Also who wants to hear about a Japanese only game?

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It was a somber day when the announcement came that the life-sized statue of the original Gundam, situated in Odaiba, Tokyo, would be dismantled. However, the news was soon followed by the revelation that the franchise’s newest prized mobile suit, the Unicorn Gundam, would take its place. Currently, the new statue is under construction in the exact location as its predecessor, with plans to complete it by this fall.

Since then, photos and videos have emerged of the statue, offering a tantalizing glimpse.

For those unfamiliar, the Unicorn Gundam has two forms: Unicorn Mode, for which it is named, and Destroy Mode, where the panels open to reveal its true form and the psychoframe within. Without delving too deeply into the technical jargon, it’s a unique technology in the Gundam universe. The following gif gives a sense of the transformation.

Initial concept art for the life-size statue showcased the Gundam in Destroy Mode. Recent videos, however, reveal a familiar and unexpected feature.

何度もアンテナが開閉してました。
こちら、運良く撮れたムービーです。

歩道からも普通に見られる位置なので、通りすがりの方も興味深げに写真撮られてました。
これからも開閉テストは行われるんじゃないかと思います。#実物大ユニコーン進捗 pic.twitter.com/8vFpIBG8XV

— よっくん (@yoshi115t) August 1, 2017

The statue can transform! This unexpected feature is nonetheless incredible. While it remains unclear if the transformation will match its animated counterpart, the fact that it’s being implemented on a 20-meter-tall statue is an impressive achievement. More photos have surfaced, showing parts of the incomplete mobile suit, but no footage of the entire transformation has been shared yet. Given time, more details are sure to emerge, considering the country’s love for giant robots.

明日の台風に備え、強風からアンテナを守るように閉じたユニコーン状態です。
1枚目、真横から見た頭部(マスク無し)
2枚目、胸部サイコフレーム
3枚目、正面から見た頭部
4枚目、バックパック
いずれも隠すそぶりもなく全方位からはっきり見えています。 #実物大ユニコーン進捗 pic.twitter.com/s50OX48vEa

— よっくん (@yoshi115t) August 7, 2017

Here’s an interesting trivia for you. In Japan, approximately six months after the release of Dark Souls and two months after Armored Core V, Bandai Namco launched a PlayStation 3 game based on the first three episodes of the Gundam Unicorn OVA. What sets it apart is that it was developed by From Software, the same studio behind Dark Souls and Armored Core V.

I’m still surprised that Namco didn’t release this game outside Japan. Dark Souls had created a significant buzz that helped elevate From Software’s profile, and they continued to publish Gundam games internationally, such as Dynasty Warriors Gundam Reborn in 2014. The Gundam Unicorn OVA was well-received and revitalized the Universal Century timeline, akin to the Marvel Cinematic Universe for Gundam. There seems to be no apparent reason why they wouldn’t have brought it overseas, particularly given the availability of digital distribution.

Fortunately, if you’re looking to experience the Gundam Unicorn game without importing, you’re in luck. The titular mobile suit, alongside other units and characters, will appear in the upcoming Gundam Versus, set for release on September 29. A beta test is also scheduled for September 2.