EZRetro Plays

Tag: turn based RPG

  • Kaiju No. 8 Mobile Review

    Kaiju No. 8 Mobile Review

    After Black Beacon announced that it would end service on global servers, I honestly thought it was time for me to take a break from mobile gaming and just go back to retro titles. Funny, but that’s how it felt.

    I was genuinely excited for the world Black Beacon promised to build, only for the game to fizzle out before anything meaningful even happened. I had already uninstalled it before the November 4 announcement because something told me it wasn’t going to last.

    So I shifted gears, binge-watched anime for a while, and decided that for my next mobile review, I’d explore anime-licensed games instead.

    I downloaded several of them—from Tokyo Ghoul to One Punch Man: World to Lord of Nazarick. But out of everything I tried, Kaiju No. 8 stood out immediately.

    Kaiju no. 8 anime cover art

    Co-produced by Akatsuki Games, TOHO, and Production I.G, the game’s visual identity screams anime from the first loading screen.

    What surprised me most was how much I enjoyed it—even if it’s a turn-based gacha. I’ve played my share of gachas, but enjoying a turn-based one this much? Definitely unexpected. Looking back, I kind of wish I had played this in September instead of putting my hopes on Black Beacon.

    Kaiju no. 8 the game loading logo

    A big part of why Kaiju No. 8 hits differently is because each studio contributes something meaningful. Production I.G injects the anime DNA—the sharp expressions, the cinematic cut-ins, the pacing.

    Godzilla

    TOHO, being the veteran behind Godzilla and practically every iconic kaiju, gives the monsters and world that familiar, polished feel you don’t see in most mobile games.

    Akatsuki games co-produced a number of character driven games like Romancing Saga Re Universe

    Meanwhile, Akatsuki Games, known for character-focused mobile titles, brings progression systems that make each character feel more than just a unit to level up. Combined with the turn-based format, the whole thing ends up feeling less like a cash grab and more like a continuation of the anime and manga.

    Everything, from the lore to the presentation is steeped in Kaiju No. 8’s world, and it will hook fans of the series as well as anyone who loves the military-vs-monster genre.

    Visuals and Presentation

    Visually, Kaiju No. 8 captures the anime look effortlessly. The character models are crisp, the animations have personality, and the overall art direction sticks close to the vibe of the show.

    The only small nitpick is that character lips don’t move during dialogue, but with how good the voice delivery is, you stop noticing almost instantly. The style and presentation are strong enough to carry the immersion without any problem.

    Gacha and Progression

    Gacha tab in kaiju no. 8

    Kaiju No. 8 is still a gacha game, and yes, pulls can feel unfair. With only a limited number of characters and SSR weapons available at a time, it really can feel like the game throws more junk at you than anything actually useful.

    But the story and content pull their own weight, so even when the gacha frustrates you, there’s always something to go back to.

    Sometimes it even feels like you’re pulling just to complete achievements instead of genuinely wanting the units, because once you’re done rolling, you’ll probably jump straight back into the content anyway.

    The turn-based combat can get repetitive if you blast through it nonstop, but at a steady pace, it stays enjoyable and the grind becomes rewarding rather than tiring.

    Gameplay and Content

    Kaiju No. 8’s structure is built around multiple modes, each focusing on different aspects of the story and characters.

    Main Story

    The main story is pretty substantial. It features six episodes, each divided into stages from Episode 0 to Episode 5. As far as I can tell, this storyline is original and made specifically for the game.

    What’s impressive is how committed the developers are to giving fans something worth reading. With the anime having just ended Season 2, fans are craving more material while waiting for Season 3, and this game fills that gap nicely.

    I haven’t read the manga, so I can’t tell which parts are adapted from it, but the writing fits the Kaiju No. 8 universe well.

    Memory Stages

    Memory Stages tackle key moments from the anime. These aren’t direct retellings of Season 1 or 2, but condensed highlight episodes that cover Kafka gaining his kaiju abilities all the way to the Season 1 finale where he gets captured. No spoilers, but these scenes are faithful enough that anime fans will recognize everything instantly. It’s a great way to relive the show inside the game.

    Character Stories

    Every time you get a new character through the gacha, the game unlocks their set of character stories. These are short, text-based segments that explore their personalities more. Each character has three episodes, and reading through them gives small rewards and sometimes wallpapers you can use on your home screen. They don’t affect gameplay, but they add charm and deepen the world-building, which I really enjoyed.

    JAKDF Messages and Special Requests

    JAKDF Messages act like a group chat where the characters interact with Kafka (you). The responses are linear, but the writing is entertaining and helps flesh out character dynamics.

    This mode is also tied to Special Requests, which give you extra battles to raise your team rank and player rank.

    As a free-to-play player, my only difficulty spike happened around level 40. I had to grind materials for about two days to push my team up to level 90 and break through the wall. I was tempted to spend money, but the game is generous enough with farming that you can progress without paying.

    One thing I forgot to mention is expedition mode. It’s like a idle game where you clear out endless waves that can earn you supplies and energy for when you log out.

    Right now, I’ve cleared the main story and memory content and am waiting for the next version update, which should drop soon. If the developers keep this pace, I’ll be playing this game for quite a while.

    My only concern is whether future characters will be locked behind season passes or paid-only packs, but that’s something I’ll revisit when more content arrives.

    Performance and Sound

    With three studios backing this project, the sound design is exactly what you’d expect: sharp, clean, and fitting. The voice lines are delivered with emotion and energy, and one detail I appreciated is how each character says a line when switching in for a follow-up attack.

    Sometimes the line changes too, which keeps it from sounding repetitive. It’s a small touch, but a really smart one.

    Performance-wise, some mid-range phones reportedly experience overheating during long sessions. I didn’t encounter this personally because I usually stick to low graphic settings.

    Even on low, the game looks good and runs smoothly for me. So depending on your device, tweaking the settings a bit might be all you need for a stable experience.

    Final Verdict

    Should you play Kaiju No. 8 on mobile?

    If you’re a fan of Kaiju No. 8 or just looking for a polished anime-based game that doesn’t feel like a lazy tie-in, then yes—absolutely play it. This is one of the few anime mobile games that actually tries. TOHO brings the kaiju legacy, Production I.G brings the anime DNA, and Akatsuki brings the character-driven systems that make the whole thing feel alive. It’s a strong combination that pays off.

    The content is substantial, the story is engaging, and even when the gacha pulls annoy you, there’s always something interesting to dive back into. The turn-based gameplay can get dull when rushed, but at a steady pace, it becomes a satisfying grind.

    With more updates on the horizon and the next version coming soon, Kaiju No. 8 is shaping up to be one of the better anime mobile games out there. I’ll definitely be sticking with it.

  • A Beginner’s Guide to The Last Remnant’s Union System – Explained the Way I Understand It

    A Beginner’s Guide to The Last Remnant’s Union System – Explained the Way I Understand It

    Through the years, whenever my buddies ask me what game I’m grinding on my phone that feels long and epic, one of my top answers has been The Last Remnant Remastered on mobile.

    Now, don’t get it twisted—I’m no pro at this game. In fact, I’d still call myself a beginner even after all the hours I’ve sunk into it. But maybe that’s exactly why I want to talk about it. Because when I first picked it up, I was just as lost as anyone else, especially with the game’s biggest curveball: the Union System.

    This is my take on it—not as an expert, but as someone who slowly figured things out and wants to make it a little less confusing for the next beginner diving in.

    So What’s the Deal With the Union System?

    Before The Last Remnant, JRPGs mostly stuck to familiar formulas:

    • Classic Turn-Based (like Dragon Quest or Final Fantasy I–X) → You control each character one by one, pick from “attack, magic, item, defend,” and watch the turns play out. Simple and reliable.
    • ATB – Active Time Battle (popularized by Final Fantasy IV–IX) → Each character has a gauge that fills in real time. When it’s full, you act. It added pressure and speed to the turn-based formula.
    • FFXII’s Gambit System (2006) → This one let you pre-program AI behavior, like “if ally HP < 50%, then cast Cure.” It was revolutionary for letting battles play out more automatically but still under your rules.

    And then along comes The Last Remnant. It said: “Forget controlling individuals—what if you controlled squads instead?”

    That’s the Union System. Instead of giving commands to each party member, you organize them into unions (basically mini-teams). You don’t pick every spell or attack. You issue orders to the entire squad, and they act as one.

    This flipped combat into something totally different. Suddenly, you’re less like a hero leading a party and more like a commander directing armies. Positioning, morale, and squad synergy mattered just as much as raw stats.

    For some players, that shift felt groundbreaking. For others—me included when I first tried it—it felt confusing as hell.

    The Flow of Battle – What You Do Before You Even Swing

    The real fight doesn’t start when you press “attack”—it starts in how you set up your unions. As a beginner, this part felt overwhelming to me because you have to think about:

    • Who leads each union (leaders bring skills and arts)
    • Who fills the squad (soldiers add stats and stability)
    • What formation you’re using (offensive, defensive, or balanced setups)

    And then, once you’re in a dungeon or field, you also have to pay attention to enemy groups. Do you charge them head-on? Try to flank? Or split your unions to keep them from surrounding you?

    This whole “prep before action” makes fights feel more like mini war puzzles. If you mess up the setup, the battle feels 10x harder no matter how strong your characters are.

    Commands – The Clear and the Confusing Ones

    Once the fighting actually starts, the game gives you commands for your unions. Some are straightforward and easy to understand:

    • Attack with combat arts! → your melee moves
    • Attack with mystic arts! → your spells
    • Heal with remedies! → your items and recovery

    But then you get the vague stuff like:

    • Play it by ear
    • Go all out!
    • Wait and see

    And here’s where the frustration kicks in. As a beginner, I remember just staring at those and going, “What am I actually telling my squad to do?”

    How I Learned to Read the Vague Commands

    After a lot of trial and error (and a few rage quits), here’s how I’ve come to understand those vague orders:

    • Play it by ear → Think of it as “do what makes sense.” The union might attack, heal, or buff depending on the situation. Good for balanced teams.
    • Go all out! → Pure offense. They’ll blow AP, use their strongest moves, and ignore healing. Best for when the enemy’s on the ropes.
    • Wait and see → Defensive or conserving mode. They’ll defend, poke with weak moves, or just save AP. Use it when you’re setting up or trying to survive.
    • Save them no matter what! → Your emergency revive/heal button. Everyone drops offense to bring allies back.
    • Keep your HP up! → Focuses on healing and survival above all else.

    Once I started thinking of them like battle moods instead of strict commands, they made a lot more sense.

    Strategy – When to Use What

    Here’s my beginner advice on using these commands without losing your mind:

    • Use “Play it by ear” for balanced unions that can attack and heal. It gives the AI room to adapt.
    • Use “Go all out” when you know you’re safe or you just need raw damage to push through.
    • Use “Wait and see” to stall or when you’re trying to build AP for big moves later.
    • Use “Save them no matter what” sparingly, because sometimes it wastes turns if no one is actually down.
    • Use “Keep your HP up” when facing tough bosses or multiple enemy unions that can shred you in a turn.

    It’s not perfect—you’ll still sometimes scream at your squad for making dumb choices—but it’s part of the chaos that makes this system fun.

    Wrapping It Up – Why I Still Recommend This Game

    Here’s the truth: The Last Remnant is still hard to understand, even today. If you’re new, the Union System will feel overwhelming and the vague commands will confuse you. But once you get past that hump? The game transforms. Battles feel bigger, strategies feel deeper, and experimenting with different unions actually becomes addictive.

    That’s why I keep it on my phone. I’ve spent hours tweaking squads, retrying fights, and just enjoying the controlled chaos of this system. And yeah, the mobile remaster costs around $19.99, which isn’t exactly cheap. But for me? If I dropped twenty bucks and didn’t play it, that would be the real waste.

    So I keep coming back. And maybe that’s the magic of The Last Remnant: it doesn’t hold your hand, but once you start to get it, you’ll want to stick around and keep learning.

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