Okay, so. I finally played it, I don't have the english patch yet so these are just initial thoughts, before I fully understand some things (gameplay and character wise)
My first impression is, huh, no replays. I wonder if there could be some complication with implementing them in this game? Or was it a deliberate choice? I also noticed, the lack of scores, and no final stats page or anything. As far as I could tell there wasn't even a "thanks for beating [difficulty]!" message....? Unless I missed it.
I'm a little sad about these things, because I usually do challenges (or just 1CCs) and share my replays, or at least screenshot my final stats as proof, or a kind of trophy? Maybe that sounds like a stupid problem to have with the change, but it's just something I wasn't sure about. Is the objective to steer away from scores and competition?
I also just started getting good enough at survival that I'm started to aim for more score, so that's probably also a factor in feeling this way. But, I did still have fun with the survival and chaotic dodging, I liked PoFV and Loved PoDD, so I still enjoy that part of the format, I also kind of like that you get those 'cards' that give you extra stuff (like sub-weapons) after each stage... though I definitely prefer some over others, lol,,,
I liked that, too, the big roster and the different boss paths each of them takes. I haven't figured out how to utilize the, uh, force field thing (kind of like from when you Focused in PoFV, but this time when charging your attacks), so I won't comment much on that for now, but I do like the variance in the character's shot-types, though, just like the card additions, that can lead to preferences, and some of you might struggle with a little like I did.
I also wanna say, I really like the new character designs, and I'm very intrigued by them, I liked the last game's cast, so I'm excited to see how I feel once I know anything about them beyond a couple rumors and stuff about Son Biten. (It's fun to see Tsukasa back already, and interacting with Ran!)
I also have one thing I'm wondering about. Since in this game, you don't immediately lose a 'life', or a heart, if hit once, you instead start flashing and have to be hit Again..... is a No Miss run, never getting Hit? Or will there be a different category, like, "No Hit" for if you're literally never hit, not even once, and "No Miss" for never losing a life? Because in this game you you can get hit once per stage, it resets, AND I also think that if you are able to unleash a boss attack on your opponent, it also lets you takes another free hit without losing a heart/life, correct me if I'm wrong.......
I actually like the system, of giving you that buffer that you can kind of plan ahead to account for, it's neat. But I would like to do a Normal "No Hit" someday, I think that'd be fun
Need to figure out the english patch and understand how some of the new mechanics work, but I guess there's some stuff I'm iffy about, and some stuff I'm really enjoying!! Can't believe I didn't mention until now, the character portraits are very cute, and the boss sprites are impressive and make me miss doing pixel art..... but it is kinda funny when some of them are HUGE compared to others, like Ran's seemed......... lol
Interested to hear other's thoughts! Who were you most excited to see return?