Gundam Breaker 4: A Deep Dive into Gunpla Customization and Action
Gundam Breaker 4, finally released on Steam, Switch, PS4, and PS5, delivers a thrilling experience for Gunpla enthusiasts and newcomers alike. This extended review explores the game's strengths and weaknesses across platforms, culminating in a personal journey building a Master Grade Gunpla.
The game's narrative, while serviceable, takes a backseat to its core gameplay loop. Early dialogue might feel protracted, but the story picks up momentum later with compelling character reveals and engaging interactions. While newcomers will be quickly brought up to speed, prior experience enhances appreciation for certain character appearances.
The true heart of Gundam Breaker 4 lies in its unparalleled Gunpla customization. Beyond swapping arms and legs, players can fine-tune ranged and melee weaponry, adjust part scaling (even incorporating SD parts!), and equip builder parts with unique skills. EX and OP skills, coupled with ability cartridges offering buffs and debuffs, further enhance strategic depth.
Missions reward players with parts, materials for upgrading, and the chance to increase part rarity, unlocking more skills and allowing for strategic part cannibalization. While optional quests provide extra income and parts, the standard difficulty maintains a fair balance, minimizing grinding needs. Higher difficulty levels unlock as the story progresses, significantly increasing the challenge.
Beyond combat and customization, players can personalize their Gunpla with paint jobs, decals, and weathering effects. The sheer depth of customization is astounding.
The core gameplay loop, encompassing story missions, side content, and boss fights, is incredibly satisfying. Combat remains engaging even on lower difficulties, thanks to varied weapons and skill systems. Boss encounters are creatively staged, with Gunpla emerging from crates before battle. Targeting weak points, managing health bars, and overcoming shields offer a consistent challenge. While one specific boss fight presented some AI-related difficulty, the overall combat experience is polished.
Visually, Gundam Breaker 4 is a mixed bag. Environments lack detail in early stages, but overall variety is satisfactory. The focus is clearly on Gunpla models and animations, which are impeccably rendered. The art style is intentionally non-realistic, aligning well with the game's tone. Effects are impressive, and boss fight scales are spectacular.
The soundtrack is a blend of forgettable and memorable tracks, with a noticeable absence of music from the anime and movies. The voice acting, however, is surprisingly excellent in both English and Japanese.
Minor issues include a frustrating mission type (thankfully infrequent) and a few bugs. Repetitive gameplay might deter players who dislike grinding for better gear. The online functionality remains untested on PC at the time of writing.
The PC port shines with its 60fps+ capability (unlike the PS5's 60fps cap and Switch's 30fps), mouse and keyboard support, and multiple button prompt options. Steam Deck compatibility is excellent, running smoothly with Proton Experimental. However, minor visual glitches and font issues were observed on the Steam Deck.
Comparing the Switch and PS5 versions, the PS5 offers superior visuals and performance, while the Switch version suffers from reduced resolution, detail, and reflections. The Switch port's assembly and diorama modes are noticeably sluggish, although in-mission performance is better than anticipated.
The Ultimate Edition's DLC adds early-game parts and diorama content, but its value depends on individual preferences.
While the story is enjoyable, Gundam Breaker 4's core strength lies in its unparalleled customization and engaging gameplay. It's a must-have for Gunpla enthusiasts and a highly recommended title for action fans seeking a unique and deeply satisfying experience.
Gundam Breaker 4 Steam Deck Review: 4.5/5
