I’m continuing to kick it old school, this time with the HGUC #39 Z’Gok Experimental (AKA the Z’Gok-E) from the War in the Pocket OVA.
About the Mobile Suit
As the name implies, the Z’Gok-E was an experimental upgrade to the original Z’Gok.
The Z’Gok was one of many amphibious mobile suits designed by Zeon for use during the One Year War. Specifically, it was a second generation design that was intended to move underwater, but (mainly) fight on land. It was pretty good at its job, though it is said that it was hard to pilot and difficult to repair.
The Z’Gok-E improves on the original design in nearly every way, while also making it more effective at underwater combat. Here is what the Gundam Wiki has to say:
The Z'Gok E was an experimental improved version of the MSM-07 Z'Gok. Besides improved beam cannons in its arm, allowing for rapid-fire, the original Z'Gok's head-mounted missile launchers were also replaced with torpedo launchers for additional firepower when operating underwater.
To allow for better cruising range underwater, the suit's main propulsion systems were relocated from the back to the legs to create a more streamlined body shape. Its limbs were also designed to be retractable for the same reason. The thrusters built into its back were meant for jumping and various ground based movements, and greatly boost the suit's mobility on land.
The Z'Gok E used a standardized cockpit with the introduction of the United Maintenance Plan, and was powered by an improved generator which gave the suit ample performance.
About the Visual Design
It is said that most of the mobile suit designs from War in the Pocket were originally meant to be redesigns of MS that showed up in the First Gundam. However, during production someone decided that instead they should instead represent new variants of these existing suits.
There is no doubt in my mind that this was the case for the Z’Gok-E. It doesn’t really change any of the Z’Gok’s weapons or features, but it does make some much needed changes to its color scheme and its proportions. I 100% that at some point it was nothing more than a visual overhaul of the original MS.
And hey, that’s okay with me! There is a reason this is my one and only model of the Z’Gok, and it’s because it’s the best looking version of the design. It’s wider legs, wider shoulders, and longer arms give it a much more menacing look than before, and it’s slate grey color scheme is perfectly understated.
A Little Bit More About the Visual Design
Like all amphibious Zeon mobile suits, the Z’Gok has a “movie monster” vibe. It’s got little vents on its underside that look like gills, and the whole upper body reminds me a lot of a crab’s carapace. And of course there’s those claws!
At the same time, its bulbous shape, coupled with all its vents on its body, make it look a bit like an evil version of an old diving suit.
I feel that some amphibious MS designs go too far in looking like movie monsters, so I appreciate that the Z’Gok-E takes visual cues from an additional (and still thematically appropriate) source. It helps it look creepy, but not goofy.
Appearances in Media
The Z’Gok-E has shown up in a couple of video games, but it’s first - and by far most noteworthy - appearance is, of course, in War in the Pocket.
Actually, “noteworthy” may be stretching it a bit. It only appears in the opening battle scene, when the Cyclops Team conducts a surprise attack on the Earth Federation’s Antarctic Base to try and stop the Gundam Alex from being shipped off into space.
While most of the squad pilots Hygogg’s, their leader, Captian Steiner, uses a Z’Gok-E instead. It is unknown whether or not this was by choice, but I can see an old guy like Steiner being stuck in his ways, wanting to pilot something he’s already familiar with.
While Steiner and the Z’Gok survive the mission, we never really see it do anything of note with its handful of seconds of screen time. It really just exists to stand around and look pretty.
And tumble over a ledge:
About the Model Kit
This kit is from 2003, which makes it the same vintage as its fellow War in the Pocket alumni, the High Grade GM Cold Districts. That kit holds up surprisingly well, so I’m hoping the same is true again.