Info about Granblue Fantasy: Relink:

Official game description:
Special Edition
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In addition to the Granblue Fantasy: Relink game, this special edition comes with the following items: • Weapon: False Sword of the Apocalypse A sword which heralds calamity. It comes fully upgraded, making it useful for the early stages of the game. Only equippable by the captain. • Glittercrystal x 30 Valuable items worth a total of 300,000 rupies when sold. • 500 MSP Points used to upgrade characters. • Fortitude Crystal (S) x 50 Items used to strengthen weapons. • Color Packs 2 & 3 Unlocks colors 7 and 8 for all playable characters. Downloaded content can be obtained by visiting the Knickknack Shack in game and selecting Claim Add-Ons.
About the Game
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Story Granblue Fantasy takes place in the Sky Realm, a world where myriad islands float in a great blue expanse. Assume your role as the captain of a skyfaring crew, joined by a scrappy little dragon named Vyrn and a young girl with mysterious powers named Lyria. Together you sail with a colorful cast of crewmates, including kings and misfits alike, for Estalucia, a fabled island beyond the end of the skies. In the Zegagrande Skydom, islands are guarded by powerful creatures known as primal beasts and winds carry tales of a secretive organization known as the Church of Avia. Unveil a web of intrigue reaching far beyond the borders of Zegagrande and engage in a battle for the fate of the Sky Realm itself. Gameplay Engage in real-time combat with a party of four in this character action RPG—choose from a diverse roster of skyfarers, each with their own unique weapons, skills, and combat styles. Teamwork makes the dream work with party-based mechanics such as Link Attacks and Chain Bursts to help you crush foes in spectacular fashion. Tackle quests solo or with the help of others for up to 4-player co-op and take down treacherous foes to score rare loot to further enhance your gear. Every enemy and party formation has its own strengths and weaknesses—the key to victory lies in working out how these pieces fit together. Fast-paced combat not your thing? Assist modes can provide accessibility for gamers of all skill levels. Toggle on Full Assist to have all actions performed automatically during battle! The Sky Realm is rich in lore and history. Browse Lyria's journal at any point during the game to access a trove of writings on the world's peoples, places, and more. In addition to the wealth of side quests available, Fate Episodes allow you to delve into the backstories of each member of your crew!

Release date: Jan 31, 2024

Categories: Action RPG, Cooperative Multiplayer, Character Progression, Character Customization, Hack and Slash, Boss Fights, Loot-driven Combat System, JRPG

Feature scans:
- MTX: score 55; verdict: Mixed Monetization; summary: The game has received mixed reviews regarding its monetization practices. While some players appreciate the absence of common predatory monetization tactics like battle passes and pay-to-win mechanics, others are critical of the game's Day-1 DLC and grinding mechanics. The base price of the game is also a point of contention, with some players feeling it is overpriced. Overall, the game's monetization strategy leans towards being fair but has some aggressive elements that could be improved.
- Wiki: score 50; verdict: Needs Improvement; summary: The primary user complaints revolve around the necessity of external guides to understand complex mechanics, make informed decisions about character development, and navigate technical issues. This reliance on external data significantly impacts the user experience, often leading to frustration and a disrupted gameplay experience.
- Proton/Linux: score 30; verdict: Works Well with Minor Tweaks; summary: The game generally runs well on Steam Deck with some users reporting a smooth experience by default or with minor tweaks. However, there are reports of performance issues, such as low FPS during cutscenes and in certain areas, which may require additional configurations to improve.
- Steam Deck: score 50; verdict: Tinkering Required; summary: The Steam Deck experience with this game is mixed. While some users reported significant performance issues and the need for configuration tweaks, others found the game playable and enjoyable with some adjustments. The default control layout is generally good but may require customization. Overall, the game seems to require some tinkering to achieve an optimal experience on the Steam Deck.

- Hardware Profile:
  - Summary: The game performs well on higher VRAM systems but struggles significantly on systems with less than 8GB VRAM, showing clear optimization issues.
  - Sample size: 40 (1% coverage)
  - Audience skew: Review sample is mostly Windows-based.
  - Windows <8GB VRAM (negative, 14 reports): Players report poor optimization, frequent frame drops, and stuttering, significantly impacting gameplay experience.
  - Windows 12-15GB VRAM (positive, 12 reports): Players experience steady frame rates with no stutters or performance drops.
  - Caveats: 40 of 4445 reviews expose hardware metadata.; Review sample is mostly Windows-based.
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $20.00 - $40.00
  - Reasoning: The evidence shows a mixed sentiment regarding the game's pricing. Many users suggest that the game is worth buying but recommend waiting for a sale. Some users explicitly mention that they would not recommend buying the game at full price, which is around $60. Others indicate that the game is worth full price but often goes on sale, making it more appealing to purchase at a discounted rate. The general consensus is that while the game has its merits, it is more reasonably priced below the full retail price.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: N/A
  - Story completion: 12.0h
  - Session length: N/A
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The evidence provides multiple direct statements about the length of the main story and campaign, which are consistently described as short. The quotes mention specific hour estimates for the campaign and main story, which helps in determining the playtime metrics. There is no strong evidence provided for the typical total time to finish the game, session length, or post-story/endgame hours, leading to those fields being marked as null.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game becomes more enjoyable after unlocking higher difficulties and is best experienced in multiplayer mode, despite initial repetitive gameplay.
  - Stance: Fun then drops
  - Anchor: Unlocking maniac difficulty
  - Time to anchor: 15h 0m
  - Friction: Repetitive gameplay; Grinding for materials; Generic story
  - Unlock drivers: Unlocking higher difficulties; Multiplayer co-op mode
  - Conditions: Playing with friends; Engaging in endgame content; Co-op mode
- Player Archetypes:
  - Grind-Focused Progressionist (sale)
    - Motivation: Character progression and overcoming challenging content.
    - Playstyle: Repetitive grinding for gear and character builds, focusing on endgame content.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: grinder; hardcore player
    - Reference games: Monster Hunter; Genshin Impact
  - Action-Oriented Character Enthusiast (buy)
    - Motivation: Enjoyment of fast-paced combat and character variety.
    - Playstyle: Focused on action combat and experimenting with different characters.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: action lover; character collector
    - Reference games: Genshin Impact; Monster Hunter
  - Co-op Social Gamer (buy)
    - Motivation: Enjoyment of cooperative multiplayer experiences.
    - Playstyle: Focused on co-op gameplay and social interactions.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: co-op player; social gamer
    - Reference games: Monster Hunter; Phantasy Star Online 2
  - Story-Driven Newcomer (sale)
    - Motivation: Enjoyment of the game's story and learning the game's mechanics.
    - Playstyle: Focused on single-player experience and story progression.
    - Experience: newcomer
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: newcomer; story lover
    - Reference games: Final Fantasy; Tales of


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:
- Satisfying and dynamic combat (weight 0.57): The combat system is highly praised for being fun, fast-paced, and satisfying. It is described as fluid, responsive, and expressive, with a good feel and stylish actions.
- Enjoyable and polished gameplay (weight 0.55): The game offers a fun and engaging gameplay experience with a well-made and polished combat system. Players appreciate the addictive and dynamic gameplay loop, as well as the variety of weapons and co-op gameplay.
- Impressive graphics and visuals (weight 0.49): The game is visually stunning with high-quality graphics, beautiful art direction, and impressive visual effects. The clean and vibrant graphics contribute to an enjoyable gaming experience.
- Diverse character roster (weight 0.42): The game features a wide variety of characters with different playstyles, abilities, and fighting styles. This diversity adds to the uniqueness and replayability of the game.
- Enjoyable boss fights (weight 0.14): The boss fights are described as fun, enjoyable, and well-made. They provide a challenging and interesting experience for players.
- Unique blend of gameplay styles (weight 0.12): The game combines elements from various popular franchises like Monster Hunter, Final Fantasy XIV, and Tales series, creating a unique and engaging gameplay experience.

Common complaints:
- Excessive grinding required (weight 0.38): Many players find the game excessively grindy, with repetitive tasks required for progression, which can be tedious and stressful.
- Weak and clichéd story (weight 0.37): The story is criticized for being weak, clichéd, and unoriginal. It is often seen as a vehicle for gameplay rather than a compelling narrative.
- Difficulty finding online players (weight 0.22): Players report difficulties in finding others to play with online, especially for co-op and matchmaking, which affects the multiplayer experience.
- Lack of updates and new content (weight 0.18): Players are disappointed by the lack of new content updates and the cessation of game updates and DLCs.
- Frustrating drop rates (weight 0.15): The RNG-based drop system and low drop rates for items are a common source of frustration among players.
- Camera and lock-on issues (weight 0.12): The game has notable issues with its camera angles and lock-on mechanics, which can negatively impact the gameplay experience.
- Short campaign length (weight 0.1): The main storyline and campaign are considered too short by many players, leading to a lack of content.
- Character balance issues (weight 0.06): There are notable issues with character balance and development, leading to imbalanced character builds.

Gameplay feedback:
- JRPG elements and grind (weight 0.32): The game incorporates JRPG elements with a focus on combat and loot, similar to Monster Hunter. It features enjoyable boss fights and a variety of characters and builds, but also includes heavy grinding mechanics for items, materials, and equipment.
- Diverse action RPG combat (weight 0.27): The game features a real-time action combat system with a variety of character playstyles, including hack and slash, tactical, and fast-paced combat mechanics. It is a third-person action RPG with anime-style combat and a focus on character action.
- Character variety and playstyles (weight 0.25): The game offers a wide range of playable characters, each with unique fighting styles, combat mechanics, and skills. This variety allows for different playstyles and character builds, enhancing replayability.
- Co-op multiplayer modes (weight 0.23): The game offers cooperative gameplay elements, including co-op missions, online multiplayer, and side quests. Players can enjoy both solo and co-op play modes.
- Monster Hunter similarities (weight 0.18): The gameplay loop and progression system are similar to Monster Hunter, including quest/mission systems and endgame grinding. The game also features Monster Hunter-like questing and mechanics.
- Unique character mechanics (weight 0.17): Each character has unique mechanics, movesets, and playstyles. This includes character-specific stories, skills, and core mechanics that differentiate each character.
- Challenging boss fights (weight 0.14): The game features boss fights that require adaptation and learning patterns. These boss fights have unique mechanics and can be thrilling, although some players find them difficult or poorly designed.
- Character progression and customization (weight 0.12): The game includes character growth systems, skill trees, and customization options. Players can develop their characters through progression systems and tailor their skills and abilities.

Performance notes:
- Smooth and stable performance (weight 0.25): The game runs smoothly and maintains stable performance across various platforms, including high FPS on capable hardware.
- Performance issues on lower-end hardware (weight 0.15): Some players experience lag, crashes, and performance issues, particularly on lower-end or older hardware.
- High hardware demands (weight 0.13): The game is resource-intensive, causing high GPU usage, overheating, and requiring powerful computers for optimal performance.
- Crashes and technical problems (weight 0.11): There are reports of frequent crashes, black screens, and other technical issues that disrupt gameplay.
- Camera and control issues (weight 0.1): Players report problems with the camera, auto-locking, and control schemes, affecting gameplay experience.
- Graphical limitations and issues (weight 0.1): Some players note the lack of advanced graphical features like ray tracing and dynamic weather, as well as issues with visual effects and rendering.
- Optimization issues (weight 0.06): There are mixed reports on optimization, with some players experiencing issues while others praise the game's optimization.
- Mod support and compatibility (weight 0.05): The game supports mods for visual effects and has been reported to play well on Steam Deck with fixes.
- Network and multiplayer issues (weight 0.02): There are reports of network quality problems affecting the gameplay experience.

Recommendations:
- Highly recommended game (weight 0.18): Several reviewers highly recommend the game without any specific conditions, indicating a strong overall positive reception.
- Worth buying on sale (weight 0.17): Many reviewers suggest purchasing the game when it is on sale, indicating that it offers good value for money at a discounted price. Some mention that the full price may not be justified due to the short campaign.
- Recommended for action RPG fans (weight 0.14): The game is highly recommended for fans of action RPGs, visually stunning games, and those who enjoy the Monster Hunter franchise. It is also suggested for lovers of action JRPGs and ARPGs.
- Recommended for specific fan bases (weight 0.11): The game is recommended for fans of specific genres or franchises, such as Monster Hunter-style games, anime and gacha games, and 2D adventures.
- Enhanced experience with friends (weight 0.11): Playing with friends is highlighted as a way to enhance the online experience and make the game more enjoyable.
- Gameplay tips and strategies (weight 0.08): Suggestions include switching characters frequently, using Skybound Arts in chains, utilizing auto mode for grinding, and upgrading weapons at the forge.
- Praised for gameplay and characters (weight 0.06): The game is recommended for its engaging gameplay and well-developed characters, making it a worthwhile experience for players.
- Worth experiencing at full price (weight 0.06): Some reviewers believe the game is worth purchasing even at its full price, highlighting its value and quality.
- Recommended with upcoming DLC (weight 0.06): Reviewers suggest buying the game in anticipation of the upcoming DLC, indicating that the additional content will enhance the overall experience.
- Mod recommendations for better experience (weight 0.04): Reviewers recommend using specific mods to improve the gaming experience, such as disabling AFK checks and reducing RNG in item drops.
- Community and additional content (weight 0.04): Joining the game's Discord for community support and watching related animations before playing are suggested to enhance the experience.
- Long gameplay duration (weight 0.03): The game offers over 100 hours of gameplay, providing extensive content and replayability for players.
- Suggestions for future developments (weight 0.02): Reviewers express hope for future updates, sequels, or revisits by the developers, indicating a desire for continued support and expansion of the game.

Other player notes:
- DLC required for clean graphics (weight 0.03): Players are dissatisfied that they need to purchase additional DLC to access pure or clean graphics in the game.
- Sexy character mod available (weight 0.02): The game features a mod that includes sexy character designs, which has been noted by players.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.21): Players are frustrated with various gameplay mechanics and design choices. Key issues include excessive grinding, repetitive boss fights, and a poorly implemented camera system. Additionally, the game's difficulty spikes, lack of content, and tedious tasks contribute to the frustration.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.21): Players enjoy the game's combat system, character variety, and visuals. The engaging story, fun gameplay loop, and exciting boss fights are also highlighted as major sources of enjoyment.
- Disappointment (weight 0.13): Players express disappointment with the game's lack of updates, repetitive content, and shallow story. The lack of innovation, generic narrative, and poor online matchmaking system also contribute to the disappointment.
- Excitement (weight 0.1): Players are excited about the game's combat system, character variety, and upcoming DLC. The engaging story, challenging boss fights, and addictive gameplay loop are also sources of excitement.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.09): Players are satisfied with the game's combat system, character variety, and visuals. The enjoyable story, well-made quests, and good performance also contribute to their satisfaction.
- Joy (weight 0.04): Players find joy in the game's engaging story, enjoyable gameplay, and beautiful graphics. The fun combat system, impressive character animations, and positive community interactions enhance their experience.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.03): Players are enthusiastic about the game's combat mechanics, character variety, and overall content. The high praise for the game's mechanics, visuals, and music contribute to their enthusiasm.
- Admiration (weight 0.03): Players admire the game's beautiful visuals, detailed combat system, and character design. The dedication put into the game's world-building and unique characters is also appreciated.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.03): Players feel nostalgic due to the game's similarity to other beloved titles and personal history with the series. The visual style and memories of playing old games evoke a sense of nostalgia.
- Excited (weight 0.02): Players are excited about the game's upcoming expansion, diverse characters, and strategic gameplay. The visually stunning graphics and engaging combat system also contribute to their excitement.
- Anger (weight 0.01): Players are angry about specific gameplay mechanics such as the lock-on system and boss design. The story and character developments also contribute to their anger.
- Disappointed (weight 0.01): Players are disappointed with the game's lack of post-game content, updates, and repetitive content. The narrative and character development also fall short of expectations.
- Hopefulness (weight 0.01): Players are hopeful that the developers will take player feedback and fix the biggest issues with the game. They also hope for future updates and expansions.
- Anticipation (weight 0.01): Players are anticipating the upcoming content, new game modes, and the addition of new characters. The announcement of new expansions and story updates contributes to their anticipation.
- Confusion (weight 0.01): Players are confused about certain gameplay mechanics and character gender. The lack of clear guidance and confusing visual cues contribute to their confusion.
- Surprise (weight 0.01): Players are surprised by the announcement of new content and the variety of characters. The engaging story and combat system also caught them off guard.
- Hope (weight 0.01): Players hope for continued support, expansions, and potential sequels. The wish for a sequel and ongoing updates contributes to their hopeful outlook.
- Annoyance (weight 0): Players are annoyed by the camera system and lack of control. The camera bouncing around and fighting the player for control is a significant source of annoyance.}