Gundam Breaker 4 Review

Few franchises can inspire the same creativity and fandom as Mobile Suit Gundam, Gundam Breaker 4 from CRAFTS ＆ MEISTER Co., Ltd., and Bandai Namco takes that passion to a whole new level. This latest installment in the Gundam Breaker series lets you create your own Gunpla, customize it to perfection, and send it into thrilling battles across various game modes. The game’s focus on creation, customization, and destruction is a love letter to the fans who have spent years building their dream mechs from the vast universe of Gundam.

With over 250 base kits, the possibilities in Gundam Breaker 4 are seemingly endless. Whether you’re a casual fan looking to recreate your favourite Mobile Suit or a dedicated builder aiming for the ultimate custom Gunpla, this game delivers a deep and rewarding experience that taps into the core appeal of the franchise. But it’s not just about building—the game also offers fast-paced combat missions where your creations are tested in intense battles against AI and online opponents.

In addition to its robust customization features, Gundam Breaker 4 introduces new gameplay elements, such as dual-wielding weapons and a looting system that lets you collect and use the parts you break off from enemies. Combine that with the new Diorama Mode, which allows players to display their Gunpla in dynamic scenes, and you have a game that’s as much about creativity as it is about combat.

But does Gundam Breaker 4 live up to the high expectations of its dedicated fanbase, or does it falter under the weight of its ambitious ideas? Let’s dive in and explore the world of Gundam Breaker 4.

Setting and Story

Gundam Breaker 4 doesn’t delve deep into the rich, intricate lore of the broader Gundam universe. Instead, it focuses on a more straightforward narrative that serves as a backdrop for the main attraction—customizing and battling your Gunpla. The story is light, placing you as a participant in a Gunpla battle competition, where your ultimate goal is to become the best builder and fighter. It’s the perfect framing for a game where creativity and combat take center stage.

In a future where Gunpla building and battling have become a trendy sport, players are thrust into a world where engineering skill and combat prowess determine your success. The story starts with your character entering a Gunpla tournament, where you face off against rivals and friends. Each battle is a test of your Gunpla’s abilities and a showcase of your ingenuity and customization expertise. The narrative serves its purpose without overshadowing the game’s core appeal—building and battling.

Along the way, you’ll meet a colourful cast of characters, many of whom are seasoned Gunpla builders themselves. While they may offer light commentary on your progress, their real purpose is to push the player forward through various challenges and missions. These characters provide occasional insights into the world of Gunpla battles, but don’t expect an intensely emotional or complex storyline akin to the mainline Gundam series. The story is more of a vehicle to get you into the thick of combat and customization.

What makes the setting interesting is how it leans heavily into the concept of Gunpla as both a hobby and a competitive sport. The game’s environments are designed to reflect this, with sleek tournament arenas, high-tech labs, and futuristic battlefields that emphasize the thrill of Gunpla combat. Diorama Mode, a standout feature of Gundam Breaker 4, takes this concept further by allowing players to create their scenes, further building on the idea that Gunpla is not just about battling—it’s about creation, design, and expression.

Overall, Gundam Breaker 4‘s setting and story work well as a backdrop, motivating players to engage with the core gameplay mechanics while keeping the focus squarely on what matters most: creating and battling with custom-built Gunpla. The narrative is light but practical, letting players jump into the action without getting bogged down by complex lore or exposition.

Gameplay and Mechanics

Gundam Breaker 4 shines brightest in its gameplay, allowing players to fully engage with the “Break, Build, Battle” loop. The game is designed to appeal to die-hard Gundam fans and those who love deep customization systems and action-packed combat. Whether you’re smashing through enemy Gunpla or meticulously fine-tuning your build, Gundam Breaker 4 offers a rich and rewarding experience.

Customization – Build Your Dream Gunpla:

At the core of Gundam Breaker 4 is its extensive customization system. With over 250 base kits, the game offers nearly limitless possibilities for creating your perfect Gunpla. Players can mix and match parts from various Mobile Suits, allowing creative freedom beyond simple cosmetic choices. You can build it here whether aiming for a sleek, high-mobility model or a heavily armoured tank of destruction.

Customization isn’t just about assembling parts. The game allows you to paint your Gunpla, apply weathering effects, and slap on custom decals, allowing every player to make their creation feel unique. Each part has its own stats and special abilities, meaning that the choices you make in the garage will directly impact your performance in combat. The new Diorama Mode lets you display your custom builds in epic scenes, adding a touch of creativity that extends beyond battle.

Combat – Break and Battle:

Combat in Gundam Breaker 4 is fast-paced and satisfying, focusing on breaking apart enemy Gunpla and looting their parts. The combat system encourages you to be aggressive—breaking off parts from enemy Mobile Suits and adding them to your collection. These broken parts can either be immediately equipped or saved for later, offering a quick sense of progression even in the middle of a mission.

The game introduces dual-wielding mechanics, allowing you to use two weapons simultaneously. Whether it’s a beam rifle in one hand and a sword in the other, this feature adds a new layer of strategy to the game, as you can switch between ranged and melee combat on the fly. The wide variety of weapons and the dynamic nature of battles keep things fresh, as no two encounters feel precisely the same.

The fluid combat system is complemented by various missions that offer more than just repetitive combat. With friends, you’ll take on wave-based missions, boss battles, and co-op missions. The game’s single-player mode is solid, but engaging in multiplayer adds a whole new layer of fun, especially when testing out your custom Gunpla against other players.

Looting and Part Collection:

One of the fundamental mechanics that makes Gundam Breaker 4 stand out from other action games is its looting system. Every battle can add new parts to your ever-growing collection, whether by breaking them off from enemies or finding them during missions. The looting system gives the game a constant sense of reward, as every part you collect can be used to refine and improve your own Gunpla.

Moreover, the parts you loot aren’t just stat boosts—they often come with special abilities, granting your Gunpla unique skills such as energy shields, faster boosts, or powerful finishers. This turns each battle into a resource-gathering mission, where every piece you collect could help shape your future builds.

Skills and Upgrades:

As you progress, you’ll unlock various skills that can apply to your Gunpla. These skills enhance your abilities in battle, giving you access to special moves, increased damage output, or defensive capabilities. The skill system, combined with the part customization, creates an intricate web of possibilities for optimizing your build. Do you want to make a tanky Gunpla that can withstand assault, or do you prefer a high-speed, high-damage Glass Cannon? Gundam Breaker 4 gives you the tools to experiment with different playstyles.

Gundam Breaker 4’s gameplay and mechanics are deep, engaging, and satisfying. Whether you customize Gunpla down to the finest detail or smash through waves of enemies, the game keeps you hooked with its constant progression and fast-paced combat.

Multiplayer and Replayability

Gundam Breaker 4 truly excels at extending its longevity through a robust multiplayer experience and an incredible depth of customization that invites players to return constantly for more. Whether diving into cooperative battles with friends or testing your custom builds against others in competitive matches, Gundam Breaker 4 offers a variety of ways to keep the action fresh and engaging.

Online Multiplayer – Cooperative and Competitive Modes:

One of the most exciting aspects of Gundam Breaker 4 is its online multiplayer component. The game allows you to join friends or other players worldwide to take on cooperative missions. These missions range from classic horde modes, where you and your team must fend off waves of enemy Gunpla, to more intricate boss battles that require careful coordination and strategy. The cooperative play emphasizes teamwork, as players can take on complementary roles with their customized Gunpla—whether a high-damage attacker, a defence-focused tank, or a support role providing buffs and heals.

The competitive mode allows players to pit their custom-built Gunpla against each other in one-on-one or team-based PvP battles. This is where the game’s deep customization system truly shines, as you’ll need to fine-tune your builds to gain an edge over human opponents. It’s not just about raw power—strategy, mobility, and a well-balanced loadout can often decide in these tense battles. Testing out different combinations of parts, weapons, and skills against skilled opponents adds a new layer of excitement to the game, pushing you to improve your Gunpla and tactics.

Replayability Through Customization:

The customization options in Gundam Breaker 4 are a crucial driver of the game’s replayability. With over 250 base kits and countless parts to mix and match, the possibilities for creating new and unique Gunpla are practically limitless. Each new part you can, whether it’s a new weapon, armour, or access, with a sense of discovery and experimentation. Players are constantly encouraged to revisit earlier missions or discover new challenges to unlock more parts and refine their builds.

The Diorama Mode also extends the game’s replay value by allowing players to share their creations with the broader Gundam Breaker community. You can create dynamic scenes using your custom Gunpla, complete with various backgrounds and special effects, and then share them online for others to admire. This game’s social element gives players an additional creative outlet beyond combat, fostering a community of builders who can showcase their work.

Mission Variety and Challenges:

Even after completing the main storyline, Gundam Breaker 4 offers plenty of reasons to keep playing. The game features many mission types, from straightforward combat challenges to complex objectives requiring puzzle-solving and teamwork. The variety ensures that you never feel stuck in a repetitive loop. Additionally, the game offers harder difficulty settings and special “challenge missions” for those looking to test their skills against more formidable opponents.

The AI is more aggressive in these challenging modes, and enemies drop rarer, more robust parts. These challenges incentivize players to replay missions and perfect their strategies, with the reward being unique parts that can give your Gunpla the edge in both single-player and multiplayer.

Seasonal Events and Updates:

Bandai Namco has hinted at plans for future content updates and seasonal events in Gundam Breaker 4, which should help keep the game alive with fresh content. These events could introduce new Gunpla kits, limited-time missions, or special cosmetic rewards, keeping the community engaged well after launch. The promise of post-launch support and the possibility of new challenges and rewards further enhance the game’s long-term replayability.

Endgame and Progression:

Gundam Breaker 4 offers a satisfying endgame loop for players who thrive on continual progression. Even after unlocking most parts and completing the main story, there’s always room for refinement. The loot system ensures that no two Gunpla are pretty the same, as even identical parts can have different stat boosts or unique abilities. This opens the door to endless tinkering and optimization as you fine-tune your build for maximum efficiency in both PvE and PvP modes.

Combining cooperative and competitive multiplayer modes, extensive customization, and mission variety gives Gundam Breaker 4 significant replayability. The game is designed to keep players coming back, whether for the thrill of creating the ultimate Gunpla, the challenge of mastering high-difficulty missions, or the satisfaction of defeating opponents online. There’s always something new to discover or improve, making it a game that can easily consume dozens—if not hundreds—of hours.

Graphics and Sound

Gundam Breaker 4 delivers a visually stunning experience packed with vibrant details and immersive sound design that elevates the game’s building and battling aspects. Whether customizing your Gunpla, engaging in intense combat, or admiring your creations in Diorama Mode, the graphics and sound combine to create an experience that truly brings the Gundam universe to life.

Graphics:

Visually, Gundam Breaker 4 takes full advantage of modern gaming hardware to present the most detailed and polished Gunpla models yet. Every Mobile Suit looks like a meticulously built scale model, complete with fine details on parts, from the intricate mechanical components to the paint and weathering effects that players can customize. The level of visual fidelity makes it clear that the game was built with Gundam fans in mind—these are not just generic robots but carefully crafted representations of iconic mechs from the franchise.

The game excels at showcasing the parts you collect and combining with various colour options, finishes, and decals that allow players to personalize their Gunpla truly. Whether applying battle scars to give your creation a weathered, worn look or adding a high-gloss paint job to make it stand out, the attention to detail in customization is impressive. The new Diorama Mode shines here, allowing players to place their creations in dynamic scenes with multiple background options and visual effects. The lighting and shading in this mode enhance the realism of the Gunpla models, making your custom builds look like they’ve leaped out of a display case.

The environments, from sleek futuristic battle arenas to outdoor settings like deserts and cityscapes, are rendered with enough detail to create visually engaging battlefields. While the arenas may not always steal the spotlight, they serve their purpose well—focusing on the action between the Gunpla. Environmental effects, like debris flying through the air during battles or sparks flying when your Gunpla takes damage, add to the intensity and immersion.

Sound:

The sound design in Gundam Breaker 4 is equally impressive, particularly in how it enhances the core experience of building, battling, and looting. The roar of engines, the clash of metal, and the explosive sounds of weapons firing and colliding are all well-crafted, giving every battle a visceral sense of impact. Whether in the heat of combat or hearing the satisfying sound of parts snapping into place as you customize your Gunpla, the audio is dynamic and responsive.

Each weapon in the game has its distinct sound profile, which adds to the immersion. Beam rifles crackle with energy, beam sabres hum ominously as they slice through enemies, and explosions from missile launchers or grenades shake the battlefield. The audio feedback you receive during combat is crucial, as it makes battles feel more engaging and helps players quickly understand what’s happening around them. Hearing an enemy’s gunfire behind you or the metallic clang of your Gunpla taking a direct hit adds to the strategic element of combat, making sound as important as visuals.

The game’s soundtrack is a mix of high-energy tracks that match the frenetic pace of the action, as well as more ambient themes for moments of customization and exploration. The music swells during intense moments, such as boss fights or heated multiplayer battles, helping to raise the stakes and pump up the adrenaline. For fans of the Gundam series, the music is fitting, bringing an epic, space-faring feel to the game’s most significant moments. Most importantly, the soundtrack doesn’t take too many risks or stray far from typical mecha-action tunes; it does its job well, providing a backdrop that complements the intense combat sequences.

Environmental Sound and Audio Design:

The environmental sound effects in Gundam Breaker 4 add depth to the gameplay experience. Whether you’re fighting in a bustling city where buildings collapse around you or in an open desert where sand kicks up as you dash across the battlefield, the sound design helps to make each environment feel alive and reactive. The chaos of debris scattering, buildings crumbling, and enemies exploding around you keeps the action feeling immediate and immersive.

Additionally, the game does an excellent job with voice work, especially when interacting with teammates or rivals in multiplayer modes. Characters deliver commands, warnings, and battle cries during intense moments, adding another layer of engagement to cooperative and competitive play. While the voice acting is serviceable, it enhances the sense of camaraderie or competition, depending on the situation.

Performance and Polish:

From a technical perspective, Gundam Breaker 4 runs smoothly with stable frame rates, even during the most chaotic battles with explosions and multiple combatants. The game’s optimization ensures that both the models’ visual fidelity and the combat’s fluidity remain intact without dips in performance, even on high-end systems. The game also performs admirably on mid-range setups, allowing a wide range of players to experience it without compromising graphical quality.

The transitions between combat, customization, and menu navigation are seamless, helping to maintain the game’s flow and ensuring that players aren’t taken out of the action. Load times are minimal, making jumping between modes or missions easy without lengthy waits.

In summary, Gundam Breaker 4 excels in graphics and sound, delivering a visually stunning and audibly immersive experience that captures the essence of the Gundam franchise. From the detailed Gunpla models to the explosive soundscapes of battle, the game ensures that every moment feels impactful and engaging. Whether customizing the perfect Gunpla or diving into intense combat, the game’s presentation enhances every aspect of the experience.

Final Thoughts

Gundam Breaker 4 is a must-play for fans of the Gundam franchise and those who love deep customization mixed with high-octane action. CRAFTS ＆ MEISTER Co., Ltd and Bandai Namco have succeeded in delivering a game that embraces the core appeal of the Gundam Breaker series—giving players the freedom to create, customize, and battle their perfect Gunpla. With over 250 base kits and a seemingly endless variety of parts to collect, the possibilities for building and customizing your dream Mobile Suit are virtually limitless.

The core gameplay loop—breaking enemies to collect parts, building your ultimate Gunpla, and battling in various missions—remains as satisfying as ever. Adding new features, such as dual-wielding weapons and Diorama Mode, adds layers of creativity and depth that help keep the game fresh, even after hours of play. Whether you’re a meticulous builder or a combat enthusiast, Gundam Breaker 4 provides ample content to satisfy both.

While the game’s story is light and serves as a backdrop for the action, this works in its favour. The focus is rightly placed on customization and combat, which are the show’s real stars. The multiplayer modes—both cooperative and competitive—extend the game’s replayability significantly, as players can continuously refine their builds and face off against others in exciting online battles.

Technically, Gundam Breaker 4 delivers solid performance with smooth frame rates, vibrant graphics, and immersive sound. The detailed Gunpla models and explosive combat effects ensure that every moment in the game looks and feels spectacular. Meanwhile, the sound design, from the roar of engines to the clashing of metal in battle, adds an extra layer of immersion that pulls you deeper into the action.

Of course, no game is without its minor drawbacks. For players looking for a deep, narrative-driven experience, the story in Gundam Breaker 4 may feel somewhat shallow. Additionally, while the customization is intense, it can also be overwhelming for newcomers who might find the sheer number of options daunting. However, these are minor criticisms compared to the experience’s overall quality.

In conclusion, Gundam Breaker 4 is a well-rounded package that will delight fans of the Gundam universe and mech enthusiasts alike. With its robust customization system, exciting combat mechanics, and variety of multiplayer and single-player content, it offers something for both casual and hardcore players. Whether you’re here to create the ultimate Gunpla, dominate in competitive battles, or enjoy smashing through enemies, Gundam Breaker 4 delivers on all fronts. It’s a game that lets your imagination soar in the garage and on the battlefield.

We prepared this review with a digital copy of Gundam Breaker 4 for the PlayStation 5 version provided by Bandai Namco.