As a lifelong Gundam enthusiast and someone who has spent countless hours crafting intricate Gunpla models, I can confidently say that Gundam Breaker 4 is a dream come true for fans like me. This game perfectly captures the joy of customizing and showcasing your creations in a way that no other game has managed to do before.
Today’s focus is on Gundam Breaker 4, an interesting choice given my earlier mention that we haven’t seen previous installments in North America. However, there was a spin-off game called New Gundam Breaker which we did receive, but it didn’t exactly set the world on fire. Thankfully, the series didn’t fade away entirely, and now we have a brand new entry that’s widely accessible. It’s fantastic to revisit this series once more!
The nerdiest thing possible, in a good way
The Mobile Suit Gundam series is remarkably long-standing, dating back to the 1970s – an era that seems almost unbelievable now. The narrative delves into profound themes such as intergenerational strife and overt anti-war sentiments, but it’s safe to say that Gunpla, the model kits based on the mech suits from the show, played a crucial role in Gundam’s longevity. While merchandising may have given the series a commercial edge, it has undeniably contributed significantly to Gundam’s lasting impact. Today, Gunpla remains popular, and Gundam Breaker is an extension of that aspect of Gundam fandom evolving into a distinctive franchise of its own.
In the game Gundam Breaker, building Gunpla model kits has evolved into something much more than just assembly. Now, your customized mobile suit acts as an avatar, allowing you to control it in a massive, virtual reality battlefield setting. You can embark on missions alone or with others, engaging in intense battles against other mobile suits in realistic combat environments. The unique aspect is that when you defeat enemy mechs, they drop Gunpla components! With an incredibly advanced customization tool at your disposal, you can use these components to modify and enhance your Gunpla far beyond what’s possible with real-life kits. After creating a new and improved kit, you move on to more challenging missions for better components, and the cycle continues until you’re content with your progress.
It can’t be understated how awesome the customization aspect of Gundam Breakers is. Each part can not only be selected individually for stats and abilities, but you can alter them visually in an absurd number of ways. Colors down to individual pieces of a piece, finishing, weathering for artificial damage (top level Gunpla sickos do this in real life), decals, purely cosmetic parts and more are all on the table. You can even warp the size and shape of individual pieces to make a Gunpla kit that is truly your own. Or a horrible manifestation of your own twisted sense of humor in a way Street Fighter 6’s cursed character creator couldn’t even dream of. Whatever floats your mech.
This new addition, Diorama, offers an extraordinary degree of customization that initially seemed overwhelming to me, particularly from an ADHD standpoint. It was almost too complex for my brain to grasp at first. However, as I browsed through the various options and possibilities of arranging multiple Gunpla kits and adding effects such as explosions, I began to understand its potential. There’s a certain charm for die-hard Gunpla enthusiasts in this feature, and the effort that has gone into its design is impressive.
There’s gameplay too, sometimes
Building your Gunpla remains the primary allure, but the action-packed battles that offer fresh parts and serve as a platform for display are nothing to scoff at. The atmosphere is casual yet engaging, reminiscent of arcade games with fast-paced button pressing mechanics. However, there’s a wide variety of properties and combo possibilities to explore. Much like Devil May Cry, maintaining a combo or hit counter can enhance the rarity and quality of parts you receive. This means that not only is it crucial to show off your innovative Gunpla designs, but also to maintain a stylish approach during combat. Essentially, this system encourages continuous improvement and is incredibly enjoyable to partake in. It’s a far cry from the awkward, arena-style battles that marred New Gundam Breaker’s reception.
In simpler terms, the repeated cycle of customizing and battling in Gundam Breaker 4 is a blast to play with friends. The game cleverly incorporates this loop even in its single-player mode, where missions are often done alongside companions. Since the combat system is simple yet engaging without being overly simplistic, you could easily spend hours just doing the fundamental activities within the lobby. To make things more enticing, you can customize your profile badge by choosing your top three favorite Gundam series, a great way to ignite debates with friends about the merits of Universal Century Gundam versus the flashier designs from After Colony. If you’re familiar with the series, you’ll understand this reference.
The power of anime
The primary issue with Gundam Breaker 4 lies in its narrative. It’s important to remember that this game centers around action figures, so it’s not surprising that it doesn’t delve into the same depths of horror and human conflict as a typical Gundam series. If you’re seeking those elements, Gundam F91 would be more suitable. Instead, what you get with Gundam Breaker 4 is a more playful, humorous experience, much like a Saturday morning cartoon show or an anime primarily designed to promote toys for children. It’s similar to waving a fork through the air and expecting to eat it, yet it does have its moments of humor and drama when it chooses. However, if you’re here for a compelling story, you might be disappointed unless we’re discussing the emergent stories found in customizing your Gunpla (Gundam plastic models). For instance, discovering horns from the Dynasty Warriors Gundam series in the cosmetics, transforming your Gunpla into a Bull Man, and creating a legacy for your Musou-referencing Gundam Bull Man before growing bored and changing it entirely once you received new parts – that’s where its charm lies.
At its core, Gundam Breaker 4 centers around the intricate parts that make up these models, or Gunpla. Building a Gunpla model is a labor of love, requiring patience, precision, and a sense of accomplishment upon completion. The game takes this concept and transforms it into an interactive experience, maximizing its differences from the real-world construction process.
On August 29, 2024, Gundam Breaker 4 will be released on PlayStation 4 and 5, Nintendo Switch, and personal computers. For this review, I received a PC access code from the game’s publisher.
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2024-08-27 10:27