The global version of GrandChase has just gone live, so we can finally talk a little bit more about it. For the uninitiated, it is the direct sequel to the original Grand Chase for the PC. Unfortunately we have no experience with the predecessor, so this piece of GrandChase first impression will solely be for the mobile game, which would also reduce the bias since we will not be able to do things like complain how it failed to live up to the name.
In any case, if you were unable to guess from the screenshots and numerous gameplay videos up online, this is your standard real-time action RPG which heavily borrows elements from JRPGs, as the game is anime as heck. You will assemble a team of four ranging from a variety of classes, and subsequently battle your way across the various story missions.
While nothing to write home about, the production values here are fairly commendable even if the designs aren’t particularly unique. Everything works as intended and if you are a fan of such games, there might be something here to like.
The battle system is fairly straightforward in that you drag your party to move around the map. Units will automatically engage foes, and all you need to do is tap on the skills accordingly. While it is very simple, it certainly is very satisfying to see all the skills go off all at once in battle which can be rather chaotic at times.
And unlike other games similar to it, you can play as much as you want, as there is no stamina system to speak of. As such clearing the campaign in less than a day is very possible. The story is serviceable, but if you are a seasoned gamer, there isn’t particularly interesting here.
Let us then move on to the monetisation system. There are a total of three currency types in Grand Chase, namely gems, gold, and prana. Gold and prana are earned by completing mission objectives and the like while gems are the premium currency which will need to be bought with real money, although there is a limited amount which you can get from just playing the game.
Starting the game gives you enough gems to do a 10 roll or two, but you will soon find yourself starving for them. That said, we have not encountered a point where you are gated from not having the best units which will are available from the premium summon, so it’s hard to really gauge how restrictive the game is in this area. But as mentioned earlier, you can play the game as much as you want as there is no stamina gauge, meaning you are free to farm until you get tired.
So for what it’s worth, Grand Chase is a fairly solid entry in the crowded mobile RPG market. Unfortunately it also means that if you have played other games like this, you will not find anything new here to sway you. If you have never played anything like this in your life before, then perhaps this is worth a try, although you might find other better titles from just looking around. The monetisation system isn’t particularly greedy and restrictive so there is some incentive to put some time into this just to see when you hit a roadblock.
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