“Gundam Evolution is a hero shooter that gives Gundam fans and new players a full product despite being free-to-play, though it’s not without high item prices and tech quirks.”

Pros

• Unique gameplay
• Great fan service
• Feels like an entire product
• Large character roster

Cons

• Lack of stage selection
• Pricey microtransactions
• Hitbox points

It’s wild to suppose there would ever be a world the place a sport primarily based on the Gundam franchise is seen as a real competitor to the hero shooter throne that Overwatch sat on because it launched in 2016. The sequence is a juggernaut in relation to anime and mannequin kits, however it has by no means delved into the mainstream gaming scene past a number of Dynasty Warriors titles. However, this 12 months noticed the discharge of Gundam Evolution, a Gundam sport that seemed to attraction to extra than simply followers — one thing it actually achieves. It’s a bit of excellent timing, as the discharge is already overshadowing a number of the upcoming Overwatch 2‘s missteps. But that’s to not say Gundam doesn’t include a number of errors of its personal.

Gundam Evolution delivers precisely what its title implies. It’s an evolution, not only for the Gundam franchise, however for the group hero shooter style itself. The choices and distinctive taste it presents aren’t restricted to simply placing gamers in mechs (known as models and cell fits within the Gundam world) and throwing them right into a sport of Overwatch. It goes above and past to make the expertise genuinely attraction to extra than simply Gundam followers. That doesn’t imply it utterly ignores the elements supplied by Overwatch, however it places its personal spices within the stew on prime of these

These mechs aren’t only for present

Gundam Evolution might appear like a fundamental Overwatch clone with mechs, however there’s far more to it than that. The shooter has its personal distinctive taste that neatly suits the hero shooter style into the Gundam framework to invent one thing that capabilities as greater than anime fan service. Of course, there are clear similarities to Overwatch, with all of the fundamentals of the sport and even straight-up move-set copies of a few of its characters showing right here. Like Overwatch and the remainder of the hero shooter style, Gundam Evolution offers gamers entry to totally different heroes known as cell go well with models. Each of those 17 models has its personal particular skills and, within the case of Gundam Evolution, secondary jobs.

I say secondary job as a result of Gundam Evolution was created with a key gameplay philosophy: Every hero can combat. When I used Methuss, I discovered that the unit might do far more than heal. This cell go well with has spectacular mobility (one capability lets it briefly rework right into a flying ship), packs very good firepower with correct purpose, and is great at reviving at a distance with its therapeutic capability. Each unit has that stage of versatility, making extra characters really feel like viable choices at current.

There’s even a Splatoon-like facet to the gunplay due to jet boosters, which permit models to sprint ahead and hover. While it’s important to get kills to additional safe a match goal, a part of the stress comes from gamers’ capability to fly into some extent with a well-placed increase, land a number of key pictures, and safely zip out. The sprint isn’t infinite, so gamers have to keep watch over their meters to make sure they’re utilizing the software on the most opportune second, identical to skills.

In such a high-octane sport, these adjustments to the hero shooter formulation play a key position in making a match really feel as fluid as potential, whereas opening the door for a great deal of technique. For occasion, in loads of video games utilizing Methuss, I’d run in to heal an ally. Right after that, I might get some pictures in and defend them whereas they ran to security after which use my ship capability to flee myself. These choices aren’t broadly accessible in different video games of the style that’s what units Gundam Evolution aside.

This individuality doesn’t make the sport good although. The velocity and motion tacked on prime of its “jank” could make for a irritating entry section for first-time gamers and even fast learners. During my first days of taking part in, I bumped into cases of wonky hitboxes and peculiar buffers on totally different strikes and dashes at occasions. One fixed problem I’ve hit is just not with the ability to inform when assaults hit correctly. It’s a kind of video games the place in case you can work previous or study to work with the problems you’ll discover tons of enjoyment, however it’s undoubtedly not for everybody attributable to these points.

The phases might use some work

One space the place it’s clear that Gundam might use a little bit of upgrading is the stage selection. I don’t totally fault the group for the present stage choice, which options some repetitive design. Gundam is a sequence the place tons of battles happen on desert-like planets, darkish area stations, and machinery-filled bases. But after I have a look at each the locales within the Gundam anime sequence and various phases in different hero shooters, it appears like there’s nonetheless area for the stay service sport to develop in later updates.

It’s laborious to navigate after I’m staring on the similar metallic and metal textures round each nook.

There are Gundam sequence that take the fights to cities, water-based areas, and past, however Evolution lacks that very same biome-trotting really feel. While taking part in the preliminary betas, I discovered myself getting misplaced irrespective of what number of occasions I performed by way of sure battlefields, as so many pathways and lanes seemed much like each other. It’s laborious to navigate after I’m staring on the similar metallic and metal textures round each nook.

That’s to not say these phases are poorly designed. Each has nice choke factors and merchandise placements, which helped me construct an eventual psychological map of phases. Sooner moderately than later, I felt proper at house. The sport’s three totally different modes: Point Capture, Domination, and Destruction, can change the texture of maps, including some additional twists to the combo.

In Point Capture, one group captures two totally different set goal factors whereas the opposite defends. Domination sees each groups always traversing all the map whereas trying to seize a number of factors. Finally, in Destruction, one group makes an attempt to arm an explosive and defend it till it goes off whereas the opposite does the other. Each mode makes use of the maps in another way sufficient to make them really feel new. However, the 6v6 participant depend in every mode (that’s the next participant depend than Overwatch and its sequel) might hit gamers in another way. For some, this bigger unfold might find yourself feeling a bit unbalanced for the targets and the maps they’re performed on.

Since it is a sport that’ll doubtless be supported for some time, it’s totally potential that Bandai Namco might herald some variation in new seasons. Until then, I’ll be praying I’ll be capable of fly the blue skies hanging over a metropolis as an alternative of getting misplaced on a non-distinct area base.

It’s free-to-play, however…

I used to be shocked after I noticed the variety of models accessible at no cost after I began up the total model of Gundam Evolution. As quickly as you open the sport, you have got entry to all 12 of the models that had been accessible within the sport’s beta freed from cost. This extensive number of cell fits permits tons of experimentation and grants entry to an entire expertise with out forcing gamers to drop a cent.

There are 5 additional models that gamers can unlock both with an in-game unlockable foreign money known as Capital or by way of precise cash, which will be traded for EVO cash. The unlockable foreign money is attained by finishing challenges and leveling as much as fill out the free battle move tiers. There are additionally paid battle move tiers that reward gamers with the foreign money granted by paying precise cash.

While the free-to-play roster has sufficient variation to ship a full expertise, these wanting the additional bells and whistles of the extra 5 models and skins must pay some additional. For instance, these seeking to play utterly free and unlock everybody else by way of the free battle move will solely accumulate sufficient unpaid foreign money to get one character to unlock per season.

The precise financial purchases aren’t any joke both. Each premium character comes at a value of $10, which means it’s $50 for the set. The skins add on an additional premium as properly. A pack of 4 easy reskins got here at $80 (and what’s worse is that they aren’t precisely the prettiest cosmetics). There’s at the least solace in the truth that these skins and further characters aren’t wanted to benefit from the sport. One can simply soar in, ignore all this, and play the sport with out paying a penny. But if you wish to play the total sport, both be prepared for a gradual and regular grind or pay up.

Gundam Evolution brings sufficient distinctive twists to make it a real contender within the group hero shooter style. The sport switches issues up sufficient that I’m assured it might entice gamers utterly illiterate in Gundam sequence. For followers, although, it brings a wealth of thrilling references to dig into like particular VIP outros. It gained’t empty your pockets or beg you to spend your total life taking part in to get day out of it, however the premiums will be a straightforward turnoff for people who need a wider expertise. The jank of the sport might also flip away potential suitors. But due to the promise of future updates and being free-to-play, Gundam Evolution may need the excessive floor in its struggle towards Overwatch 2.

Gundam Evolution was reviewed on PC.

Editors’ Recommendations