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Arknights: Endfield first impressions: Gryphline’s shift to 3D real-time strategy

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Story Highlights

  • The game offers an innovative blend of exploration, strategy, and base-building.
  • The gacha system may limit character access without spending money.
  • Base-building is challenging but rewarding, with opportunities for tech upgrades.

The upcoming game, Arknights: Endfield, which offers real-time strategy gameplay, is one of the highly anticipated releases this year. The developer, Hypergryph, has recently rebranded Gryph Frontier to Gryphline, their global publishing label. There are whispers that the game might be globally released around mid-2025. In this article on first impressions of Arknights: Endfield, I’ll discuss my overall experience during the Closed Beta Test and point out interesting features I’ve observed so far.

I’ve participated in the closed beta testing phase on PC, logging roughly 30 hours of gameplay. If you’re considering playing the game, don’t forget to look for some redeemable codes that could offer beneficial rewards when you begin.

A New Challenger in the open-world RPG space

I found it intriguing that Arknights: Endfield offers something fresh in the realm of open-world RPGs. Having been developed by Gryphline, who previously created the popular game Arknights, this title caught me off guard. Rather than continuing with tower defense like its predecessor, Endfield blends open-world exploration, real-time strategy, and a gacha system, which I found quite unexpected.

If your thought is, “Isn’t this similar to Genshin Impact?” I understand where you’re coming from, but let me clarify. While Endfield shares some resemblance, it has its unique aspects. During the technical test, I had a glimpse of how it combines exploration, strategic combat, and surprisingly, base-building. The base-building in this game isn’t just a minor addition; instead, it’s substantial and feels rewarding as it contributes significantly to the overall gameplay experience.

You’ll appreciate how seamlessly all these elements blend together. It’s not solely about traversing an expansive world; it’s also about devising tactics, constructing your base, and formulating your strategy. Whether you relish discovering stunning landscapes, pondering over battle plans, or simply delighting in a fusion of exploration and combat, this game caters to various preferences.

Despite Arknights: Endfield being thrilling, it’s not flawless. During the technical test, I noticed moments when the game felt quite intense due to the simultaneous occurrence of various aspects such as exploration, combat, and base-construction. For those new to this genre, the learning curve could seem rather steep.

Additionally, the gacha system might pose challenges in obtaining certain characters or enhancements without spending money. Furthermore, some areas of the open world appeared sparsely populated, lacking the dynamic interactions one might anticipate from such a rich environment. Although these issues aren’t critical, I hope that Gryphline addresses them before the final release to ensure a more balanced and engaging experience.

Crafting your path, one conveyor at a time

I particularly appreciate that Endfield integrates exploration with an intricate base-building mechanism. It’s not merely about sprinting around and battling adversaries; it offers the opportunity to strategize and manage your installations. Resource gathering, designing conveyor belt networks, and progressing through a tech tree gives a sense of accomplishment as you construct something substantial.

If you’re a fan of strategic gaming or appreciate planning ahead, this aspect of the game should captivate you. It offers a balance between being tough but fulfilling, and it provides numerous opportunities for creativity. However, it’s important to note that the complexity of the base-building system could initially seem daunting.

For someone not accustomed to games with intricate management aspects, it might take a bit of time to grasp the mechanics. During the technical trial, I found some upgrade explanations and systems a tad unclear, leaving me in the dark quite often. This could potentially be disappointing for players eager to dive into the fun without unnecessary guesswork.

Final Thoughts

As an ardent fan, I’d sum up my first impressions of Arknights: Endfield as diving into a fresh and innovative world that seamlessly blends open-exploration, strategy, and base-construction. It’s an enticing prospect for enthusiasts of both RPGs and tactical games. However, it’s not without its challenges – the learning curve is steep, and the gacha system can be a tad frustrating at times. But with Hypergryph addressing these hurdles, Endfield has the potential to be truly outstanding.

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2025-01-20 19:41

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