When it comes to anime girls in skimpy clothing, Azur Lane has always been the centre of attention. Outstanding fan art from the game was used to create memes in the anime, mobile, R-rated, and gaming communities. So what exactly is Azur Lane? Is it a simulation of dating? A gacha AFK game? perhaps an h-game? Yes, but also no, I suppose. The game is a bullet hell game with a tonne of fanservice, if I were to characterise it. And I adore it (mainly because I’m a trashy weeaboo, just like the scum who downloaded this game solely for the benefit of the mommies).
Beyond the fan service and scanty attire, however, is a fantastic game that necessitates strategic thinking and micromanaging the appropriate gear for the appropriate ships. Let’s go right into the game and see how Azur Lane became a worldwide hit with anime fans.
Azur Lane Game Overview
You wouldn’t know what Azur Lane is supposed to be if you weren’t a player: could it be a turn-based strategy game, an afk clicker, or something as complex as World of Warships? Azur Lane is more of a bullet hell game with a hint of Battleship, to answer that query. The anime heroines in the game represent the real-life ships in the World War II naval engagements, on which the game is based. Imagine your grandfather giving his life to save the next generation, only to discover 70 years later that the ship he served on had been transformed into a lovely waifu.
Azur Lane Main Gameplay
As already mentioned, Azur Lane is more of a bullet hell game with some Battleship-like turn-based elements thrown in. You must construct a fleet of no more than six ships. Vanguard and Main divisions make up a fleet. Destroyers, Light Cruisers, and Heavy Cruisers are the frontlines, acting as the vanguards. Battleships, aircraft carriers, and other heavy armaments make up the main fleet, which forms the backline.
Additionally, you have the opportunity to bring in a fleet of submarines. They act as the primary and vanguard fleets’ backup to lessen the number and potency of the enemy. Do there exist the best ships of Azur Lane? There is a meta, but if I were you, I’d choose the one you find cutest.
MAP EXPLORATION
You must now enter the watery world and step foot in hostile territory after assembling two fleets. There are numerous maps in each chapter. There will be a set of enemy locations on each map. You must eliminate these adversary fleets until the boss appears. You can win up to 3 stars by defeating the boss and the fleets to go on to the next map. As you complete all the maps in one chapter, you’ll advance to the next set, steadily increasing the difficulty of the game.
The game gets more difficult as you move further. The later chapters will require you to make wise decisions on the suitable equipment because your adversaries spawn more frequently, bosses become more unpredictable, and you.
GUNPLAY
How does the gunplay operate then? Your vanguards will begin by firing automatically when they come upon an adversary. Use the joystick/d-pad in the lower-left to control the vanguards. You can manually launch torpedoes at any point during a battle because the majority of the vanguards are outfitted with them.
The artillery bombardment and aircraft deployment buttons are used by the primary backline fleet as well. By pressing the aircraft deployment button, your aircraft carrier will launch its attack to eliminate all of the adversaries visible on the screen. The Battleships are intended for the artillery bombardment. The artillery button must be held down to aim and released to fire. It resembles a miniature sniper game and is enjoyable whenever a shot is accomplished.
Consider it to be like a more laid-back version of Touhou (and we are all aware that Touhou includes gameplay that is very similar to bullet-hell). Overall, the gunplay is enjoyable and relaxed; it is neither overly absentminded nor overly micromanaged. When you finally reach the later levels, the fun really starts.
You can choose to play the game manually or automatically. In the game’s afk mode, the computer will control the battle on your behalf. If you are grinding for supplies or a specific ship while you are at work or school, this is a great strategy.
THE “OTHER” GAMEPLAY
The relationship system is another element that draws players into the game. The more you use a certain female in battle, the closer she becomes to you. Any person who is given the role of your secretary and with whom you can communicate from the main menu will also have a closer relationship with you.
The girl receives additional stat boosts as the relationship level rises. In the end, she’ll have a 100% affinity for you, at which point you’ll be able to propose to her. You can marry the girls here, that’s correct. The pinnacle of polygamy (unless you’re only faithful to one girl, in which case we admire that). I’m sorry, but this isn’t your honeymoon.
In addition, you can Limit Break each girl’s levels to increase her stats by salvaging other ships. Some of the other heroines have retrofits, which are ways to greatly improve their splash arts and further upgrade them.
Graphics & Visuals
The game’s settings are typically 2D. The only 3D effects are those on the water and the particles. In terms of graphics appearance, this game isn’t particularly innovative compared to Honkai Impact 3 or Fate Grand Order. It does, however, have adorable chibi representations of the girls.
It should come as no surprise that the girls make the best visual presentation here. For the strongly engaged segment of the community, the splash arts are “beyond alluring” and magnificent. Thanks to the well-known artists from Pixiv and Twitter, who are most known for their R34 content, every ship girl is detailed to the brim.
It’s also fun to admire the weapons in the depot.
Azur Lane Sound Design
MUSIC
The music is possibly one of Azur Lane’s most important aspects. Because holy crap, this game’s soundtrack can compete with those of expensive AAA titles. Weigh Anchor’s hospitable music on the main menu is very soothing and inviting. But once you hear Solomon Night, it turns into something quite different: terrifying and thrilling. Port and Sortie seem quite nautical and nicely encapsulate the mood of the game. I’ve played the game for over a thousand hours, and I’ve never grown weary of the tunes.
AZUR LANE SOUND EFFECTS
Although it doesn’t sound as explosive as War Thunder or as bombastic as World of Warships, it deserves praise for its bullet hell system inspired by anime. The explosions feel quite satisfying, the aeroplanes’ wavering gives the impression that they are about to fly towards you, and the cannons sound impressively powerful.
VOICE ACTING
If the girls’ splash art doesn’t primarily ruffle you up, the voice acting will. Weeaboos will be able to recognise the cast of Azur Lane as being particularly all-star. Ayane Sakura (My Hero Academia, Tokyo Ghoul, Show By Rock), Sora Amamiya (Konosuba, Monster Musume), Rie Kugumiya (Gintama, Toradora, Fairy Tail), and Yui Ishikawa (Attack on Titan, Violet Evergarden), among others, lend their voices to the game. They do a great job of bringing the characters to life, and boy, do they do it well.
Gacha
Azur Lane is one of the most F2P-friendly gacha games ever created, I’m happy to report. the abundance of free cube-earning opportunities, kind apologems (or, in this case, apolocubes), and high uptake rates. The likelihood of acquiring an SSR on standard pulls (Light, Heavy, and Special) is 7%, Elite on 12%, and Rare on 26%.
A specific SSR on restricted events can be as low as 2%, while Elites are at 2.5%. The most uncommon UR (Ultra Rare), which is on 1.2%, is redeemable after 200 rolls. Not bad, you’d say? Much higher than the ratings of FGO and Honkai Impact 3. The main issue with this gacha is that there is no “guarantee” for every 10 rolls.
Cons of the Azur Lane
Even though the game is naturally entertaining, it can eventually become incredibly tedious and dull. The exclusive Priority Ships, commonly referred to as Grind-to-Earn ships, are one example. For instance, in addition to blueprints and other materials, the Iron Blood Heavy Cruiser Roon requires a total of 3 million XP from Iron Blood cruisers. I am still only halfway through getting her as of this writing.
The notorious World 3-4, also known as Fox Hell, is another example of a protracted grind. The only way to obtain Carriers Akagi and Kaga is through this. The worst part is that they are both SSR, making the likelihood of obtaining them extremely minimal unless you commit your time to continuing to fight on this level. But praise be to God for the auto mode.
Summary
FGO/Arknights/GBF/Honkai players can find solace in Azur Lane, a friendly gacha game. All thanks to its F2P-friendly pulls, I suppose. With regard to its inventory and upgrading mechanics, it might be a little janky. The greatest fan service is present, but it is unquestionably a fun casual bullet hell strategy game.
The fandom is so extensive that fan art for Azur Lane frequently appears on Pixiv’s Drift Boss trending page. Or, for the most part, great illustrations made of them by well-known digital artists. You can tell a little gacha game is successful if it can have a big convention, advertise in the Shibuya train station, make an anime, and have a PS4/Steam spin-off game.
Azur Lane offers entertainment for gamers of all preferences, whether they favour tomboys or the prettiest women, adorable young children or the ara ara oneesan types. There is no bias in this game.
