GUNDAM EVOLUTION

Gundam Evolution might have shamelessly lifted some of its presentation and mechanics from other games (and I think it did), but it’s still a great game at the end of the day.

67%Game Brain Score

gameplay, graphics

monetization, story

59% User Score Based on 15,374 reviews

Critic Score 77%Based on 7 reviews

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About

GUNDAM EVOLUTION is a single player and multiplayer shooter game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by BANDAI NAMCO Online Inc. and was released on September 19, 2022. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and neutral reviews from players.

This game is a first-person, team-based shooter with 6v6 combat and three objective-based game modes: Point Capture, Domination and Destruction.

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59%

Audience ScoreBased on 15,374 reviews

gameplay817 positive mentions

monetization361 negative mentions

The gameplay is fast-paced and enjoyable, with smooth controls and unique abilities for various mobile suits.
The graphics and level design are visually appealing, capturing the Gundam aesthetic with detailed character models and vibrant environments.
The humor and chaotic moments in the game contribute to an entertaining experience, making it a fun option for fans of the franchise.

The game suffers from significant balance issues, with certain mobile suits being overpowered and a monetization system that feels predatory.
Players express frustration over the excessive grind required to unlock content, which is compounded by high hardware requirements and performance issues.
The lack of a cohesive narrative and character development detracts from the overall experience, making it feel more like a generic shooter than a meaningful entry in the Gundam franchise.

gameplay
1,765 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
49%
5%
The gameplay of "Gundam Evolution" has been generally well-received, with many players praising its fast-paced mechanics, smooth controls, and the unique abilities of various mobile suits. However, criticisms arise regarding balance issues, particularly with certain overpowered suits, and the monetization system, which many feel detracts from the overall experience. While the core gameplay is enjoyable and reminiscent of other hero shooters like Overwatch, players express concerns about the grind for unlocking content and the impact of pay-to-win elements on competitive play.
- “Gundam Evolution boldly steps into the gaming arena with an ambitious blend of intense mecha combat and strategic team-based gameplay.”
- “The gameplay was buttery smooth, and instead of the tired and often frustrating roles of tank, support, and damage dealer, most playable units were damage dealers with a hybrid of one or even both of the other roles.”
- “The gameplay feels smooth along with very fitting graphics, the balancing feels on point with using the first mobile suits available I'm able to get plenty of kills to a match and I am yet to experience a single bug.”
- “The gameplay is riddled with more bugs than the beta.”
- “The gameplay leaves a lot to be desired.”
- “The gameplay felt pretty ok, only complaint is that they just feel like robot fighters, not big mecha from gundam.”
monetization
1,051 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
58%
34%
The monetization of the game has been widely criticized for being excessively aggressive and predatory, with many players describing it as a cash grab that prioritizes profit over player experience. Users have expressed frustration over the heavy reliance on microtransactions, loot boxes, and a battle pass system that locks essential content behind paywalls, making it difficult for free-to-play players to progress. Overall, the monetization practices have significantly detracted from the game's potential, leading to a negative reception and concerns about its long-term viability.
- “Despite its flaws and awful monetization, it was a very enjoyable experience.”
- “The gameplay is there and could be tons of fun, but the current monetization is inexcusable with how scummy it is.”
- “The game is fun, and I will continue to play it; however, the monetization is worrying.”
- “Game had potential, but poor balancing and microtransactions ruined it.”
- “An unfortunately good example of modern trends in gaming: make your game free-to-play, cram it with as many microtransactions as possible, milk the playerbase and pray for whales, kill the game and make it unavailable to everyone when it 'doesn't meet expectations'.”
- “The monetization is basically a gacha game.”
story
387 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
92%
6%
The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its absence, with many players expressing disappointment over the lack of a narrative or single-player mode. Instead, the game focuses on multiplayer mechanics, leaving players feeling disconnected from the Gundam lore and characters they love. The absence of a cohesive storyline and character development detracts from the overall experience, making it feel more like a generic shooter than a meaningful entry in the Gundam franchise.
- “It's a slap in the face to the rich lore and intricate storytelling that Gundam is known for.”
- “Gundam has a lot of potential as a video game adaptation; you take this gameplay, throw it into a PvE or story-based game, and I think you would have a pretty great product.”
- “I was really hoping for a solid game with a story mode that players could co-op in to learn the game and get experience with.”
- “The fact Bandai went for this rather than something like the side story 0079: Rise from the Ashes game they made for Dreamcast over 20 years ago really demonstrates they have a loose grip on the state of their IP management.”
- “Story: as far as I can tell, there is no story beyond 'Gundam fight Gundam,' no reason or explanation for why these mechs are here and what they are fighting for.”
- “If you're looking for a story, you're not gonna find anything.”
graphics
313 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
54%
13%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the detailed character models and vibrant environments that capture the Gundam aesthetic, while others criticize the visuals as outdated and lacking polish, often comparing them to earlier console generations. Many players appreciate the smooth animations and sound design, but express frustration over performance issues and high hardware requirements that seem unjustified given the graphical quality. Overall, while the game offers a visually appealing experience for fans of the franchise, it falls short of modern standards in some areas, leading to a consensus that the graphics are decent but could be significantly improved.
- “The graphics and level design are spot-on, making Gundam Evolution a pleasurable experience for both new and longtime fans of the series.”
- “Visually, Gundam Evolution shines with its stunning graphics and detailed mecha designs.”
- “The graphics are impressive, with detailed character models and vivid environments that capture the look and feel of the Gundam universe.”
- “The graphics look like we are still in alpha.”
- “The graphics are subpar at best; you have no idea if a 'fire' is hitting you, or if you're hitting someone else with it because it's just a light orange tint in a field full of lasers.”
- “The textures and layout for the maps are extremely underwhelming and honestly look like PlayStation 3 era graphics.”
optimization
234 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
51%
32%
The game's optimization has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with players reporting frequent crashes, frame drops, and poor performance even on high-end systems. Many users noted that the game is capped at 120 fps, yet still struggles with stuttering and lag, making it frustrating to play. Overall, the consensus is that significant improvements are needed in optimization to enhance the gaming experience.
- “First and foremost, the gameplay was really solid: featuring an enormous roster of playable mobile suits alongside fairly deep parts customization and a near-perfect performance curve.”
- “Overall the game feels very crisp and fluid, feels very well optimized as it should for this type of game.”
- “However, I will give this game a thumbs up just because of how optimized this game is, I never lag and I've only crashed once so far.”
- “On top of connection issues, this game's server and optimization is really poor.”
- “Unfortunately, this game is mired by things that make me not recommend others from playing it such as terrible optimization, random crashes, predatory monetization, and a slow dev cycle.”
- “The game is so unoptimized that there are constant frame drops with a decent PC setup.”
grinding
206 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
97%
The grinding aspect of the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with players expressing frustration over the excessive time required to unlock new mobile suits and the monetization strategies that often force them to choose between grinding for hours or paying real money. Many reviews highlight that the grind feels tedious and unrewarding, with players often unable to earn enough in-game currency to access desired characters without significant effort. Overall, the grinding system is seen as a major barrier to enjoyment, detracting from the otherwise fun gameplay experience.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The game is unreasonably grindy if you want some OP characters; the only good ones I mean I would not recommend.”
- “Grinding to unlock a new suit is close to impossible without at least springing for a season pass.”
- “The locked mobile suits like Exia, Marasai, or Unicorn are all gated behind either spending about $10 to unlock, or grinding for a ridiculous amount of time to earn the required in-game currency to unlock.”
stability
153 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
97%
The game's stability is a significant concern, with numerous players reporting frequent bugs, crashes, and connection issues that disrupt gameplay. While some users find the game enjoyable despite these problems, the overall consensus indicates that it is currently plagued by instability, making it difficult to recommend for competitive play. Many reviews highlight the need for urgent optimization and bug fixes to improve the gaming experience.
- “Almost no complaints though, feels smooth as hell and runs great!”
- “Runs great at max settings, 1440p, on a 1080ti.”
- “In a nutshell, it's Overwatch but with Gundam and mobile suits and no broken issues. The game is so much fun with no glitches, weapons feel pretty satisfying to use, and every character is cool and unique.”
- “The game is buggy (projectile passing through enemies, going through walls, and ...) the game wouldn't be bad because it is enjoyable but the monetization system puts another layer on top of these things.”
- “Crashes, freezes, and then leaver bans you with increasingly harsh timers for the trouble.”
- “In its current state, it's a huge buggy mess.”
humor
113 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
97%
3%
The humor in the game is frequently highlighted as a standout feature, with players finding amusement in various aspects such as character design, absurd gameplay mechanics, and the often comically bad chat censorship. Many reviews note that while the game has its flaws, the chaotic and humorous moments—like funny character interactions and unexpected bugs—contribute to an overall entertaining experience. Despite its issues, players appreciate the lightheartedness and comedic elements that make the game enjoyable, often referring to it as a "funny robot game."
- “Hilarious fun for a free-to-play game.”
- “It's funny the beta was the pinnacle of this game.”
- “The censorship is comically bad in chat, but honestly it can be extremely funny just typing in weird out of context stuff like 'I'm feeling it now, Mr. Krabs' and for some godforsaken reason the 'kr' will be censored, and it's honestly funny as hell just seeing people type abhorrent stuff to see how the censor will mess it up.”
- “Unfunny monetization”
- “Greedy, and so bad it's not funny”
music
74 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
65%
12%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising the soundtrack as enjoyable and energizing, while others criticize it for being generic and lacking iconic tracks from the Gundam series. Many fans express disappointment over the absence of classic music and sound effects that are synonymous with the franchise, suggesting that the game misses an opportunity to leverage its rich musical heritage. Overall, while some find the music satisfactory, a significant portion of the community feels it falls short of expectations.
- “The soundtrack is phenomenal, the sound design is iconic and recognizable.”
- “The music gets me hyped, the sound effects are on point; my lord, you know how many times I get jumpscared by simple beam rifles and slams, but the gacha could be better.”
- “The sound effects in this game are so good for a Gundam fan such as myself, and I have no qualms about the music either; especially that intro movie song, that song pumps me up!”
- “Soundtrack is non-existent.”
- “The music is generic, which is a big bummer considering Gundam is somewhat known for its music.”
- “The music is also dull, lifeless, uninspired and takes nothing from the source material, another terrible shame since Gundam music is so good.”
emotional
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, often rooted in nostalgia for the Gundam franchise, which amplifies their grief over its shutdown. While some find joy in the gameplay and community interactions, many feel heartbroken by the lack of character development and the game's eventual demise, leading to a mix of fond memories and frustration over missed potential. Overall, the emotional experience is marked by a blend of investment, disappointment, and a longing for what could have been.
- “I grew up on Gundam, and this game made me feel like the Gundam pilot I always dreamed of being.”
- “It was truly heartbreaking as a Western Gundam fan since childhood to see a game like this that had potential and then gets tossed aside.”
- “The true dedication and love for the IP and turning it into a well-made competitive shooter is truly heartbreaking as it shuts down officially.”
character development
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
62%
19%
Character development in the game has been criticized for its lack of depth and distinctiveness, with many reviewers noting that the character designs feel bland and uninspired, leading to a shallow gameplay experience. While some appreciate the balance and fun of individual character kits, the overall aesthetic and personality of the characters are seen as lacking, which may hinder player retention and engagement. Additionally, there are concerns about the disconnect between character design and gameplay mechanics, suggesting a need for more cohesive development between these elements.
- “Overwatch, or even Paladins, got as big as they did because their aesthetic, sound design, and character designs stand out; you hear specific voice lines or you see a silhouette in the distance and you know what character you're up against and what it is they're doing so you can react.”
- “Tldr: fun gameplay and character designs.”
- “The character design is awesome too, not so much like the actual look of the mechs; I just think the kits are all really well-balanced and fun. You can find your character pretty easily because there's at least one part of their kit you especially like!”
- “The gameplay and character design are fairly shallow.”
- “Bland character designs with no personality.”
- “This game is terribly balanced and does not feel like the character designers and the level designers talked to each other at all.”
replayability
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
60%
20%
The game's replayability is currently hindered by limited character availability and matchmaking issues, making it less accessible for casual players. While the core gameplay is enjoyable and balanced, players feel that the lack of diverse game modes and the necessity to grind or purchase additional characters detracts from long-term engagement. Many reviewers suggest that future updates, including more playable units and improved matchmaking, could enhance replayability significantly.
- “Honestly, I think that the game could be very good later on down the line after more playable units are added, and a new game mode is introduced, maybe a three-point capture map where each team has to split up into smaller groups to try holding multiple points.”
- “I like that my favorite mobile suits are playable in a game genre that I enjoy.”
- “As of writing (4/18/24), only custom lobbies are playable.”
- “The game has a great start as far as core gameplay, but I cannot recommend it to anyone in its current state until it gets a serious rebalance and new maps to add replayability.”
- “I recommend playing this game one week from now, once they have hopefully solved the matchmaking issues. I got temporarily banned from matchmaking after one of my teammates left; I have not left a single in-progress match. So yeah, don't waste your time until it is more playable.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere is heavily influenced by iconic anime sounds, creating an immersive experience that enhances gameplay. The fast-paced action during team fights adds to the excitement, making the world feel vibrant and engaging. Overall, players find the atmosphere captivating and integral to their enjoyment of the game.
- “The sounds straight from the legendary anime foster an atmosphere that's easy to let define your experience, and the shockingly quick movement creates a blistering pace for team fights. It's a lot to love at first blush.”
- “This world and atmosphere are just more interesting to me.”