So after I changed my team comp after wiping to lvl 70 boss game keeps crashing with "syntax error unexpected identifier" when I try and return to the fight , Given that this visually seems to be 60-70% game completion and I've felt the same since lvl 30 I doubt game will change my opinion even if I could play beyond the crash. My current opinion after 4-6 hours, Death by a thousand cuts, even without regards to translation.
We can start with what many will consider a dealbreaker. The translation.
As of writing this is pure MTL with no editing. Dialogue can be understood but its a stretch to call most of it readable.
Tutorial is also in a terrible state since MTL does poorly at manual-style language given its so much terminology, doesn't help that text goes outside the window. I was able to modify this manually in the code but a lot also needs manual linebreaks added since alot was offscreen even at fontsize 14
Now let's get to actual gameplay, mostly unrelated from the translation
Basic gameplay loop is as follows,
- Breed(gacha/lootbox) troops
- Look through the unit list and make a comp
- go invade a map
- Roguelike inspired route choice
- If you win lose
- Reattempt same fight since there is no loss penalty OR leave area and make a new team before going attempting again
- If you win
- New level cap -> Stud all units / buy stallion leveling items from shop to increase stallion level to new cap before you restart from step one
And I got issues with almost every step of this loop. Presented here in same order for their respective section
- Breeding: Main issue here is the MTL, or in fact lack thereof. You will need to get slightly moonrune proficient to read the skills so your critically important healer or frail attacker doesnt get the taunt skills
- Unit list: Lack of UI support, specifically skill searching. Game has you breed a fuckton (pun not intended) of units and then you gotta sit there and look through them one by one
- Overworld: No comment
- Route choice: I hate it. The choice only impacts enemy variety and encounter amount. There are no event or treasures along the path and paths converge at boss so its basically just a case of not picking a elemental path you are weak to.
- Lose: Given its all auto combat a fight can have massive variety if enemy oneshot-crits someone in your team, your teams focus, etc.. Its nice that you can reattempt a fight instantly but it can feel like smashing your head against a brickwall and It shouldn't swing from me getting wiped turn 2 to beating it turn 4 with exactly same unit composition
- win: Congratulations, you earned the honor of throwing your entire army in the trashbin since the stats from levelscaling are highly needed and theres no way to level a unit permanently. Time to rebuild from scratch...again... and again... and again. If it wasn't apparent I'm really not a fan of how dispoasble your units become.
And this leaves out my others issues like general stat balancing, shop costs scaling with progress with no added benefit, the tedium of having to level the 4 different tribe stallion levels instead of Eineiks stat as a broodmother, minor menu delays etc.
For what is worth I really enjoyed the art and story. Forfax looked fantastic and it was a real mood vibe meeting her again in Cetus compared to before she was sent down.
TL;DR
Story seems like it be real nice if it got a proper translation. Gameplay somewhat weak even if properly translated. Might actually consider playing the game on cheat mode just for story.
I might post a minor guide-ish-discovery-thing about the skills for those still inclined to play the game.
EDIT: So I figured out what caused the syntax error, was able to progress to final overworld map(LV99) VS the 5 heroes. Rammed my head against the wall for like 1-2 hours trying various team comps before I swapped to story mode difficulty, beat the level and then game crashed during cutscene. Everything I felt before is still valid along with details I never mentioned and new things that came up.
They shot themselves in the foot with the gameplay but I like the world, characters and story going on