Azur Lane: Crosswave

Azur Lane: Crosswave is a third-person perspective action/shooter game developed by Idea Factory Compile Heart and Felistella and published by Idea Factory International. Based on the popular side-scrolling shooter for mobile devices. The game features a wide variety of playable characters – humanoid battleships, based on actual naval units from across the world and offers several modes for the player to enjoy.  Crosswave received solid reviews from the critics, who praised the depth of the story mode, the number of playable units and a variety of modes offered by the title.

Fast-paced gameplay on high seas

Azur Lane game features retains many of the shoot ‘em up mechanics of its mobile counterpart. The player chooses one of over 20 playable characters – battleships in the form of young women – and takes them into battle on oceanic arenas. The characters are able to glide on the water surface, dodge enemy attacks and respond with their own. There are several types of attacks the player can unleash – weak and strong strikes, powerful torpedo launches and air units the player can summon to help them in battle. Certain attacks have a cooldown period before they can be used again, so the player should use them sparingly and strategically.

Crosswave lets the player enjoy four game modes. The Story Mode, told in a form of a visual novel, follows the events of Joint Military Exercise between the nations, represented by their best battleships. In Extreme Battle mode, the player faces a series of increasingly challenging skirmishes. Episode Mode includes a selection of stories dedicated to each battleship that the player can relive. Last but not the least, in Photo Mode the player to relax with their favorite characters and take some sweet pictures

An engaging visual novel story

In an alternative world, the humanoid vessels of Eagle Union, Royal Navy, Iron Blood and Sakura Empire fight against the threat of Sirens – mysterious beings from the depths. In between facing their enemies on the battlefield, the girls undergo rigorous training, honing their skills to become even greater fighters. During one such training, Joint Military Exercise is announced. The best battleships of each nation will face off against each other to determine their preparation for the real battles to come. But something about this sudden announcement seems off…Is it just another training exercise, or is there something more sinister at play here?

Reception

Azur Lane: Crosswave received a positive reception from the critics. Reviewers praised the title's storyline, noting the depth and uniqueness of the characters of the game. The variety of modes and the number of available characters was also mentioned as a positive. All in all, the game was recommended for the fans of the mobile version and those interested in experiencing a good battleship story.

Key features

• Fight as one of over 20 battleships, each with their unique attacks and skills
• Experience the events of the Joint Military Exercise in Story Mode
• Battle increasingly challenging foes in Extreme Battle Mode
• Learn the girls’ personal stories in the Episode Mode
• Kick back and relax with your faves in the Photo Mode