A preview of Gundam Rogue Orbit has showcased a compelling addition to the mech game genre: a whip sword, a weapon that evokes the Souls-like action of FromSoftware's Armored Core 6. While this esoteric armament suggests Rogue Orbit aims for a more nuanced melee experience than typical Gundam titles, the inability to access the game's customization screen during the preview leaves a crucial element of the mech game fantasy unexplored.
Hands-On with the Whip Sword
The recent hands-on preview allowed players to experience about 30 minutes of Gundam Rogue Orbit's action. The inclusion of a whip sword, a weapon seemingly inspired by Bloodborne and reminiscent of earlier Gundam designs, has generated excitement for its potential to add depth to the combat. This esoteric weapon hints at a game that could deliver on the melee crunch and strategic nuance often desired in mech titles. However, the frustration lies in the demo's limited scope, which prevented players from selecting their own loadouts or even a preset combination featuring the whip sword.
The game does feature a customization screen, as evidenced by screenshots on its Steam page, but this aspect was not accessible during the preview. The preview focused solely on combat, offering a fast-paced experience with ample anime-inspired voiceover that did little to contextualize the narrative concerning an alien threat known as "The Apocalypse."
Combat Mechanics and Inspirations
Rogue Orbit leans more towards an action RPG than a character action game like Devil May Cry. Combos are relatively simple, involving repeated button presses, and success relies on integrating active skills with cooldowns. A notable example shown was the whip sword's 360-degree spin attack, capable of hitting multiple enemies. Another weapon, the Sword Lance, offered a more deliberate playstyle, building a meter through mid-dodge heavy attacks that could then be expended to deploy a "Beam Phalanx" of laser emitters.
The presence of damage numbers, enabled by default, suggests that the full game may require players to balance skill cooldown management, similar to Granblue Fantasy: Relink, with the precision of attack timing and dodging. The overall feel of the combat has drawn comparisons to FromSoftware's Armored Core 6, albeit in a more accessible package. This connection is particularly interesting given that FromSoftware itself developed several Gundam games for Bandai Namco in the past, creating a sense of an evolution where the student has, in a way, become the master.
The Missing Piece: Customization
Despite the promising combat mechanics and the exciting inclusion of the whip sword, the inability to engage with the mech customization system remains a significant point of contention. The core appeal of mech games, exemplified by the Armored Core series, often lies in the pre-mission process of assembling a unique build. Players seek to strike a balance between speed and durability, damage output and ammunition, and range versus close-quarters effectiveness tailored to specific challenges. Without access to this crucial element, the preview felt incomplete, leaving players unable to fully realize the potential of Gundam Rogue Orbit. The full game is slated for release in March.