While I wish there was some Universal Century representation in the game, SD GUNDAM G GENERATION CROSS RAYS is a fun and detailed tactical RPG that nails the tone of each Gundam series it adapts with its excellent visuals and exciting music.
SD GUNDAM G GENERATION CROSS RAYS
Developer: Bandai Namco
Price: $60
Platform: PC (reviewed)
MonsterVine was supplied with a PC code for review.
The Gundam franchise seems like a good fit for a tactical RPG based on its concept alone. People piloting mechs partaking in wars and fighting over ideals is essentially a perfect pitch for Fire Emblem with mechs, so when I heard about Cross Rays, I was immediately intrigued. Though I wish there were a few more Gundam series included, Cross Rays is still a lot of fun for Gundam and tactical RPG fans alike.
Pretty much all of the non-universal Century Gundam series are present in CROSS RAYS, from Gundam Wing and Gundam Seed all the way up to Iron-Blooded Orphans and its spin-off. Thankfully you can tackle the series in any order you want, so if you aren’t a big fan of 00 or Seed Destiny, you can jump straight to your favorite series. The decision to only include non-UC content is a strange one, as the Universal Century timeline is where a lot of the most iconic and beloved characters and Mobile Suits from all of the Gundam franchise come from. The exclusion of suits like the RX-78-2 and RX-78NT-1 and characters like Char Aznable and Shiro Amada just feels off.
The gameplay, at its most basic, is that of a standard tactics-based RPG. You make a team of units and use them, alongside units from whatever story chapter you’re playing, to accomplish different goals in each stage. Some levels have you take down one specific enemy, while others task you with destroying all opponents. Using your team, you navigate a grid to attack enemy units using a variety of weapons unique to each Mobile Suit. Attacks use up energy and are reliant on being within a set number of spaces of an enemy. Leveling up units and pilots lets you distribute skill points to increase their stats, which gives you the incentive to use some of your weaker units.
“The fact that there are so many customizable things to buy is a positive though, as I could see myself playing this game for some time to come thanks to all the different suits and pilots there are to collect.“
Units related to each story chapter tend to be far stronger than the units in your sortie are, which makes it a bit too easy to lean on these temporary units instead of strengthening your own. This makes it easier to unlock these story units for yourself though, so I can understand why this decision was made. A lot of the story Mobile Suits are pretty expensive, and since your capital can be used for Mobile Suits, parts, and pilots, it can be difficult to decide what to buy. The fact that there are so many customizable things to buy is a positive though, as I could see myself playing this game for some time to come thanks to all the different suits and pilots there are to collect.
There are normally two tasks in each stage, which make each level drag on. You can save at any time and come back to a level later, but it can still feel like a chore to finish the occasional level here and there when your units are running thin and you’ve been on the same stage for over half an hour. Different stages have their own terrains that are more suited for specific units. Some units only work on the ground, while others are better used in space. Having to measure these stats and weigh your options while keeping your limited capital in mind makes preparing for each battle a bit tense, especially if you have a unit in use that you’ve worked hard to level up.
You earn new units and pilots by defeating enemies with said units in their story battles. You have to purchase the unlocked units using capital earned from each mission, but keep in mind, MS units that are destroyed in battle are permanently lost. As long as you’ve unlocked the units, you can make new ones using your capital to replace lost suits. You’ve got to be careful though, as this can eat away at your funds quickly if you play recklessly. I really enjoyed the uneasiness that came with each battle, as it made victories feel more earned and losses feel harsher.
The visuals and sound in Cross Rays are excellent, as every animated attack is dynamic and exciting to watch. Each unit plays music from their original series, though you can also set custom music if you prefer different tracks. Seeing Barbatos plow through an opponent with its mace while music from Iron-Blooded Orphans plays is ridiculously hype-inducing, and it makes the slower tactics-based RPG genre feel fast and exciting with each attack.
The Final Word
Though it’s missing some key Gundam series and can drag a bit, SD GUNDAM G GENERATION CROSS RAYS is a fun and fairly deep tactical RPG that combines impressive visuals and sound with just enough fanservice for Gundam fans.
MonsterVine Review Score: 4 out of 5 – Good
