Gundam Evolutionoffers many gameplay experiences that are inspired by the pioneering titles of the hero-shooter genre. However, one of the most talked about Mobile Suits is based on a particular Team Fortress 2 mercenary. During its network testing Gundam Evolution offered 14 Mobile Suits that allowed for fine-tuned gunplay. Gundam Barbatos was the suit that caught the most attention and ire of many players. While it is easy to tell the difference between TF2’s French expert in subterfugee and the star of Mobile Suit Gundam, Iron-Blooded Orphans, their gameplay functions are strikingly similar.
Similar to Overwatch a hero shooter, Gundam Evolution focuses on team-versus-team skirmishes, with various objectives often related to control points. Gundam Barbatos, one of the two melee-oriented Mobile Suits in the game, is able to shut down almost every Mobile Suit within seconds by using two powerful melee stuns. Combining these abilities with Barbatos’ large boost gauge that allows it to close the distance, drew much fan frustration at the Mobile Suit’s ability to quickly run up to enemies and instantly destroy them. The Mobile Suit can also run away to recharge its health and abilities. Later, counter play was discovered in the network test. It used a well-timed dash to lure the Barbatos first stun and left the melee unit without its instant kill and vulnerable to attack from the enemy team.
Apart from Team Fortress2’s bot-on-bot extermination the most striking resemblance is in the roles Gundam Barbatos shares with Valve’s Spy in gameplay: quick-kill, agile melee assassins who crumble under team awareness. Although their approaches to getting in close proximity might differ, Barbatos using his extra boost charges to get into fights while Spy uses spy cloaks or disguises to hide his identity. Both are excellent at eliminating complacent enemies. Spy can backstab an enemy to get an instant kill, while Barbatos uses two powerful melee abilities that deal an incredible amount of damage. Only one mobile suit is capable of dealing this level of damage. Both are equipped to escape from encounters, as well as their fresh kills, and can wait for their abilities and new opportunities to recharge.
Gundam Evolution’s Barbatos Plays the Same Niche as TF2’s Spy
Gundam Barbatos, Team Fortress2’s Spy sound like they are unstoppable but also have the same weaknesses. Gundam Barbatos can be heard during approach. The suit’s boost produces a distinctive sound, and the mace charge attack (the first stun in this combo) makes an ambient charging noise. Spy must remove his cloak before he can stabbing. This makes a distinct sound and is often very noticeable. Quickly, Barbatos moves its mace down. A quick inspection of a fellow teammate acting strangely in Team Fortress2 will negate the threat from these melee assassins. These assassins are able to thrive in situations where such awareness is impossible or impractical, like when large teams fight.
Gundam Evolutionis often inspected against Overwatch and its sequel’s best hero. There are more than one character analogue between team shooters. However, it is important to keep in mind that the genre has had many influential titles. Many ideas can be traced back decades, even to the previous millennium. Gundam Evolutionwill offer a wide range of interesting interactions among these many character functions when it arrives in late September 2022 on PC and end November 2022 on console.
