We've been waiting for it for some time now, but SD Gundam Battle Alliance PC is finally out! This offshoot from the mainline turn-based Gundam titles promised a new and exciting take on the classic mecha IP. Because, honestly, who doesn't want to see massive sword-fighting robots duke it out?

Since it's a proper real-time endeavor, SD Gundam Battle Alliance enjoys broader appeal than most other Gundam games. Super Robot Wars 30, for example, was a joy to play, but its turn-based gameplay won't be fun for everyone. And, really, that's what makes this particular release so special: it's different, considering its franchise.

No beating around the bush here: if you, too, would like to swordfight mecha today, this is the article you need to read. Down below, we'll go into some key details on what makes this game such a big deal. On top of that, we've also got a few reviews you'll be interested in checking out! So, if you're on the fence about SD Gundam Battle Alliance, this is the place to be.

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SD Gundam Battle Alliance PC Gameplay

Gundam has never shied away from the idea that its narratives are there, really, just to drive combat between awesome bots and mecha. To that end, it shouldn't be overly surprising to hear that Battle Alliance does its darndest to keep a straight face while sending you from one Gundam timeline to another. Naturally, this is a convenient excuse to mash all the awesome weapons and suits together and have them fight. Because, really, why wouldn't you?

While the gameplay video featured above merely goes through the basics, it should give you a good sense of what to expect out of this title. It's what you'd get if you mashed Devil May Cry with a classic Gundam game, really. Players take control over three unique suits at a time and complete a wide variety of objectives. All the while, they are beset by a horde of generic AI bots and a few boss-tier highlights. The situations mirror those from the various Gundam anime rather well.

What's really noteworthy here, though, is that there's a complex RPG core underneath SD Gundam Battle Alliance's simplistic-looking exterior. "This game is more complex than it initially lets on," said RPGSite's Josh Torres. "I am left impressed with how technical the gameplay is and how carefully Artdink designed the game’s framework to emphasize teamwork and synergy above all throughout fun Gundam crossover stages."

Torres did mention, however, that he felt that the game is more or less designed around multiplayer. So, if you've got a group of Gundam-minded friends, this should be a real hoot!

What Does SD Gundam Battle Alliance Do, Exactly?

SD Gundam Battle Alliance throws you - the player - headfirst into action. The game is all about fixing broken-down timelines where events that shouldn't have gone down, did. It's a time-hopping adventure where multiple timelines cohabitate in the same universe and overwrite one another willy-nilly. In other words, the perfect battleground for a game about huge fighting mecha.

Now, it's worth pointing out that while there's a huge arsenal of suits to choose from - depending on the given timeline - there aren't necessarily as many as Gundam games usually have. That's because this is, after all, a high-intensity hack 'n' slash. To that end, the Gundams are very detailed and differ from one another substantially. Namely, their gear and secondary weapons change from one suit to another, and it's up to you to choose the right tool for the job.

"I was a little surprised by how much SD Gundam Battle Alliance grew on me as I played it," said Jordan Rudek of NintendoWorldReport. "The way in which the missions are both bite-sized and gradually more challenging gives ample opportunity to try out new configurations for yourself and your partners when things don't work out initially."

This is a key insight, we believe. Rudek correctly spotted that Battle Alliance is all about its core gameplay loop, and everything else is secondary. Its missions, mainly bite-sized that they are, lend themselves phenomenally well to rapid-fire multiplayer sessions on the fly. And, since there's plenty of variety present in suits, partners, and gear, players can experiment to their hearts' content.

A Forward-Thinking Approach?

Bandai Namco and Artdink have decided to build a new Gundam platform with Battle Alliance. A multiplayer-centric ARPG with more than an inkling of greatness contained within. To be sure, there are some growing pains in transitioning the Gundam concept over to a real-time RPG-lite, but the formula certainly works.

What's particularly noteworthy, we believe, is that this game truly can (and will!) appeal to gamers that aren't necessarily Gundam fans at all. Look, this is a game about robots punching each other into smithereens, we cannot stress enough how badass that is. In more ways than not, it's similar to cult classic EDF titles, and may even take note from them in some ways. With a tiny bit of luck, that's where Bandai Namco aims to take Gundam as well.

What's Next for Gundam on PC?

And that about covers everything you need to know about this wonderfully weird little game. Now that you've got a good sense of how the game plays and what actual publications thought about it, you should be able to make an informed decision as to whether SD Gundam Battle Alliance PC is right for you or not. It's still a niche title, to be sure, but its renewed real-time gameplay loop should make it interesting for more players than ever before.

If you're interested, you can get both the base edition of the game and the Deluxe edition right here via 2Game:

• SD Gundam Battle Alliance
• SD Gundam Battle Alliance Deluxe Edition

On a similar note, if you're more interested in the technical side of Battle Alliance, you may still wish to check out our pre-release SD Gundam info summary. There, we've summarized the game's system requirements, which may prove especially handy for low-spec gamers, and for those who might be hoping to play this game on their Steam Deck. We also go into some detail on the pre-release and Deluxe edition content. Collectors, in particular, ought to take note here.

With a solid early review summary and a lovely core gameplay loop, this new Gundam offshoot has the moxie it so desperately needed. With luck, this is just the start of a new, real-time Gundam series. And if that's the case, then we can't wait to see what the next step is. In the meantime, Bandai Namco has shown that this IP has plenty more mileage to give!

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