“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 collection is a juggernaut in relation to anime and mannequin kits, however it has by no means delved into the mainstream gaming scene past a couple of Dynasty Warriors titles. However, this 12 months noticed the discharge of Gundam Evolution, a Gundam sport that appeared to attraction to extra than simply followers — one thing it definitely achieves. It’s a bit of fine 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 couple 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 workforce hero shooter style itself. The choices and distinctive taste it presents aren’t restricted to simply placing gamers in mechs (referred to 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 fully ignores the components 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 seem like a primary Overwatch clone with mechs, however there’s rather more to it than that. The shooter has its personal distinctive taste that neatly matches 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 provides gamers entry to completely different heroes referred to as cell swimsuit models. Each of those 17 models has its personal particular talents 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 rather more than heal. This cell swimsuit has spectacular mobility (one capacity lets it briefly rework right into a flying ship), packs excellent firepower with correct purpose, and is superb at reviving at a distance with its therapeutic capacity. Each unit has that degree of versatility, making extra characters really feel like viable choices at current.
There’s even a Splatoon-like side 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’ capacity to fly into a degree with a well-placed increase, land a couple of key pictures, and safely zip out. The sprint isn’t infinite, so gamers must control their meters to make sure they’re utilizing the software on the most opportune second, similar to talents.
These adjustments to the hero shooter method play a key function in making a match really feel as fluid as potential …

In such a high-octane sport, these adjustments to the hero shooter method play a key function 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 capacity to flee myself. These choices aren’t extensively 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 pace 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 enjoying, I bumped into situations of wonky hitboxes and bizarre buffers on completely different strikes and dashes at instances. One fixed difficulty I’ve hit shouldn’t be with the ability to inform when assaults hit correctly. It’s a kind of video games the place should you can work previous or study to work with the problems you’ll discover tons of enjoyment, however it’s undoubtedly not for everybody as a result of these points.
The levels 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 workforce for the present stage choice, which options some repetitive design. Gundam is a collection the place tons of battles happen on desert-like planets, darkish house stations, and machinery-filled bases. But once I have a look at each the locales within the Gundam anime collection and various levels in different hero shooters, it appears like there’s nonetheless house for the reside service sport to increase in later updates.
It’s laborious to navigate once I’m staring on the identical metallic and metal textures round each nook.

There are Gundam collection that take the fights to cities, water-based areas, and past, however Evolution lacks that very same biome-trotting really feel. While enjoying the preliminary betas, I discovered myself getting misplaced irrespective of what number of instances I performed by sure battlefields, as so many pathways and lanes appeared much like each other. It’s laborious to navigate once I’m staring on the identical metallic and metal textures round each nook.
That’s to not say these levels are poorly designed. Each has nice choke factors and merchandise placements, which helped me construct an eventual psychological map of levels. Sooner quite than later, I felt proper at house. The sport’s three completely different modes: Point Capture, Domination, and Destruction, can change the texture of maps, including some additional twists to the combination.

In Point Capture, one workforce captures two completely different set goal factors whereas the opposite defends. Domination sees each groups continually traversing your entire map whereas trying to seize a number of factors. Finally, in Destruction, one workforce 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 a different way sufficient to make them really feel new. However, the 6v6 participant rely in every mode (that’s the next participant rely than Overwatch and its sequel) might hit gamers in a different way. For some, this bigger unfold might find yourself feeling a bit unbalanced for the goals and the maps they’re performed on.
Since this can be a sport that’ll probably be supported for some time, it’s totally potential that Bandai Namco might usher in some variation in new seasons. Until then, I’ll be praying I’ll be capable to fly the blue skies hanging over a metropolis as a substitute of getting misplaced on a non-distinct house base.
It’s free-to-play, however…
I used to be shocked once I noticed the variety of models accessible at no cost once I began up the total model of Gundam Evolution. As quickly as you open the sport, you could have entry to all 12 of the models that had been accessible within the sport’s beta freed from cost. This huge number of cell fits permits tons of experimentation and grants entry to an entire expertise with out forcing gamers to drop a cent.
It gained’t empty your pockets or beg you to spend your total life enjoying to get an excellent day out of it, however the premiums may be a straightforward turnoff …

There are 5 additional models that gamers can unlock both with an in-game unlockable forex referred to as Capital or by precise cash, which may be traded for EVO cash. The unlockable forex is attained by finishing challenges and leveling as much as fill out the free battle go tiers. There are additionally paid battle go tiers that reward gamers with the forex 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 should pay some additional. For instance, these trying to play fully free and unlock everybody else by the free battle go will solely accumulate sufficient unpaid forex 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 nicely. 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 no less than 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 workforce hero shooter style. The sport switches issues up sufficient that I’m assured it might appeal to gamers fully illiterate in Gundam collection. 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 enjoying to get an excellent day out of it, however the premiums may be a straightforward turnoff for those who desire a wider expertise. The jank of the sport may flip away potential suitors. But due to the promise of future updates and being free-to-play, Gundam Evolution might need the excessive floor in its conflict in opposition to Overwatch 2.
Gundam Evolution was reviewed on PC.

Editors’ Recommendations