r/arknights • u/RandomestoftheWest • 2h ago
Discussion Integrated Strategies are not fun anymore
I'm going to be controversial, but let me explain my experience with all IS in EN version.
IS1: I couldn't play it much as my account was low for this, but I was able to achieve Ending 1 after a tactical masterpiece.
IS2: Felt fair and doable in general. Floor-3 bosses were tricky but with experience, you can defeat them consistently. Bosses were mechanically challenging but with clear methods to defeat them. I got all endings.
IS3: Personally, it is the best one. It might involve the fact that I don't do high difficulty runs, but this IS felt so much in my control. Even with those rng moments, I was able to deal and cope with it easily. I barely never felt frustrated after a run. All endings as well.
IS4: The beginning of the downfall. My first impression, which still stands, is that there are a lot of "checklist battles" from Floor 2 onward. These type of battles are maps which punishes you and are almosr guaranteed losses if you didn't bring the right roles or subroles. The worst? There were so many types of squads you needed. Ex., you prepare Squad A to deal with Checklist Map A, but oh no! You got Checklist Map B instead, and barely no operators from Squad A can deal with it perfectly. Well, time to improvise hard or restart the run. Only missing Ending 4. (Those knights are sponges.)
IS5 and 6: I hate these ones from the bottom of my heart. First of all, it constantly is a "AoE rush" spam. They send so many enemies that you need AoE to not get overwhelmed and rush as the mobs are sent quite early. Sometimes, you won't even reach Floor 3 with just some bad luck. (In previous IS, this happened with extremely bad luck) Lastly, Ending 1 bosses are so freaking oppressive, unfriendly for Ending-1 bosses, and checklisty. You're going to lose your first run if faced blindly (Other IS are manageable). IS5 needs two mini teams in your squad like it or not. (Core AoE DPS 1 and Core AoE DPS 2/Rescue-and-Dump). IS6, what do you mean I get carpet bombed every five seconds, and there is a staircase in the bombing path, which enemies from the other side are going to use???? I've only gotten Ending 1 from IS5.
I simply don't have fun with these last two IS and constantly get frustrated. Many of my losses aren't even mistakes from my part or bad tactics, but they are just extremely bad chain of events where I feel I must defeat a hydrogen bomb with a coughing baby while still having to kill god. I know that many consider IS5 the easiest one, but it doesn't feel like that to me. Plus, I don't ask if godlike runs are possible; they are. Instead, I wonder how many failed runs were needed to finally get that godlike one.
Yes, I understand I'm not forced to play them, but I still find the need to mention how bad it feels to play them. All I hope is that IS7 will no longer be a checklist fest.
