Info about Dark Rose Valkyrie:

Official game description:
Featuring the talents of _Tales of_ series scenario writer Takumi Miyajima and _Tales of_ series character designer Kosuke Fujishima, this JRPG appoints you to lead an elite military force known as ACID (Anti-Chimera Interception Division) to defend humanity from enemies transformed by the mysterious Chimera Virus! Fight in a real-time battle system alongside your teammates--but don't let your guard down. Investigate your allies to expose the traitor infected by the virus, before it's too late!  
**Key Features**
TAKE THE FIGHT INTO OVERDRIVE!
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*   Characters can transform into their stronger split personalities mid-battle, but be strategic – too many transformations will lead to Fatigue!
CUSTOMIZE COMBOS!
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*   Customize weapons and attack combinations for each character, and do more damage with Riot Combos, Simultaneous Attacks, and more!
A TRAITOR AMONGST YOU!
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*   Depending on your choices, a team member will betray you. Find the traitor in visual-novel style interrogation sequences, and change the game’s ending!
※Uninstalling DLC items may prevent users from loading save files made before the DLC item was uninstalled. To ensure that users can load all Dark Rose Valkyrie save files, we recommend that users do NOT uninstall DLC items.

Release date: Apr 10, 2018

Categories: JRPG, Turn-based Combat, Character Progression, Visual Novel, Story-driven Gameplay, Tactical, Character Customization, Investigative Gameplay

Feature scans:
- MTX: score 90; verdict: Predatory Monetization; summary: The game exhibits several predatory monetization practices, including the necessity of buying DLC to progress, creating problems that can only be solved by purchasing additional content, and selling in-game progression for real money. These practices significantly impact the user experience negatively, making it feel pay-to-win and frustrating for those who do not wish to spend extra money.
- Wiki: score 50; verdict: Needs Significant Improvements; summary: The primary issues highlighted by users include the game's complex mechanics and lack of clear guidance, which significantly hinder the user experience. Technical issues and the perception of abandonment by the developers also contribute to a negative experience. These factors combined suggest a game that is difficult to navigate and enjoy without external resources or fixes.
- Steam Deck: score 85; verdict: Broken; summary: The analysis of user feedback reveals significant issues with the Steam Deck experience. The most critical problems include frequent crashes and performance issues such as stuttering and frame rate drops. Additionally, users have reported inconveniences related to user interface settings, such as non-intuitive key bindings and resolution limitations. These issues collectively degrade the overall user experience and indicate a need for substantial improvements in stability and performance optimization.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $10.00 - $20.00
  - Reasoning: The evidence consistently suggests that the game is considered worth purchasing only when available at a significant discount. Multiple reviews mention waiting for deep discounts or sales, indicating that the community perceives the base price as too high. The general sentiment is that the game is enjoyable but not worth the full price, leading to a recommended price range that is substantially lower than the current base price.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 40.0h
  - Story completion: 30.0h
  - Session length: N/A
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The evidence provided includes several direct mentions of playtime hours required to complete the game. Multiple users reported that it took them around 30 to 40 hours to complete the game, with one user mentioning a playtime of 62 hours to reach the true ending. These quotes provide a clear indication of the typical total time to finish the game and the time to finish the main story/campaign. There is no direct evidence provided for typical single-session length or typical post-story/endgame hours.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game has a steep learning curve and repetitive elements that may hinder early enjoyment, but it can become fun for players who appreciate tactical gameplay and character-driven stories, likely around the mid-game point.
  - Stance: Fun then drops
  - Anchor: Mid-game when players have enough cp to fill out their attack slots
  - Time to anchor: 2h 0m
  - Friction: Complex combat system with a steep learning curve; Repetitive missions and grinding; Tedious Interview System
  - Unlock drivers: Mastering the combat system; Progressing through the story and character development; Accumulating enough CP to fill out attack slots
  - Conditions: Enjoyment of tactical gameplay; Appreciation for character-driven stories; Patience for repetitive missions and grinding
- Player Archetypes:
  - Story-Driven Detective (sale)
    - Motivation: Engaging story and mystery-solving.
    - Playstyle: Focuses on story progression and detective gameplay.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: JRPG fan; visual novel fan
    - Reference games: Danganronpa; Fairy Fencer; Legend of Heroes
  - Grind-Tolerant JRPG Fan (sale)
    - Motivation: Character progression and completion.
    - Playstyle: Grinding and character development.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: JRPG fan; grinder
    - Reference games: Neptunia; Fairy Fencer
  - Cautious Critic (deep sale)
    - Motivation: Seeking a polished and well-performing game.
    - Playstyle: Critical and cautious about game quality.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: deep sale
    - Labels: critical gamer; performance-conscious player
    - Reference games: Final Fantasy
  - Value-Conscious Enthusiast (sale)
    - Motivation: Enjoying the game while being mindful of its cost.
    - Playstyle: Balances enjoyment with cost-effectiveness.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: budget gamer; sale hunter
    - Reference games: N/A


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Engaging and coherent story (weight 0.39): The story is widely praised for being entertaining, coherent, and enjoyable, with themes of end-of-the-world survival. Players found it interesting and well-developed, with elements of mystery and drama.
- Strategic turn-based combat (weight 0.36): The combat system is turn-based with tactical elements, featuring party coordination and deep, strategic gameplay. It is described as satisfying, fast-paced, and engaging.
- Enjoyable and fun gameplay (weight 0.31): Players find the gameplay to be enjoyable and fun, with some rating it as 10/10. The game is considered pretty fun and acceptable by many players.
- Fully voiced characters (weight 0.31): The game features fully modeled characters with voiced dialogue, including full voice acting for main conversations in both English and Japanese.
- Fantastic character interactions (weight 0.3): Players appreciate the characters and their interactions, finding them interesting and well-developed. The dialogue is engaging and adds depth to the characters.
- Good graphics and art style (weight 0.28): The game has good 2D graphics and character design, with an art style that is vibrant, lively, and visually appealing. The presentation is stylish with strong art direction.
- Classic JRPG gameplay (weight 0.19): The game is a classic Japanese role-playing game with turn-based RPG gameplay, appealing to fans of the genre. It features solid gameplay mechanics and interesting elements.
- Customizable combat system (weight 0.19): The combat system includes customizable combos and nice battle animations, providing players with good customization options.
- Serious story with humor (weight 0.08): The story maintains a serious tone while incorporating elements of humor, balancing the narrative effectively.

Common complaints:
- Severe performance issues (weight 0.88): The game suffers from significant performance problems, including unstable framerates, severe frame drops, constant stuttering, and frequent crashes. These issues make the game difficult or even unplayable for many users.
- Excessive grinding (weight 0.31): Players report that the game requires an extreme amount of grinding, which can make missions feel tedious and repetitive.
- Repetitive side missions (weight 0.2): Side missions lack substantial variation and often devolve into fetch quests, making them feel repetitive and boring.
- Uneven pacing and polish (weight 0.19): The game's pacing is inconsistent, often feeling slow or uneven. Additionally, there are tonal contrasts and polish issues that affect the overall gameplay experience.
- Lack of story depth (weight 0.18): The story is perceived as simple, linear, and lacking depth. Additionally, the voice acting is considered poor, and the plot is criticized for being clichéd.
- Combat system issues (weight 0.18): The combat system is criticized for being bland, weird, and overly complicated. It is also seen as unfair and tedious.
- Camera angle issues (weight 0.17): The camera angles in the game can be annoying, problematic, and uncomfortable, detracting from the overall experience.
- Hitbox problems (weight 0.11): There are issues with hitboxes, which are described as bad and deceptive, affecting gameplay negatively.
- Dated graphics (weight 0.08): The game's graphics are criticized for being old-fashioned and dated, which may affect the visual appeal.
- Investigation mechanics lack depth (weight 0.08): The investigation and analysis mechanics are seen as lacking depth and irritating, making them less enjoyable.
- Fan service clashes with tone (weight 0.08): Occasional fan service is seen as clashing with the serious tone of the game, which can be jarring for players.
- Lack of clear guidance (weight 0.08): There is a lack of clear guidance on gameplay mechanics and choices, which can make the game confusing and difficult to navigate.
- Confusing interview minigame (weight 0.07): The interview minigame is seen as confusing, flawed, and annoying, making it a negative aspect of the game.
- Cumbersome crafting system (weight 0.07): The crafting system is criticized for being confusing, cumbersome, and grind-heavy, which can be frustrating for players.
- Overwhelming difficulty (weight 0.07): The game is seen as having overwhelming difficulty and options, which can be daunting for players.
- Price not worth it (weight 0.07): Some players feel that the game is overpriced and not worth the cost, which can be a significant deterrent.
- No French version (weight 0.07): The lack of a French version and faults in the English version are noted as issues, limiting accessibility for some players.
- Severe bugs unaddressed (weight 0.07): Severe bugs, including hard crashes, remain unaddressed, which can significantly impact the gameplay experience.
- Sudden difficulty spike (weight 0.07): There is a huge difficulty spike at the end of the game, which can be frustrating for players.

Gameplay feedback:
- Exploration and combat mechanics (weight 0.2): The gameplay involves a mix of combat techniques, abilities, and dungeon exploration. Players engage in combat using various arts and combos, and explore dungeons while dealing with monster drops for equipment.
- Visual novel elements (weight 0.17): The game includes visual novel-style sequences with dialogue choices. These segments are integrated into the gameplay, providing a narrative-driven experience.
- Multiple playthroughs and deep mechanics (weight 0.13): The gameplay involves deep mechanics and interesting story elements that encourage multiple playthroughs. This adds depth and replayability to the game.
- Symbol encounter RPG system (weight 0.13): The game features an encounter-based combat system where players engage in battles triggered by symbols. This adds a layer of strategy to exploration.
- Live 2D technology (weight 0.13): The game utilizes Live 2D technology for its animations, which is well-implemented and enhances the visual experience.
- Similar to other Neptune games (weight 0.13): The gameplay is similar to other games developed by the same company, particularly the Neptunia series. This familiarity can be appealing to fans of the developers' previous works.
- Auto-battle mechanics (weight 0.12): An auto-battle feature is included, allowing for automatic combat. This can simplify gameplay for those who prefer a more hands-off approach.
- Mix of JRPG and strategy (weight 0.09): The game blends JRPG elements with strategy, creating a unique genre mix. This combination offers a fresh take on traditional gameplay mechanics.
- Unique special arts (weight 0.09): Combat involves the use of unique special arts. These abilities add variety and excitement to the battles.
- Investigation segments (weight 0.09): The gameplay includes investigation and analysis mechanics. These segments add a layer of depth to the overall experience.
- RPG elements (weight 0.09): The game features various RPG elements that are integral to the gameplay. These elements enhance the overall experience.
- Affection mechanics (weight 0.09): The game includes an affection system that influences character interactions. This mechanic adds a social dimension to the gameplay.
- Character affinity system (weight 0.09): The game features a character affinity system that affects interactions. This adds depth to character relationships.
- Crafting system (weight 0.09): Crafting and customization are part of the gameplay. This allows players to create and modify gear and items.
- True ending mechanics (weight 0.08): The game has specific requirements for achieving the true ending. This adds a goal for players to strive towards.
- Interview mechanic (weight 0.08): An interrogation system is part of the gameplay. This mechanic adds a unique element to the game's interactions.
- Controller support (weight 0.08): The game supports both controller and keyboard controls. This provides flexibility in how players can engage with the game.
- Hidden treasure system (weight 0.08): There is a hidden treasure system in the game. This encourages exploration and adds a reward mechanism.
- Combat similar to other games (weight 0.08): The combat style is similar to other games, which may be familiar to players. This can make the game more accessible to those who have played similar titles.
- Similar to Fairy Fencer (weight 0.08): The game has similarities to Fairy Fencer, particularly in its leveling system. This can appeal to fans of that game.

Performance notes:
- Severe performance and stability issues (weight 0.66): The game suffers from unstable framerates, severe FPS drops, stuttering, and frequent crashes. These issues are widespread and significantly impact the gameplay experience.
- Gameplay interruptions and bugs (weight 0.36): Frequent crashes, mini-freezes, and various bugs disrupt the gaming experience. These issues include frame drops during combat and map transitions, as well as general instability.
- Community solutions and workarounds (weight 0.12): Some players have found solutions to performance issues, such as using the Vulkan API or specific community fixes. These workarounds can improve the gaming experience.
- Audio and control issues (weight 0.11): Players report problems with unsynchronized audio, stuttering character voices, and issues with keyboard and mouse controls. These issues detract from the overall gaming experience.
- Bad hit boxes (weight 0.05): Players have noted issues with hit boxes, which can affect gameplay mechanics and overall enjoyment.
- Stable experience reported (weight 0.04): Some players have reported a stable gaming experience without major issues. This indicates that the problems may not be universal and could be related to specific configurations or setups.
- Slight stutter on combat entry (weight 0.04): A minor stutter has been reported when first entering combat, which can be slightly disruptive but is not a major issue.
- FPS capped at 57 (weight 0.04): Some players have noted that the FPS is capped at 57, which can be limiting for those seeking higher performance.

Recommendations:
- Visual novel and JRPG fans (weight 0.34): The game is highly recommended for players who enjoy visual novel-style storytelling combined with turn-based combat and character-focused narratives. It is particularly suited for JRPG enthusiasts who appreciate a mix of tactical gameplay and visual novel elements.
- Wait for sale or discount (weight 0.3): Several reviews recommend waiting for a sale or significant discount before purchasing the game, indicating that it may not be worth the full price.
- PS4 version preferred over PC (weight 0.26): Many reviews suggest that the PS4 version of the game is superior to the PC version, likely due to better optimization and performance.
- Conditional recommendations (weight 0.16): The game is recommended under specific conditions, such as if it runs smoothly or if the player is interested in the setting. Some reviews suggest trying it out briefly and refunding if not satisfied.
- Fans of the genre or developer (weight 0.15): The game is recommended primarily for fans of the genre or specific developers. It may not appeal to a broader audience.
- Mixed recommendations on value (weight 0.11): Some reviews suggest the game is worth trying, especially during sales, while others recommend it only with reservations or with the use of trainers or hack programs.
- Unique appeal for specific fans (weight 0.09): The game has unique elements that may appeal to specific groups, such as fans of anime, action, plot twists, or specific illustrators like Fujishima.

Other player notes:
No miscpoints

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.44): Players are primarily frustrated due to severe performance issues, including frequent crashes, unstable frame rates, and severe stuttering. Additionally, the game's design elements such as the extreme grind required, repetitive scenarios, confusing mechanics, and lack of clear guidance contribute significantly to this frustration.
- Disappointment (weight 0.23): Disappointment stems from the game's lack of depth in mechanics and story elements, which did not meet player expectations. Issues such as dated graphics, repetitive gameplay, poor optimization, and various unresolved bugs further contribute to this sentiment.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.08): Players express satisfaction with the game's interesting mechanics, enjoyable gameplay, and in-depth content. The art style, dialogue, storyline, characters, and choice mechanics are also highlighted as positive aspects.
- Mixed feelings (weight 0.05): Players have mixed feelings due to a balance of positive aspects like the game's setting and turn-based system, which are outweighed by confusing mechanics and frustrating difficulty spikes. The overall experience is positive but comes with notable drawbacks.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.03): Nostalgia is evoked by the game's classic JRPG elements and familiar tropes, as well as its combat style reminiscent of other games by the same developers.
- Engagement (weight 0.03): Players feel engaged due to the game's compelling narrative and character dynamics. The interesting premise and unique story elements also contribute to this engagement.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.03): Enjoyment comes from the Real-Time Action Battle system and special attacks, as well as the fun journey and interesting ideas presented in the game. Despite some crashing, players loved the story and overall experience.
- Mixed (weight 0.03): Players have mixed feelings, appreciating some aspects of the game such as its content, story, and levels, while being frustrated with performance issues and combat mechanics.
- Excitement (weight 0.02): Excitement is generated by the game's engaging storyline and fantastic characters, as well as its depth and complexity.
- Hope (weight 0.02): Players feel hopeful due to their enjoyment of the storyline and gameplay, and they express hopes for better future works from the developers.
- Anger (weight 0.02): Anger is caused by poor performance issues, including fear of damaging hardware, as well as difficult combat and confusing mechanics.}