Re: What's the best and worst thing about each gacha you play? from r/gachagaming
I thought it's interesting, so here's my answer about the gacha games I'm currently playing. Read more
[p] = pros (best), [c] = cons (worst)
Touken Ranbu:
- [p] I like resources management game.
- [p] The game is pretty barebones in story. Anywhere else, that might be bad, but here, that's one of its strengths that allowed it go on for almost 10 years now. The game is a blank canvas for players and other media mix projects to play with the setting, characters, and history. Each players' and media's interpretation of their own citadels are all valid. Not to mention the cultural impact it had in Japan, allowing sword smiths, museums, and cities to prosper.
- [c] Old PPT game, though they added QoL over the years, thankfully. There's even auto now!! Back in my day you don't have all of that-
- [c] The gacha can be pretty painful.
- [c] GRINDY AS HELL.
Girls' Frontline:
- [p] In an interview back in 5th anniversary, Yuzhong stated what MICA's writing philosophy is like - "every line must deliver information and serve a purpose, to guarantee the density of information to keep readers stimulated and enganged" - and I really appreciate it. It really shows in their stories. Major events (main story events) can be very long, rivaling Arknights' infamous novel length, and yet they don't feel unnecessarily dragged out, boring, or convoluted.
- [p] Great music courtesy of Vanguard Sound.
- [p] The protagonist, the Commander, is a character on their own. The evolution from a silent newbie protagonist to a hardened war veteran speaking by themselves is amazing.
- [p] I think it has a nice balance between fanservice and cool stuff (such as tacticool).
- [p] I like resources management game.
- [p] The gacha is generous, even better with anchored construction (pity) now.
- [c] It's an old game, so some things seem out of date.
- [c] Grindy. Bless the QoL that came over the years.
Girls' Frontline 2:
- [p] Quick dailies.
- [p] Great 3D models.
- [p] Great optimization, at least in my experience. I'm amazed it runs so well in my Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite 2020 and Samsung A32. These are weak devices.
- [p] The protagonist, the Commander, is a character on their own. Even fully-voiced and shown in cutscenes!! I especially love the female commander's deep voice.
- [c] The early story is pretty weak, but I guess that's normal for a new game. At least the story and events are fully-voiced, pretty rare in gacha games.
- [c] This isn't exactly the game's fault, but rather, MICA's decision. I dislike that the first event started on the release day, and it's a major event to boot, so it has a longer story and more content. I wish it started later, at least a week later, to let players progress the game in their own pace/in much slower pace.
- [c] In relation to the above (and made the situation worse), the farming stages only open after you finish all story stages. There are 3 tickets replenished each day, but only a maximum of 6 tickets can be held. GFL 1 did this too, but it had since changed, so it's baffling to me that they kept it here. I heard it changed in CN later on, at least.
Neural Cloud:
- [p] Optimized very well, runs smoothly.
- [p] Great story and characters.
- [p] Great artworks. Characters have free L2D as their level and stars progress (except those given for free).
- [p] When certain characters are set as assistant, the option to toggle background on and off is available, even for L2D! I love that. Arknights need this, I swear.
- [p] Nice character progression. Rarity doesn't really matter in the end since they all can become 5⭐.
- [p] Relatively generous gacha, unless you're absolutely unlucky.
- [p] Relatively quick dailies.
- [c] I don't really like some game modes nor do I care.
- [c] Lack of male characters. I know, this game is part of GFL (despite dropping the "GFL" moniker most of the times) and the usual "male characters don't sell" and such, you don't have to tell me.
- [c] Skins are paid only.
- [c] Perhaps the end of the game is drawing near, though it did close arc 1. I heard CN is pretty much dead with barely any news, while global servers are rushing major events. The latest event in EN came out with MTL (which they apologized for and promised to fix later), which doesn't inspire confidence. I suspect MICA spread themselves too thin for GFL 1 (global servers rushing the last major events) and GFL 2 (game release).
Arknights:
- [p] Character progression.
- [p] Even F2P can get skins.
- [p] Great artworks, mostly.
- [p] I actually really enjoy co-op events like Icebreaker Games, though I dislike the football game.
- [?] Perhaps a hot take, but the music can be a hit or miss for me.
- [?] The gameplay and game mechanics can be a bit frustrating at times, but it can also be fun.
- [c] No sweep.
- [c] I've come to not care about some game modes, like SSS, Reclamation Algorithm 2 (got a bit addicted then got burned out), and even Integrated Strategies (got addicted for a long time then got burned out). I'm just tired at this point, I guess. At least they're permanent so I can do them later, though I'd be losing on some monthly missions and whatnot.
- [c] The writing of the stories. We all know what's the deal now, no more need to be said. It's a shame since the lore and narrative can be pretty interesting, but the execution makes it hard for me to care about the story and characters.
- [c] In relation to the above...SilverAsh is one of my absolute favorites, so I read "Break the Ice" event, and I can't say I like the writing. It's not too convoluted and there's some nice humor, but...ugh.
- [c] Need more 6⭐ male operators, especially a defender. Please. No more guards.
Shining Nikki:
- [p] Amazing details in outfits.
- [p] Great art for 2D artworks and characters.
- [p] The story is no slouch and the characters are great.
- [c] The optimization has improved, but it still can be better.
- [c] No story skip in events.
- [c] Papergames can be greedy. MR (a step above UR) is the worst culmination of that.
- [c] Rushing URs and MRs AGAIN.
- [c] Lack of lolita outfits.
- [c] The recolor system sucks. Life Makeover is better, but Infinity Nikki is even worse.
- [c] There are some frankly unncessary additions to the game, like baby Nikki.
- [c] Where's my Devil Lilih rerun??? 😭😭😭
Infinity Nikki:
- [p] The world is fun to explore.
- [p] Dailies can be very quick.
- [p] The gacha for 4⭐ is great (guaranteed 1 piece every 5 pulls).
- [p] So far, Papergames/Infold has been very receptive to players' demands and have added/planning to add requested features/fixes.
- [?] I feel like 5⭐ outfits look less stellar than UR outfits in Shining Nikki, but I also understand why as this is an open-world game, so you can't get too wild.
- [c] Long start-up loading time.
- [c] The story leaves much to be desired for now.
- [c] No gliding except in one area.
- [c] The optimization SUCKS AS HELL.
- [c] The recolor system sucks.
- [c] Need a way to track chests and Dew of Inspiration in-game.
- [c] I hate the Whimstars where I need to parkour within a time limit, especially the ones on pink clouds, with every fiber of my being. I avoid them now.
- [c] The dungeons/realms don't have save points. I understand why, but it can really suck when you get kicked out of the game due to server error and had to start all over again. Happened to me twice when I was so close to the end goal.
I thought it's interesting, so here's my answer about the gacha games I'm currently playing.
[p] = pros (best), [c] = cons (worst)
Touken Ranbu:
- [p] I like resources management game.
- [p] The game is pretty barebones in story. Anywhere else, that might be bad, but here, that's one of its strengths that allowed it go on for almost 10 years now. The game is a blank canvas for players and other media mix projects to play with the setting, characters, and history. Each players' and media's interpretation of their own citadels are all valid. Not to mention the cultural impact it had in Japan, allowing sword smiths, museums, and cities to prosper.
- [c] Old PPT game, though they added QoL over the years, thankfully. There's even auto now!! Back in my day you don't have all of that-
- [c] The gacha can be pretty painful.
- [c] GRINDY AS HELL.
Girls' Frontline:
- [p] In an interview back in 5th anniversary, Yuzhong stated what MICA's writing philosophy is like - "every line must deliver information and serve a purpose, to guarantee the density of information to keep readers stimulated and enganged" - and I really appreciate it. It really shows in their stories. Major events (main story events) can be very long, rivaling Arknights' infamous novel length, and yet they don't feel unnecessarily dragged out, boring, or convoluted.
- [p] Great music courtesy of Vanguard Sound.
- [p] The protagonist, the Commander, is a character on their own. The evolution from a silent newbie protagonist to a hardened war veteran speaking by themselves is amazing.
- [p] I think it has a nice balance between fanservice and cool stuff (such as tacticool).
- [p] I like resources management game.
- [p] The gacha is generous, even better with anchored construction (pity) now.
- [c] It's an old game, so some things seem out of date.
- [c] Grindy. Bless the QoL that came over the years.
Girls' Frontline 2:
- [p] Quick dailies.
- [p] Great 3D models.
- [p] Great optimization, at least in my experience. I'm amazed it runs so well in my Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite 2020 and Samsung A32. These are weak devices.
- [p] The protagonist, the Commander, is a character on their own. Even fully-voiced and shown in cutscenes!! I especially love the female commander's deep voice.
- [c] The early story is pretty weak, but I guess that's normal for a new game. At least the story and events are fully-voiced, pretty rare in gacha games.
- [c] This isn't exactly the game's fault, but rather, MICA's decision. I dislike that the first event started on the release day, and it's a major event to boot, so it has a longer story and more content. I wish it started later, at least a week later, to let players progress the game in their own pace/in much slower pace.
- [c] In relation to the above (and made the situation worse), the farming stages only open after you finish all story stages. There are 3 tickets replenished each day, but only a maximum of 6 tickets can be held. GFL 1 did this too, but it had since changed, so it's baffling to me that they kept it here. I heard it changed in CN later on, at least.
Neural Cloud:
- [p] Optimized very well, runs smoothly.
- [p] Great story and characters.
- [p] Great artworks. Characters have free L2D as their level and stars progress (except those given for free).
- [p] When certain characters are set as assistant, the option to toggle background on and off is available, even for L2D! I love that. Arknights need this, I swear.
- [p] Nice character progression. Rarity doesn't really matter in the end since they all can become 5⭐.
- [p] Relatively generous gacha, unless you're absolutely unlucky.
- [p] Relatively quick dailies.
- [c] I don't really like some game modes nor do I care.
- [c] Lack of male characters. I know, this game is part of GFL (despite dropping the "GFL" moniker most of the times) and the usual "male characters don't sell" and such, you don't have to tell me.
- [c] Skins are paid only.
- [c] Perhaps the end of the game is drawing near, though it did close arc 1. I heard CN is pretty much dead with barely any news, while global servers are rushing major events. The latest event in EN came out with MTL (which they apologized for and promised to fix later), which doesn't inspire confidence. I suspect MICA spread themselves too thin for GFL 1 (global servers rushing the last major events) and GFL 2 (game release).
Arknights:
- [p] Character progression.
- [p] Even F2P can get skins.
- [p] Great artworks, mostly.
- [p] I actually really enjoy co-op events like Icebreaker Games, though I dislike the football game.
- [?] Perhaps a hot take, but the music can be a hit or miss for me.
- [?] The gameplay and game mechanics can be a bit frustrating at times, but it can also be fun.
- [c] No sweep.
- [c] I've come to not care about some game modes, like SSS, Reclamation Algorithm 2 (got a bit addicted then got burned out), and even Integrated Strategies (got addicted for a long time then got burned out). I'm just tired at this point, I guess. At least they're permanent so I can do them later, though I'd be losing on some monthly missions and whatnot.
- [c] The writing of the stories. We all know what's the deal now, no more need to be said. It's a shame since the lore and narrative can be pretty interesting, but the execution makes it hard for me to care about the story and characters.
- [c] In relation to the above...SilverAsh is one of my absolute favorites, so I read "Break the Ice" event, and I can't say I like the writing. It's not too convoluted and there's some nice humor, but...ugh.
- [c] Need more 6⭐ male operators, especially a defender. Please. No more guards.
Shining Nikki:
- [p] Amazing details in outfits.
- [p] Great art for 2D artworks and characters.
- [p] The story is no slouch and the characters are great.
- [c] The optimization has improved, but it still can be better.
- [c] No story skip in events.
- [c] Papergames can be greedy. MR (a step above UR) is the worst culmination of that.
- [c] Rushing URs and MRs AGAIN.
- [c] Lack of lolita outfits.
- [c] The recolor system sucks. Life Makeover is better, but Infinity Nikki is even worse.
- [c] There are some frankly unncessary additions to the game, like baby Nikki.
- [c] Where's my Devil Lilih rerun??? 😭😭😭
Infinity Nikki:
- [p] The world is fun to explore.
- [p] Dailies can be very quick.
- [p] The gacha for 4⭐ is great (guaranteed 1 piece every 5 pulls).
- [p] So far, Papergames/Infold has been very receptive to players' demands and have added/planning to add requested features/fixes.
- [?] I feel like 5⭐ outfits look less stellar than UR outfits in Shining Nikki, but I also understand why as this is an open-world game, so you can't get too wild.
- [c] Long start-up loading time.
- [c] The story leaves much to be desired for now.
- [c] No gliding except in one area.
- [c] The optimization SUCKS AS HELL.
- [c] The recolor system sucks.
- [c] Need a way to track chests and Dew of Inspiration in-game.
- [c] I hate the Whimstars where I need to parkour within a time limit, especially the ones on pink clouds, with every fiber of my being. I avoid them now.
- [c] The dungeons/realms don't have save points. I understand why, but it can really suck when you get kicked out of the game due to server error and had to start all over again. Happened to me twice when I was so close to the end goal.
#Touken_Ranbu #Girls_Frontline #Girls_Frontline_2 #Neural_Cloud #Arknights #Shining_Nikki #Infinity_Nikki Fold