Shooters have many factors that make those games great, and one of the biggest reasons is the maps. The best shooters have great maps that highlight the games' best aspects. In hero shooters specifically, players have to pick a role. In these games, the maps play an even bigger role. The best maps in hero shooters like Overwatch 2 ensure that every game feels different, making them immersive and fun.
The newest hero shooter to drop on the scene, Gundam Evolution, features this same quality. Meaning, the maps are important, and every plan should be based on that. Gundam Evolution is a live service game that is constantly getting updated, which includes the addition of new maps. There are a wide variety of maps in Gundam Evolution, each designed to do something different.
5 Underground Command Centre
This map will make players change how they fight as they progress through it, which is a huge reason why it's on this list. Some may see this map and think that the defenders have the advantage, because of the elevated position they are on next to the relay point. However, it's a pretty balanced map, provided the attackers have a Gundam suit that can suppress the enemies at the start. Once the attackers start to push and make it to the small mountain near the relay point, the defenders will need to hold that point.
This becomes easy to attack. Gundams like Nu Gundam or Asshimar can use their funnels and napalm grenades to quickly clear out the area. After this point, the fight goes indoors. This becomes easier on the defenders, since it's a closed area, so the attackers must quickly move before the defenders can settle in and hold. This aspect highlights a massive component of Gundam Evolution: it's a quick game, and players have to keep pressing on if they're attacking.
4 Canyon Base
In some maps in hero shooters, a strong hero can come in and almost wipe out an area because the defenders are bunched up on a point. Gundam Evolution is much like that, but more forgiving. Canyon Base is a destruction map like the Underground Command Centre, where attackers have to blow up a point.
At the start, defenders will have to keep their eyes on two lanes. A Sazabi, which is a massive tank-like Gundam, can hold one lane with a healer at their side. The left lane is narrow and easy for players to throw their axes across; meanwhile, the other lane is wider, allowing the other half of the team to defend it. After attackers get the relay point, the chaos begins. Both points are in a contained spot, with places where enemies can come in and flank. This makes players fight much more aggressively, in turn winning on this map can feel more rewarding.
3 Colony Trading Post
Since Gundam Evolution is in the midst of its second season, developers gave some new things to players. One of these additions is a new map, the Colony Trading Post. This is a destruction map, much like Canyon Base and Underground Command Centre. But has tons of differences. It has wide lanes and tall buildings which can be used as cover, and once the attackers get a relay point, the dynamic does somewhat change. Two points are in areas that are both outside and inside at the same time, allowing enemy Gundams to flank very easily since there are wide doorways.
This map is great on both sides of the match. As mentioned before, there are lanes, but there are also ways to completely avoid the defending team and get the relay point, which players can do by sneaking past them. Defending the points is rather easy, and so is attacking, since the spaces are wide enough for multiple Gundams to fight each other.
It's worth noting that more Gundams will be added to the game later. The XXXG-01H Gundam Heavyarms: Mobile Suit Gundam Wing, which is highly requested by fans, could have a G-Maneuver in which self-destructs wiping on the defenders. Additions like this could change the course of the match on this map.
2 Harbor City
This is a point capture map, where defenders have to hold a point. If they fail, they have to fall back to the second and last point. Harbor City is pretty balanced for both attackers and defenders. At the start, the attackers are greeted with a straight lane in front of them. Alternatively, they can use the side lane on the left, to flank the defenders holding the line at the end of the main lane. If the attackers rush in from the smaller lane, they can easily push up. Unlike the Colony Trading Post, which has high buildings, Harbor City has buildings ranging in height. Once the attackers move out closer to the point, a defending Gundam can easily get headshots.
However, if the attacking team has Unicorn (arguably the best Gundam in Gundam Evolution)it can always give that extra protection, as long as the team is close by due to its passive healing. But at the second point, things get hectic. The space is more narrow, so as long as the attackers have fast-moving and fast-attacking Gundams, they can easily get the second point. On the other hand, defenders can counter that by focusing on tanking and close-quarter combat. Both sides can put up a fight, and this map highlights that.
1 Ministry Of Defense
While most maps on the list are on Earth, there are maps in space, particularly the moon. From the set of maps on the moon, the Ministry Of Defense stands out the most. This map makes players engage more and more aggressively. Since its destruction map, a lot of things can happen. The first section is over-the-top because both points are oddly set up. One point is out in the open, and the other is right under it somewhat protected by ramps. Both points are hard to attack and defend. Even if players use these tips, they'll still have a hard time.
The second section is not much different, but it gets even more hectic since the second set of points is inside. Once the fight goes there, a lot of unpredictable things can happen, from a team wipe to the defenders falling easily. Like many of the other maps on this list, it forces players to adapt to their situation, like switching Gundams, since fighting outside has a different feel than fighting inside.
Gundam Evolution is available now on Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, and PC.