KatzenXD

I wanted to like Arknights: Endfield given how much hype it had leading up to launch, but it massively overpromises and underdelivers. The factory buidking mechanics are genuinely interesting and fun that give the game a unique hook that most gacha titles don’t even attempt, and the world of Talos looks stunning and well-realized. I also appreciate seeing familiar faces (but not the same) from OG Arknights brought into this new setting — it’s cool to have those characters with updated models and presence. However, the combat that was touted as a standout “innovation” feels shallow, repetitive, and grindy rather than genuinely fun or tactical. Instead of evolving into something fluid and engaging, fights quickly reduce to the same spammy button-pressing loop that never deepens, and movement/evade mechanics don’t feel satisfying at all. There’s a lot of style and surface polish here, but the core gameplay loop — the part you actually spend most of your time in — doesn’t hold up. For all the excitement and buzz, this game just isn’t worth it right now.