Once, Shin Kazama was a pilot in training with a bright future. Headed for a position in the Yamato Airlines, he had a beautiful girlfriend named Ryoko and all the happiness in the world; that is, until his “friend” Kanzaki tricked him into signing his life away. Stationed at the secretive Area 88, Shin is now trapped in the service of Aslan’s foreign legion, and faces death daily in the cockpit of a fighter plane. In order to return to Japan he must survive for three years or pay $1.5 million dollars… but few manage to stay alive long enough. Will Shin ever return to Tokyo and his beloved?
The year is Universal Century 0079 and mankind is yet again at war. The space colony Side 3 has declared itself the Principality of Zeon and has separated itself from the Earth Federation. In a raid on the colony Side 7, Zeon troops force a band of civilians, military recruits and one green ensign to escape on a previously unseen class of ship with prototype Federation mobile suits. Among them is Amaru Ray, who piloted the Gundam during the raid on Side 7. Unfortunately, his mastery of it earns him the responsibility of using it in the war against Zeon...
I think you'd like Gundam because it and Area 88 are the same in the sense that there are guys in a machine killing the enemy. If you like watching explosions I'd suggest both Area 88 and Gundam.