Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Battle Destiny Remastered Review – Mech Supremacy

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As a gaming enthusiast, I must confess that remasters and re-releases seem to be popping up left and right these days, often leaving me less than thrilled. But when it comes to Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Battle Destiny Remastered, it’s an exception that proves the rule – this mecha action game, based on the much-loved cross media franchise, was originally released for the PS Vita back in 2012.

In the Gundam Battle series, the tales and narrative style are generally more playful, and this game particularly leans into that lighter approach.

Back in the day, due to less-than-stellar performance of that gaming platform outside Japan and an overwhelming influx of Gundam games hitting the market simultaneously, my chance to dive into this specific title was sadly snatched away. Essentially, many gamers worldwide missed out on playing it, which makes it a compelling choice for a re-release – given its scarcity at launch, it’s definitely a game worth experiencing if it ever gets another shot.

Moreover, it’s worth noting that this game belongs to the popular Gundam Battle franchise, a favorite among IP enthusiasts. Given that it’s an older installment in the series, it’s no surprise that there would be considerable interest in a contemporary re-release. Indeed, the revival of this classic PS Vita game on Switch and PC platforms over a decade since its initial launch brings joy to Gundam fans, a significant community who would make this release a profitable venture.

It’s fortunate that most people who would enjoy Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Battle Destiny Remastered are already familiar with it, as this game may not attract many new players due to its lack of effort in introducing newcomers to the broader Gundam universe and its gameplay mechanics.

In the Gundam Battle games, the narrative often leans towards being less serious and more casual. This particular game follows suit with that trend. The tale told here isn’t extensively detailed, and the few parts that exist tend to reference events, characters, terms, locations, and names without providing any background or context as to their relevance. Essentially, you’ll find it hard to understand this story unless you’re already a fan of Gundam series.

Besides those who were already enthusiasts for the series, it’s not very likely that many more people will be interested in “Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Battle Destiny Remastered”.

As a devoted Gundam enthusiast myself, I must clarify that while this game shares the same universe as the iconic anime, it doesn’t delve into the epic battles or the heroics of characters like Kira and Athrun. Instead, you take on the role of an unnamed character, fighting on the sidelines. The conflicts here may occasionally touch upon the broader storyline of the Gundam series, but they never fully immerse you in it.

It’s similar to watching a spin-off TV series or a straight-to-DVD sequel of a well-known movie franchise. While these stories take place in the same universe and timeline as your favorite saga, they don’t have much room for significant character development or major events. Any developments that do occur are handled delicately.

In essence, it’s not the engaging storyline that will draw players into this game; instead, it’s the exceptional mission-based structure and the abundance of more than 100 mobile suits to unveil that sets it apart. This game is likely to consume countless hours of gamers who are fans of Gundam, primarily due to its replayability. Players aim for the top rank in every mission they engage in, but also to experience the campaign from each of the three factions they can choose. The allure lies in unlocking new mobile suits, pilots, abilities, maps, and then strategically combining them across missions to achieve even better outcomes.

The Gundam Battle series of games features a compelling “one more go” mechanism in their score attack style structure. These missions are brief yet intense and challenging, often leaving players wondering if they could have done better with a different loadout or a more strategic approach. This realization typically leads to repeated attempts, where players watch their improved strategy unfold, aiming for that elusive higher grade. This cycle of trying again and again is fueled by the anticipation of success, making it difficult to stop playing.

The remastered version of Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Battle Destiny maintains the charm that fans love about the series. Despite some drawbacks like the sudden shift in battle difficulty and frustrating camera control, it delivers an experience that outperforms expectations for its class.

“Gundam fans are likely going to find a lot of value for their money here.”

The disappointment over the game’s limited appeal to newcomers within the Gundam series intensifies here, given the solid core gameplay that could potentially have served as an introduction to the broader Gundam lore. The storytelling isn’t solely responsible for this issue; other factors are also at play, limiting the game’s wider appeal. For instance, this is a remaster of a game that was initially developed for the PS Vita over a decade ago. These aspects may deter new players from fully immersing themselves in the Gundam universe.

To put it simply, this game isn’t exactly eye-catching. In many instances, it can appear quite bare and unattractive, resembling the visual style often seen in lower budget PS2 games. Despite being remastered, the graphics aren’t impressive overall. There are moments where it looks appealing, particularly in space maps, but generally, the game’s appearance might deter potential players, especially those who enjoy large mech battles.

Additionally, a common challenge faced by smaller, specialized Japanese releases during their international launches is that only the original Japanese audio track is provided. No dubbed versions in English or any other language are accessible. While hardcore Gundam fans might find this acceptable, if not preferable, it likely serves as an additional hurdle for other potential viewers.

For fans of Gundam who aren’t bothered by certain aspects, they needn’t worry as this game offers an abundance of content and familiar references that they’ll love. However, I fervently hope that the success of this remake motivates the developers to create a new, higher-budget sequel with a more accessible campaign for newcomers and improved visuals. Such a game could potentially attract many more people to the Gundam universe. This current release might be more suitable for existing Gundam fans, but for those new to the franchise, a future game would likely be more appealing. You dedicated fans are in for a great time with this one!

This game was reviewed on Nintendo Switch.

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2025-05-29 20:11