Back in early 2016, while scouring for import-friendly games on the PS Vita, I frequently came across mentions of Gundam Breaker. If you're new to the series, think of it as a hack and slash action game with RPG elements, deep customization, and an unbridled passion for Gunpla. Around that time, Bandai Namco announced an Asia English release for Gundam Breaker 3 on both PS4 and PS Vita, prompting me to purchase both versions. It was my first foray into Gundam games, and I fell in love with it. Since then, I've imported and played Gundam Breaker 1 and 2 on PS Vita and have collected nearly every English-released Gundam game across various platforms. The announcement and subsequent global multi-platform release of Gundam Breaker 4 earlier this year was one of 2024's biggest surprises. Now, with Gundam Breaker 4 available on Steam, Switch, PS4, and PS5, and having invested about 60 hours across these platforms, I can say I adore it, though it does have some issues.
Gundam Breaker 4 marks a significant milestone not only for the game itself but also for how far the series has come in the West. Gone are the days of waiting for Asia English releases to import. Gundam Breaker 3 was an Asia English release exclusive to PlayStation and not available in the West. Moreover, Gundam Breaker 4 offers dual audio options and multiple subtitles (EFIGS and more), a rarity for Gundam games. But what about the game itself and the different platform versions? This extended review will delve into all of that while also chronicling my journey of building my first Master Grade Gunpla after tackling some High Grade kits.
The story of Gundam Breaker 4 has its highs and lows. While some pre-mission dialogue can drag, the latter half of the game features intriguing character reveals and more engaging dialogue. Even if you're new to the series, Gundam Breaker 4 does a commendable job of getting you up to speed, though the significance of certain characters might be lost on newcomers. The embargo limits discussion to the first two chapters, which feel straightforward. By the end, I grew fond of the main characters, though my two favorites appear later in the story.
However, the real allure of Gundam Breaker 4 lies not in the story but in the customization and progression. Building your perfect Gunpla, enhancing it over time, acquiring better gear, and tackling higher difficulties and quests is the core experience. The customization is phenomenal, allowing you to adjust individual parts like left and right arms, ranged and melee weapons, and even the size and scale of parts. You can mix SD (super deformed) parts with standard ones, creating unique or even quirky designs.
The customization extends beyond basic assembly with builder parts that add further enhancements, some of which come with their own skills. Combat involves EX and OP skills based on your parts and weapons, and later, you unlock ability cartridges that offer buffs or debuffs. As you progress through missions, breaking parts and earning S-rank rewards, you collect materials to level up and increase the rarity of your parts, unlocking more skills and enhancing older parts.
During the main story, I occasionally engaged in optional quests for money or parts, but the game is well-balanced so that grinding isn't necessary on standard difficulty. As you progress, three higher difficulty levels unlock, ramping up the challenge and part level recommendations. Don't overlook new unlocks, as some optional quest types, like survival mode, are particularly fun.
You can also customize the paint of your suit with color schemes unlocked through progression or DLC. With time, Gundam Breaker 4 offers a wealth of content for enthusiasts, including decals and weathering effects. For Gunpla fans, this game is the ultimate experience, but does it play well?
I thoroughly enjoyed Gundam Breaker 4's gameplay through story missions, side content, and boss fights, with one exception. Combat remains engaging even on normal difficulty, and the variety of weapons and skills ensures a fresh experience. I settled on a greatsword-style weapon for my playthrough, but the options are vast.
Boss and miniboss encounters are particularly exciting, emerging from Gunpla boxes and breaking out before battle. It's thrilling to see a kit you've built appear as a boss. Most fights involve targeting weak points and managing multiple health bars and shields. I struggled with one boss's weak points until switching to a whip, and a specific dual-boss fight challenged me due to AI issues.
Visually, Gundam Breaker 4 ranges from great to satisfactory. Early environments may seem lacking, but the variety improves. The focus is clearly on the Gunpla kits and animations, which look fantastic. The aesthetic suits the game well and scales appropriately on lower-end hardware. Effects and the scale of boss fights are impressive.
The music in Gundam Breaker 4 varies from forgettable to excellent, with standout tracks during specific story missions. Unfortunately, there's no option to use music from the various anime and movies, nor is there a way to load custom music as seen in other Gundam games.
The voice acting was a pleasant surprise, with both English and Japanese options being well-executed. I preferred the English during missions to avoid reading small subtitles amidst intense battles.
Aside from one annoying mission type and a few bugs, Gundam Breaker 4 has been smooth. New players who dislike replaying missions for gear might find it repetitive, but for me, it's akin to Earth Defense Force or Monster Hunter, where post-story play is about perfecting your Gunpla.
Regarding bugs, one issue prevented certain names from saving, and two were likely Steam Deck-specific: slow title screen returns and a mission crash on my monitor that didn't occur on the Deck itself.
I haven't fully explored the online features yet, as the PC servers were offline pre-launch. I'll update this once I can test it on Steam Deck with friends.
As for my Gunpla project, I made progress on my RG 78-2 MG 3.0, but a small mistake led to a near-disaster, which I rectified with a guitar pick. I'll finish it once the review embargo lifts.
Gundam Breaker 4 PC port controls – keyboard, mouse, and controller support
The PC version of Gundam Breaker 4 supports above 60fps, unlike the PS5's 60fps cap and the Switch's 30fps. It also offers mouse and keyboard support alongside controller compatibility with multiple button prompt options. On the Steam Deck, it displayed Xbox button prompts, while using a DualSense over the Dock on my monitor correctly showed PlayStation prompts. The game auto-switches between keyboard, mouse, and controller prompts based on input. I encountered an issue where the game didn't detect reconnected controllers, tested with DualSense and 8BitDo Ultimate controllers wirelessly.
Gundam Breaker 4 includes three controller presets and a custom option, allowing independent adjustments for keyboard, mouse, and controller settings. I recommend tweaking camera sensitivity and distance in Player Mode from the game settings, as the defaults felt too slow and close.
Gundam Breaker 4 PC graphics settings and display options
Gundam Breaker 4 supports multiple resolutions and frame rate caps. On the Steam Deck, it runs at 720p and 16:9, with frame rates adjustable from 30fps to 360fps and unlimited on PC. I set it to 120fps on my Steam Deck OLED, and you can toggle v-sync. Graphics settings allow adjustments to textures, anti-aliasing, post-processing, shadows, effects, brightness, and motion blur.
Gundam Breaker 4 Steam Deck performance – does it work out of the box?
I played Gundam Breaker 4 using Proton Experimental and default Proton, and it worked flawlessly out of the box, even invoking the on-screen keyboard for text input. It's likely to be Steam Deck Verified pre-launch or soon after, given my 35 hours of playtime on my Steam Deck OLED. With all settings at High except shadows, it easily hit 60fps, but I adjusted to medium settings for 80-90fps in most missions. Late-game missions occasionally dropped to the high 60s, and in-engine cut-scenes ranged from 50-70fps. The assembly section had brief drops to 1-3fps, which I hope Valve can address if it's a Proton-related issue.
The only visual issue on the Deck was slightly smaller or less crisp icon glyphs and menus, likely due to the game's design for higher resolutions and larger screens.
Gundam Breaker 4 Switch vs PS5 – what to buy?
On consoles, I focused on the Switch (Lite and OLED) and PS5 versions. The PS5 version looks stunning and runs smoothly at 60fps, though I didn't reach the more demanding late-game missions. The Switch version, while playable, suffers from lower resolution, reduced detail, and less impressive reflections. My friend likened the Switch version to an HG Gunpla compared to the PS5's RG, highlighting the detail loss.
I expected 120fps on PS5 given its visuals, but it's capped at 60fps, possibly for multiplayer compatibility with PS4. The PS5 version offers decent rumble support and PS5 Activity Card support for quicker save loading. Switch load times are significantly longer than PS5 and Steam Deck.
If portability is your priority, the Switch version might suffice, but the assembly section and diorama mode feel sluggish. While mission performance is better, it's not a consistent 30fps. If you played Gundam Breaker 3 on PS Vita, you might be okay with the Switch version, but I hoped for a better port considering future content updates.
For those with multiple platforms, I recommend the Switch version only if you're exclusively interested in portable play and don't own a Steam Deck. I enjoyed Gundam Breaker 4 on my Switch Lite, though some menu text was small. Unfortunately, it was my last game on the Lite before its screen developed issues.
Is the Gundam Breaker 4 Ultimate Edition worth it?
I had access to some DLC included in the Deluxe and Ultimate Editions. The early unlocks aren't game-changing, offering level 1 parts for listed suits, but the builder parts are more beneficial for starting out. The Diorama content isn't fully available yet, but what I accessed was great for posing Gunpla and using the cel-shaded filter. Photo mode enthusiasts will appreciate this feature, and additional items and accessories will enhance it further. The Gunbarrel Strike Gundam – Gundam Breaker Ver parts were a highlight, prompting me to pre-order the collector's edition.
Is Gundam Breaker 4 worth it for the story?
While some are excited about Gundam Breaker 4's story, the real draw is the customization, battles, and Gunpla building. For a story-focused experience, consider Megaton Musashi. As a fan of the older games, I connected more with Gundam Breaker 4's gameplay.
I planned to build the MG 78-2 Version 3.0 kit alongside playing Gundam Breaker 4, but other game releases prevented me. Playing the new Gundam Breaker while building my Gunpla kit deepened my appreciation for the design work involved in moving from HG to MG and RG kits. I'm grateful for friends who offered tips on decals, panel lining, and troubleshooting, and I look forward to finishing this kit and starting my next RG.
The wait for Gundam Breaker 4 was long, and I doubted we'd see another game after New Gundam Breaker. But here it is, spectacular in nearly every aspect. It's my favorite Steam Deck game since Shin Megami Tensei V Vengeance, and I eagerly anticipate playing it both online and offline with the planned DLC.
Gundam Breaker 4 Steam Deck review: 4.5/5
