SD Gundam Gashapon Wars

Description

SD Gundam Gashapon Wars features 135 units drawn principally from Mobile Suit Gundam, Zeta Gundam, ZZ Gundam, Char’s Counterattack, Gundam SEED, and Gundam SEED Destiny. The 14-stage Scenario Game acts as a tutorial, while Capsule Wars provides the main campaign through generated maps, increasing difficulty levels, and additional units awarded after victories. The game adopts a hybrid strategy, marketed as simulation, and action gameplay. Additional modes include Survival, Map Battle, custom Action Battles, and 100 Mission Battle, with cooperative, team, and free-for-all options supporting up to four players.

The strategy portion uses a grid-based map where units capture territory, occupy bases, produce reinforcements from a prearranged capsule deck, and recover damage. Victory can be achieved by controlling 70 percent of the map, capturing the opposing headquarters, or eliminating the enemy force. When opposing units meet, the game shifts into a real-time battle arena involving up to three mobile suits on each side. Ranged fire, melee strikes, and charging attacks form a three-way relationship in which each can counter another, while terrain compatibility, unit cost, transformations, and positioning influence the outcome. Skilled players can therefore defeat expensive mobile suits with cheaper units, particularly when neighbouring allies join the battle.

The accessible controls, quick loading, responsive combat, varied units, and efficient match length were well received, with the SD models having recognisable weapons and abilities from their respective series. Criticism concentrated on uneven computer intelligence, occasional confusion during crowded battles, repetitive unit unlocking, and a roster weighted heavily towards particular Gundam productions while omitting others. The strategic layer is also comparatively light, with player skill in the action battles often more decisive than careful map planning. Despite these limitations, it is generally regarded as an enjoyable and polished Gundam party-strategy game, especially in multiplayer.