The first thing I want to mention is that the version I played is a PC port of the Playstation Vita game. I just want to make clear that, for the most part, this game runs very well and seems to be decently optimized. The only slowdown I get is during long devouring attacks. It is not perfect but I get 99% 60fps and that is what counts for me.
The story in this game is actually pretty basic: Aragami killed almost everyone. You are the resistance fighters keeping humanity from slipping into extinction. It is a little more complex than that but that sums up most of it. Fortunately, it gives us enough reason to understand why we are even playing the game. The story itself is told through little snippets before and after specific missions(labeled Story).
The characters are all pretty stereotypical and one-dimensional for the most part. I doubt anything will surprise you here. Later on in the game you will get extra little post-mission character building tidbits. These might seem annoying, and they can be, but they do a good job of adding a bit more depth to each of the characters' personalities. Believe it or not, I felt this helped make the universe feel more alive. You can skip right past them if you want, too. They do repeat on occasion.
So far, it sounds like this game is kind of bland. However, the gameplay is the real meat and potatoes of this game. The first thing you do is make your own personal hero. While this is good, it also means that you are often prone to being the silent protagonist as a result. This is not a huge deal, but it is worth noting. Then, you take your character, with ridiculous levels of customization, form a party with AI teammates, or online partners(the online is pretty dead at this point but you could always play with friends), and kill Aragami. I will discuss each part below. Also, do not worry if you feel like you messed up something on your hero, either. You can use the Import Save function on the main menu to rebuild your hero and carry on exactly where you left off!
To address the first part: What do I mean by customization? The game has an absolutely huge reservoir of cosmetics you can add to your character. It also has a lot of weapon/shield variety so you can find what you like best and build around that. This can all be changed via the Loadout menu. All weapons have slightly different quirks and are better at certain things so it is probably best to mix and match based on the situation but it is not required. The entire game can be completed with literally anything. The weapons and shields can be further customized by adding other abilities to the base. You can even customize your bullets to change how they interact with the enemies/teammates/situations.
There are also things called Predator Styles which are devouring attacks. These do not do a lot of damage but they put your character into Burst Mode which grants flat effects as well as various other effects based on what you have equipped. Keeping up Burst Mode is very important later so use it as much as you can. You can pick what kind of Style you want to use as well as what effects they impart upon success. These are selected from a list in the Loadout sub-menu.
There are numerous loadout slots that I recommend you use so you can quickly switch between builds. These even save current cosmetics, predator styles, and bullets so keep that all in mind.
Keeping your gear as up-to-date as possible is key to having the easiest time possible. Pay particular attention to your shield; it has a flat defense value that is basically what your character's defense rating is, even when not guarding. Guarding only further enhances its effects.
Now to address the second part: Killing Aragami. This is something you will do a lot. You take your heroes and fell countless giant monsters. It is just that simple. You will see some variety as you progress through the game but you will definitely run across more than your fair share of most of them. I am quite certain you will grow to dislike some more than others. Stupid Chi-You.... Oh, and remember to guard attacks. That goes a long way. Do not get ahead of yourself. They give you plenty of time and items are finite. Play smart!
While you are out hunting these Aragami you can pick up random crafting materials from each level set in static locations. The Aragami themselves also drop crafting materials at the end of the mission. You can further increase your spoils by Devouring their corpses right after they are killed and by breaking parts off of the monsters with focused attacks. If you need anything in particular you can always check mission listings to see what kind of possible loot there is. As far as loot pertaining to certain areas, you can find that in the database.
What about negatives? Well, this game has some audio issues. The post-mission character scenes completely ignore any audio settings you set and can blow out your hearing. There are spelling issues here and there, too.The controls are a bit clunky at times and are hard to get used to. The Operator can be kind of annoying during missions but, luckily, you can customize that in the Mission Select menu. Some missions can be absolutely frustrating with the amount of enemies they throw out. Couple that with having limited control over how far out you can zoom. It can feel cheap at times. Being unable to see your entire current build while searching for new skills to install is really annoying and the menu backtracking becomes tiresome.
The big one, though, the in-game tutorials for just about everything are beyond awful; steaming piles of horse-crap. I found out how to do some stuff far beyond the point it was introduced. I am considering making some tutorial about this game for just this last reason alone.
Conclusion
As of right now I have over 160 hours into the first game and I have yet to complete everything. I am still having a ton of fun with the game, too. I searched a long time to find a game to replace Diablo 3 and I think this is it. I have a ton of weapons to use, ways to customize them with tons of different abilities, as well as countless cosmetics! Literally everything is viable, just as long as you keep it somewhat current. Do not neglect your shields!
Recommendation
If you got this far, you should probably already know if this is for you or not. I love it. If you are after a game with some grinding elements and something that can keep you busy for a long time, this game is a fantastic value. In fact, buying this on PC, you get this game, as well as the sequel in the same purchase. Slaying giant monsters just does not seem to get old.
Link: God Eater
Still not sold? Check out a couple of my personal videos.
Vs. Caligula
Vs. Venus
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