By Meijin Kawaguchi the 3rd tests out a new Gunpla Battle OS update with Allan Adams that allows anyone to play the game. Allan mentions that there are different AI based on Gundam characters, and the Meijin realizes that any dream match is possible. Allan challenges the Meijin to a fight and reveals his new kit, the Reversible Gundam. The Meijin accepts the challenge and pulls out his new kit, the Ballistic Zaku. Allan selects an AI based on Ribbons Almark, while the Meijin selects Char Aznable. The battle begins in space outside a colony, and Char tells Ribbons that he’s never heard of him, but piloting a Gundam is reason enough to fight. Char recognizes Ribbons’ voice when he speaks and says that it infuriates him. The two open fire on each other, and Ribbons heads into the colony after Char blasts a hole in it. Char dodges an attack and is surprised to see that Ribbons’ suit has transformed into a tank mode. He concludes that the suit has good firepower, but lacks in mobility. Ribbons snatches away Char’s bazooka, and when Char moves in close for a melee attack, the Reversible Gundam quickly transforms into mobile suit mode to block. Char dodges a close-range beam attack and watches as the Reversible Gundam switches to cannon mode. The battle moves to a desert area in the colony, and Char dodges another attack before returning to space. He deploys funnels to attack, and Ribbons responds with fangs, which Char is able to avoid. Char gets in close and kicks Ribbons into the outer hull of the colony. The Meijin concludes that the Char AI is stronger, but Allan wants to keep going and pulls a little prank. Char comes in for a finishing attack, but the Reversible Gundam blocks after its AI pilot switches to Amuro Ray. Char asks why Ribbons has the same voice, and Amuro answers that it’s a coincidence. The two begin punching each other repeatedly and end up on the Moon. They each perform a melee attack and destroy each other, ending the battle in a draw. The Meijin is impressed, and Allan explains that switching the AI was a secret trick. The Meijin wants to fight again and uses Emma Sheen, and Allan picks Seabook Arno.
The first episode of Battlogue certainly doesn’t lack for Gundam fanservice. The Gunpla Battle OS now has the ability to create dream matches using AI based on Gundam characters, which results in an amusing fight between Char and Ribbons/Amuro. The entire battle’s premise is based on voice actor joke – Amuro Ray actor Tohru Furuya is also the voice of Ribbons Almark, although he uses the pseudonym “Noboru Sogetsu.” That’s why it’s a joke when Amuro claims that any vocal similarity to Ribbons is a coincidence. Oddly, Char isn’t voiced by Shuichi Ikeda, but rather by Toshihiko Seki, better known as Rau Le Creuset in SEED and Duo Maxwell in Wing. Other amusing bits include the appearance of the classic Char Kick, along with their usual ranting about how Lalah Sune was important to each of them. For a battle-focused short, this episode does exactly what it’s meant to do.
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