2019 video game
|
App icon showing the caster Amiya
|
Created by
| Hypergryph
|
|
|
Developer
| - Hypergryph
- Studio Montagne
|
---|
Publisher
| - CHN
:
Hypergryph
- WW
:
Yostar
- TW
:
Gryphline
|
---|
Genre
| Tactical role-playing
,
tower defense
|
---|
Engine
| Unity
|
---|
Platform
| |
---|
Released
| - CHN
:
1 May 2019
- JP
/
KR
:
15 January 2020
- WW
:
16 January 2020
- TW
:
29 June 2020
|
|
|
Developer
| Hypergryph, Mountain Contour
|
---|
Platform
| Android, iOS,
Windows
,
PlayStation 5
|
|
|
Directed by
| Yuki Watanabe
|
---|
Music by
| Yuki Hayashi
|
---|
Studio
| Yostar Pictures
|
---|
Licensed by
| Crunchyroll
|
---|
Original network
| TV Tokyo
|
---|
Original run
| October 29, 2022
?
December 17, 2022
|
---|
Episodes
| 8
|
|
|
Studio
| Gravity Well
|
---|
Licensed by
| Crunchyroll
|
---|
Released
| December 23, 2022
?
April 22, 2023
|
|
|
Written by
| Soichiro Morizumi
|
---|
Studio
| Aegir
|
---|
Original run
| June 14, 2023
? present
|
---|
Episodes
| 11
|
|
|
Directed by
| Yuki Watanabe
|
---|
Music by
| Yuki Hayashi
|
---|
Studio
| Yostar Pictures
|
---|
Licensed by
| Crunchyroll
|
---|
Original network
| TV Tokyo,
TV Osaka
,
BS11
,
Animax
|
---|
Original run
| October 7, 2023
?
November 25, 2023
|
---|
Episodes
| 8
|
|
|
Studio
| Yostar Pictures
|
Arknights
(
Chinese
:
明日方舟
;
pinyin
:
Mingri F?ngzh?u
;
lit.
'Ark of Tomorrow') is a
free-to-play
tactical RPG
/
tower defense
mobile game
developed by Chinese developer Hypergryph. It was released in China on 1 May 2019, in other countries on 16 January 2020, and in Taiwan on 29 June 2020.
[1]
Arknights
is available on
Android
and
iOS
platforms and features
gacha game
mechanics.
A
spin-off
game,
Arknights: Endfield
, was announced for
Microsoft Windows
and mobile devices in March 2022.
[2]
An
anime
television series adaptation produced by Yostar Pictures aired from October to December 2022.
[3]
[4]
A second season, titled
Arknights: Perish in Frost
, aired from October to November 2023. A third season, titled
Arknights: Rise from Ember
, has been announced.
Gameplay
[
edit
]
The core gameplay is that of a
tower defense
game, with a number of characters ("operators") as towers. Melee operators can be placed on ground tiles and ranged operators on elevated tiles. Melee operators physically block enemies from advancing, and ranged operators deal ranged damage, heal or otherwise support melee operators. Players must place operators on the correct tiles to prevent the enemy from infiltrating the player's base. Once in place, an operator's skills can be activated after a time for special effects, or they can be withdrawn for redeployment after a delay.
Because there is often a limited number of viable solutions, especially at high difficulties,
Arknights
has also been described as a
puzzle game
.
[5]
The gameplay normally does not require quick reaction times (the game is pauseable, and time slows down while commands are issued), but rather on-the-spot tactical analysis and foresight.
[6]
As the player progresses through the game, they unlock more stages, operators and resources, and are also introduced to new types of enemies and gameplay mechanics. Levels that have been cleared with a three-star rating can be auto-completed without player input, as the game records the player's actions and replicates them.
The game also has a base-building aspect, which allows players to construct facilities and assign operators to them. This allows players to increase their resources in the manner of an
incremental game
.
[7]
It features the usual array of
free-to-play
,
gacha game
mechanics, such as daily login rewards and randomized character acquisition through virtual currency which can be obtained by playing the game, through limited-time events, or optional in-app purchases using real currency. Because of the limited resources available (even if real money is spent), another layer of challenge lies in "internalizing multiple complex economic systems"
[6]
and in prioritizing the right operators to recruit and develop in order to build a capable roster.
Arknights
players have created a number of internet resources and tools to assist in this effort.
[6]
Seasonal gameplay events introduce more complex but optional difficulties and handicaps, such as the game's semi-quarterly Contingency Contract. Players are awarded with resources and medals exclusive to these events. A
roguelike
game mode, "Integrated Strategies", was added in 2022.
[8]
Plot
[
edit
]
The game is set in the
dystopian
,
apocalyptic
future setting of the planet Terra, where people exhibit
kemonomimi
features ? characteristics of animals or mythological races. Natural disasters leave behind a valuable mineral, originium, which infects people with a
progressive disease
, oripathy, but can also enhance the ability to use "Arts" (magic). Because oripathy is highly infectious and invariably fatal, the infected are shunned and persecuted. In response, some of them form the Reunion movement, a militant group waging war on the despotic governments of Terra.
The player takes the role of the masked and amnesiac "Doctor", who commands a team of "operators" of Rhodes Island, a pharmaceutical, medical, and self-defense organization. As oripathy spreads, Rhodes Island searches for a cure while defending itself against Reunion and several of the governments of Terra.
[7]
Music and voice acting
[
edit
]
Arknights
has an eclectic soundtrack drawing on a range of Western and Asian musical genres. Hypergryph has partnered with musical groups across the world to release
Arknights
-related songs and music videos. These include
Steve Aoki
("Last of Me"),
Yellow Claw
("End Like This"),
[9]
Starset
("Infected"),
[10]
and
Low Roar
("Feels", later re-released as "Fade Away").
[11]
Contributing composers include
Go Shiina
,
[12]
Kevin Penkin
[13]
and
Adam Gubman
.
[14]
The
Arknights
-related song "Renegade" written by Jason Walsh and performed by
Substantial
and X.ARI was nominated for "Best Original Song ? Video Game" at the 2020
Hollywood Music in Media Awards
.
[15]
The game's characters are voiced in Japanese.
Standard Chinese
,
regional Sinitic language
, Korean, and English
voice acting
is being incrementally added.
[16]
[17]
Individual characters are also voiced in other languages such as Italian, German and Russian, to reflect their origin from the analogous region of the game's world.
[18]
[19]
Reception
[
edit
]
Pocket Gamer
highlighted the game's extensive lore and high production values.
[20]
Julia Lee of
Polygon
said that the
gacha system
is better than in Nintendo's
Dragalia Lost
, and wrote that "
Arknights
is the only gacha game I recommend to people" because of its art design, lack of purchase pressure and competition, and limited
grind
,
[5]
and Sisi Jiang of
Kotaku
noted that
Arknights
is rare among gacha games in that its easily obtainable characters are better in some circumstances than the game's rare, high-powered operators.
[21]
The game was nominated for
Google Play
"Users' Choice Game" at the Best of 2020 awards and for "Best Science Fiction or Fantasy Mobile Game" at the 2020
Dragon Awards
.
[22]
It won an award as one of the Best Innovative Games of 2020.
[23]
Anime adaptation
[
edit
]
In December 2020, Hypergryph released a nine-minute
Arknights
anime video, "Holy Knight Light", on the occasion of the game's first global anniversary. It was made by the global publisher's in-house studio, Yostar Pictures, which previously made anime trailers for in-game events for the global version of the game.
[24]
In October 2021, Hypergryph published a teaser trailer for the first season ("Prelude to Dawn") of an
anime
adaptation of
Arknights
, also made by Yostar Pictures.
[3]
The anime is a television series directed by Yuki Watanabe, with Masaki Nishikawa serving as assistant director, and
Yuki Hayashi
composing the music.
[25]
Takashi Matsuyama
is cast as Ace.
[26]
The series aired from October 29 to December 17, 2022, on
TV Tokyo
in Japan.
[4]
[a]
Crunchyroll
licensed the series.
[28]
The anime's opening theme song is "Alive" by
Reona
, and the ending theme song is "BE ME" by Doul. A second season, "Perish in Frost", was announced at the end of the eighth episode and features returning staff and cast.
[29]
It aired October 7 to November 25, 2023, on TV Tokyo. The opening theme song is "Ache in Pulse" by
Myth & Roid
, and the ending theme song is "R.I.P" by Reona.
[30]
A third season, "Rise from Ember", was announced on April 27, 2024.
[31]
A spin-off miniseries,
Lee's Detective Agency
, began airing on Crunchyroll on December 23, 2022.
[32]
Episodes
[
edit
]
Notes
[
edit
]
- ^
TV Tokyo lists the series premiere at 25:23 on October 28, 2022, which is effectively 1:23 a.m.
JST
on October 29.
[27]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
Lada, Jenni (24 January 2020).
"The Doctor Is in as Arknights Is Available Outside Japan"
.
Siliconera
.
Archived
from the original on 24 December 2021
. Retrieved
7 February
2020
.
- ^
"Hypergryph Announces Arknights: Endfield for PC and Mobile"
.
Game Rant
. 2022-03-18.
Archived
from the original on 2022-06-06
. Retrieved
2022-03-19
.
- ^
a
b
Luster, Joseph (24 October 2021).
"Arknights Anime Adaptation Revealed, Season 1 'Coming Soon'
"
.
Crunchyroll
.
Archived
from the original on 2022-06-20
. Retrieved
2021-10-24
.
- ^
a
b
Hodgkins, Crystalyn (September 24, 2022).
"Arknights: Prelude to Dawn Anime's Promo Video Reveals ReoNa's Theme, October 28 Premiere"
.
Anime News Network
.
Archived
from the original on October 3, 2022
. Retrieved
September 24,
2022
.
- ^
a
b
Lee, Julia (2020-10-30).
"Arknights is the only gacha game I recommend to people"
.
Polygon
.
Archived
from the original on 2022-06-20
. Retrieved
2020-10-30
.
- ^
a
b
c
Jiang, Sisi (2022-02-21).
"These So-Called 'Casual' Gamers Are Actually Hardcore Strategists"
.
Kotaku
.
Archived
from the original on 2022-06-27
. Retrieved
2022-02-21
.
- ^
a
b
Jensen, Brock (29 January 2020).
"Arknights Review - Gacha Tower Defense Done Right"
.
Noisy Pixel
.
Archived
from the original on 20 June 2022
. Retrieved
7 February
2020
.
- ^
Jiang, Sisi (2022-07-19).
"Arknights' New Roguelike Mode Makes Its Gimmicky Characters Worth Playing Again"
.
Kotaku
.
Archived
from the original on 2022-07-19
. Retrieved
2022-07-20
.
- ^
Yopko, Nick (28 December 2020).
"Arknights Celebrates One-Year Anniversary With New Track by Steve Aoki, Yellow Claw, and RUNN"
.
Edm.com - the Latest Electronic Dance Music News, Reviews & Artists
.
Archived
from the original on 2020-12-28
. Retrieved
2021-04-29
.
- ^
Childers, Chad (2021-04-26).
"Starset Release 'Infected' to Mark 'Arknights' Video Game Anniversary"
.
Loudwire
.
Archived
from the original on 2021-04-26
. Retrieved
2021-04-29
.
- ^
"塞壬唱片 - A WORLD FAMILIARLY UNKNOWN"
.
monster-siren.hypergryph.com
.
Archived
from the original on 2021-08-07
. Retrieved
2021-08-07
.
- ^
Shiina, Go [@cnago] (October 27, 2020).
? ア?クナイツ ? 大陸版メインスト?リ?8章 PV PV一曲目作編曲??させていただきました。 日本サ?ビスはのちほどですが、 是非、遊んでみて下さい?!
(
Tweet
) (in Japanese)
. Retrieved
2022-10-02
– via
Twitter
.
- ^
Penkin, Kevin [@kevinpenkin] (December 21, 2021).
"I wrote music for Arknights!!! Beyond honoured to work with the irreplaceable @SarahAlainn on the song "Heal the World". Feel free to check below"
(
Tweet
)
. Retrieved
2022-10-02
– via
Twitter
.
- ^
@ArknightsStaff (August 10, 2022).
#ア?クナイツ 2.5周年を記念し、この曲をお送りします。 ぜひお聞きください。 「And Yet It Wanes」 作曲:Adam Gubman
(
Tweet
) (in Japanese)
. Retrieved
2022-10-02
– via
Twitter
.
- ^
Willman, Chris (2021-01-15).
"Hollywood Music in Media Awards Announces 2021 Nominees; Kenny Loggins Set for Lifetime Honor"
.
Variety
.
Archived
from the original on 2021-01-15
. Retrieved
2021-04-29
.
- ^
"Arknights Global releases English, Korean dub previews"
.
GamerBraves
. 2022-06-24.
Archived
from the original on 2022-07-22
. Retrieved
2022-07-23
.
- ^
《明日方舟》2022新春前瞻特???
.
Bilibili
(in Chinese). 2022-01-15.
- ^
《明日方舟》2022「感??典」前瞻特??目(附字幕)
.
Bilibili
(in Chinese). 2023-11-22.
- ^
《明日方舟》2023「感??典」前瞻特??目(附字幕)
.
Bilibili
(in Chinese). 2023-11-22.
- ^
Gregson-Wood, Stephen.
"Arknights is a tower defense game for iOS and Android that puts a huge emphasis on its lore, you can pre-register now"
.
Pocket Gamer
.
Archived
from the original on 3 March 2021
. Retrieved
7 February
2020
.
- ^
Jiang, Sisi (27 September 2021).
"Arknights Low Rarity Characters Are Better Than High Rarity Ones"
.
Kotaku
.
Archived
from the original on 2021-09-27
. Retrieved
2021-09-27
.
- ^
Liptak, Andrew (2020-09-06).
"Announcing the 2020 Dragon Awards Winners"
.
Tor.com
.
Archived
from the original on 2021-09-30
. Retrieved
2021-04-29
.
- ^
Faisal, Muhammad (1 December 2020).
"Game Arknights Memenangkan Penghargaan dari Google Play Best of 2020!"
[Arknights Game Wins Award from Google Play Best of 2020!].
Nawala Karsa
(in Indonesian).
Archived
from the original on 9 April 2022
. Retrieved
15 February
2021
.
- ^
"Yostar Pictures Produces 9-Minute Short for Arknights Smartphone Game"
.
Anime News Network
. December 26, 2021.
Archived
from the original on October 24, 2021
. Retrieved
December 26,
2021
.
- ^
Kit (July 25, 2022).
"Arknights anime seemingly confirmed for October 2022 broadcast by its composer"
.
GamerBraves
.
Archived
from the original on July 25, 2022
. Retrieved
August 21,
2022
.
- ^
Pineda, Rafael (January 10, 2022).
"Arknights: Prelude to Dawn TV Anime Unveils 1st Cast & Staff Members, Visual"
.
Anime News Network
.
Archived
from the original on June 21, 2022
. Retrieved
January 10,
2022
.
- ^
TVアニメ「ア?クナイツ」10月28日放送開始、ドクタ?役?甲斐田ゆきらキャスト公開
.
Natalie
(in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. September 24, 2022.
Archived
from the original on October 2, 2022
. Retrieved
September 27,
2022
.
- ^
Mateo, Alex (October 18, 2022).
"Crunchyroll to Stream Arknights: Prelude to Dawn Anime"
.
Anime News Network
.
Archived
from the original on October 18, 2022
. Retrieved
October 18,
2022
.
- ^
Loo, Egan (December 16, 2022).
"Arknights Game's Perish in Frost TV Anime Confirmed (Updated)"
.
Anime News Network
.
Archived
from the original on December 20, 2022
. Retrieved
December 20,
2022
.
- ^
Cayanan, Joanna (September 20, 2023).
"Arknights: Perish in Frost Anime's Songs, October 6 Debut Revealed in Full Promo Video"
.
Anime News Network
. Retrieved
September 20,
2023
.
- ^
Tai, Anita (April 27, 2024).
"Arknights: Rise from Ember TV Anime Announced"
.
Anime News Network
. Retrieved
April 27,
2024
.
- ^
Arknights_EN [@ArknightsEN] (December 22, 2022).
"Dear Doctors, welcome to Lee's Detective Agency! The Arknights miniseries Lee's Detective Agency will be airing on Crunchyroll on 2022 Dec 23!"
(
Tweet
) – via
Twitter
.
External links
[
edit
]