GRYPHLINE, the publishing brand under Hypergryph, has revealed that “Ex Astris“, a planet exploration RPG, is set to launch on smartphones on February 27th for $9.99.
Created by the developers of “Arknights,” this game follows the journey of girls as they uncover the mysteries of a divided star. It offers Japanese subtitles and audio support. Based on the FAQ provided, it appears that the release will follow a one-time purchase model rather than a free-to-play approach.
It has been quite a long time since anyone decided to make a genuine mobile game considering the whole platform has rapidly devolved into the free-to-play mantra lacking any actual form of gameplay and instead pushing consumers into paying for microtransactional in-game currency and or “gacha” mechanics instead.
“Ex Astris” is a semi-real-time turn-based RPG developed by Hypergryph, known for their work on “Arknights.” The game unfolds on the planet Allindo, divided into polar day and polar night hemispheres by massive storm belts.
Each hemisphere harbors its own civilization, with the Doran thriving in the polar day and the Shadara in the polar night. Yan (Yen), a central character, is a girl grown from an embryo cultivated from samples gathered by humans on Allindo.
As a new investigator on Arind, Yan crosses paths with Vi³, a Princess of Doran, who requests her to document their journey as resets loom over Allindo. The game delves into the expedition of these girls as they unravel the mysteries behind the storms in the enigmatic world of Allindo.
In “Ex Astris,” players embark on an adventure to explore an enigmatic world alongside Vi³ and Yan as they traverse the alien landscapes of Allindo, encountering a diverse array of companions along their journey.
Their decisions and actions hold the potential to shape the destiny of Allindo itself. The game boasts a distinctive battle system, combining strategic timing of attacks to defend, skillful utilization of abilities through skill combinations, and the execution of formidable combos with allies. Battles seamlessly integrate turn-based and real-time action elements, offering a dynamic and engaging gameplay experience.
Moreover, “Ex Astris” offers special enhancement and training features, allowing players to gather materials and craft items such as food to bolster their party’s strength.
Developed by Hypergryph, a Shanghai-based game development company renowned for their work on “Arknights,” the game was initially announced as a one-time purchase title for smartphones in September 2021.
Following an offline closed beta test in November 2023, the release date has been officially confirmed for February 27th.
As detailed in the FAQ provided by the official Twitter account, the game supports Japanese subtitles and audio, and system requirements are also outlined for players’ reference.
It’s quite refreshing to see a premium mobile game given that consumers have systematically allowed themselves to be financially raped by multitudes of mobile gacha games and other predatory titles, while obviously not as well flushed out and expansive as you’d expect from modern titles on home consoles or PC.
Ex Astris certainly looks like a decent experience for those seeking actual gameplay out of a mobile game for the meager sum of $10 on respective app stores, you can learn more about the game from the official GRYPHLINE website.
