L2 Love x Loop is one of the earliest games I wrote about when I started this blog. Back then I honestly intended to play it. Then it came out and the reviews were not very flattering, to say the least. So I put it off and put it off and put it off and before I knew it 5 years had passed. I had completely forgotten about it, actually, until I played Kamiyo Gakuen Something-something Kurunuigyaaah earlier this year. Like Kamiyo Gakuen, L2 Love x Loop is by Idea Factory, features character designs by Minako Iwasaki of Rune Factory fame and was thoroughly panned when it first came out. Since there’s no way on earth Love x Loop could possibly be worse than Kamiyo, I have finally mustered up the courage to try it.

Unfortunately I’ve barely gotten anywhere and the flaws are already coming in thick and fast. The first hurdle, which I have yet to surmount, is the hour-long unskippable, unsaveable prologue. Some reviews claim it’s at least two hours long which is most likely an exaggeration. But I can attest to the fact that it’s at least an hour long, and since I started it when I didn’t have much time to play, I was forced to abandon the game halfway through the prologue. It wasn’t enough to for me to get a full grasp of the game, but I did get a taste of things to come. The main thing I suspect might bother me is the abundance of narration. I tend to prefer dialogue-driven otome games, and there’s a little too much “her blonde hair was glittering the sunlight” when I can SEE said hair on the screen (and it’s not glittering in the least) stuff going on. Also one of MC’s love interests is a major jerk.

Nevertheless, I have resolved to push through any and all obstacles in the way of my completing L2 Love x Loop. Why? Because it’s one of those ultra-rare otome games that have actual gameplay. And not just gameplay but RPG battles! And levels! And according to the official website there’ll be even more gameplay elements such as a sneaking mini-game (ugh), guild quests (yay!), shops and time-leaping. Knowing Idea Factory as I do, they’re going to botch all this in ways I can’t even imagine right now, but for now, for just a few moments, I’m going to pretend this is going to be a wonderful game.

So, about that battle system. Lookie lookie:

How is it usually described, 3/4 view? With a front line and a rear and some grids as well. Very Atelier-like. The blue bar at the top right is the AP meter (they call it AAG). A regular attack takes 10 AAG, a special attack takes 100 and the AAG gauge refills by 30 every turn. That’s the end of the beautiful screenshots. For the rest you’ll have to put up with these ugly shots I took of my own TV:

The screenshot on the left shows two different kinds of opponents: robots and animals/living things. I forget the precise explanation, but it seems robots do a lot more damage to living things than vice versa. I’m not quite sure what you can do about this besides get your own robot buddies, but it’s early days yet.

The shot on the right shows the element(?) triangle. Instead of traditional elements we have Sword > Mirror > Sun > Sword, presumably a reference to the Japanese imperial treasures. Strong does good damage to weak while weak does piss-all against strong. Hopefully even if you’re Sun element you’ll be given the chance to learn moves from different elements or at least buy accessories to change your element, otherwise I can see myself getting screwed very easily. Although one might argue I was screwed the minute I picked up a game by Idea Factory…

This is probably my first and last positive post about L2 Love x Loop, but I’m going to be excited while it lasts. I’ll try to carve out a big chunk of time to start the game proper later this week. Until then.