Gundam Breaker 4: Cross-Platform Performance for Steam Deck, Switch, PS5

Gundam Breaker 4: A Deep Dive Review Across Platforms

Back in 2016, the Gundam Breaker series was a niche import for PS Vita enthusiasts. The announcement of a global release for Gundam Breaker 4 in 2024 was a huge surprise, and its arrival on Steam, Switch, PS4, and PS5 is a significant milestone for Western fans. After 60 hours across platforms, I can say Gundam Breaker 4 is fantastic, though not without a few minor issues.

This release is monumental, marking a departure from region-locked releases and limited platform availability. Gundam Breaker 3, for example, was an Asia English release exclusive to PlayStation. Gundam Breaker 4 boasts dual audio (English and Japanese) and multiple subtitle options, a significant improvement.

The story, while serviceable, has its ups and downs. Early dialogue can feel protracted, but the latter half delivers compelling character reveals and more engaging conversations. Newcomers will be brought up to speed, though the significance of certain characters might be initially unclear. The embargo restricts my discussion to the first two chapters, which feel rather straightforward. While I grew fond of the main characters, my personal favorites appear much later.

However, the narrative is secondary to the core gameplay loop: building, customizing, upgrading, and battling. The customization is incredibly deep. You can adjust individual parts, weapons (including dual-wielding), and even the scale of parts, allowing for unique and often bizarre Gunpla creations. Builder parts further expand customization options, adding skills and enhancing your Gunpla's abilities. EX and OP skills, along with ability cartridges, provide strategic combat depth.

Missions reward parts, materials for upgrading, and materials to increase part rarity. The game is well-balanced; grinding isn't necessary for the main story on normal difficulty. Higher difficulties unlock later, significantly increasing the challenge. Optional quests, including a fun survival mode, offer additional rewards and variety. Beyond parts and upgrades, you can customize your Gunpla's paint, decals, and weathering effects.

The gameplay itself is excellent. Combat remains engaging throughout, even on normal difficulty. Weapon variety encourages experimentation. Boss fights are satisfying, often involving targeting weak points and overcoming various health bars and shields. One specific boss fight proved challenging due to weapon limitations, but switching weapons quickly resolved the issue. The only significant difficulty spike involved a dual boss encounter.

Visually, the game is a mixed bag. Early environments are somewhat lacking, but overall variety is decent. The Gunpla models and animations are exceptionally well-done. The art style is not realistic, but it's effective and performs well on lower-end hardware. Effects are impressive, and the scale of boss battles is impressive.

The soundtrack is a mixed bag; some tracks are forgettable, while others are truly excellent. The lack of music from the anime is a minor disappointment. The voice acting, however, is surprisingly good in both English and Japanese.

Minor issues include a repetitive mission type and a few bugs (one involving save names, and a couple seemingly Steam Deck-specific). Online functionality remains untested on PC at the time of writing.

My concurrent Master Grade Gunpla build provided a unique perspective on the game's design. The process highlighted the intricate detail and effort involved in creating these kits.

Platform Differences:

• PC: Supports over 60fps, mouse and keyboard, and multiple controller presets. Runs exceptionally well on Steam Deck.
• PS5: Capped at 60fps, excellent visuals.
• Switch: Lower resolution and detail, performance issues in assembly and diorama modes.

DLC: The Deluxe and Ultimate Editions offer additional parts and diorama content. The early unlocks aren't game-changing, but the builder parts are helpful.

Overall: Gundam Breaker 4 is a fantastic game, especially for Gunpla enthusiasts. While the story is enjoyable, the true appeal lies in the deep customization, engaging combat, and the sheer satisfaction of building your ultimate Gunpla. The PC version, particularly on Steam Deck, shines. The Switch version is playable but suffers from performance issues.

Gundam Breaker 4 Steam Deck Review: 4.5/5