Girls Frontline 2: Exilium

 Not long after one week since the release in early December, I gave a try with Thus new hottest Triple A Gacha Game released on Global server, Girls Frontline 2: Exilium. This game definitely live up to the hype from its fanbase and I do find myself have an easier time to enjoy this game compared to Nikke. Finally I find something that can serve as a good gateway to GFL series with this fancy production value. Seriously Exilium have some really good 3D models which are very crisp and will give even Genshin a run for their money. 

 Back then around the time when FGO was released in Global market, there was this Chinese gacha game called Girls Frontline which had real life military Firearms as the waifus in Dystopian setting ranging from Assault Rifles to Handguns. I never got into GFL series since I felt the gameplay was way too similar with Azurlane which is not exactly my cup of tea. But I do know the series had a sizable fanbase even If it is not the most profitable Gacha game around and even got some good merchandise from Goodsmile including Figmas.

Fast forward to 2024, the GFL Dev released a direct sequel of the previous game which comes with complete fancy overhaul that are on par with some of the best Triple A Gacha game. GFL2 presents us a Waifu Gacha game with Xcom/Valkyria Chronicle Tactical RPG gameplay which immediately hit a homerun with strategy game fans like me. Seriously, the gameplay of Exilium are no inferior compared to those two blockbuster Console games once you went past the tutorial phase.

 Roughly after One week of playing GFL2, the sequel really goes a different direction for their predecessor. Instead of going wide with tons of available roster, Exilium goes for the tall approach instead so expect the Gacha rate going to be as merciless as Genshin Impact with 0.6% SSR Drop Rate. But in exchange, the featured SSRs are quite well thought out and properly designed both in Aesthetics and gameplay. Over one week of playing, I managed to get myself 3 SSRs to head out with Suomi being the popular choice, but I will expect Qiongjiu provide more mileage in the future.

Compared to Nikke which I gave up after Cinderella's beanner, I had better time to get myself more comfortable with GFL2 settings. Because for a Female android waifu game, GFL2 doesn't come with excessive fanservice and had the advantage of having a backing from GFL1's legacy which certainly had made some good stuff over the years that can be carried over. Personally I will look forward to Klukai and Daiyan release since they had quite good designs in the first game and obviously many fans are probably waiting for M4A1 return as well.

 Most Waifu gacha games tend to have 7/10 Waifu that are quite overshadowed to the SSR choice, but Exilium is rather different in this aspect. The main heroine of GFL2 is T-Doll OTs-14 Groza who is a very capable and dependable character right out of the start. Groza is pretty much the Main waifu of GFL2 with her reliable personality and I am quite impressed with her role in the story so far. She truly will give a run for the money against popular Waifus from the previous GFL games which will certainly keep coming as GFL2 is a successful sequel that could provide a robust platform to carry over all of the good stuffs in GFL1.

 While I am not too eager to get another Gacha game with Genshin's abysmal rate, Girls Frontline 2 managed to win me over with its solid production value that are similar to Arknights and things are still going great on CN server with this series. While it will be difficult to match up to the profit like Genshin, I think GFL2 will have a very strong loyal fanbase to keep it going for years. As for myself, I will keep a closer tab for any merchandise related to GFL2.