The Gundam franchise has spanned decades of anime, games, and stories built around giant Mobile Suits and the pilots who control them, and GUNDAM ROGUE ORBIT is the newest addition to that lineup. Set within an original story separate from existing Gundam series, the game puts players directly in the pilot’s seat, tasking them with taking control of various Mobile Suits (MS) and heading into battle. Rather than leaning only on the fantasy of piloting a Gundam, the game focuses heavily on fast paced, high mobility combat, and pairs that with tactical skills, Mobile Suit customization, and support modules that let players shape their own playstyle.

We recently got a hands-on look at the game through a preview build, which offered three different Mobile Suits, two missions for each, and six battles in total. These missions came in two types: Rail Control Battles, where players fight alongside teammates against waves of enemies before facing a boss, and Boss Battles, which focus entirely on taking down a tougher enemy with more health and more pressure.

Movement Is at the Heart of Combat

One of the first things noticeable about GUNDAM ROGUE ORBIT is how much it emphasizes speed and mobility. Players are constantly dodging, dashing, and repositioning during fights, and all of that movement uses up the Boost Meter. Because of this, managing Boost becomes a real part of the strategy, since knowing when to dash in for an attack or save Boost for defense can matter a lot, especially against tougher enemies. The game also includes Tactical Skills and Tactical Moves, and pulling off a Tactical Move at the right time can trigger something called a Shift, which lets players chain their actions together smoothly. Instead of just spamming basic attacks and waiting for cooldowns, the combat rewards players who watch enemy patterns closely and look for chances to counter.

Three Mobile Suits, Three Different Playstyles

Even though all three Mobile Suits in the preview share the same core combat system, each one felt noticeably different to control. Assault Sword is the most straightforward of the three, built around close range combat with a sword as its main weapon. Its special skill, Anchor, works like a grappling hook that pulls the suit toward enemies while using less Boost, and it can even reach enemies in the air. This makes Assault Sword an easy suit to pick up, since the general approach is simple: close the gap, land a string of melee hits, then move on to the next target.

Sword Lance takes a different approach, focusing on mid range combat and heavy burst damage. Its skills feel slower and less agile, so players need to be more careful about when they commit to an attack, but landing those attacks feels much more impactful. One of its skills has the suit lunge forward like a drill, while another launches it into the air before slamming back down. Its special skill lets it perform a sweeping attack before summoning a laser cannon, and the amount of laser projectiles fired depends on a gauge that builds up over time. Overall, Sword Lance suits players who like waiting for the right opening before unloading a big hit.

Whip Sword stood out as the most unique of the three. Its special skill lets it switch between Sword Mode for close range attacks and Whip Mode for long range ones. In the preview, it leaned more toward ranged and area damage, with one skill letting the suit swing its whip around itself to hit multiple enemies at once, which makes it useful for clearing out weaker groups. Its individual hits are not very strong, but it attacks quickly, and repeatedly tapping the basic attack in Whip Mode makes the attacks even faster over time. So while Whip Sword does not hit as hard as Sword Lance, it makes up for it with steady damage and strong crowd control.

Over-Rise and the Apocalypse Unit

As battles go on, players build up a gauge that eventually lets them activate Over-Rise. This resets all of the Mobile Suit’s skill points so players can use their abilities again right away, and it also unlocks the AP Unit Burst, which lets the support unit unleash a strong attack. Because of this, Over-Rise works well as the starting point for a bigger damage push, and timing it well against bosses can open up a serious window for dealing damage.

Speaking of support, the Apocalypse Unit, or AP Unit, adds extra help during fights. The preview included two versions of this unit. One is an automatic drone with a laser gun that fires at nearby enemies on its own, which is especially useful against groups. The other is a shield that can be placed in front of the Mobile Suit to block incoming attacks, though it stays fixed in place once deployed, so using it well means predicting when and where enemies will attack. Having two very different AP Units gives players some flexibility depending on the situation they are facing.

Moments That Add Flair

Beyond the mechanics, a lot of care clearly went into making the Mobile Suits feel cool in motion. Certain successful attacks trigger close up camera angles and slow motion shots that give the suit a bit of a spotlight moment. This stands out most during boss fights, where landing the finishing hit shifts the game into a slow motion sequence, with the camera following the suit as the boss goes down. It has the feel of a finishing move straight out of a Gundam anime, and even though these moments do not change how the combat plays, they add a lot to the feeling of actually piloting a Mobile Suit.

The game also includes a customization system for Mobile Suits. As players complete missions, they can earn parts to adjust their suit’s stats and abilities, letting them build something that fits their playstyle over time. The preview only offered a brief look at this system, but for players who like tweaking builds, it could end up being a meaningful part of the full game.

First Impressions

After going through all six battles, it is clear that GUNDAM ROGUE ORBIT is not just leaning on the appeal of piloting a Gundam. Each Mobile Suit has its own combat identity, with Assault Sword built for classic close range fighting, Sword Lance focused on heavy burst damage, and Whip Sword suited for ranged and area attacks. Combined with the Boost Meter, Tactical Moves, Shift, Over-Rise, and the AP Units, these systems make movement, timing, and skill management central to how the game plays.

The preview only showed a small slice of what the game has to offer, and there was limited time with the customization system, but if the full release can keep each Mobile Suit feeling distinct while adding more variety in suits, customization, and missions, GUNDAM ROGUE ORBIT looks like it could be a solid pick for Gundam fans and players who enjoy fast, action heavy games.