Blue Protocol: Star Resonance is a pleasantly repetitive experience

by

I’ll be honest, I’m not usually into gacha games or free-to-play titles. But when I first heard about Blue Protocol, I was really excited! The trailers showed off these beautiful, colorful cities and landscapes, and as an RPG fan, the real-time combat in an anime style just looked amazing. It originally seemed like it was going to be huge, especially with Amazon helping to bring it to the West, so I was shocked when it… well, didn’t work out.

The game launched in Japan, but the Western release faced delays and was eventually canceled without much announcement. Shortly after, Bandai Namco completely shut down the game globally. Like many online games of its type, Blue Protocol struggled to gain traction and was ultimately discontinued.

Following the original Blue Protocol, came a revamped version called Blue Protocol: Star Resonance, which allows players on PCs and mobile devices to play together. It features updated gameplay mechanics while maintaining the exciting, anime-inspired style of the first game. Having enjoyed the original, I was curious to see if Star Resonance could live up to my expectations and deliver the experience I’d hoped for with Blue Protocol. My previous impressions definitely shaped how I approached and played this new version.

I was immediately impressed by how good this game looks. The graphics aren’t groundbreaking, but they’re very appealing. The characters and environments are well-designed and have a charming, lighthearted feel. This consistent art style makes the game world feel unified and inviting. The characters are expressive, and the environments are pleasant enough to keep you wanting to play. It looks great on both PC and iPhone.

The music and sound effects contribute to the game’s relaxed atmosphere. Rather than being dramatic or overly emotional, the audio is warm and inviting, featuring soft strings, atmospheric flutes, and occasional beautiful melodies that enhance exploration. It’s designed to blend into the background and create a comfortable, immersive world – almost like a soothing warm bath. The sound design doesn’t pull focus; it simply makes the game’s environment feel pleasant and welcoming.

Surprisingly, I had more fun playing Star Resonance on my phone than on my computer. I usually prefer playing games on a docked console or Steam Deck. However, this game’s relaxed speed and simple gameplay felt ideal for a phone screen. While it felt a little empty on PC, it was perfect for quick 15-minute sessions on my phone. In fact, the game’s simplicity actually worked in its favor when played handheld. That said, this is also where the game starts to have issues. While it’s enjoyable, it lacks challenge, making it feel less like I was actively playing and more like I was just watching it happen.

While playing, I didn’t experience any real pressure or difficulty. The combat looks exciting, with dodging, attacking, and spellcasting, but it often feels imprecise and lacks impact. Enemies are too weak, and the game’s auto-combo system lets you win with just a single button press. I rarely felt threatened or motivated to improve my skills. The game keeps you occupied, but it’s rarely truly captivating – unless you’re navigating the overwhelming number of menus trying to entice you to spend money.

What really bothered me was how much time I spent just running – rushing between points on the map and listening to characters deliver awkward, unnatural dialogue that felt strangely robotic. The conversations weren’t technically wrong, but they didn’t flow like a real conversation. It all felt like pointless tasks instead of a compelling story.

I found myself rushing through endless, meaningless tasks – running back and forth to accept simple quests and deliver items. It quickly felt less like an adventure and more like a delivery job in an anime. Getting around the world also felt slow and boring. While you can jump and climb, the game doesn’t really encourage exploration. There are no interesting secrets or hidden areas to discover – it’s a large open world that feels empty and doesn’t offer much to do.

The game has a repetitive but strangely calming cycle: you run around, chat with characters, your character automatically attacks, you gather items, improve your gear, and then do it all over again. While it’s enjoyable and even relaxing to play, it’s not particularly engaging. You can easily spend an hour playing without noticing, but it doesn’t leave a strong, lasting impact once you stop.

Okay, so I’ve been playing Star Resonance, and honestly, it’s super obvious they’re trying to be the next Genshin Impact or Honkai: Star Rail. You can see the inspiration in everything, which isn’t necessarily bad, but it feels…like a copy. It’s just missing something, you know? I kept feeling like I wasn’t really playing its own game, but rather something trying to be something else. It’s like a faded photocopy – you get the idea, but it’s not quite the real deal.

Honestly, one of the biggest frustrations for me was all the different currencies! By the end of the tutorial, I was trying to keep track of like, six different tokens, gems, and vouchers. You’re always earning something, but it’s super unclear what you actually do with it all. It feels like they’re all connected in this complicated web, just to keep you playing and, let’s be real, spending money.

It’s difficult to get truly immersed in Star Resonance because you’re constantly reminded it’s trying to get you to spend money. Beautiful moments are often overshadowed by requests for purchases or the limitations of the game’s progression system. Despite these issues, I didn’t dislike the game. It’s simply an okay way to spend some time – not particularly exciting, but also not bad.

I could play this game casually, like while watching TV or doing chores. However, despite wanting to get invested in Blue Protocol, I couldn’t find a compelling reason to keep playing, particularly as it became clearer how much the game was trying to get me to spend money.

Blue Protocol Star Resonance is visually appealing and generally enjoyable, but it lacks depth. It doesn’t offer much challenge, a feeling of exploration, or a truly satisfying climax. It’s mostly a calm, repetitive experience that might keep you entertained for a short while, like until a chore is done.

Read More

2025-11-08 21:57