime, from TM Revolution's intro to Souichiro Hoshi's grating adolescent voice. Gundam fans will have a tear come to their eye when they see Victory flash on the screen, with See-Saw's ending playing in the background. Is this not some truly spectacular fan service?

Check after the cut to see more screens of the game. For more details, check out our previous coverage.

[Via PSP-Vault]

Every week we pray to the import gods and ask them to give us more import games to enjoy. This week we have an anime based game, a sports game and a ton of budget re-releases. Keep reading to see what's coming from Japan this week.

Continued after the jump ...

The Magic Box has reported that Namco Bandai's Mobile Suit Gundam Seed: Rengou vs Z.A.F.T. Portable (that's a mouthful of a game title) will be hitting Japan on April 5th of this year for 5040 yen. The series was originally on the PS2, but its PSP version will have 2 on 2 team battle that can be played by a single player or 2-4 players via Ad-Hoc. The mech action game is based around the world from Mobile Suit Gundam Seed, one of the most loved versions in all of the Gundam series. Feel free to import the game when it's released if you're a Gundam fan since the PSP has no region lock.

Hey, whaddya know, a PSP game in the top 10 Japanese software charts not named Gundam, and even though it came in at the last spot, we'll still take it.

1. Kirby Squeak Squad - (DS) - 166,131 /NEW
2. General Knowledge Training DS - (DS) - 159,166 /348,866
3. Pokemon Diamond - (DS) - 105,943 /1,604,152
4. Winning Eleven: Pro Evolution Soccer 2007 - (DS) - 89,275 /NEW
5. Pokemon Pearl - (DS) - 81,604 /1,358,416
6. New Super Mario Bros. - (DS) - 31,307 /3,366,560
7. Brain Training 2 - (DS) - 27,448 /3,387,842
8. Zaidan Houjin Nippon Kanji Nouryoku Kentei Kyoukai Kounin: KanKen DS - (DS) - 22,824/ 210,556
9. Animal Crossing: Wild World - (DS) - 20,691/ 3,389,974
10. Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception - (PSP) - 17,961/ 78,545

Although PSM doesn't seem to like Ace Combat X, the Japanese sure do. I guess that mature audience Sony is going after can payoff in Japan.

The last time a PSP title was this high in the Japanese software sales chart, it was SD Gundam G Generation Portable, and it was the fastest-selling PSP game to date. And now it's Gundam Battle Royale's turn at trying to upset Nintendo's DS games, which Andrew predicted more than a month ago. Is the guy psychic or something?

1. Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2 (PS2) - 263,897 / *NEW*
2. Pokemon Diamond (DS) - 254,080 / 1,074,127
3. Pokemon Pearl (DS) - 212,193 / 980,881
4. Gundam Battle Royale (PSP) - 64,986 / *NEW*
5. New Super Mario Bros. (DS) - 40,114 / 3,233,793
6. Zaidan Houjin Nippon Kanji Nouryoku Kentei Kyoukai Kounin: KanKen DS (DS) - 38,799 / 84,091
7. Minna no Tennis (PS2) - Sony - 32,962 / 416,507
8. Final Fantasy III (DS) - Square Enix - 30,418 / 781,713
9. Brain Training 2 (DS) - Nintendo - 26,600 / 3,288,248
10. Animal Crossing: Wild World (DS) - Nintendo - 22,787 / 3,305,244

While Gundam Battle Royale's sold less than half of what SD Gundam G Generation Portable (155,634) sold in its first week, it was still enough to capture the fourth spot. It seems the Japanese eat up these Gundam games faster than my fat uncle Johnny at Thanksgiving.

Has Sony finally found its PSP cashcow? Hmmm.

There are way too many PSP games at this year's Tokyo Game Show. Because not all of us have time to read all the impressions and previews of all the games coming out, PSP Fanboy has created this nifty guide for all the games that were previewed. You'll get a thumbs up or a thumbs down from the major video game news sites. If a game looks like it might be a real winner, we'll award it "The Official PSP Fanboy Entranced Korean Award." These are the games that'll end up in Korea on giant PSPs, luring people to their eventual doom. And, that's pretty cool. Read on to see all the previews!

The good folks at IGN have compiled a fantastic list of games that support ad-hoc (local) wireless and infrastructure wireless. It's been slow to start, but more and more games have been adding support for internet play and downloadable levels, and they should be commended. The games that use Infrastructure mode include:

• Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters
• Monster Hunter Portable 2 (downloadable levels only)
• Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops
• Kingdom of Paradise 2 (downloadable items only)
• Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology (online leaderboard & downloadable levels only)
• Mahjong Fight Club
• P-Kara

While this isn't a huge list of games, it's a huge improvement over the early years of the system's life. I'm happy with the support we get from heavy-hitters like Ratchet & Clank and Metal Gear Solid.

[Update 1: This list is only of games present at TGS. There are tons of other games that feature wireless support that aren't on display.]

With E3 seemingly now a shadow of its former self, the gaming industry's focus may shift to the Tokyo Game Show, which just so happens to be only a mere seven days away. TGS 2006 goes from Sept. 22 through 24 at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan. And to whet your appetite, Sony has released a preliminary list of the PSP lineup that should be in playable form at the event.

• Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception (Namco Bandai Games)
• Bounty Hounds (Namco Bandai Games)
• Boxers Road 2: The Real (Ertain)
• Gundam Battle Royale (Namco Bandai Games)
• Homestar Portable* (Sega)
• Jan-Sangokumusou (Koei)
• Jeanne D'Arc (Sony Computer Entertainment)
• Metal Gear Solid: Digital Graphic Novel (Konami)
• Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops* (Konami)
• Minna no Golf-jou* (Sony Computer Entertainment)
• Monster Hunter Portable 2nd (Capcom)
• Navigation Software* (working title) (Edia)
• Ratchet and Clank Portable (working title) (Sony Computer Entertainment)
• Sarugettchu Piposaru Racer (Sony Computer Entertainment)
• Tales of the World Radiant Mythology (Namco Bandai Games)
• Tenchi no Mon 2: Busouden (Sony Computer Entertainment)

(* – supports GPS)

In addition the already mentioned games, Sony will show new video of 35 more titles. I believe the big story here is how effectively the GPS games use the add-on. If Sony can get software that show the peripheral is more than a gimmick, the PSP may be able to gain some ground on the DS.

(Via Gamespot)

You may remember that SD Gundam was the best selling PSP game ever in Japan, selling more than 150,000 units in its first week alone. It looks like Bandai and Sony are ready to kick some ass again. Battle Royale allows four players to jump into their favorite Gundam and fight against or with their friends in a pretty cool-sounding cooperative mode. It looks like the entire franchise is represented in this outing, so Gundam geeks are going to go wild when this game hits Japan in October.

See also:
SD Gundam G Generation wins in Japan