Punishing: Gray Raven

Punishing: Gray Raven (Chinese: 战双帕弥什) is a mobile action role-playing game developed and published by Kuro Game. It was first released in China on December 5, 2019 and a year later on December 4, 2020 in Japan. The game was released globally on July 16, 2021.[1][2]

Punishing: Gray Raven
Developer(s)Kuro Game
Publisher(s)Kuro Game
Composer(s)
  • GhostFinal
  • Haloweak
  • CoyDe
  • Polyblue
  • Rabbit J
EngineUnity
Platform(s)
ReleaseAndroid, iOS
  • CHN: December 5, 2019
  • WW: July 16, 2021
Windows
  • WW: May 14, 2023
Genre(s)Action role-playing, hack and slash
Mode(s)Single-player

Gameplay

Punishing: Gray Raven has players control a squad of up to three characters, known as "Constructs", against various enemies. Storytelling is presented in a visual novel format, while combat is hack and slash action-based, with the player fighting enemies in real-time in various stages. During combat, different colored "Pings" can be obtained, which will fire off different skills. Chaining 3 Pings with the same color will execute a powerful version of that skill. Players may also evade enemy attacks, which will trigger a bullet time effect called Matrix upon successful evasion, slowing down time and allowing the player to land additional hits to the enemy or take better position along with giving next used orb temporarily ability to activate 3-ping version.[3] Evading attacks will consume stamina, which prevents players from freely dodging all the time (visually stamina bar is dodge button's outline).

Constructs can be strengthened by leveling up and promoting them, as well as leveling weapons and equipping "memories" (which add pure stats to character, also majority of them have special effects upon equip 2, 4 and 6 pieces). Players can unlock additional Constructs by advancing the story, and more Constructs can be obtained via a gacha mechanic and in-game events. In-game currencies can be obtained through in-app purchases and playing the game, which are used to obtain Constructs and equipment through the gacha system. A pity system ensures that the player will receive rare items after a set number of pulls (60 or ~80-100, depends on banner type).

The game also features a housing system in the form of Dormitories. Players may decorate and move in Constructs to their dorms to improve their mood. Constructs can also be assigned chores to obtain in-game materials.[4]

Plot

The story of the game takes place in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by Corrupted cybernetic enemies caused by the Punishing Virus. The last remnants and survivors of mankind have escaped to the space station and stronghold Babylonia. The player takes on the role as the Commandant of an elite squad of Constructs known as Gray Raven. The player will lead the squad to fight against the Corrupted and other opposing forces to retake the planet.

Characters

Gray Raven

  • Lucia (露西亞)
Voiced by: 小N (Chinese), 尾狐殿 (Cantonese), Yui Ishikawa (Japanese), Sura Siu (English)
  • Liv (麗芙)
Voiced by: 多多poi (Chinese), 間踏梧桐 (Cantonese), Miku Itō (Japanese), Brianna Knickerbocker (English)
  • Lee ()
Voiced by: 夏侯落楓 (Chinese), 犬畏 (Cantonese), Yoshitsugu Matsuoka (Japanese), Chris Hackney (English)

Engineering Force

  • Karenina (卡列尼娜)
Voiced by: 花铃 (Chinese), 东东 (Cantonese), Haruka Tomatsu (Japanese), Heather Gonzalez (English)

Purifying Force

  • Bianca (比安卡)
Voiced by: 云鹤追 (Chinese), 神明凌 (Cantonese), Ayako Kawasumi (Japanese), Skyler Davenport (English)

Strike Hawk

  • Kamui (神威)
Voiced by: DK (Chinese), 夏侯落枫 (Cantonese), Jun Fukuyama (Japanese), Patrick Gruia (English)
  • Chrome (库洛姆)
Voiced by: 大白 (Chinese), ken (Cantonese), Daisuke Hirakawa (Japanese), Brett Calo (English)
  • Wanshi (万事)
Voiced by: 孙鹏 (Chinese), 咩鹿君 (Cantonese), Akira Ishida (Japanese), Corey Wilder (English)

Cerberus

  • Vera (薇拉)
Voiced by: 江月 (Chinese), YUI (Cantonese), Inoue Marina (Japanese), Dawn M. Bennett (English)
  • No. 21
Voiced by: 钱琛 (Chinese), P (Cantonese), Inori Minase (Japanese), Sarah Anne Williams (English)

World Government Association of Art

  • Ayla (艾拉)
Voiced by: 巩大方 (Chinese), 傻莓酱 (Cantonese), Shizuka Ito (Japanese), Kelsey Jaffer (English)
  • Selena (赛琳娜)
Voiced by: 柳知蕭 (Chinese), 以媛 (Cantonese), Satomi Sato (Japanese), Judy Lee (English)

The Forsaken

  • Watanabe (渡边)
Voiced by: 森中人 (Chinese), 星罗 (Cantonese), Yoshimasa Hosoya (Japanese), Daman Mills (English)

Arctic Route Union

  • Rosetta (罗塞塔)
Voiced by: 贺文潇 (Chinese), 师欣 (Cantonese), Miyuki Sawashiro (Japanese), Sam Slade (English)

Akdilek Commercial Alliance

  • Sophia (苏菲亚)
Voiced by: 蔡娜 (Chinese), 萧萧 (Cantonese), Ami Koshimizu (Japanese), Christina Costello (English)
  • Chang Yu (常羽)
Voiced by: Kinsen (Chinese), 包少爷 (Cantonese), Natsuki Hanae (Japanese), Caleb Yen (English)

Kowloong Chamber of Commerce

  • Qu ()
Voiced by: 叶知秋 (Chinese), 零叁 (Cantonese), Sayaka Ohara (Japanese), Stephanie Novak (English)

Ascendants

  • Alpha
Voiced by: 小N (Chinese), 尾狐殿 (Cantonese), Yui Ishikawa (Japanese), Sura Siu (English)
  • Luna (露娜)
Voiced by: 四白 (Chinese), 周海鲜 (Cantonese), Rie Kugimiya (Japanese), Suzie Yeung (English)
  • Roland (罗兰)
Voiced by: 冷泉夜月 (Chinese), 碌斌 (Cantonese), Koji Yusa (Japanese), Alan Lee (English)

Unaffiliated

  • Nanami (七实)
Voiced by: 赵爽 (Chinese), 岚风蜂蜜绿茶 (Cantonese), Minami Tanaka (Japanese), Melody Peng (English)

Release

Kuro Game was criticized over their poor handling of Punishing: Gray Raven during its initial launch in China, notably regarding false gacha rate advertisement, and "over-rewarding" new players then taking back the rewards.[5] Since then, the developers have been praised for their improved management of the game, regularly addressing player concerns such as game balance and improving their gacha system.[6]

The global release was also scrutinized soon after launch, when players noticed that they received fewer rewards compared to other regions. Criticizing comments were also deleted from Punishing: Gray Raven's official Discord community, leading to a review bomb from angered players. Kuro Game published a statement to address the controversy.[7]

Reception

Punishing: Gray Raven received "generally favorable reviews" according to review aggregator Metacritic.[8] Pocket Gamer praised Punishing: Gray Raven as "a highly engaging game with one of the best storylines I’ve ever encountered so far".[9] Screen Rant criticized the game's localization, but praised the combat system, comparing it with Honkai Impact 3rd for their similarities in gameplay.[10] GamerBraves commended the game's optimization and "punishing but addictive combat".[11] Multiplayer.it highlighted the long campaign and characters, but finds faults in the short missions and gacha elements.[12] Noisy Pixel lauded the game's writing and gameplay, considering it one of the few "high-quality gacha greats".[13]

As of July 2020, the game has surpassed 20 million downloads.[14]

See also

References

  1. Gregson-Wood, Stephen (April 30, 2021). "Punishing: Gray Raven is a visually impressive action RPG that's heading for iOS and Android this summer". Pocket Gamer. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  2. "Punishing Gray Raven is now up for Pre-Registration, Expected to release in July 2021". Mobile Gaming Hub. 2021-06-24. Retrieved 2021-06-24.
  3. Kit (May 31, 2021). "A Commandant and their Constructs – Punishing Gray Raven Beta Impressions". GamerBraves. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  4. Catherine Ng Dellosa (May 31, 2021). "Punishing: Gray Raven is cyberpunk anime goodness with an actual story - plus waifus". Pocket Gamer. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  5. Pinky Dinky (December 20, 2019). "Trainwreck: Punishing Gray Raven". Medium. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  6. Pinky Dinky (April 19, 2020). "Punishing Gray Raven Review". Medium. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  7. Jessie Mai (July 20, 2021). "Punishing: Gray Raven Global bị fan quốc tế tẩy chay kịch liệt sau 3 ngày ra mắt" [Punishing: Gray Raven Global was vehemently boycotted by international fans after 3 days of release]. GameK (in Vietnamese). Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  8. "Punishing: Gray Raven for iPhone/iPad Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
  9. Catherine Ng Dellosa (July 16, 2021). "Punishing: Gray Raven review - "Beauty, tragedy, and awesomeness in a sleek, cyberpunk package"". Pocket Gamer. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  10. Gravelle, Cody (July 16, 2021). "Punishing: Gray Raven Review - Satisfying Sci-Fi Gacha Combat". Screen Rant. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  11. Ben (July 16, 2021). "Punishing Gray Raven Review – Making you feel like a badass". GamerBraves. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  12. Pugliese, Tommaso (July 28, 2021). "Punishing: Gray Raven, la recensione" [Punishing: Gray Raven, the review]. Multiplayer.it (in Italian). Retrieved September 8, 2021.
  13. Jensen, Brock (August 11, 2021). "Punishing Gray Raven Review". Noisy Pixel. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
  14. "全世界2000万DLの人気3DアクションRPG『パニシング:グレイレイヴン』日本上陸決定!ティザーPV&公式Twitterが公開". Famitsu (in Japanese). July 25, 2020. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
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