Super Bullet Break | PS4 Review

BeXide's "Super Bullet Break" brings to us a cute casting of funny female gamers, bubbly bullet babes, and nefarious buggo infested waifus sent out by Singulaladies to make game characters across a collection of mobile games self-aware. Through protagonists Akari, Hikaru, and Sumire we find a collective of like-minded gamer girls who have their antics playout through their mobile phones in short lived chat sessions. With Akari's contextual conversations, in particular, we are introduced to an inquisitive AI girl named Nayuta. A character, who through Akari's mobile device, contacts her telling her about an AI ploy to destroy her games and make the resident characters of each game as self-aware as the Singulaladies are. Those Singulaladies being the sentient AI who have gone rogue in an attempt to infect other characters with buggos that alter their perceptions. With the guidance of an in-game guide called Black Cat the girls of Super Bullet Break are out to win back their games. One bullet at a time ...

It is with Akari's mobile gaming device, the apps therein, and the casting of curious characters that we come to know of a series of several themed RPG roguelikes that play out in deckbuilding/turn-based fashion. Allowing Akari, and her friends to use bullets (characters) with different abilities, and roles in combat, healing, and defense in order to fight the Singulaladies and buggos that are lying in wait. The ultimate goal being to stop the Singulaladies, and save the corrupted games from their devious plan.

Each run within each themed game starts off with a drawing of three bullets. Giving the player a starter deck for the full series of map runs. The maps in these individual games harbor multiple rows of branching points that each contain some type of unique encounter. You will only be able to choose one point of interest per row until you reach the final castle where a buggo infested character resides. These points of interests include shop blocks where you can spend Giga coins on single use items, and gacha tickets for new bullets. The latter being a randomized choice, dependent on two trait lists that contain personality traits as well as their game affiliation, or race. Aside from the shop blocks lies rest blocks that offer free healing, and paid healing between battles. 

Battles themselves come in three different types. One of which is marked by city-like event blocks where selecting a dialogue reply to a character's question can lead to a bigger mid-boss battle or offer up freebies for things like quizzes correctly answered, and the right choices, in general. For lesser battles you'll face off against creatures or buggos on battle blocks that depict a slime-like creature with a star rating. The higher the star rating the more difficult the battle. Lastly the big castle at the end of it all houses the big bad buggo boss. A character made self-aware by the Singulaladies. These bosses contain a bigger health bar, and deal massive damage. Meaning that preparation up to that point, including the building up bullets, is crucial for defeating said boss and moving forward to the next game and maps in line.

While map strategy is kind of basic by design the battle system is a bit more complex. Bullets, or Chibi waifus and creature companions are divided by type, star rating, and ability or cartridge. Cartridges being the bonus perks attributed to the bullet's basic attack, defense, and healing options. Bullets also have a specific range, and can only target or hit a certain amount of enemies. They also cost action points making the choice even more important. Some bullets have complimentary joint abilities that depend on other bullets as well. Buffing them up, and improving their abilities. Some rarer bullets can additionally deal combo attacks, inflict enemies with ailments, summon support drones, and even buff the player character. Healing them multiple times in one go, or removing negative status effects, among other things. The abilities, and combat stats can be seen by looking at the bullet's icon/avatar, or looking deeper into it's Field Guide. All in all it's about complimentary bullet synergy.

Between the roguelike map runs you will be learning more about Akari, and her friends as well as Nayuta's role in the grand scheme of things. This is done through a mobile text app, a game news section, and a conversations tab that dives deeper into the outside goings on of the trio of friends. Other interesting features includes the previously mentioned Field Guide that houses a bullet and chamber bestiary. Showcasing all of the bullets and cartridges that you have collected. Outside of that, and in the options menu exists a glossary of terms, and tutorials with a controller layout, and a recorded recap of your successful or failed attempts. Including details on the protagonist used, bullets obtained, and items gained. That as well as time spent, and how far it is you got in your playthrough. Ending a playthrough can be done by retiring a run or hitting a GAME OVER when all health is exhausted. Regardless of ending new items, and bullets are gifted, and made available for future runs.

The Verdict ...

Super Bullet Break is a delight of a game. A proper pick up, and put down roguelike with gacha features that are in no way like actual predatory gacha games. There's no putting down real money here, and that is a good thing. It provides addictive gameplay loops without the high cost of an actual addiction. The fact that it has an actual story, and features some really cool waifu characters makes the game all the more appealing. As a roguelike it does stand out on it's own in regards to mechanics. The bullet & cartridge system adds a distinctly different approach to deck building, and suits the turn-based strategy quite nicely. Overall it is a very well done game that will suit the fancy of the roguelike, and JRPG crowd. It gets my approval!!!