Gundam Evolution

Overview

Gundam Evolution is a free-to-play sci-fi first-person hero-shooter developed and published by Bandai Namco for the PC on September 21, 2022. It was later released for the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One on November 30, 2022. It is planned to shut down on November 29, 2023.

Part of the Gundam sci-fi mecha franchise, Gundam Evolution puts players in multiplayer team-based battles similar to the Overwatch series, with each player controlling one of various Mobile Suits from several Gundam anime and manga series.

It received a closed beta test period from July 15, 2021 to August 2, 2021.

Units

• Pale Rider (RX-80PR, Mobile Suit Gundam Side Story: Missing Link) - Wields a rapid-fire Bullpup Machine Gun, which can ADS to improve recoil. It can launch grenades to slow enemies or deal damage, and can deploy a pod that repairs nearby allies. Its G Maneuver, HADES, improves movement speed and weapon performance for a short time.

• Gundam (RX-78-2, Mobile Suit Gundam) - Wields a multi-hit Beam Rifle, which can ADS to improve recoil. It can take cover behind its shield to absorb damage, and can swing its flail to stun enemies. Its G Maneuver, Super Napalm, throws an incendiary grenade with a very large blast radius.

• Zaku II [Ranged] (MS-06, Mobile Suit Gundam) - Wields a close-range rapid-fire Zaku Machine Gun. Weaker frame, but can perform an extra dash. Can gain temporary immunity through smoke and can launch concussive grenades to knock enemies away. Its G Maneuver, Heat Hawk Slash, performs a forward charge that stuns enemies in its path.

• Gundam Barbatos (ASW-G-08, Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans) - Wields a Mace for melee attacks, both in a sweeping knockback arc and a powerful stunning smash. Can perform an extra dash. Its sword-based attacks destroy enemies, rather than disable them. It can perform massive boosted leaps, and can stun nearby enemies with sword slams. Its G Maneuver, Alaya-Vijnana System, allows it to use its sword for three charging sword slash attacks.

• Sazabi (MSN-04, Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack) - Wields a close-range scattershot Beam Shot Rifle, which can ADS to take cover behind its shield. Stronger frame, but dashes consume the full gauge. Can throw a tomahawk to stun enemies and embed itself, can make charging boosts towards embedded tomahawks or allies, and can use pulses to detect enemies through walls. Its G Maneuver, Funnels, unleashes a drone swarm that that attacks enemies in a large range.

• Methuss (MSA-005, Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam) - Wields a rapid-fire pair of Arm Beam Guns, and a quick-use Repair Cable to repair a single friendly unit over time. Weaker frame. It can transform into a Mobile Armor to fly for a short time, deal long-range twin beams, and deploy an automated sentry turret. Its G Maneuver, Energy Cable, grants a damage and resistance buff to its linked ally.

• GM Sniper II (RGM-79SP, Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket) - Wields a powerful long-range Sniper Rifle, which can ADS for improved zoom and accuracy. Can use its thrusters to hover in the air while ADS. Can deploy a boost pad for higher leaps, can fire close-range bursts, and can revive disabled allies from a distance. Its G Maneuver, Sensor Visor, detects enemies through walls and reduces thruster consumption while hovering.

• Asshimar (NRX-044, Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam) - Wields a burst-fire Large Beam Rifle, which can be charged up for a long-range burst. Can transform into a Mobile Armor to fly for a short time, and can throw an incendiary grenade. Its G Maneuver, Punch, performs a long-range charge.

• DOM Trooper (ZGMF-XX09T, Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny) - Wields a Giga-Launcher DR1 Multiplex which both launches rockets and fires continuous beams. Dashes consume the full gauge. It can deploy proximity mines and can grant temporary HP to allies from a distance. Its G Maneuver, Screaming Nimbus, performs a very long charge while buffing allies and deflecting attacks.

• Turn A Gundam (WD-M01, Turn A Gundam) - Wields a slow-firing Beam Rifle, which can ADS to charge-up into a powerful, but slower projectile. Can repair itself, and can perform a grapple to throw enemies behind it. Its G Maneuver, Moonbeam Butterfly, allows it to fly in the air to damage enemies underneath.

• Guntank (RX-75, Mobile Suit Gundam) - Wields dual-wielded Bop Missile mini-guns that can either auto-target multiple enemies within range or focus-fire on a single target, both of which are prone to overheating from continuous use. Can charge forward, fire high-explosive shoulder-mounted strikes, and perform faster revives. Its G Maneuver, Launch Core Fighter, deploys a remote-controlled flying unit that can detonate for a powerful blast.

• GM (RGM-79, Mobile Suit Gundam) - Wields an accurate Beam Spray Gun pistol, which can ADS to take cover behind its shield. Weaker frame, with dashes consuming the full gauge. It can perform a knockback sheild bash, deploy a remotely-detonated incendiary mine, and throw a healing grenade. Its G Manuever, Homing Mine, throws hovering proximity mines that track nearby enemies.

• Gundam Exia (GN-001, Mobile Suit Gundam 00) - Throws GN Beam Daggers and can use its GM Sword for forward strikes (which can be charged up). Weaker frame, but can perform an extra dash. Can leap forward, and can perform a knockback slash attack. Its G Maneuver, Trans-Am, alters the effects of its abilities while adding a new charging slash.

• Marasui [UC] (RMS-108, Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn) - Wields a slow-firing multi-hit Fedayeen Rifle, which can ADS to improve recoil. Stronger frame. Can perform a melee blade strike, and can ensnare and pull enemies towards it. Its G Maneuver, Sea Snake (Shock), performs a Sea Snake lash that stuns enemies in its path.

• Mahiroo (G-838, Turn A Gundam) - Wields a REN-DO Grenade launcher, which fires grenades in an arc that bounces off walls and can ADS to increase its rate-of-fire. It can perform a melee flip kick that launches itself backward, fire a delayed cannon shell explosion, and can pulse to detect enemies in front of it. Its G Maneuver, REN-DO Grenade (Rush), allows it to fire cluster grenades.

• Zaku II [Melee] (MS-06, Mobile Suit Gundam) - Launches cleaving projectiles with its Large Heat Hawk axe and can perform a shoulder guard (which can be used to perform charging tackles). It can put itself in a motionless state, which causes enemy attacks against it to become negated and boost its "Rage Meter", which can be used to trigger a powerful buff. Can also perform improved axe swings. Its G Maneuver, Large Heat Hawk (Rotating Slash), performs a long series of spinning strikes.

• Unicorn Gundam (RX-0, Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn) - Wields a rapid-fire Beam Gatling Gun, which can be ADS to improve recoil. Weaker frame. Repairs nearby allies over time. Can grant armor protection to nearby allies, and can fire projectiles that track enemies. Its G Maenuever, Beam Magnum, allows it to fire five powerful piercing shots.

• Nu Gundam (RX-93, Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack) - Added in Season 2. Wields a two-burst Beam Rifle that can ADS for improved recoil. Stronger frame, but dashes consume the full gauge. It can launch Fin Funnels to surround an enemy unit in a quick drone strike, with additional drones launched by "marking" that enemy with continuous weapon damage, and can perform a moving bazooka strike (which also marks enemy units it damages). Its G Maneuver, Fin Funnel Barrier, deploys a barrier around it to block incoming attacks and affect the Fin Funnel ability.

• Hyperion Gundam (CAT1-X1/3, Mobile Suit Gundam SEED X Astray) - Added in Season 3. Wields a rapid-fire Beam Submachine Gun, which can ADS to take cover behind its shield. Dashes consume the full gauge. Can deploy a barrier around it to block incoming attacks and fire a piercing beam. Its G Maneuver, Armure Lumiere Lancer, performs a long charge that stuns enemies in its path.

• Gundam Heavyarms Custom [EW] (XXXG-01H2, Mobile Suit Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz) - Added in Season 3. Wields a rapid-firing Double Gatling Gun that can be dual-wielded, with both modes prone to overheating with continuous use. Stronger frame, but dashes consume the full gauge. It can perform leaps in any direction, and can launch incendiary missile barrages. Its G Maneuver, Hatch Full Open (Barrage), deal a powerful stationary barrage of missiles and gatling fire.

• Gundam Dynames (GN-002, Mobile Suit Gundam 00) - Added in Season 4. Wields a long-ranged GN Sniper Rifle, which can be ADS for improved zoom, accuracy, and shielding. Can swap to dual-wielded GN Beam Pistols. While wielding the GN Sniper Rifle, dashes consume the full gauge. Can also fire missiles that pull enemies towards the explosion, and revive allies from a distance. Its G Maneuver, Trans-Am, allows it to charge-up GN Sniper Rifle shots for improved damage.

• Susanowo (GNX-Y901TW, Mobile Suit Gundam 00) - Added in Season 5. Wields dual-wielded Enhanced Saber melee strikes and a Beam Chakram boomerang projectile that, while requiring a charge-up time prior to firing, can slow enemies. Automatically gains armor by kills and assists. Can perform a long-ranged charging slash (which deals more damage to slow enemies) and fire a piercing beam that slows enemies. Its G Maneuver, Trans-Am, alters all of its weapons and abilities.

• Zeta Gundam (MSZ-006, Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam) - Added in Season 6. Wields a slow-firing fully-automatic Beam Rifle, and can ADS to take cover behind its shields. Also can fire a continuous beam from its Hyper Mega Launcher and can transform into a Waverider mode for a quick flight that can deflect shots. Continuously dealing damage enhances its Biosensor for increased damage. Its G Maneuver, Beam Confuse, throws a beam saber that is shot for a large explosion.

• Kämpfer (MS-18E, Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket) - Added in Season 7. Wields a fast-firing close-ranged Shotgun with an alternate slower-firing, more-accurate firing mode. Can swap to dual-wielded Giant Bazookas for explosive damage and can use them to launch Sturm Faust projectiles that slow enemy units. Its G Maneuver, Chain Mine, deploys a chain of mines that can either split into timed mines or wrap around a single enemy.

Game Modes

Point Capture

One team tries to defend a pair of bases from the other team. After the first team either captures both bases in succession, or time runs out on them, the other team is given an opportunity to surpass their score (or time taken in case of a tie) as the attacking side.

Maps:

• Canyon Base
• Flak Fort
• Harbor City
• Large Conveyange Facilities - Added in Season 6.
• Missile Base

Domination

A King of the Hill style mode, where three capture points are placed at fixed spots on the map. Every 30 seconds, one of the three points is unlocked and both teams are given a chance to add to their score by holding the point exclusively with their own team. The points reset until one team reaches 100% capture in two rounds of play.

Maps:

• Ironworks - Added in Season 6.
• Lunar Comm Station
• Mountain R&D Lab
• Thermal Plant

Destruction

Similar to bomb-defuse modes in Counter-Strike and other FPS. One team tries to plant a "megacharge" on one of two points, while the other team tries to keep them from planting the explosive, or defuse the explosive before its timer runs down. The attacking team can capture a "relay" point between their original spawn point and the objective to rally their troops faster. The team that destroys more objectives than the other (or has the most progress in case of a tie) wins the match.

Maps:

• Colony Trading Post - Added in Season 2.
• Ministry of Defense
• Quarry
• Space Fortress - Added in Season 7.
• Underground Command Center

Headquarters

Maps:

• Buried City - Added in Season 4.

External Links

• Gundam Evolution Official Site