Note: This review is based on the Deluxe version of Gundam Breaker 4 for PC. I would also like to credit the Reimaru Files site for a list of confirmed series and units cited here.


As a little kid, I enjoyed action figures, and I and many other children often would smack action figures together in "combat" because, like most children, we had grandiose little fantasies of epic battles. Gundam Breaker 4 is a game that lets me be a little kid again, and it's a well-put-together title.

First, some background. The Gundam Breaker series is based on the Mobile Suit Gundam franchise, and its series and mobile suit mech units are usable like action figures you can fight with and customize, based on their real-world "Gunpla", or model kits. The setting is that of a virtual reality where various Gunpla fans can make their own customized Gunpla and battle against each other in friendly competition. Gundam Breaker 4 is set six years after Gundam Breaker 3 (and completely ignores the rather panned New Gundam Breaker), but this knowledge is not required to enjoy it.

Gundam Breaker is built around the concept of "kitbashing", or making custom Gunpla based on different parts from mobile suits and attaining victory based on these customizations. "Mono models", or recreations of units all based on the same suit are possible, but generally will not be as versatile as a kitbashed unit. The basic plot is you and a bunch of others is engaged in the beta of the latest version of Gundam Breaker, and you are all making custom Gunpla, obtaining more parts in matches, and competing to see who can be the resident Gunpla Master of Gundam Breaker.

The site contains a list of all represented series and units.

https://www.reimarufiles.com/2024/05/12/list-of-confirmed-gunpla-kits-in-gundam-breaker-4/

The core gameplay loop is rather simple. Gundam Breaker 4 is an arena fighter game with an explorable hub area between missions. In the hub area, you can choose to engage in Gunpla customization, select from various missions, engage in multiplayer, and view already watched cutscenes again, among various other unlockables. In the missions themselves, you often have to perform various objectives like defeating all enemies or protecting a certain point. There are occasional boss fights in some missions, and these will require strategy and careful optimization of your Gunpla to overcome.

There is a story to the game, but it's rather simple and not overly complicated and mostly introduces you to various characters. It also gives you computer-controlled allies to assist you on various missions, who will form a "clan" with you. The multiplayer allows you to join clans based on other human players and is separate from the storied clan. The multiplayer functions much like the singleplayer, except it only has a "co-op" mode, there is no Player versus Player (PvP). There is a Bounty Hunter mode, though, where the player can fight computer-controlled versions of other players' Gunpla models and register their own by the same token for other players to fight.

My only complaint about the gameplay is that if you want something more than collecting Gunpla parts and doing story missions, this game is not going to offer much more to do. Also, while the game patiently explains the various game subsystems, you will have to do frequent upgrades of your Gunpla parts, which is not going to be fun if you don't like to micromanage this sort of thing.

Graphically, Gundam Breaker 4 is very bright and colorful, with a hand-drawn anime aesthetic and series-accurate designs of all the represented mechs from the Gundam franchise. While primarily an action game, the player and other characters speaking in cutscenes have a visual novel style with animated heads and selectable choices for conversations.

From a musical and sound effects standpoint, this is fairly competent. The soundtrack is pleasant on the ear and has a lot of dramatic and stirring music similar to the Gundam franchise's own penchant for dramatic battle themes, stirring anthems, and occasional chorals. The only downside is that many of the licensed themes from some series, as seen in earlier entries like New Gundam Breaker are not present. This likely decreased the costs of production, but it's somewhat disappointing to not be able to hear the stirring refrain of Beyond the Time from Char's Counterattack or the dramatic vocals of the Unicorn Gundam theme. The voiceovers are competent in English and Japanese. There does seem to be a bit of a goof in the spoken English lines where your main character (who is referred to in gender-neutral terms in the Japanese version) is occasionally referred to as male, but this appears to have been due to the fact English lacks a good range of gender-neutral terminology. There are two generic voiceovers selectable for your character, a Type A (Male) and Type B (Female), though their use is entirely optional.

This title can be played on a keyboard and mouse or via any Steam-supported controller. I definitely recommend the latter, the former is doable but will feel a bit more clunky, this was definitely designed for controller play. The game provides patient tutorials and full button remapping, so there are not any problems learning the basics. The game camera is controlled via a simple toggle and unlike its predecessor New Gundam Breaker, is not a pain to use. Said camera also sits a reasonable distance behind the player as opposed to the horrible one from New Gundam Breaker which was rather up close and could make quick turns and peripheral view annoying.

Stability on Microsoft Windows is solid. I found it runs very smoothly with no hint of slowdown provided you can be somewhat above minimum requirements. This will easily run on Linux via Steam Proton and is rated Playable for the Steam Deck. The only concern is some text may be rather small on the Steam Deck. Online is accessible both on Windows and Linux and provided your connection is stable, it will hold acceptably.


Morally, this has some very minor concerns.

Violence is on the level of a cartoon, set in a virtual reality arena where simulated machines are destroying each other. There is no blood, gore, or any realistic damage to anything, and the remains disappear. It's under the formal sanction of a sports organization and is regarded as a legitimate bloodless competition.

The language is clean. One machine is called the "Deathscythe Hell" due to its Grim Reaper theme, but this is an official military designation, similar to real-world "Hellfire" missiles.

This has no sexual themes, the setting is a hard sci-fi one, and morally this takes place entirely in a regulated virtual reality competition. While not of any moral concern, it is noted that due to the interchangeability of avatars and other customizations, males can pose as females, avatars do not have to resemble their real-world controller, and without further spoilers, this does become something of a plot point.

Technically, this game is pretty sound and fun. It's a bit repetitive if you want more than fighting and customizing Gunpla, but if you are a Gundam fan or just into mecha in general, that is going to be the raison d'etre for even playing. Morally, this is pretty clean if you aren't offended by bloodless virtual reality robots fighting each other. Any young teen on up would easily be able to handle the themes of this title, and I heavily recommend it.