“Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory,” an OAV of the legendary “Mobile Suit Gundam” comes to a close in its fourth volume. Famed for its drama and its lineage, 0083's fourth installment is a non-stop war drama, filled with the sorrow and solace of battle as the ghosts of Zeon conclude their plan to regain dominance.

Gundam 0083 is the dramatic story of pilot Kou Uraki and his post war battles. The Zeon, after losing the previous war in “Mobile Suit Gundam” have hatched a plan for revenge against the Earth Federation. During the fourth DVD the OAV thunders to a glorious close, as the Zeon's plan comes full-force. After Kou receives the Unit 3 “Denbrodium” Gundam and Zeon Ace Anavel Gato receives the “Neue Ziel” Mobile Armor, the final fight for the memories of the past begins. Kou is destined to face what real war is like and who his enemies really are.

Gundam 0083 is certainly one of the most memorable installments to the Gundam lineage. Its story is possibly one of the best Gundam has ever produced, truly showing the horror of war as Yoshiyuki Tomino originally intended. The viewer should be forewarned, however, that to truly appreciate the story of 0083 some prior knowledge of the Mobile Suit Gundam storyline is necessary. Gundam 0083 is based in the events following Mobile Suit Gundam, so if the viewer is not well versed in the Gundam history, little of 0083 will make sense.

One of the technical qualities that stands out is the visuals. The mecha designs are some of the best ever, most notably Anavel Gato's Mobile Armor the “Neue Ziel” (New Goal.) The detail and creative setup of this particular mobile suit shows how much effort the creators really put in to this show, and it is most definitely appreciated. The art is quite compelling, with shots of long dead Zeon soldiers still in space. It accompanies the storyline very well and has a sincere effect.

The sound is fair. Some of the background music can overshadow the dialogue at times. For the most part, the problem is quite negligible, but it can be noticed during some more important scenes where the character's dialogue would be more appreciated if it could be properly heard. The dub dialogue is quite good. A lot of the cast choices are on target. Some of the notable castings that are well chosen were Sparky Thornton as Anavel Gato and Richard Barnes as Aguielle Delaz. The subtitles are however better than the dub. The timing is almost perfect and there are no visible errors in the subs.

In the second half of the series, a new opening and closing are used, and they are quite nice. The background music quite nice, and matches the various scenes very well. The song used at the very end of the OAV, (also the closing) “Evergreen” fits the end perfectly. “Evergreen” works so well with the end that it is impossible to forget the general harmony of the scene once you've seen it. DVD truly shines here; as nice as the TV release can be, it must be stressed how much better the DVD release actually is.

What actually makes 0083 such a great show is the story. It takes on many facets of war and determination and exacts a lot of thought from the viewer. The Federation soldiers are for the most part rookies, and seeing how far they go and the tragedies they endure is very effectual. Even more so is the true grit of the Zeon, and Anavel Gato's stark determination to make sure the ideals of Zeon survive. This volume is the final embodiment of Gato's devotion to his cause, as his plan wraps up. Treachery, sacrifice and battle are center stage as the OAV reaches its finale. It is purpose of Tomino's original Gundam in its best form.

Gundam 0083 will be remembered as an important piece in the history of the series. It is a definent for those who are fans of Mobile Suit Gundam. For all those who enjoy war drama it should not be missed. It is an effectual work that will certainly not be forgotten by the viewer.