Judas Code impression (In Judas Code, tanks dodge you!)

This looks like a TPS (Third Person Shooter), but it's not. The action part is about aim (R stick) & shoot (R). You can move (L stick) only to the left or right bunker. At first you can just hide behind the bunkers and carefully aim and shoot. Soon the enemies will be able to destroy your bunkers, leaving no place to hide. Some enemies can also throw grenades, which bypass your bunker (you need to press B to throw them away).

You can change weapon/armor/skill by changing cards (called Fragments or Frags) in your deck (max 3 weapons, 3 armors, 3 skills). Handguns looks weak and have less bullets, but they have better accuracy (ideal for headshot) and don't swing much like machine guns. You don't really have to worry about bullets, because when you run out of free bullets, you can still reload using MP. MP regenerates over time (this is typical free-to-play mechanics).

Some skill card can heal you. Some skill card provide cover fire from helicopter. Skills have recharge time and require MP. In theory, you can spend a lot of time playing this game in one sitting, if you don't spend MP for bullets and skills.

Cards can be purchased by spending RP under the Download option.

This game features a typical free-to-play card synthesis. You can absorb cards to level up your best cards. Cards of same name will yield EXP bonus and Limit Break.

Synthesis requires Gold.

I don't like the artworks but I don't really have a problem with it; although beautiful arts can motivate greatly.

I only spent one day or so with this game, due to one big problem–the difficulty. In my opinion, the game should not be this difficult in the first day. I did fine with the absence of basic control tutorial. I did fine with the soldiers. I gave up on the enemy tank called UG.

UG is a tank that has machine gun, grenades (bypass bunker), missile (destroy bunker). You have to shoot it in the back at the yellow weak point. Shooting anywhere else nearly does no damage. On top of that, it somehow can also dodge your bullets point-blank... shooting from behind...

I think I could win the tank. Rocket launcher worked, I just need to retry and some luck. The real question is why? I already am playing 4 free-to-play games, and this game is worse than those four.

(After many complaints, the staff said UG will be "patched" to tone down the difficulty at the end of this month and in the future.)

I deleted this game before trying out the BattleLine part–which looks like multiplayer strategy game that you play using your sub deck.

Good

• Fighting soldiers is fun
• Playable without relying solely on touchscreen input
• Fast MP regneration

Bad

• UG (tank) is too difficult for early main quests
• Artworks look cheap
• No basic control tutorial

Destiny of Spirits review

(Reposting from my DoS blog)

I wrote the first guide and I've spent more than 4 months on the game and beat it without relying on premiums, so this's probably the best review you can get on the Internet.

The Good

• You can "beat the game" (clear all the areas) without spending real money
• At one point, you can farm (for Summon Stones/Spirit Points) all day long without resting
• Combat is simple and casual-friendly
• Friend List is huge (up to 100 slots)
• Destiny Summon gives away a free spirit daily
• Spirit Hunting feature gives away free spirits
• It has trade function
• Raid Point generation is fast

The Bad

• Practically only 1-2 Super Rare allowed in the party
• All party members share SP gauge for abilities
• Some spirits have abilities so good it makes other spirits useless
• Super Rare is useless at endgame without Limit Breaking 4 times
• Limit Breaking a Super Rare 4 times is difficult (requires 4 Jokers or duplicates)
• Touchscreen input only
• Transition between windows is slow
• Long wait at start screens
• Spirit renting fee is too high, even from friends
• No deck saving (no switching between decks)
• Cannot confirm Raid Point number at main screen
• No ability and status preview of the spirits in the shop

Biggest Problem: Gameplay Limitation
In order to fill up all 5 slots in the party, you can only use 1-2 Super Rare, to maximize the damage at endgame. There're not many reasons to collect lower-tier Super Rares since you don't get to use them anyway. Furthermore, since all party members share the same SP gauge, you're forced to use only the best abilities for the entire fight. It kills creativity.

In my opinion, most of supportive abilities are useless because it costs too much SP. The cost of these low priority abilities should be lower. This's the best solution that requires only little tweak and doesn't ruin the game balance.

This game also should have a synthesis that lets you overwrite spirit's ability and skill. This will change the game dramatically as you'll be able to create a good looking spirit with the meaningful ability and skill.

High School DxD: New Fight announced

Famitsu reported that a new free-to-play RPG High School DxD: New Fight will be released in this Summer. The game is developed by Marvelous.

Chain Chronicle V guide

Background
Chain Chronicle V is based on Chain Chronicle game on mobile phone from Sega. Vita version has some additional (nice) functions.

Story (including spoilers)

• You wake up to see your fairy partner, Pirika, who reminds you that you're assigned to guard the village.
• Your kingdom is at war against the demons, and you're among the frontline defenses.
• You save a girl named Feena from the monsters.
• Feena has no memory before she was attacked.
• Feena possesses a mysterious book that summons demons against her will. The demons attack everyone.
• Demon lords try to capture Feena for unknown reason.
• You try to solve the mysteries.

Combat and Control

• There're 165 cards in the game. Each character has its own 3D model.
• Input is all done using touchscreen.
• Combat is a little bit similar to Plants vs. Zombies.
• The fight is over when 1) you kill all enemies, 2) the whole party is killed, or 3) an enemy reaches the goal.
• Warrior is strong against Knight. Knight is strong against Archer and Mage. Archer and Mage are strong against Warrior.
• There're several types of attack: slashing, piercing, magic, bow. These should affect damage, but I don't know how yet. (Sword has advantage over some type of enemies?)
• Targeting and using special moves are the key to success.
• A special move consumes Mana(s). Manas come in various colors.
• Manas can be obtained via the slot machine during a combat.
• Warrior's special moves require red Mana(s). Knight's require blue. Healer's require green.
• +30% Gold if you can win a fight fast enough.
• +30% Gold if no one in your party dies.
• +30% Gold if you finish the last enemy with a damage dealing special move.
• +100% Gold if you win a fight completing 3 conditions above.

Helper

• You can add a Helper which is a character from other players to your party before the fight. (Similar to Destiny of Spirits)
• Your party leader is the one who will be sent out to help other players. (Similar to DoS)
• Using a Helper costs you nothing. (Unlike DoS)
• After a fight, you have the option to choose to befriend with that player.
• You receive 10 Arcana Coins for a help you provide for strangers.
• You receive 25 Arcana Coins for a help you provide for friends.
• Having strong leader will earn you good income.
• You start with 10 friends limit. At Rank 20, the limit becomes 20.

Progression

• Playing through Main Quest is important, due to its rewards.
• A combat occurs after talking a quest.
• Main Quest gives better rewards, including Spirit Stone.
• Spirit Stone is in-game premium currency.
• You can buy Spirit Stone using real money, 100 yen for 1 Spirit Stone.
• Repeatable quests give Arcana Coin, Gold, and card(s).
• AP is required to accept a quest, starting from 4.
• AP is very important, you cannot obtain anything at all if you can't accept a quest.
• AP is replenished at the rate of 1 AP every 8 minutes. (That means you can do one quest every half an hour.)
• EXP from combat also increases your Rank.
• Additionally, your AP is fully restored when Rank up.
• You can spend 1 Spirit Stone to restore all of your AP.
• Cards can be obtained by spending Arcana Coin, for Normal Gacha, at the Pub. (200AC for 1card)
• Premium cards can be obtained by spending Spirit Stone or Premium Ticket, for Premium Gacha, at the Pub. (1SS or 1PT for 1 card)
• Rarity: Normal (1 star), High Normal (2 stars), Rare (3 stars), Super Rare (4 stars), Super Super Rare (5 stars).
• Premium Gacha has  87.30% chance for R, 11% chance for SR, and 1.7% chance for SSR.
• Obtaining a new character card will unlock its character quest, which also unlocks its hidden ability. 
• Obtaining a right combination of characters will unlock "Chain" quest. 

Fortune Ring

• By collecting all the standard rewards in some quests, you earn a Fortune Ring.
• You can trade Fortune Rings to the items below.
• 10,000 Gold = 5 FRs
• 2,000 Arcana Coins = 5 FRs
• 2 Stamina Fruits (fully restore AP) = 10 FRs
• 2 Revival Fruits (Continue after Game Over and fully restore HP) = 10 FRs
• Premium Ticket = 25 FRs
• SSR card = 70 FRs

Event Quests

• You can find Event Quests at the starting village.
• Some Event Quests change daily.
• Some give Fortune Ring.
• Some give around 20,000-30,000+ Gold.
• Some give Rare weapon.
• Some give synthesis fairy card.

Card Synthesis

• It's easy to understand if you played Million Arthurs or Destiny of Spirits before.
• Absorbing junk cards is a way to level up key cards.
• Absorbing cards of the same job gives extra boost.
• Fairy cards are used specifically for synthesis, giving extra boost.
• A character's weapon can be upgraded by absorbing blacksmith card.
• A character's weapon can be changed by absorbing weapon card.
• A character's max level can be raised by absorbing card of the same name.
• Gold is used to pay synthesis fee. 
• You can sell junk cards for Gold.

First Impression
If you like Destiny of Spirits, you'll probably complain about AP. But that's not new thing. Million Arthurs lets you play around 10 minutes until you run out either AP or BC. But there's some important aspect that makes MA better than DoS. In MA, it's much easier to obtain a good card and upgrade it. In DoS, cards with a good ability is difficult to obtain and upgrade; so even you can play all day nonstop, you're not going too far.

Card synthesis in Chain Chronicle V is similar to MA, which is good, but it's also deeper. The combat also offers variety of gameplay. So this's something to consider.

For me, waiting for regeneration doesn't matter, because I can rotate between 3 games. And soon to be 4 (Sekai Seifuku: Costume Fes.).

One last important thing I should mention is Chain Chronicle V is a full RPG. The Main Quests, Chain quest, Character Quest all have real stories–not just a few lines of text or something you can just skip entirely like MA. This's very nice.

Good and Bad

Good

• R, SR and SSR cards don't need max level raised to become strong
• Cards can level up by both using it in combat or synthesis 
• Combat is deep and fun.
• Have more freedom choosing party member
• Don't really have to worry about party cost
• Cards can be customized (weapon upgrade and weapon change)
• Story driven
• Transition is fast (the loading time)
• Made by big company (Sega)

Bad

• AP regeneration is rather slow
• Only touchscreen input

Judas Code announced

Judas Code, a new free-to-play action RPG is announced by tri-Ace for PlayStation Vita. It is scheduled for Summer 2014.

Sekai Seifuku: CF service date announced

Sekai Seifuku: Costume Fes will be released on July 23. You can preregister the game by picking up the preregister ticket on PS Store starting from today until July 22. The ticket will reward a R+ card.

Chain Chronicle V service date announced

Sega's free-to-play RPG Chain Chronicle V will open its service on July 15. Preregister, which also gives away special rewards, can be done since today.

Sekai Seifuku: CF beta test review

I've got into beta test of Sekai Seifuku: Costume Fes. Here's my review.

Fractions

• There're 3 factions in the game: School Unform (FT), Maid Uniform (UX), Work Uniform (MB). You must choose one.
• You can only use cards of your factions.
• You can change faction every 3 months when a season ends.
• Your actions affect your faction's influence.

Game Flow

1. Collect resource (Fiber/Metal/Electricity/Gold) to build various kinds of facilities.
2. Complete an instance for rewards (booster ticket/resources/quest items/quest rewards).
3. Spend booster ticket for a card (character/weapon/uniform).

Facilities
Building facilities is required:

• To produce more resources
• To store more resources
• To use rarer card (you can't use Rare card unless you expand to LV3)
• To set more cards
• To unlock a new equipment recipe
• To upgrade combat-related abilities
• To upgrade various stuff

Action Part

• Similar to Phantasy Star Online 2, you create an instance or join someone else's instance.
• Max 4 players per instance.
• Combat system is simple: Square=Light Attack, Triangle=Strong Attack, X=Jump, Circle=Make enemy wear your uniform
• When you defeat an enemy, her uniform is torn. You can make her wear the uniform of your faction by pressing Circle near her.
• Tap the icon at the top right corner of the screen to use special skill. You can change special skill by setting new card.
• You always get a "booster ticket" after completing a mission. Use it to obtain a card. These tickets have grade. Harder missions give better tickets for trading rarer cards.

Card Battle Part
I still can't fully understand this part. All I know is building a deck and attack players (of the opposite site) on the list, to gain influence in specific districts. The cards you use in this part are the Character Cards.

Good

• Combat is simple and can be enjoyed by anyone.
• This game (except combat) is deep.
• Preset texts to communicate between players.
• There's no male character. (Men faced extinction due to virus, everyone is born female.)

Bad

• Navigating is done only via touchscreen. (You use stick and buttons only in combat.)

Sekai Seifuku CF service starts in July

Release window announced. Trailer released.

Sekai Seifuku beta test begins May 15

New details of the closed beta test of Sekai Seifuku: Costume Fes.

• Test Period: May 15-28
• Testers will receive 10 Magic Stones when the service starts
• Testers will receive 20 Deluxe Seifuku Pack Tickets when the service starts
• The data from the beta test will not carry over

Chain Chronicle V announced

A new F2P game Chain Chronicle V was announced this week for PS Vita, and will be released in this Summer.

It is said that the game is a port of Chain Chronicle on iOS/Android with optimization for PS Vita.

Sekai Seifuku PV

This is promotional video of Sekai Seifuku: Costume Fes., the upcoming F2P game for PS Vita.

Sekai Seifuku accepting closed beta testers

A new F2P game Sekai Seifuku: Costume Fes. will begin closed beta test in May. PS Vita users with JP account can now apply for the test by getting the ticket on the SEN Store.

Application Period = April 24 to May 7
Tester Accepted = 50,000 testers
Applying Method = Download "Sekai Seifuku Beta Test Application Ticket" from PlayStation Store.