Blue Archive

I've never liked a game this much.

The game is awesome. Let's start with what attracts most players: the lore and the cute characters.

The plot is pretty solid. Each volume focuses on different problems faced by the academies, with Sensei helping the students resolve them. There's just one small issue: the pattern feels a bit repetitive across volumes, except for Vol. F. Also, some times later into the volume Sensei becomes less involved, which makes us feel more like third-person spectators.

Then there are the relationship stories-and they're very wholesome. Through them, you can unlock memorial lobbies for your favorite students. If you ever start disliking a character in the main lore, their relationship stories often show another side of them, making you appreciate them more. On top of that, we get laid back event stories too.

The character designs are another highlight and one of the main reasons I started playing. Unlike many other popular gacha games, the outfits and hairstyles here are simple, yet distinct. They're not flashy, but minimal in a good way; you can easily tell each character apart. Honestly, I love all of them.

There's also a Café feature, where you can invite your favorite student (plus a few others at random). You can give them gifts to raise their relationship rank, and there are plenty of cute animations and interactions.

Now for the gameplay:

The UI looks stylish but can be confusing for new players. Thankfully, it's been improved a lot compared to a year ago.

It's one of the most merciful gacha systems I've ever seen. The rates are just 3%, but if you're unlucky, you're guaranteed the character after 200 pulls, which is a pretty fair deal. Personally, I only pull when necessary, so I've found it pretty useful.

The missions used to be one of the more boring aspects, but they've recently reduced the grind for new players, which is great.

The Raids are great. Each boss has its own lore, and the mechanics are unique and challenging in their own way. Multiple difficulty levels also make it easier for new players to get into them.

The Tactical Challenge is basically PvP. It can be frustrating since it's hard to keep your rank against sweaty P2W players, especially if you aim for Platinum rank. There's also the Joint Firing Drill, which is basically gimmick training for your future raids. It's useful, but sometimes stressful.

That's most of the game. Personally, I play it mainly for the lore, but the other features are fun too. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.