Azur Lane Crosswave

Azur Lane: Crosswave takes a popular mobile title’s world and crafts a solid story with a great cast of characters and some fun combat that doesn't stick around long enough to be enjoyed to the fullest.

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Azur Lane: Crosswave is a 3D shoot 'em up game with visual novel elements, based on the popular mobile game Azur Lane. The game features enhanced graphics and gameplay, allowing you to command a fleet of anthropomorphic warships in strategic battles. Follow the main story or engage in side missions, customizing your ships and upgrading their abilities as you progress. Experience the exciting world of Azur Lane in a whole new dimension!

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

68%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,148 reviews

story105 positive mentions

gameplay73 negative mentions

The character models are gorgeous and well-designed.
The game features a lot of fully voiced dialogue, adding depth to character interactions.
The gameplay is simple but can be enjoyable for fans of the Azur Lane franchise.

The game is heavily focused on visual novel elements, with long dialogue sections overshadowing gameplay.
Combat is repetitive and lacks depth, often feeling like a chore.
The game has limited playable characters compared to the mobile version, making it feel shallow.

story
528 mentions
20 % positive mentions
75 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The story in "Azur Lane: Crosswave" is primarily presented in a visual novel format, featuring a mix of lighthearted and shallow narratives that often diverge from the original mobile game and anime. While some players appreciate the character interactions and voice acting, many criticize the plot for being bland, repetitive, and overly reliant on dialogue, with combat taking a backseat. Overall, the game appeals mainly to fans of the franchise who enjoy character-driven stories, but those seeking a robust narrative or engaging gameplay may find it lacking.
- “The story is rich for the game.”
- “The story is good and side stories too; a lot of the budget probably went into the story and soundtrack because that is amazing.”
- “Great story, it does not follow the timeline as the anime or the original game, but it is still enjoyable.”
- “The plot seems like it was written by a third grader, and that's being generous.”
- “The story is mostly weak and takes up a huge portion of the game's total playtime.”
- “The story is overly padded to just extend the length of the game which in turn gives the reader little reason to actually invest in or care about what happens to the characters.”
gameplay
372 mentions
17 % positive mentions
63 % neutral mentions
20 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Azur Lane: Crosswave is largely criticized for being simplistic, repetitive, and lacking depth, with many reviewers noting that it feels more like a visual novel interspersed with brief combat segments rather than a fully-fledged game. While some players appreciate the smooth mechanics and character interactions, the overwhelming amount of dialogue and minimal gameplay leads to a grindy experience that fails to engage those seeking more substantial action. Overall, the game is recommended primarily for fans of the franchise who enjoy the story and characters, rather than for those looking for innovative or challenging gameplay.
- “The gameplay is simple, but smooth.”
- “The gameplay itself is very simple, although there is still a fair amount of variety in experimenting with different team formations and strategies.”
- “The gameplay is fun, they made the matchmaking part pretty good.”
- “The gameplay is extremely lackluster and repetitive.”
- “The gameplay is boring and repetitive.”
- “The gameplay is almost completely similar to the mobile game but 3D, which is impressive, but also why it got so many downvotes, as people seemingly expected more than short 2-minute bursts of combat.”
graphics
124 mentions
29 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players finding them acceptable but not impressive, particularly when compared to modern standards. While character designs and story scenes are praised for their quality, the overall environmental graphics, especially backgrounds and water effects, are often described as bland or dated. Additionally, the lack of customizable graphics settings and optimization issues on various hardware configurations detract from the overall visual experience.
- “The graphics of the game are good, it's smooth and everything is just perfect!”
- “The graphics and illustrations really stand out.”
- “Overall the graphic is okay, acceptable, and amazing.”
- “The graphics for a nearly $60 game are worse than a PS1 title.”
- “The graphics are just bland, and yes, I know graphics do not make a game, but decent visuals could at least somewhat make up for the story and poor combat experience.”
- “The environment looks ugly, like the graphics were meant for a phone or a PS2.”
grinding
57 mentions
5 % positive mentions
-4 % neutral mentions
98 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is frequently described as excessive and repetitive, with many players noting that it requires significant time investment to level up characters and gather materials. While some enjoy the grind as part of the experience, especially fans of the mobile version, others find it tedious and detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game. Overall, players suggest that those who dislike grinding should approach with caution, as it plays a central role in both gameplay and achievement completion.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
- “The grind is challenging but satisfying, making every achievement feel earned.”
- “The gameplay is extremely repetitive farming and lots of it.”
- “Took me about 12 hours to finish the main story, but most of that time was spent reading. The feeling I'm left with is that this game only has 3 hours worth of content in the story mode, then it gives you a few grinding modes to keep you busy once you're done with the main game.”
- “You'll be spending most of your time collecting points by either farming versus battles or playing through the story at your own pace, unlocking the shipgirls you like with these points and gearing them up with shop or research items respectively outside the visual novel side of the game.”
music
37 mentions
27 % positive mentions
59 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising the soundtrack as amazing and fitting for various scenes, while others criticize it for being repetitive and largely recycled from the mobile version. Many players appreciate the chill and intense tracks during battles, but express disappointment over the lack of new compositions and issues with looping. Overall, while the music is generally well-executed, it fails to leave a lasting impression for some players.
- “The soundtrack is amazing as always, love the music.”
- “Gameplay is a bit mediocre but the characters, music, and dialogue are phenomenal.”
- “Music is great and catchy, everything is beautifully voice-acted in Japanese.”
- “As for the sound and music, they reused the battle theme in this game, which is kind of disappointing.”
- “The music is the same music as the original mobile game, which I don't really mind.”
- “The soundtrack is not what I was expecting and ended up as a huge disappointment.”
humor
33 mentions
97 % positive mentions
-6 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The humor in "Azur Lane: Crosswave" is widely praised for its witty dialogue and amusing interactions between characters, particularly the ship girls, which resonate well with fans of the franchise. Players appreciate the blend of cute and funny moments, often finding themselves laughing at the lighthearted banter and humorous scenarios, despite the overall story being considered average. The game's voice acting and character designs further enhance the comedic experience, making it an enjoyable aspect for many players.
- “The hilarious part of it all is that it doesn't even matter, you're still gonna make every enemy's cheeks clap dumb hard (as if they aren't already dummy thicc).”
- “I could not stop laughing at half the interactions in this game between Shimakaze and Suruga.”
- “The scenes I've seen so far are well done and not very serious, so it seems the game is leaning more toward humor and it works.”
- “Not funny, didn't laugh. 0/10”
- “The jokes fell flat and felt forced.”
- “I expected humor, but it was more cringeworthy than comedic.”
optimization
19 mentions
32 % positive mentions
53 % neutral mentions
16 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many users reporting poor performance on lower-end systems and a lack of adjustable graphics settings. While some players experienced stable frame rates and enjoyable gameplay, others noted significant stuttering and lag during intense battles. Overall, the game appears to be under-optimized, particularly for less powerful PCs, leading to a recommendation for potential buyers to ensure their systems meet higher specifications.
- “Performance side is great, I had stable 60fps even in the most intense battle.”
- “The game seems to be reasonably well optimized and is pretty easy to run.”
- “It's a great product to play with, and my old computer runs smoothly.”
- “Not at all optimized for PC.”
- “Very little optimization options, causing it to run slower on not-so-great computers, whereas other games from this company can run on pretty much anything.”
- “The game is so unoptimized, graphics are locked to low quality, in-game lags while loading a whole map that is so empty.”
character development
16 mentions
44 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
19 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is largely limited to the two main characters, with minimal backstory or relationship exploration for the rest of the cast, leaving many players feeling unsatisfied. While the character designs and voice acting are praised, the overall lack of depth in character arcs detracts from the experience, making it feel more like a fan service than a fully realized narrative. Some players note that fans of the mobile game may find more character development, particularly with certain characters, but overall, the game does not prioritize character growth.
- “If you love the mobile game like I do, then consider buying, since unlike the phone game, we get some nice character development here concerning Suruga, Shimakaze, most of the Sakura Empire, and starter destroyers.”
- “At first glance, Azur Lane: Crosswave may look like a fan service-filled experience, and while there is a bit of truth to that in both character design and some conversations in the story, it is also a title filled with intrigue, rivalry, and cooperation.”
- “Many ship-fu, funny dialogs and character voices, lovely character designs.”
- “There is very little character development outside of the two main characters (both of which are strange choices for leading roles considering other characters are far more popular).”
- “There's no backstories being told (have to watch the anime for that?), there's extremely little character development, and same goes for relations between the characters.”
- “(-) character development is nonexistent.”
replayability
15 mentions
20 % positive mentions
53 % neutral mentions
27 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed, with some players noting a lack of value outside the main storyline and limited playable characters, while others appreciate the various challenges and side missions that enhance replay potential. Despite having over 55 characters, only 25 are playable, which detracts from the experience for some. The addition of DLC characters and extreme battles offers some replay opportunities, but many feel the game ultimately falls short in this aspect.
- “If you're a fan of the Azur Lane mobile game for Android and tablet, then this game is for you. The storyline isn't that bad, and all the models of each of the ship-girls are nicely done. There's plenty of replayability with various challenges, side missions, and DLC characters to grab!”
- “Good gameplay that reminds you a lot of the Azur Lane app, with a story that explains the importance of the cubes in that universe. There's a lot of replay value.”
- “It features over 55 characters to build your fleet, of which only 25 are playable, providing a diverse experience that enhances replayability.”
- “There is no replay value in any other parts of the game.”
- “I spent $50 on a game for such little story, and it has little to no replay value.”
- “It has extreme battles you can challenge yourself with but it doesn't add a big amount to the replayability.”
monetization
8 mentions
0 % positive mentions
13 % neutral mentions
88 % negative mentions
The monetization of the game has been widely criticized as a blatant cash grab, with many players expressing disappointment over its heavy reliance on pay-to-win microtransactions. Despite initial excitement, the game fails to deliver on its promises, focusing more on visual novel elements and less on engaging gameplay, leading to a sense of betrayal among fans. Overall, the monetization strategy has left a negative impression, with players feeling exploited rather than valued.
- “Cause it doesn't work well at all, and it's very clear this game was just a cash grab.”
- “While there was a lot of hype for a 3D Azur Lane, unfortunately this game is not much more than a cash grab.”
- “Felt like they just wanted a quick cash grab from us fans, and that pains me.”
emotional
4 mentions
50 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
Reviews highlight a significant emotional impact, particularly in moments of personal struggle, such as a cancer diagnosis. However, some users feel that the overall narrative lacks depth and fails to create a strong emotional connection, describing it as boring and lacking in surprising plot twists.
- “Until I was 24, tears welled up in my eyes when I heard the doctor say I have cancer.”
- “Boring story.”
- “Cons: boring story, different from the mobile version.”
stability
3 mentions
33 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
The game's stability is marred by significant bugs, particularly with achievements and compatibility issues on ultrawide monitors, leading to game-breaking glitches even with patches. While it performs well on low-spec hardware, the overall experience is hindered by typical console-to-PC port problems, making it difficult to recommend.
- “It runs great on low-spec hardware with a target of 30fps instead of 60fps for the minimum and recommended requirements.”
- “Repetitive grind aside, and a story that is mostly just about joint battle exercises; Crosswave can also be somewhat buggy when it comes to achievements.”
- “Do not buy this game if you have a 21:9 (ultrawide monitor). It has too many issues for it to be enjoyable, and even when using patches to make it somewhat enjoyable, it causes game-breaking glitches. Unfortunately, what looks like a promising game, I can't recommend it since it has those typical console to PC port issues.”
atmosphere
2 mentions
150 % positive mentions
-150 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is generally considered decent, with a notably non-gloomy tone that contributes positively to the overall experience.
- “The atmosphere is quite immersive and engaging.”
- “The game features a vibrant and lively atmosphere.”
- “The overall ambiance creates a captivating experience.”
- “It's decent from an atmosphere perspective.”
- “Not so gloomy atmosphere.”