AN UNPRECEDENTED INTERACTIVE CINEMATIC ANIME EXPERIENCE

This feature-length interactive cinematic tale, specially crafted for Gundam enthusiasts, anime fans, and VR aficionados, will offer a unique opportunity to fully immerse themselves in the heart of one of Japan’s most iconic anime universes.

As a Quest owner, I was delighted to see a Gundam-themed experience coming to VR, so I preordered it immediately after its release.

In Silver Phantom, you play as a faceless mercenary pilot named “Shavetail” who works for the Argent Keil group, known for their silver mobile suits, in the UC 0096 timeframe. Your task is to pilot the Delta Zayin Gundam on a mission to eliminate a Federation officer who has defected to the Zeon forces.

The plot follows a familiar Gundam narrative arc – a Gundam pilot discovers their Newtype abilities and uses them to overcome adversity, likely facing lasting emotional consequences. Compared to other Gundam stories like Twilight Axis or Narrative Gundam, the narrative quality is average. Without the immersive VR setting, the story may seem unremarkable.

From a VR perspective, this game/movie appears to have been plagued by a series of poor gameplay design choices. The VR “controls” boil down to simply moving one’s head in the desired direction and manipulating joystick levers, with no true freedom of movement beyond a couple of brief jetpack sequences that still tether the player to a predetermined path.

As a longtime Gundam fan, I found the experience enjoyable at first, but ultimately it left me craving a fully-fledged VR game where I could fully pilot mobile suits. This felt more like a movie/game hybrid than a true interactive experience. While you do get to pilot the Gundam was undoubtedly cool, the sparse action and subpar combat controls prevented me from fully embracing the “I’m really piloting a Gundam” sensation.

For Gundam fans with a Meta Quest, this is a must-try experience despite its flaws.

Noteable Features :
+ Official Licensed Gundam Finally!
+ Great Anime Graphics!
+ Fun Mixed Reality Mini Game!

Graphics : 8.5

Gameplay : 7.0

Sound : 8.0

Currently available on Meta Quest Store
Developer : Bandai Namco Filmworks, Atlas V, Albyon
Reviewed on Meta Quest 3