UlasanAnime.com – The global version of the mobile game Princess Connect! Re:Dive, often shortened to Priconne, is increasingly becoming a source of frustration for players, particularly those who also engage with the Japanese version or other mobile gacha games.
This sentiment is shared by players who actively participate in the Japanese version of Princess Connect! Re:Dive alongside its Global counterpart. Cygames, the developer and publisher, directly manages the Japanese release, while also licensing the game for international distribution. Notable regional releases include China, Korea, Taiwan/Hong Kong, and Thailand, with the Global/English version launching approximately a year ago, handled by Crunchyroll Games.
The game itself is highly enjoyable, to the extent that some players find it compelling enough to play the same title in multiple regions. Priconne is fundamentally a content-driven RPG. The game consistently receives updates featuring events, main story quests, and new characters, all meticulously woven into an ongoing narrative that explores its enigmatic world. For those familiar with the original Princess Connect game that preceded Re:Dive, the setting and its underlying mysteries are naturally captivating. The extensive cast of characters also allows for a deeper connection from the outset of Re:Dive.
The various regional localizations of Priconne adhere to a content release strategy that involves a gradual drip-feed of new material. While some “downtime” periods present in the original Japanese release were shortened, this primarily occurred during the initial year, with the pace accelerating thereafter. For context, the Japanese version of Priconne recently celebrated its 4th anniversary.
While Princess Connect is a popular Japanese game, it doesn’t dominate the charts. Its niche lies in its accessibility, offering deep gameplay for those who seek it, and boasting exceptional quality-of-life (QOL) features. A fitting comparison is the leap from Everquest to World of Warcraft, distinguishing it from many mobile games that necessitate tedious farming based on external guides. Even newer titles like Konosuba and Kirara Fantasia present a more arduous playing experience. Priconne remains a benchmark for simplifying the mobile gaming experience, with its user experience (UX) being a crucial factor in its sustained relevance in the 21st century. It’s the kind of game that allows players to engage with other titles due to its relatively low time commitment.
However, this doesn’t preclude players from utilizing spreadsheets and dedicating significant time to extensive farming, a common practice. The introduction of the game to China, notable for its locally exclusive character releases, further intensified this aspect. It’s plausible that the Chinese player base now surpasses the Japanese one, particularly from an international perspective.
The dedication of Chinese players, who have invested their passion, effort, time, and resources into Priconne, is highly appreciated. They have significantly enriched the player experience, contributing to resources like the currently superior Arena database and various guides. Some of these contributions even surpass professional sites like Gamewith in terms of meta analysis and adapting to rapid or player-driven changes.
The unfortunate consequence of this staggered release model is that by the time Global receives its latest content, it has already been thoroughly dissected by every preceding regional release. Unless players actively avoid external information, the “meta” – the optimal strategies and character compositions – is largely spoiled from the outset. This is a significant drawback for Priconne, a game where the clues needed for success are inherently present within the game itself. Players have ample opportunities for in-game experimentation to understand its mechanics. While this information is now available in English, allowing players to discover it themselves, few are likely to do so.
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This, in itself, might not be a major issue. For players of the Japanese Priconne, enjoying the Global version despite foreknowledge of all upcoming events remains possible. It’s akin to knowing the FAQ without needing to consult it. What is missed, however, are the myriad enhancements and optimizations accumulated over four years of development in the Japanese version, which are absent in a drip-released game lagging three years behind. Many QOL improvements from Priconne JP would greatly benefit Global, as players are currently experiencing those very deficiencies. Ironically, the meta in Priconne JP has also evolved beyond these QOL changes, leading to a different set of challenges and strategic considerations.
A prime example is the Clan Battle. Clans function as guilds, where members collectively attempt to defeat NPC bosses within a set number of tries to achieve the highest cumulative score. This results in a monthly game-wide ranking competition among all clans. Achieving top 10% rankings requires significant individual coordination and teamwork. For other players, strategies can still be derived from spreadsheets, but Priconne includes a “recommend” feature that suggests optimal teams directly within the game, largely eliminating the need for external resources for most players. This monthly event is a primary draw for many, harkening back to the original Princess Connect’s appeal of clan-versus-player combat. A critical aspect of Clan Battles involves experimenting with various team compositions. In JP, players can utilize 4x speed for faster testing. However, the JP meta focuses on diverse team compositions beyond the most popular characters, leading to intricate strategic matching. In Global, this process is significantly more cumbersome due to the limited character pool. Furthermore, Global lacks the 4x speed feature and even the “recommend to select” functionality. The challenge isn’t solely about knowing which characters to use, but also about manually selecting them from an extensive roster. Team experimentation is arguably the most time-consuming part of Clan Battles, and it can become tedious. The lack of streamlined features exacerbates this issue.
Consequently, Priconne Global not only appears dated compared to its Japanese counterpart but also falls behind its contemporary mobile games. The author tried the Japanese version of Blue Archive upon its launch and found it promising, despite early issues. A year later, playing the Global release has been a highly enjoyable experience. While Blue Archive presents certain gameplay aspects that might be considered a step down from Priconne, its user interface and overall presentation feel distinctly modern. This modern façade is a significant factor, especially for a gacha game. Adding to the disappointment, Priconne Global offers little truly novel to anticipate, apart from inherited UX improvements that could have been implemented much earlier, or having its strategic depth fully explored by millions of Japanese and Chinese players before its English release. The author expresses a longing for the “New York Carl memes” and humorously suggests Crunchyroll could insert its mascot, akin to Hashimoto Kanna’s characters in Priconne CN.
[It is worth noting that the Blue Archive meta can also be challenging, and unlike Priconne, not understanding its meta can be detrimental. While there are hints to guide players, the gameplay depth isn’t always evident through the game’s interface, necessitating community engagement and external research. Additionally, Blue Archive’s PvP is considered inferior compared to Priconne’s. The developers of Shadowverse, for instance, demonstrate a proficient understanding of basic rock-paper-scissors balance mechanics within a gacha game framework. Despite its numerous shortcomings, Blue Archive is largely considered superior, primarily due to its modern presentation.]
As previously stated, this is largely a personal grievance rather than a universal one. If the author were to appreciate Priconne’s community interactions, playing the Global version solely for its entertaining translations might be a viable option. These translations are indeed commendable. However, the persistent animation of dialogue, even with rapid clicks, significantly slows down the progression through one-liners and sound effects, making it a relatively tedious experience. Numerous reasons still exist to appreciate the game, which is why it is played in Japanese despite the language barrier. Ultimately, the primary reason for not playing Priconne Global is the existence of a superior version: the Japanese release.
This situation might also reflect an information asymmetry. Unlike the discourse surrounding AAA video games, there may not be a similar unifying force for English-speaking communities surrounding Asian gacha mobile games. Alternatively, players, often self-proclaimed “gamers,” may be preoccupied with complaints about censorship and lootboxes, neglecting more player-centric concerns. If the Japanese version of Priconne is inaccessible or players are unwilling to overcome its barriers, that is understandable. Possessing this “forbidden knowledge” could potentially diminish the experience for those who exclusively play the Global version. However, these gacha games often exist in isolated communities, which is problematic. Most players do not engage deeply with these aspects. The QooApp community, for instance, might offer insights, but its user base is skewed by demographics and geography, and it’s not available on iOS. If players develop a negative impression of Priconne Global due to its perceived inferiority to its contemporaries, it is understandable, but it also represents a form of injustice, as Priconne is a fundamentally better game than its Global iteration.
The author has now expressed their thoughts, suggesting it might be time to step back and reclaim an average of 15-20 minutes of daily playtime.
PS. For those enjoying the second season of the anime, the narrative core that sustained the author from the original game to Re:Dive is rooted in this setting. There’s a hope for exploration of the original universe, though the anime is unlikely to fully capture it even with additional seasons. The build-up to the conclusion of “Act 1” of the main story is particularly engaging, representing a unique magic that may not be replicated, especially for someone who found “Act 2” less captivating.
