Arknights: Endfield beta impressions – Xenoblade Chronicles meets Factorio

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Originally published on January 28, 2025.

On a gas giant’s second moon, Talos 2, lies a stunningly resource-rich world that could potentially house billions. Tragically, this moon appears to be in peril due to a destructive energy storm emerging near a volatile power planet. This escalating situation may lead to catastrophe for an extensive area of Talos 2. However, at the moment, my priority doesn’t lie with such minor issues since my automated factory isn’t manufacturing enough batteries to sufficiently support one of my outposts. The real emergency is expanding the factory.

Hypergryph’s forthcoming open-world RPG, Arknights: Endfield, stands out from the crowd. It seamlessly combines aspects from games like Xenoblade Chronicles and Genshin Impact with base-building and automation elements akin to Factorio or Satisfactory. Add a dash of Death Stranding’s unique gameplay, and you have a gacha game that is unlike any other I’ve seen.

In Arknights: Endfield, things initially seem ordinary as you get to pick between a male or female protagonist, who unbeknownst to them, is a highly esteemed and formidable figure. However, due to amnesia, they can’t recall their powerful abilities, leaving them in a state of confusion amidst admiration and fear from others.

In a gacha game, it’s common for non-player characters (NPCs) to fawn over the protagonist. In Wuthering Waves, Rover has become so enamored with the protagonist that he resembles a character from a harem anime. In Endfield, only one character appears to have feelings for the Endministrator thus far, but everyone you encounter praises your power and legendary status. I wouldn’t mind this attention if I could envision the Endmin in such a role. However, the protagonist doesn’t appear to be very strong or intelligent throughout the entire first chapter. In fact, the antagonist, who is comically arrogant, had multiple opportunities to eliminate me, but instead chose to let me live while ridiculing me – and I can’t fault them for that.

Despite some impressive feats by the main character, the antagonist consistently outshines them. By the close of the initial chapter, it’s the bond of friendship and a selfless act that ultimately prevail, yet this noble sacrifice proves to be temporary.

In essence, Endfield’s world is captivating and convincing for the most part, yet the initial narrative of the game lacks the compelling hook it needs. However, I anticipate that as Endmin reclaim their lost memories, which is the current objective in the story, there will be more depth and progression to follow.

It’s unfortunate that many of the travelers we encounter seem overly rational and well-adapted to societal norms. The Endmin certainly had an exceptional knack for selecting staff, as those at Endfield Industries are highly skilled. However, this doesn’t add much excitement to our narrative or contribute significantly to character development.

In Endfield, the caliber of its visual delivery is undeniable. Though it occasionally employs black screens with text narration, dialogues benefit from diverse camera angles, expressive character poses and gestures, and a substantial dose of voice acting. Moreover, there are numerous visually striking cutscenes to emphasize crucial story points.

In a visual sense, Arknights: Endfield seems to embody a “next-generation” gacha game, and surprisingly, it’s so meticulously crafted that I can only recall a handful of bugs. This is the first gacha game that can match the HoYoverse titles in terms of polish and overall production quality.

Gameplay, in general, can be divided into three parts: exploration, combat, and base-building.

The teamwork aspect in this game is less refined compared to the other two elements. It has an MMO-like feel, which might seem a bit slow, rigid, and possibly monotonous at times. Unlike many other gachas where only one character from your squad participates actively on the battlefield, Endfield lets you control all four characters simultaneously in exploration and combat. I appreciate this setup since it allows me to interact with all my characters, though it can lead to some confusion during battles due to excess information and makes stealth sections seem unrealistic as your teammates can bypass enemies while you remain hidden.

In this game, characters possess a standard attack, an ability, a chain skill, and an ultimate move. The chain skills offer an intriguing aspect, as they have certain prerequisites for activation, making team composition and combat a thrilling strategic endeavor. As you await the recharge of your skill points (you’ve got three) and the expiration of cooldowns, you’ll primarily rely on the basic attack, attempting to maintain the chain long enough to achieve a finisher, which escalates the opponent’s stagger level and momentarily stuns them. Evading breaks the chain, so subduing enemies can be an aggravating process that feels cumbersome. Additionally, there are elemental interactions and statuses to take into account. Overall, I found combat enjoyable, but worry that the system might become monotonous with prolonged play.

In Arknights, Endfield’s key aspects lie in exploration and base-building. As you navigate through the map (where you can jump and sprint endlessly, but can’t climb or swim), you encounter typical puzzles, chests filled with loot, and adversaries. But you’ll also discover ore locations, rare flora, deserted factories, and industrial zones. From your base, you can set up power lines spanning the entire map, establish mining outposts, boost abandoned structures to earn extra rewards, and even construct a zip-line network for faster travel between locales. Over time, you gradually personalize the map by leaving your unique imprint on it, showcasing your overall advancement.

At your factory, everything revolves. The resources you gather can be transformed into more sophisticated items or consumables here, including healing supplies. Additionally, the game enables you to set up outposts in various sub-regions, which require a constant flow of goods for supply. Lastly, base construction is deeply connected with character development. Rather than farming gear from domains, you must create production lines and manufacture the necessary components to craft your equipment independently.

What’s truly gripping about Arknights: Endfield for me is the blend of investigative missions, industrial-style gameplay, and battle/character advancement that it offers.

Interestingly enough, Endfield might not match the intricacy of a fully automated game, but it comes incredibly close. I must admit, its complexity and depth surpassed my expectations for a gacha title. It’s remarkably well-explained and user-friendly, with an added feature – a top-down placement mode that allows for a conventional base-building experience.

One aspect that particularly appealed to me was the spaceship. Over time, it can be expanded with additional workshops and labs, allowing for the production of various items such as character advancement materials and experience points. What sets it apart is that all your characters can be found within, either working or wandering around. They will respond to your presence by approaching you for a conversation. Gift-giving also occurs here (with gifts being purchased using currency earned from supplying outposts, thus tying into another gameplay aspect). Receiving and giving gifts increases their trust in you, which in turn enhances their combat stats.

Of course, the essence of an Arknights experience wouldn’t be complete without including a tower defense aspect. In this game, you have the opportunity to discover and build defensive towers using your factory, which serves as a means to safeguard outposts against attacks.

Arknights: Endfield stands out from other gacha games due to its rich variety of content, stunning visuals, and unique blend of classic RPG exploration with automation features, which is incredibly satisfying. Although the combat isn’t particularly captivating and the storyline is somewhat underwhelming at this stage, the ongoing closed beta has made Endfield a game I don’t want to miss out on.

Impressions are based on the PC version of the game.

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2025-04-16 11:50