Image via Trinket Studios
I love how well-rounded Gundam can be, as we end up with fantastic character development, social and political commentary, and incredibly cool mechs, and I’m delighted to report that playing Battle Suit Aces leaves me with the same sort of feeling as watching one of those anime series. The execution of its story in episodic chunks, lore surrounding the suits, dynamics between members of the team, and way in which we’re playing out these mech battles with customized card decks feels like a love letter to types of storytelling and designs we’d see from Sunrise.
Heathcliff and his friend Felix were generally living in peace, with the former even about to adopt some kids and start a family. That dream dies when mysterious aliens known as the Frenzied attack the planet. However, it’s because of that instance that the duo find what might be a means of fighting back. An ancient, extinct race known as the Pholians, which were wiped out by these Frenzied hunting down their energy, left behind relics and Relic Suit mechs. Heathcliff and Felix find one known as the Blue Crest. After bringing their find to the attention of the authorities, Heathcliff finds himself leading a new initiative known as Patchworks, with a growing crew on the USS Zephyr dedicated into investigating the Relic Suits, learning more about the Pholians, and fighting the Frenzied across the galaxy.
While Battle Suit Aces is a card game that involves recruiting pilot cards and collecting Drone and Command Captain ones to fight in battles against aliens and other opponents, the execution of the story embraces concepts from anime. Missions and portions of the plot follow an episodic style structure, complete with one of the voice actors for the crew members reading the titles for that segment out ahead of each one. While there are supplemental side quests for extra materials and faction points during each and opportunities to craft or speak with people on the ship during each part, meaning they might not always feel short, it helps with maintaining a flow and allowing opportunities for natural breaks. Since some of these segments can be more lighthearted, such as sparring with members of a faction who might help you learn more about the Relic Suits and improve them or attending a starball, as well as more serious, it lends itself to idea of feeling like full seasons or cours rather than one straightforward campaign.
The nature of the Battle Suit Aces characters and their relationships, as well as how they handle piloting suits, gave me Gundam vibes as well. There are serious undertones running through things, what with Heathcliff’s peaceful hopes dashed as the series begins, Felix being an enthusiastic pilot with an unexpected and immediate connection to the Blue Crest, and the wide range of personalities and experiences with these individuals. The dynamics between individuals are interesting and aren’t surface-level, as we start to actually investigate folks’ paths and see how some do (or don’t) always get along with one another. Once we get to recruitment, the situations usually involve multiple individuals and not being able to be get everyone we want, so you really need to pick and then see what they bring between battles.
That sort of relationship almost seems mirrored in the actual battles themselves. The pilots and their suits feel like the main priority, due to the amount of health they have, damage they can deal, ways they attack, and special skills they unleash. For example, Yan is in the U-TECH2 and, when she attacks, deals damage to the card directly opposing her and the enemy life bar. Considering your goal is to lay out your five cards in the five spots ahead of you, moving when needed, to block enemy shots and vice versa, that’s handy for wiping out a minion and working on decreasing your main opponent’s HP so you can win. Daciana and Jaeger both do AOE attacks against groups of enemies with the U-TANK20 and U-JET8. Meanwhile, Felix is a heavy hitter with the Blue Crest and also comes with rather high HP. And if you get Mirabell from the Tvashtr Suitsmiths Faction, then when she attacks she’ll grant armor to allies nearby to help with survivability. Depending on who you deploy, their skills and natures can help support each other and determine your strategies. Drones, meanwhile, are less powerful placeholders who can keep attacks from getting through an empty spot and deal some damage, while played Captain Command cards can immediately attack.
The fights in Battle Suit Aces will feel familiar if you’ve played similar sorts of strategic card games in the past. Every match starts with the player and their opponent each having 30 health and five slots for cards in front of them. Cards are played in these positions. You gain energy each turn, and each card’s attack will need some to be used. So not everyone deployed will take action that turn, but simply by existing in a space might be blocking an enemy attack and protecting your overall health. After an opponent’s turn, however, the strength icon for their cards that will attack on their next turn will be highlighted so you will know where to block. Your goal is to survive each round and whittle down your enemy’s health until they are defeated.
What surprised me about Battle Suit Aces, in a good way mind you,is that it doesn’t hold back! While the first two battles are tutorial ones that go rather easy on you, the one against the Frong Queen is genuinely tricky! It’s designed to help you learn how pilots can work well together, with Daciana and Belmot facing off against hostile native creatures, and it helps set the tone that yes, this is a game that requires you to be smart. It’s not uneven in any way. I feel like it’s a good challenge though that rewards you for playing pilots and drones that complement each other.
I also didn’t expect as much customization as there is in Battle Suit Aces. As you go through fights both in mainline missions and optional assignments, you get materials you can use in the Workshop. These can be used in suit mod slots, which can be opened up immediately or by completing specific ambitions for allies with certain actions in fights, to offer bonuses or even passives. This allows you to really play into strategies you enjoy most by improving the pilots you feel work best with your approaches. And things like the optional battles and Sim Chamber let you test that. Likewise, if you do put extra time in on bonus missions, you see your Faction points grow and more recruit options open up to bolster your deck.
I appreciate the execution in Battle Suit Aces and how it prioritizes characters and stories, resulting in a game that reminds me of Gundam series in the best ways. The card-based combat system encourages investment in factions and incentivizes additional missions so you can build up your characters. It also sends you into battles that can make you think, even early on, so it feels genuinely satisfying when you discover card combinations that work for you. I really appreciate the story it tells and how Trinket Studios told it.
Battle Suit Aces will come to the Switch, PS5, and PC on October 7, 2025.
Battle Suit Aces
I appreciate the execution in Battle Suit Aces and how it prioritizes characters and stories, resulting in a game that reminds me of Gundam series in the best ways.