On March 14th, Bandai Namco games posted a demo for its upcoming game "Gundam Breaker". What they didn't expect was that they would break a record. The demo brought in over 300,000 downloads in one week.
The game "Gundam Breaker" is an action game using Bandai's Gundam model kit series "Gunpla". The player can win and assemble Gundam parts to make the franchise's popular mobile suits or to customize his or her own mobile suit. Gundam Breaker will be available on both the PS3 and PS VITA.
The most recent trailer confirms over 50 Gundams and mobile suits available.
(Unofficial list)
Rx-78-2 (Gundam)
Zeta Gundam
ZZ Gundam
Hyaku Shiki
Unicorn Gundam
Gundam MK II (Black Version also)
Master Gundam
Nobel Gundam
Wing Zero Custom
Deathsycth Hell Custom
Heavyarms Kai
Turn A Gundam
Strike Gundam
Strike Freedom
Gundam Astray Red Frame Kai
Gundam Astray Blue Frame Second G
00 Gundam
Mobile Suits available
GM
Zaku II
Zaku II Char Custom
Dom
Shinaju
Masurao
For those who pre-order, the complete Freedom Gundam parts set will be available for download.
Trailer #3
As the videos suggests, online play with up to three other people is available. Even those playing the Beta demo can play online.
By mixing and matching parts a person can create their "Dream Gundam" In addition to mixing parts, a player can change the color of the mobile suit, add decals, weathering, damage, airbrush, and texturing. When the model is finished, it can be saved to a "Gundam Perfect Games" profile. It can be entered in theme competitions and shared via Facebook, Twitter, and other social media pages.
Change parts and colors for your ultimate mobile suit
The menus are English friendly often having the translation of the Japanese menu item under or to the side of it. While the customize menu is almost entirely English, the mission menu, names and descriptions of parts, and the "specs" menus are completely in Japanese.
Customize menu. Part of the menu is in English
While listed as an "Action" game, fans of RPGs could get into this title. Battling earns you OS points and as you defeat enemies, they leave behind parts. These parts can be built and thus earning you builder points. Collecting OS points and builder points allows you to level up. Earning you better parts, better stats, more abilities and more customization options. Certain parts have certain abilities that can be equipped giving the mobile suit special attacks and even the ability to heal (repair)
Another element unique to this game is the ability to knock off parts (or get them knocked off of you) having a part knocked off affects the performance greatly. Knocking a head off causes inability to target enemies while losing an arm can prevent you from shooting or performing melee attacks. While annoying, it can help you stun an enemy when you pull it off.
Losing your head could lose you the battle.
Having a chance to play the beta demo my strongest (and not very at that) complaint is the targeting and camera. Unfortunately the targeting is changed by constantly moving the camera. When approaching a group of enemies, the camera will target the first one you see (usually the closest) however if you snipe it and stun it, you are open to attacks from the approaching mobile suits because you cannot change the target manually. You have to move the camera then change the target. It might not seem like a big deal but with fast approaching enemies, that one move can be fatal. My other gripe with the camera is the complete reliance on the player. While fighting you might not always have time to be moving the camera. If you are pressed up against the wall, you are literally fighting blind. In many cases the camera may not move even if you are attempting to move it, resulting a shot of your back or darkness from the backgrounds.
Screenshot from 3rd trailer.
The game drops on June, 27th for the Playstation 3, while the release date for the PS VITA has yet to be announced. Ami Ami, HMV, CD-Japan, and Play-Asia all have the games available for purchase. The beta demo is available for download on Playstation Network Japan.
