Back in early 2016, while hunting for PS Vita games with good import potential, I frequently encountered *Gundam Breaker*. For the uninitiated, imagine a thrilling blend of hack-and-slash action, RPG elements, and extensive customization, all fueled by a genuine passion for Gunpla. Around that time, Bandai Namco announced an English release of *Gundam Breaker 3* for PS4 and PS Vita in Asia, prompting me to purchase both versions. It became my gateway into the Gundam universe, sparking a love affair with the series. Since then, I've imported and played *Gundam Breaker 1* and *2* on PS Vita, and subsequently acquired nearly every English-localized Gundam game across various platforms. So, the announcement of *Gundam Breaker 4* earlier this year, with confirmed global multi-platform release, was a huge 2024 surprise. Now, *Gundam Breaker 4* is finally here on Steam, Switch, PS4, and PS5. After roughly 60 hours across these platforms, I wholeheartedly adore it, despite a few minor issues.

*Gundam Breaker 4*'s significance extends beyond the game itself; it represents a significant milestone for the series in the West. What makes it such a big deal? The days of waiting for Asian English releases are over. *Gundam Breaker 3*, for example, was an Asian English release, never officially released in the West and only available on PlayStation. I can't recall the last Gundam game with an English dub, but here we have dual audio and multiple subtitle options (EFIGS and more). But what about the game itself and its performance across platforms? Let's dive into this extended review, which also chronicles my journey into building my first Master Grade Gunpla (Gundam Plastic Kit, for newcomers) after completing several High Grade (simpler, smaller kits).

*Gundam Breaker 4*'s story has its ups and downs. The lows? Some pre-mission dialogue felt excessively long. The highs? The latter half of the game delivers intriguing character reveals and more engaging conversations. Even without prior experience in the series, *Gundam Breaker 4* effectively brings you up to speed, though the significance of certain character appearances might be initially unclear. Due to embargo restrictions, I can only discuss the first two chapters, which feel fairly straightforward. While I grew fond of the main characters by the end, my personal favorites appear much later.

However, the story isn't the main attraction. The real draw is crafting your perfect Gunpla, continually improving it, acquiring better gear, and growing stronger to conquer increasingly difficult challenges and quests. You start with the basics, but the customization depth, underplayed in the marketing, is truly astounding. You can adjust individual parts (left and right arms, ranged weapons for each arm, dual-wield melee), and even tweak part size and scale. This allows for bizarre Frankensteinian creations or precisely scaled Gunpla using SD (super deformed) parts.

Beyond the core assembly categories, customization expands with builder parts offering additional enhancements, some with unique skills. Combat utilizes EX and OP skills based on your parts and weapons. Later, you unlock ability cartridges providing various buffs and debuffs.

Missions reward parts, materials for upgrading, and materials to increase part rarity, unlocking more skills. Upgrading allows you to cannibalize older parts for their skills. While I spent time on optional quests for extra money and parts, the game feels well-balanced, minimizing the need for grinding on standard difficulty. Three higher difficulties unlock as the story progresses, significantly increasing the challenge and recommended part levels. If skipping optional quests, keep an eye on new unlocks; some, like survival mode, are quite enjoyable.

Beyond this, you can customize paint schemes, decals, and weathering effects. *Gundam Breaker 4* is a dream for Gunpla enthusiasts, but how does it play?

Story missions, side content, and boss fights (with one exception) were a joy. Combat never grew stale, even on normal difficulty. I experimented with various weapons before settling on a greatsword. Skills and stats kept things fresh. Boss fights typically involve targeting weak points, managing multiple health bars, and destroying shields. I encountered difficulty with one boss's weak points using specific weapons, but switching to a whip quickly resolved the issue. The only truly challenging fight involved two of a specific boss simultaneously. (Details omitted to avoid spoilers, but the AI presented a hurdle in one specific encounter.)

Visually, *Gundam Breaker 4* ranges from excellent to acceptable. Early environments feel somewhat lacking, but overall variety is good. The focus is clearly on Gunpla and animations, which look fantastic. The art style isn't realistic; don't expect *Gundam Evolution* levels of detail. The aesthetic works well and scales effectively on lower-end hardware. Effects are impressive, and the scale of many boss fights is breathtaking.

The music is a mixed bag—some forgettable tracks, others genuinely great in specific story missions. The absence of music from the anime and movies is disappointing (usually seen in DLC). Custom music loading, a feature in *Mobile Suit Gundam Extreme Vs Maxiboost ON*, is also absent.

Voice acting pleasantly surprised me. I played through the game entirely in English on one save and several hours with Japanese voices on another platform. Both were excellent, though I preferred English during missions to avoid reading subtitles during intense battles.

Beyond a frustrating mission type (thankfully infrequent) and a few bugs, I encountered no major issues. Newcomers who dislike replaying missions for better gear might find it repetitive. I approach *Gundam Breaker* like *Earth Defense Force* and *Monster Hunter*, focusing on building my ideal Gunpla after completing the story.

Bugs included one where names wouldn't save, and two possibly Steam Deck-specific: excessive load times returning to the title screen and a mission crashing only when playing on my monitor (worked fine on the Deck itself). This might be related to docked performance penalties.

Online play (tested pre-release on PS5 and Switch, limited retail testing on PS5): PC servers weren't online pre-launch, so Steam Deck online testing is pending. This review will be updated once online functionality is verified.

Regarding my Gunpla build: I made progress on the MG 78-2 MG 3.0, completing five runner sets, but made a mistake with a small part, nearly breaking it. A guitar pick saved the day. I paused around halfway. I'll finish it after this week's review embargoes lift.

Now, let's discuss platform differences and features:

Gundam Breaker 4 PC Port Controls – Keyboard, Mouse, and Controller Support

The PC version uniquely supports over 60fps (PS5 capped at 60fps, Switch around 30fps). It also offers mouse and keyboard support alongside controller support with multiple button prompt options. The Deck displayed Xbox prompts; my DualSense controller on my monitor showed PlayStation prompts correctly. It automatically switches prompts based on input. The only controller issue was incorrect detection after reconnection (tested with DualSense and 8BitDo Ultimate controllers).

Three controller presets and a custom option are available, with independent keyboard, mouse, and controller settings. Adjusting camera sensitivity and distance (in Player Mode settings) is recommended.

Gundam Breaker 4 PC Graphics Settings and Display Options

Multiple resolutions and frame rate caps are supported. The Steam Deck runs at 720p and 16:9 (not full 800p). Frame rates range from 30fps to 360fps (unlimited). I used 120fps on my Steam Deck OLED. V-sync is toggleable. Graphics settings adjust textures, anti-aliasing, post-processing, shadows, and effects; brightness and motion blur are also adjustable.

Gundam Breaker 4 Steam Deck Performance – Does It Work Out of the Box?

I tested with Proton Experimental and default Proton; it works flawlessly, even invoking the on-screen keyboard. Steam Deck Verified status is likely imminent. 35 hours of gameplay on my Steam Deck OLED confirm this. With settings on High (except shadows), it easily hit 60fps, but I aimed for more. Medium settings achieved 80-90fps, with occasional drops to the high 60s in late-game missions. Cutscenes saw performance hits (50-70fps). One issue: assembly section drops to 1-3fps for a few seconds before recovering. This happened rarely, but the cause remains unknown.

Minor visual issue: some icon glyphs and menus had smaller or less crisp fonts than expected (also seen on Switch).

Gundam Breaker 4 Switch vs. PS5 – What to Buy?

I focused on Switch (Lite and OLED) and PS5. PS5 looks amazing and runs perfectly at 60fps (based on my playtime). Switch downgrades include resolution, detail, and reflections, impacting both stages and Gunpla parts. The Switch version looks like an HG Gunpla compared to the PS5's RG in some scenes. The lower resolution and draw distance make decals, lining, and weathering effects sometimes invisible. This isn't noticeable until seeing the game on a different platform.

I expected 120fps on PS5 given the visuals; maybe it's capped at 60fps for multiplayer reasons with the PS4 version. PS5 has decent rumble and Activity Card support for quicker save loading (hopefully extended to online play).

Switch load times are significantly longer than PS5 and Steam Deck. The Switch assembly section and diorama mode feel sluggish. While mission performance is better (though not a perfect 30fps), the assembly section needs optimization. If you played *Gundam Breaker 3* on PS Vita, the Switch version will be acceptable, but I hoped for a better port. I expect improvements in future updates.

I recommend the Switch version only for portable play if you don't own a Steam Deck. I enjoyed it on my Switch Lite, except for the text size in some menus. It was my final game on that system before screen issues emerged.

Is the Gundam Breaker 4 Ultimate Edition Worth It?

I accessed some DLC from the Deluxe and Ultimate Editions. I can't comment on story DLC yet, but early unlocks aren't game-changing (level 1 parts). Builder parts are better early DLC. Diorama content seems incomplete, but the available content is excellent for posing Gunpla and using the cel-shaded filter. More items would be welcome.

I loved the Gunbarrel Strike Gundam – Gundam Breaker Ver. parts, prompting me to order the collector's edition.

Is Gundam Breaker 4 Worth It for the Story?

While the story is fine, the game's core appeal lies in customization, battles, and Gunpla building. For a story-focused game, consider *Megaton Musashi*. *Gundam Breaker 4*'s gameplay resonated more with me as a fan of the older games.

My plan to build the MG 78-2 Version 3.0 alongside playing the game fell through due to other game releases.

The wait for *Gundam Breaker 4* was long, exceeding expectations. It's spectacular in nearly every aspect. It's my favorite Steam Deck game of the year since *Shin Megami Tensei V Vengeance*, and I look forward to playing it online and offline with future DLC.

**Gundam Breaker 4 Steam Deck Review: 4.5/5**