The closed beta of Arknights: Endfield recently concluded, offering an extensive preview of this ambitious game. Impressively, over 80% of beta participants praised its graphical fidelity, marking a significant step forward in the gacha game space. But does Endfield deliver across the board? Let’s break it down.

Graphics and Art: Next-Gen Visuals for the Gacha Genre

The visuals in Arknights: Endfield set a new standard for mobile and PC gacha games. From polished environmental details to fluid character animations, the game showcases a clear commitment to aesthetic excellence. Despite testing on an RX 6600, the game maintained smooth 60FPS performance at high settings. However, some UI elements, particularly subtitles, need resizing to improve readability.

Story and Characters: A Tale of Missed Opportunities

While the prologue captivates, the main story struggles to maintain momentum. Beyond a series of fetch quests, little progress is made in unraveling the protagonist’s backstory, leaving the narrative feeling hollow. Character development also feels shallow, lacking chemistry and emotional depth.

Exploration: A Smaller World with Big Ideas

Endfield’s exploration system borrows elements from Xenoblade Chronicles but simplifies them. Zones are segmented, connected via pathways or fast travel. Unique mechanics like zipline systems enhance traversal and inject creativity into exploration.

Combat: Fun but Repetitive

The combat offers a blend of flashiness and frustration. While the multi-character system promises depth, execution feels clunky, with awkward attack strings and overwhelming mob density.

Factory Simulation: A Love-It-or-Leave-It Feature

One of Endfield’s most distinctive features is its factory simulation, which adds a layer of strategy. While the concept is robust, it may alienate casual players due to its complexity. Fortunately, skippable tutorials ease newcomers into the system.

The Gacha System: Generous or Frustrating?

With a 120-pull guarantee and limited male representation, the gacha system evokes mixed reactions. The rotating banners provide decent chances for new characters, but the starter banner risks redundant pulls.

Verdict: Potential with Caveats

Arknights: Endfield shows tremendous potential but faces hurdles in story depth, combat polish, and player accessibility. If developers address these areas, the game could become a standout in the burgeoning AAA gacha market. For those looking forward to the game, you can pre-register now through its official website.