Giant robots, mechs, Gundams—it’s a niche yet adored genre within anime and gaming circles. Who doesn’t love piloting giant robots and zipping around the world super-fast with giant guns and big plasma swords? Exactly!

So when a playtest for a game like Mecha Break drops, it’s bound to grab attention. This latest offering from Amazing Seasun Games, known primarily for the 3D shooter Snowbreak: Containment Zone, suggests they’re more than capable of handling the mecha genre.

Yet, beneath its dazzling surface, Mecha Break isn’t without its flaws, which become more apparent the deeper you dive into its chaotic combat and stylish presentation.

Giant Robots, Big Expectations

At its heart, Mecha Break is a mission-driven mecha hero-shooter, where most of the action unfolds online. Players pick from a list of available missions, each determining the game modes they’ll encounter. While it may remind some of other genre titles like Exoprimal, Mecha Break shifts the focus to player-versus-player match-ups, leaving the environmental aspects behind. The result is a game that emphasises teamwork as players tackle objectives such as point defence, key retrieval, and cart escorting. While these elements might not sound groundbreaking, it’s the gameplay that truly shines, making each mission an engaging experience.

However, the game’s chaotic and frenzied combat can be overwhelming, especially for newcomers. The sheer speed and intensity of battles, with neon beams flashing and mechs zipping through the sky, can make it difficult to keep track of objectives. While this adds energy and tension to skirmishes, it can also lead to a sense of disorientation, particularly when combined with the game’s rather scant tutorial, which leaves much to be desired. The tutorial, which seems half-baked and disconnected from the rest of the game, introduces players to the basics in a way that feels more confusing than helpful. This abrupt and contextless introduction, coupled with generic dialogue, makes the learning curve steeper than necessary, which could deter some players.

It’s clear that Mecha Break wears its influences openly. Though I’m not deeply versed in the Armored Core series, there’s a noticeable resemblance in the way this game plays, albeit with a stronger focus on competitive hero shooter mechanics. However, games like SYNDUALITY: Echo of Ada and Gundam Breaker 4 might already have a firm grip on the mecha community, meaning Mecha Break has a challenging path ahead.

Abundance of Customisation

One aspect that stands out is the character customisation. After a brief cinematic introduction, players are given the opportunity to customise their pilot. The customisation options are impressive, allowing for a wide range of creativity, from replicating your own likeness to creating entirely fictional characters. This attention to detail extends to the mechs, known as Strikers, which can also be extensively customised with various parts and weapons to suit different playstyles. Whether you prefer a nimble scout, a resilient tank, or a versatile all-rounder, the variety ensures that no two matches are the same.

Yet, there’s a looming concern about the game’s potential monetisation tactics. Unlocking new Strikers involves flashy cutscenes reminiscent of gacha games, hinting at a system that might lean heavily on in-game purchases. This, combined with the presence of a battle pass and premium currency, raises questions about how much of the game’s content might be gated behind paywalls. Although the beta only showcased cosmetic items and one Striker locked behind the battle pass, the final version could see a more aggressive monetisation strategy, which might dampen the experience for some players.

When it comes to combat, control is everything, and Amazing Seasun has nailed the responsiveness. While there’s a brief delay when charging laser attacks or switching weapons, it all feels natural within the context of piloting a machine. The HUD provides all the necessary information, and I was pleasantly surprised by the range of weapons and builds available, even in this early stage. The seamless transitions from melee to ranged combat, executing special strikes, and charging burst attacks all look and feel fantastic, making combat both strategic and exhilarating.

Another strength of Mecha Break is its dynamic mission structure. Missions are more than just straightforward battles; they often involve complex objectives that require strategic planning and cooperation. From hacking enemy systems to defending convoys or engaging in multi-stage boss battles, the game keeps you on your toes, demanding adaptability and quick thinking.

However, Mecha Break isn’t without its flaws. The speed at which objectives are captured can make defence feel frustratingly difficult, and the Sortie area, where missions and customisations are organised, could use some streamlining to make navigation easier. These are issues that could be refined over time, but they do slightly detract from the overall experience.

Additionally, I found the game quite uncomfortable to play on a standard controller. Both mouse and keyboard and controller options are available, but without a customised controller like a Scuf, PS5 DualSense Edge, or Xbox Elite with back paddles, playing on a controller feels cumbersome. The issue arises because there are numerous buttons that need to be pressed with your right thumb, which often means taking it off the right analogue stick used for aiming. This creates a dilemma unless you’re using a claw grip on the controller or one of the aforementioned customised options. The overall impression is that while Mecha Break offers controller support, it’s fundamentally designed with mouse and keyboard in mind. These issues slightly detract from the experience, but they are areas that could be refined over time.

Moreover, the game isn’t very well-optimised. Despite running Mecha Break on my laptop’s SSD, equipped with 16GB of RAM, a 12th Gen Intel i5 CPU, and an RTX 3070 Laptop GPU, I experienced frame rates of just 40-50fps. This lack of optimisation significantly impacts the gameplay experience, making it difficult to fully enjoy the game’s fast-paced action. These issues, combined with the concerns over monetisation and controller compatibility, slightly detract from the overall experience, though they are areas that could potentially be addressed in future updates.

Have Bot, Will Travel

All in all, Mecha Break is a solid entry into the mecha genre. For someone who isn’t a massive fan of mechs—despite my love for anime—it has sparked a newfound interest in the genre. The game’s loop encourages players to engage in match after match, uncovering deeper layers of customisation and strategy. While there are concerns about the game’s other modes and potential monetisation structures, there’s plenty to be excited about. Here’s hoping the final release lives up to its promise—and maybe even throws in a summer event with some beachwear for our characters.