Gundam Breaker 4 Review: Return to Form for Kitbash Fans

Quick take: I’ve played 30+ mecha games over the last decade, built more Gunpla than I want to admit, and I went in hard on this gundam breaker 4 review. If you like kitbashing, fast hack-and-slash combat, and silly-but-fun loot, this is your snack. On PS5 and PC, it’s clean. On Switch… we’ll talk.

Table of Contents

My Verdict in Two Sentences

It’s a goofy, punchy, wonderfully nerdy toybox with a paper-thin story and a grind that’s fair enough if you like tinkering. If New Gundam Breaker burned you, relax—this one finally feels like a return to form, not a YouTube apology tour.

Why You Should Trust Me (and Why You Might Roll Your Eyes)

I’ve been covering mecha ARPGs since the PS3 era, I test on multiple platforms, and yes—I spend my weekends repainting 1/100 kits that no one asked me to repaint. If you want the long-form breakdown with more screenshots and build notes, I posted a deeper dive here: kitbashing fun, thin story, fair grind.

If you’ve never touched the series, this quick explainer helps. Short version: you slice up enemy mobile suits, steal their parts, and make your own ridiculous franken-Gundam. It’s Gunpla fantasy, but playable.

Story and Tone (Don’t Worry, You’re Not Here for Shakespeare)

In my experience, nobody comes to this series for a rich narrative. You’ll get a handful of characters, some breezy dialogue, and a basic “fight, collect, craft” loop. It works. Barely. If you want character-driven RPGs, I point readers to my RPG reviews, because this one’s plot is basically a tutorial that never stops.

The Combat Feel

Good news: it’s crunchy. Hits land with weight. Launchers, juggles, funnels—oh yes. You can swap between ranged and melee on the fly, and it doesn’t feel like a chore. I ran a beam saber + twin rifles setup most of the time just because I like being indecisive and flashy.

At-a-Glance: What Clicks and What Doesn’t

Thing	My Take
Hit impact	Strong. Enemies stagger. Parts pop. Feels crunchy without fake screen shake spam.
Build swapping	Fast enough mid-mission, but best done in the garage if you’re picky (and I am).
Camera	Mostly fine. Gets fussy in tight arenas with tall bosses. Classic mecha problem.
Boss variety	Better than the last outing. Not Armored Core-level tactical, but not mindless either.

Customization, Loot, and the Joy of Tinkering

I’ve always found the “tear it down, build it up” loop addictive. Parts drop, stats roll, traits stack. You start chasing synergies like it’s an ARPG. If that sentence made your eyes light up, you’ll vibe with this. For folks who love loot depth—tempo, crit, cooldown toys—this article I wrote on ARPG speed and builds is right up your alley: ARPG speed, loot, and builds.

Builds I Ran (Because People Always Ask)

Beam Bruiser: Beam saber focus with hyper armor bursts and guard counters.
Funnel Frenzy: Remote weapons + mobility spam. Feels rude. I approve.
Shot and Shock: Twin rifles with stun procs. Safety first, style second.

My Go-To Playstyles (Quick Reference)

Playstyle	Core Parts	Why It Works
Beam Bruiser	High Melee ATK arms, beam saber, balanced legs	Reliable damage, easy combo extensions
Funnel Frenzy	Backpack with remote weapons, high EN cap	Hands-off DPS, great for mob control
Shot and Shock	Twin rifles, cooldown reduction head	Safe clear, good for learning boss windows

Platforms, Performance, and Settings I Used

I tested on PS5 and a mid-range PC (RTX 3060). PS5 holds smooth frames with fast loads. PC scales nicely; tweak shadows and post-processing for a big win. If you’re hunting specs or storefront info, the official page has the basics: Bandai Namco’s GB4 page.

Co-op and The Chaos Factor

Co-op is where the game gets silly in the best way. I ran a four-stack and the screen turned into a fireworks factory. If you like mechs and open-world vibes, I also compared traversal and systems with another favorite of mine, here: Xenoblade Chronicles X review. Different games, similar “big metal fun” energy.

Mission Structure and That Grind

Look, it’s a loot treadmill. But the treadmill is at a chill speed. You play short arenas, grab parts, test builds, repeat. The mission variety is fine, not amazing. If you come in expecting Elden Ring-level open-world surprise, that’s not this. I rank open worlds separately anyway, if you’re curious about that rabbit hole: open-world rankings.

What I Liked (And What I Groaned At)

Liked: Satisfying part popping, fast build iteration, better boss pacing.
Liked: Visual clarity in big fights. Telegraphed attacks feel fair.
Groaned: The story is a nap. The UI has moments of “who designed this dropdown.”
Groaned: Some trait rolls feel too swingy. RNG giveth, RNG trolls.

Newcomers vs. Veterans

If you’re new, you’ll be fine. The tutorials are basic but enough. Veterans will immediately start welding weird combos the devs probably didn’t intend. I did a side-by-side against older entries, including the series origin; background here if you need context for the lineage: history of the Gundam Breaker series.

Who Should Skip

If you need a deep, emotional plot. This isn’t it.
If you hate RNG and tinkering. The garage is half the game.
If you want a giant open world. These are bite-sized arenas.

Who Should Play

Gunpla nerds. Obvious.
ARPG fans who like builds, not spreadsheets.
Co-op gremlins who enjoy particle effects and yelling “my arms fell off.”

Speed Tips I Wish I Knew On Day One

Salvage ruthlessly. You’ll drown in parts. Set auto-sell thresholds early.
Lock good rolls. Don’t dismantle your god-roll legs by accident. I’ve done it. I still mourn.
Focus a build path. One melee, one ranged. Less indecision, more progress.
Use the training room. Lab your cancels. Big returns fast.

Price, Value, and My “Would I Buy It Again?” Meter

I would. At full price if you love mecha kitbashing; at a discount if you’re loot-curious but not committed. I track value across RPGs a lot, and I’ll say this lands in the “solid purchase, not a must-have milestone” bracket. If you want to cross-compare with other RPG flavors, my hub is here: RPG review category.

Final Loose Thoughts

It’s fun. It’s messy in places. It’s very “build toys, break toys.” That’s the charm. If you’re nodding, you already know.

Oh—and if you want platform-specific info or to wishlist it, the PlayStation page is neat and tidy: PlayStation listing. I wish every storefront had filters that clear.

If you want my broader closing rambles and some video clips, I put them here too because I can’t stop talking about funnels: my extended impressions. Anyway, I’ll be in the garage. Again.

FAQs

Is this friendly for newcomers to the series?

Yeah. The early missions are simple, and the build system opens up slowly. You won’t drown on day one.

Does it have real co-op or just AI companions?

Real co-op. Four-player sessions work fine, and it’s where the game shines the most.

How grindy is the loot compared to other ARPGs?

Moderate. You’ll farm for traits and rolls, but it’s not a second job unless you choose to min-max hard.

Is the story worth caring about?

It’s serviceable. Think Saturday-morning energy. You’re here for parts and fights, not lore tears.

Will my old builds from earlier games make sense here?

Kinda. The spirit’s the same—synergies and traits—but the exact stats and rolls changed. Relearn the sweet spots.

Oh, and if you’re cross-shopping with other genres or hunting rankings, my lists live here: open-world rankings. Also, if you like loot science, I broke down pacing across a bunch of ARPGs here: ARPG loot and builds. That’s it. I’m done. For now.