Gundam Breaker 4 is a deep toybox for Gunpla freaks

by

As a lifelong fan of Gundam and Gunpla, I can confidently say that my love for these franchises has reached new heights with Gundam Breaker 4. With its deep customization options and heart-pounding combat, this game is a dream come true for me.

Using homemade mechanical armor pieced together from leftover parts, I stand ready against an oversized RX-78 Gundam – triple the usual size. As I pull the trigger on my beam rifle, a strange response occurs. Regrettably, it results in the loss of my arm, replaced by a stump and charred paint smear. Grasping a beam saber with my remaining hand, I advance towards the adversary, cutting into its legs until they glow red from the heat. I locate a vulnerable spot on the Gundam’s chest, strike it, and the colossal figure collapses to the ground.

Despite needing a break, I’m continuing to fight without pause until it’s upright again. It suffered some significant harm, but not enough to finish it off, so the battle cycle resumes. My arm snaps back to consciousness, restoring my two primary tools for combat. Gundam is renowned as an anti-war masterpiece in anime, but at this moment, I’m engaging with model kits, clashing them together like action figures. I conquer the colossal 78 and return home, sorting through all the fresh components I discovered for my kit. My companion, a quirky geek who adores SD Gundam, appears delighted. This is Gundam Breaker 4.

I woke up stupidly early over the weekend to play a video game. That’s because Bandai Namco ran an “Open Network Test” for Gundam Breaker 4, a title I’ve been attempting to will into existence since at least 2018. I only played for a little over an hour, but after that small chunk of time I can happily say I’m one hundred percent on board for more. From the extreme depth of the customization options to the lizard brain-igniting combat, it’s an easy sell for someone who not only digs Gundam as a series, but has a lifelong enthusiasm for Gunpla as well.

In essence, Gundam Breaker is primarily an action game that involves hunting down enemy robots (mechs), damaging them, and retrieving parts. These parts are then incorporated into your collection of Gunpla items, a term used casually for Gundam model kits, a pastime that has maintained the popularity of Gundam since the 70s. You can customize your kit by adjusting colors, decals, weathering, damage effects, and abilities, aiming to create the most impressive and stylish Gunpla mech possible in your imagination.

Gundam Breaker 4 offers an all-encompassing experience with numerous playable missions, either solo or multiplayer online. Each mission presents its unique challenges, enemies, and potential loot drops. Upon completion, you return home to sift through your rewards. The customization options are wildly extensive, allowing you to alter parts, adjust their size, change colors, add wear-and-tear effects, and even decorate them in various ways. With thousands of parts and hundreds of possibilities, it can initially feel overwhelming, but the fun factor is undeniably high. During my demo playthrough, I chose to prioritize strength over aesthetics, but the experience was still enjoyable. Here’s a snapshot of me: [insert image].

In Gundam Breaker 4, there are fresh additions and enhancements, though if you’re not a dedicated fan, it might all seem novel. Interestingly, this is the first numbered game in the series to be made available in North America! The unique aspect is that you can arrange your collection to create a diorama, effectively building an action set, reminiscent of a dedicated Gunpla enthusiast. There’s much more to explore in this game than just assembling kits and parts like toys. However, feel free to do so if that’s what you prefer! The only element missing is the narrative depth found in “real” Gundam series, but that’s not the focus of this game.

I’m really excited to delve deeper into Gundam Breaker 4. There seems to be an abundance of content to explore, and even just a glimpse of it looks like fun. My brief encounter with the game on the Switch was impressive (it ran smoothly, by the way!). With the complete version, I plan to spend time customizing my gear, choosing my weapon specialties, and perhaps creating a diorama as well.

On August 29, 2024, Gundam Breaker 4 will be released for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, 5, and PC platforms. For this preview, we had the opportunity to participate in an Open Network Test on the Nintendo Switch version.

Read More

2024-08-14 17:28