Choir::Nobody (Free RPG) Introduction, Impressions, and Strategy Notes

I played "Choir::Nobody," a free game made with RPG Maker MV.
This is a short sci-fi RPG adventure game that can be completed in about 4 to 5 hours.

The download page linked above contains most of the game's overview, system, and number of endings.
Although it's clearly stated, as someone who has actually played the game, I'd like to introduce it again.

Game Overview

This work depicts the conflict between humanity and "electronic spirits" (or "electronic beings" for short) in a world where humans live in cyberspace.

As described on the product page, this is a light novel-style story where the interactions with the female characters who fight alongside the protagonist are also enjoyable.

The scenario, preparation, and battle parts are clearly separated, giving the game a good sense of rhythm and structure.

The game flow is as follows: advance the scenario ⇒ complete required battles ⇒ if you can't defeat the enemy, strengthen your party and try again ⇒ advance the scenario.
That's the general flow.

The scenario, in particular, is well-developed, and the sci-fi setting and other elements make it a compelling read.
Interacting with the female characters is also enjoyable, as the process of gradually becoming closer to them is reminiscent of a romance game.
Although there are multiple endings, hints are provided throughout the game, making it relatively easy to complete.

The combat isn't just an afterthought; like the "Armored Core" series, there's the enjoyment of choosing from a variety of weapons and parts to fight with.

It's not simply a matter of choosing equipment with high attack power; you need to consider factors such as weapon reload time, energy output, and equipment weight when making your selection.

The parameter names in the status screen have also been changed to better reflect the game's world setting.
For example, the term "attack power" has been changed to "output."
It might seem confusing at first glance, but it plays a role in creating the world's setting.

Since you can "grind" indefinitely during battles, you shouldn't get stuck because it's too difficult.
By earning money, players can adjust the difficulty level themselves.
If you want to play through the game thoroughly, you'll have to go through it without ever earning any money, but in that case, I think it will be extremely difficult.

My thoughts (with some spoilers)

In conclusion, I thoroughly enjoyed playing the game.
My impression is that if you limit your earnings, the battles become somewhat more difficult and challenging.

Also, when I tried to buy new equipment at the shop, the wide variety of items made it difficult to know which weapons were strong and what I should prioritize.

However, by understanding the meaning of the stats and carefully considering the skill acquisition tree as you progress, combat will become progressively easier.
Ultimately, since you can choose your equipment almost entirely based on your own preferences, it might be difficult for people who tend to get overwhelmed by choices to get into the game.
In the second half, the enemies seemed to be slightly less strong, perhaps to prevent players from having to restart after being wiped out.

The scenario was quite interesting.
The setting and plot development were logical and made for an enjoyable science fiction story.
I was impressed by the mysterious girl's abilities; they made sense when they were abilities that existed in cyberspace.
The explanation for why this ability is usable is the most insightful I've seen in recent years.

Since all the female characters basically like the protagonist, you can play the game with a certain degree of peace of mind.
All the characters were understanding and rational, so I never felt stressed by them.

Charlotte is almost like Asuka from Evangelion, but she's a little more demure, which makes her cute.

Silveria, on the other hand, was a type of character that I hadn't seen very often.
The way the sexual harassment, which included feelings of affection towards the protagonist, was so blatant made me suspicious and wonder if there was something more to it.
It turned out to be an unnecessary worry, as there was nothing to hide that could be harmful.

Personally, out of the three, I like Rizelia the most.

Walkthrough (contains spoilers)

The game explains the strategy in detail, so there's not much I need to write about it.
As explained in the game, you can see the ending without any problems if you prioritize interacting with the characters in the break room.
After seeing all three normal endings, a new option will be added to the final choice.
Choosing this option will take you to the true route where all the mysteries are explained.

In the final boss battle, be careful because once the boss charges up its power, it will unleash an instant-kill attack on the entire party.
To avoid this, the protagonist can use a newly acquired skill.
After surviving the attack, quickly use a skill that fully heals the entire party.
However, even if your entire party is wiped out, there's a safety net that allows you to level up and try again, so you probably won't get stuck.

The key to combat is to limit the types of weapons you use and prioritize acquiring skills that boost your stats.
In my case, I assigned roles like Nobody with rifles and missiles, Hamartia with laser rifles and healing, and Vermilion with shotguns and machine guns.

And of course, it's also important to configure the parts in a way that's suitable for that weaponry.
Laser rifles are characterized by their decent attack power and high accuracy.
However, this has the disadvantage of consuming EN (energy), so you need to equip gear that prioritizes EN.
If you equip shotguns or machine guns, you can significantly increase your firepower by acquiring equipment or skills that compensate for their low accuracy.

In this playthrough, I hardly used blades or cannons.
However, if you're playing without earning any money, I think you'll need to make full use of these techniques.
If you're going to use all your earnings to clear the game, I think the best approach is to just play with your favorite equipment without worrying about the details.