There’s One Hero Shooter I Wish Everyone Could Play Again

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Hero shooters have become really popular lately, with games like Marvel Rivals getting a lot of attention. It’s easy to overlook other games in this style that didn’t quite catch on, though. After successful titles like Team Fortress 2 and Overwatch, many developers have tried to create their own hero shooter, sometimes using established franchises. But one game really stood out with its unique approach and deserved more time to find an audience before its servers were shut down.

The hero shooter market is becoming increasingly crowded, especially with new games like Highguard expected in 2026. This growth comes after some disappointments with titles like Overwatch 2, and many hero shooters struggle to find lasting success. Games like Battleborn and Paladins haven’t been able to build large player communities, often because their characters aren’t compelling enough or other aspects of the game detract from the core shooting experience.

Gundam Evolution Was One Of The Best Hero Shooters I’ve Ever Played

I was particularly drawn to Gundam Evolution, a hero shooter released by Bandai Namco in 2022. The game let players control iconic mobile suits from various Gundam anime series, including classic designs from the original Mobile Suit Gundam and favorites from shows like Iron-Blooded Orphans. Each suit functioned as a unique hero character, with special abilities, weapons, and skills mirroring how they appeared in their respective anime. The game launched with twelve playable units, but that number eventually grew to twenty-four.

Gundam Evolution offered team-based battles with two squads of six players piloting mobile suits. Matches revolved around completing specific goals depending on the game mode. In Domination, teams fought to control three key points on the map, constantly shifting their focus between locations to gain an advantage. Destruction mode featured one team attempting to plant a powerful weapon within the enemy’s base, while the opposing team worked to defend against the attack. The game included various stages within each mode, ensuring that every match felt fresh and engaging.

What set Gundam Evolution apart from other hero shooters was its focus on teamwork. Unlike most games where you’re immediately out of the fight when your health drops to zero, your mobile suit becomes disabled, giving your teammates a chance to repair it and get you back in action. Plus, every mobile suit could be used flexibly, letting players choose units that worked best with their team’s strategy.

Unique Mobile Suits Consistently Created Fun Dynamics Between Rival Teams

Even now, Gundam Evolution stands out as one of the hero shooters with the most unique playable characters. Similar to games like Marvel Rivals and Overwatch, the game’s appeal came from its mobile suits, each offering a very different playstyle. These suits varied in abilities – some could fly, others had automatic targeting, and they all moved at different speeds. Gundam Evolution felt like a welcome change of pace, especially after many other games tried and failed to replicate the success of Overwatch.

Close-combat mobile suits, such as the GN-001 Gundam Exia, featured intricate mechanics that let players quickly reuse special attacks. Each suit played differently, and the variety between them was significant enough that mastering a new one felt fresh. While unlocking new suits took effort, the rewards were worthwhile, as each offered distinct abilities and a unique gameplay experience.

Disconnected Servers Prevent Players From Ever Experiencing Gundam Evolution Properly Again

The online game Gundam Evolution shut down on November 29, 2023, after only being available for a year. Several factors contributed to this, including issues with how the game was monetized and a lack of significant updates to keep things balanced. Ultimately, interest in the game faded after the initial excitement, and the number of players dropped over time.

Although it wasn’t as sudden a failure as the shutdown of Concord, Gundam Evolution was still taken offline too quickly when compared to other games that remain live for years. For example, Anthem, a game considered much less successful, was supported with servers running from 2019 to 2026, giving players significantly more time to experience it. Because many hero shooter fans enjoyed Gundam Evolution‘s gameplay, a lot of people feel Bandai Namco didn’t give the game enough time to succeed.

Players of Gundam Evolution were aware the game wasn’t perfect, but the issues were largely related to how players purchased new mobile suits and items. Given its free-to-play format and the popular Gundam franchise providing a constant stream of new content, the game had the potential to become a long-term success like Marvel Rivals. Unfortunately, it didn’t receive enough ongoing support to achieve that.

Should Gundam Evolution servers be brought back online? Share your thoughts in the comments or discuss it with other fans on the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-01-26 17:16