SD GUNDAM BATTLE ALLIANCE

SD GUNDAM BATTLE ALLIANCE is an action-RPG developed by ARTDINK that drops you into a fractured version of Universal Century Gundam history, where timelines have gone wrong and you need to smash through waves of mobile suits to set things right. You pilot super-deformed (SD) versions of iconic Gundam units, swapping between them mid-mission and leveling them up with stat upgrades and new abilities. It is, at its core, a love letter to decades of Gundam lore wrapped in a brawler chassis - and whether that works for you depends almost entirely on how much you already care about the source material. The combat is snappy and approachable. Each unit has its own move set built around beam rifles, sabers, and special attacks ripped straight from their anime appearances, and there is genuine satisfaction in chaining combos mid-air or unleashing a finisher you recognize from a 30-year-old episode. The game supports up to three-player online co-op, which is where the loop gets most entertaining - coordinating unit types and covering each other's cooldowns adds a thin but real layer of tactics. Solo play is perfectly functional, though the AI companions are unremarkable. The build variety is modest rather than deep: you are mostly tuning numbers and unlocking abilities rather than constructing wildly divergent playstyles, which will disappoint anyone expecting the kind of build expression you get from something like Elden Ring or even Monster Hunter. The RPG layer is similarly thin. There are upgrade trees per unit, materials to farm from missions, and a hub area where you manage your roster and accept sorties. Filler missions show up with uncomfortable regularity - go to this zone, eliminate X units, repeat - and the pacing drags when the story beats are not driving things forward. The narrative itself is serviceable Gundam fan fiction: alternate history divergence gives the writers an excuse to remix classic moments and throw familiar faces into new configurations. It rewards recognition rather than dramatic investment. If you are not already fluent in the difference between the original MSG and Zeta Gundam, a lot of the emotional weight simply does not land. Visually, the SD art style is charming and surprisingly expressive. Watching a chibi Nu Gundam launch its fin funnels against a distorted Wing Zero is genuinely delightful for fans. Performance on PC is stable and the unit roster is impressively large, covering suits from across the franchise's history. The soundtrack leans heavily on series themes, which is either a constant reward or background noise depending on your relationship with Gundam music. The mixed Steam review score (hovering around 63 percent positive) reflects the real tension here: enthusiasts find a competent, affectionate tribute, while RPG players expecting narrative weight or mechanical complexity find a shallow loop that wears out its welcome around the 20-hour mark. Bottom line: this is a game built for Gundam fans first, action-RPG players a distant second. If you can name your favorite Zeon commander without hesitating, there is real joy here across 30-plus hours of content and co-op sessions. If you are coming in cold hoping the RPG label means meaningful choices and character arcs, the writing will not carry you and the build system will not hold you.

Monika · Scout Team

RPGs

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