Difference between revisions of "Project Neural Cloud"
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[[File:PNC Icon 2.jpg|right|150px|thumb|The poster girl for the game is the Doll [[Persicaria]].]] | [[File:PNC Icon 2.jpg|right|150px|thumb|The poster girl for the game is the Doll [[Persicaria]].]] | ||
| − | '''Girls' Frontline: Neural Cloud''' or '''Neural Cloud''', known as 少女前线：云图计划 or 云图计划 in Simplified Chinese, 雲圖計劃 in Traditional Chinese, 뉴럴 클라우드 in Korean and ニューラルクラウド in Japanese, is a roguelike strategy game from [[Sunborn]] and a spin-off to [[Girls' Frontline]]. The player, as [[the Professor]], must lead a group of Dolls called the Exiled in a digital world called [[Magrasea]] and save them from deletion by the [[Sanctifier]]s. Each Doll has their own abilities, upgrade them and build their base. Certain Dolls in Neural Cloud share their identity with characters from Girls' Frontline. | + | '''Girls' Frontline: Neural Cloud''' or '''Neural Cloud''', known as 少女前线：云图计划 or 云图计划 in Simplified Chinese, 雲圖計劃 in Traditional Chinese, 뉴럴 클라우드 in Korean, and ニューラルクラウド in Japanese, is a roguelike strategy game from [[Sunborn]] and a spin-off to [[Girls' Frontline]]. The player, as [[the Professor]], must lead a group of Dolls called the Exiled in a digital world called [[Magrasea]] and save them from deletion by the [[Sanctifier]]s. Each Doll has their own abilities, upgrade them and build their base. Certain Dolls in Neural Cloud share their identity with characters from Girls' Frontline. |
==Characters== | ==Characters== | ||
| − | + | ===Neural Cloud characters=== | |
| + | '''Main Article: [[PNC:Doll Index]]''' | ||
| + | |||
| + | In comparison to Girls' Frontline, the characters of Project Neural Cloud are given their own names instead of being based off of their weapons. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The link above has the complete list of every character that is currently released in the CN server. | ||
Three characters in beta files are not in the final game: [[Lancet]], [[Naka]] and [[Yotsuba]]. | Three characters in beta files are not in the final game: [[Lancet]], [[Naka]] and [[Yotsuba]]. | ||
| + | |||
===Returning characters=== | ===Returning characters=== | ||
| Line 12: | Line 17: | ||
*Confirmed as the same Doll: | *Confirmed as the same Doll: | ||
| − | **[[Abigail]] | + | **[[Abigail]] as {{doll name|M500|SG|3}} |
| − | **[[Betty]] | + | **[[Betty]] as {{doll name|IDW|SMG|2}} |
| − | **[[Centaureissi]] | + | **[[Centaureissi]] as {{doll name|G36|AR|4}} |
| − | **[[Choco]] | + | **[[Choco]] as {{doll name|FNC|AR|3}} |
| − | **[[Dushevnaya]] | + | **[[Dushevnaya]] as {{doll name|KSVK|RF|4}} |
| − | **[[Florence]] | + | **[[Florence]] as {{doll name|PA-15|HG|5}} |
| − | **[[Kuro]] | + | **[[Kuro]] as {{doll name|MDR|AR|5}} |
| − | **[[Lam]] | + | **[[Lam]] as {{doll name|LWMMG|MG|2}} |
| − | **[[Lind]] | + | **[[Lind]] as {{doll name|AA-12|SG|5}} |
| + | |||
| + | |||
*Unconfirmed or only hinted as the same Doll: | *Unconfirmed or only hinted as the same Doll: | ||
| − | **[[Chanzhi]] | + | **[[Chanzhi]] as {{doll name|QBU-88|RF|5}} |
| − | **[[Clukay]] | + | **[[Clukay]] as {{doll name|HK416|AR|5}} |
| − | **[[Daiyan]] | + | **[[Daiyan]] as {{doll name|Type 95|AR|5}} |
| − | **[[Jessie]] | + | **[[Jessie]] as {{doll name|M1897|SG|3}} |
| − | **[[Jiangyu]] | + | **[[Jiangyu]] as {{doll name|Type 97|AR|5}} |
| − | **[[Ksenia]] | + | **[[Ksenia]] as {{doll name|Stechkin|HG|4}} |
| − | **[[Luna]] | + | **[[Luna]] as {{doll name|K5|HG|4}} |
| − | **[[Panakeia]] | + | **[[Panakeia]] {{doll name|wz.29|RF|3}} |
| − | **[[Rise]] | + | **[[Rise]] as {{doll name|MG36|MG|5}} |
| − | **[[Sockdolager]] | + | **[[Sockdolager]] as {{doll name|Falcon|AR|3}} |
| − | **[[Souchun]] | + | **[[Souchun]] as {{doll name|Type 64|SMG|2}} |
| − | **[[Yelena]] | + | **[[Yelena]] as {{doll name|RMB-93|SG|3}} |
| + | |||
==Gameplay== | ==Gameplay== | ||
| − | Neural Cloud is an automated strategy game with roguelike elements. Unlike Girls' Frontline, most of the game is in 3D. | + | Project Neural Cloud is an automated strategy game with roguelike elements. Unlike Girls' Frontline, most of the game is in 3D. |
| + | The player controls the Professor as they journey through the sectors of the Magrasea, battling enemies through the command of Dolls that can be upgraded for them to get stronger. The player owns a base called the Oasis which gives them supplies such as Diggcoins (the game's currency) and Prefab Units (base upgrade material and used for certain factory productions). | ||
| + | |||
===Dolls=== | ===Dolls=== | ||
| Line 43: | Line 53: | ||
The units available to the player are Dolls, human-like androids created for specific jobs. Specifically, the characters in the game are the virtual representation of the Dolls in the Magrasea superserver based on their [[Neural Cloud]]. Unlike in [[Girls' Frontline]], few Dolls in Neural Cloud qualify as [[Tactical Doll]]s. | The units available to the player are Dolls, human-like androids created for specific jobs. Specifically, the characters in the game are the virtual representation of the Dolls in the Magrasea superserver based on their [[Neural Cloud]]. Unlike in [[Girls' Frontline]], few Dolls in Neural Cloud qualify as [[Tactical Doll]]s. | ||
| − | Doll quality (also called "rarity") initially ranges from one to three stars. Each Doll belongs to one of five classes | + | |
| + | Doll quality (also called "rarity") initially ranges from one to three stars. Each Doll belongs to one of five classes: Guard, Sniper, Warrior, Medic and Specialist. There are 18 attributes used in combat for each Doll: | ||
*Max HP: Can be affected during Exploration | *Max HP: Can be affected during Exploration | ||
*ATK: Damage caused by normal attacks and certain skills | *ATK: Damage caused by normal attacks and certain skills | ||
| Line 49: | Line 60: | ||
*Physical DEF: Percentage reduction of incoming Physical DMG | *Physical DEF: Percentage reduction of incoming Physical DMG | ||
*Operand DEF: Percentage reduction of incoming Operand DMG | *Operand DEF: Percentage reduction of incoming Operand DMG | ||
| − | *Attack Speed | + | *Attack Speed: Rate in which a Doll attacks |
| − | *Crit Rate | + | *Crit Rate: Chance of normal attacks doing critical hits |
| − | *Crit Damage | + | *Crit Damage: Increase to the damage done through critical hits |
*Physical Penetration: Cancels out with target's Physical DEF | *Physical Penetration: Cancels out with target's Physical DEF | ||
*Operand Penetration: Cancels out with target's Operand DEF | *Operand Penetration: Cancels out with target's Operand DEF | ||
| − | *Dodge Rate | + | *Dodge Rate: Chance of dodging normal attacks |
| − | *Post-Battle HP Regen | + | *Post-Battle HP Regen: Amount of HP recovered after a battle |
| − | *Skill Haste: Auto Skill charge speed | + | *Skill Haste: Increase to the Auto Skill charge speed |
*Debuff Resistance: Determines duration of debuffs | *Debuff Resistance: Determines duration of debuffs | ||
*Backlash: Returns parts of incoming damage as True Damage | *Backlash: Returns parts of incoming damage as True Damage | ||
| Line 63: | Line 74: | ||
*Healing Effect: Percentage bonus to heals delivered | *Healing Effect: Percentage bonus to heals delivered | ||
| − | |||
| − | Dolls increase their attributes by gaining levels and performing Neural Expansion. Neural Expansion increases the rarity of the Doll up to 5 stars in half-star increments using Diggcoins (DGC) and Neural Fragments. Neural Fragments are obtained in | + | Moreover, each Doll has three skills: a passive skill, an auto skill, and an ultimate skill. The Intimacy level of Dolls increase through battle or with gifts, gaining attribute buffs and new personal information up to level 15. Costumes are called "Projections" in this game. Alternate Projections of a Doll's base artwork are unlocked with Neural Expansions while themed costumes must be bought in the shop with Projection Vouchers which are bought with Quartz or acquired through certain in-game rewards. |
| + | |||
| + | Dolls increase their attributes by gaining levels and by performing Neural Expansion. Neural Expansion increases the rarity of the Doll up to 5 stars in half-star increments using Diggcoins (DGC) and Neural Fragments. Neural Fragments are obtained in Fragment Search, with each Intimacy level from level 2 to 6 opening up more chances to acquire fragments. Neural Fragments can also be obtained in the Supplies shop and as a reward for unlocking a doll's Story or Voice file. Neural Expansion is needed for Dolls under 3 stars initial rarity to unlock their Ultimate Skill, with subsequent upgrades increasing said Ultimate Skill's level. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Dolls don't gain experience in combat, instead, Experience Points are awarded after a fight as as general currency to be redistributed manually to the Dolls, up to level 70. A special level up called Potential Breakthrough must be done every 10 levels, requiring Breakthrough Widgets and Diggcoins. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Passive and Auto Skills can also be enhanced by spending Skill Samples from levels 1 to 7, and needing Skill Pivots from levels 8 to 10. | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | After clearing Stage 3-4, Dolls can be further modified with Algorithms which provide further attribute bonuses and special effects (this is similar to the Chips of [[Heavy Ordnance Corps]] in Girls' Frontline). Each Doll has Offense, Stability, and Special Algorithms Slots organized in patterns of 2×4 rectangles (some Slots must be unlocked through Neural Expansion and Potential Breakthrough). | ||
| + | |||
| + | Each Algorithm comes in a 1x2 or a 1x1 shape. Both shapes increase one Main Attribute but the 1x2 has two Substats, while the 1x1 only has one Substat. Algorithms are stored in the Algorithm Warehouse and can be equipped in available Slots. Moreover, Algorithms of purple and orange quality come in Algorithm Sets, and activate Set Effects when used at the same time. The Main Attribute of assigned Algorithms is made more effective by enhancing the Doll's Algorithm Efficiency at a max of 2.0x and is increased by using Algorithm Boosters or spending unneeded Algorithms (Algorithms can also be Decomposed to make materials used in the Processing plant building). Algorithm substats can also increase up to orange quality and are acquired/rerolled through the use of Reconfiguration Generators or with another Algorithm of the same type and slot. | ||
| + | |||
| − | + | The player starts with five Dolls: [[Persicaria]], [[Sol]], [[Croque]], [[Fresnel]], and [[Mai]]. More Dolls can be acquired through the Neural Search gacha (requires the Search Terminal building). Basic Search is performed with Basic Search Commands that are produced in the Oasis and mostly yields [[PNC Items|items]] rather than Dolls. Advanced Search, on the other hand, uses Advanced Search Commands that are bought from the shop or acquired from in-game rewards and includes a pity system of one 3-star Doll guaranteed every 60 searches with the rateup doll being redeemable at 180 searches. In the Advanced Search at launch, 1-star Dolls have a combined drop rate of 78.4%, 2-stars 18% and 3-stars 3.6%. | |
| − | |||
===Battle=== | ===Battle=== | ||
'''Main Articles: [[PNC Combat]] and [[PNC Exploration]]''' | '''Main Articles: [[PNC Combat]] and [[PNC Exploration]]''' | ||
| − | Entering battle and claiming battle clear rewards | + | Entering battle and claiming battle clear rewards require Keys which are replenished at a rate of 12 keys per hour at an initial cap of 150 keys and increased to 250 at Cognition Level 30. |
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | Most stages are either Battles of Endurance or Explorations. At the start of a stage, the player sets a team of up to 5 main Dolls and 3 reserves which cannot be changed during the level (with the exception of certain event stages). The player is presented with random "[[PNC Functions|Functions]]" to choose from as they progress in stage, buffing certain unit types. "Protocols" are random stage-wide modifiers that can either be Positive, Neutral, or Negative. Battle of Endurance stages are simple back-to-back battles with an option to heal every other battle. | ||
| + | |||
| + | During Exploration stages, the player navigates branching paths of events which are: "Conflict Zones" (battles of various difficulties), "Function Libraries" and "Anomaly Areas" (free functions and random events), "Trading Areas" (a market for Functions, Protocols, and One-time use Ultimate Skills), "Recovery Areas" (healing), and a final battle against a boss in the "Output Terminal" at the end of each layer. Exploration ends when all layers in the level are completed. Similar to the Normal and Emergency stages in Girls' Frontline, story chapters have a Standard and Dark Realm version. Endless Exploration is unlocked when all Standard stages of an area are cleared. Playing this mode yields various rewards and Strategic Blueprints that enable the use of Procedural Efficiency Nodes to receive further bonuses when playing story stages. | ||
| − | |||
| − | Battles take place on boards made of hexagonal tiles. The player units start on the leftmost rows of the board and can be swapped | + | Battles take place on boards made of hexagonal tiles. The player units start on the leftmost rows of the board and can be swapped before the battle starts to match enemy placement and take advantage of tiles with special effects. During battle, the player's units will move and choose their targets on their own. Player actions are limited to spending Tactical Energy to use Tactical Skills and choosing when to use a unit's ultimate skill. After a certain time in battle, Battlefield Overload will occur and multiply the effect of attacks while reducing the effects of heals and shields, becoming more and more drastic as the battle drags on. |
| + | |||
===Base building=== | ===Base building=== | ||
'''Main Articles: [[Oasis Menu]], [[PNC Dormitory]] and [[PNC Factory]]''' | '''Main Articles: [[Oasis Menu]], [[PNC Dormitory]] and [[PNC Factory]]''' | ||
| − | The player's base in the Oasis menu unlocks new functions as | + | The player's base in the Oasis menu unlocks new functions such as the Neural Search and the Factory. expanded resources storage, and increased currencies production. A Miscellaneous building called the Weather Simulator can be used to simulate real time weather in certain parts of the world (thought it is unknown how accurate it is). |
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | Like Girls' Frontline, the base includes a Dormitory system (now in 3D) in the shape of a Honeycomb. Each room can be decorated with furniture to improve their Habitability (or Comfort) level up to 10 with each level providing certain benefits. | ||
| + | |||
| − | + | The Factory unlocked after Stage 3-6 can produce various resources in a set amount of time (or instantly with Energizers) by spending Data acquired in battle and other resources with new order types unlocked by progressing in the story. At first, only two orders can be placed in the Factory at a time and only the Extraction Mine (Oasis and Factory materials) and the Supplies Workshop (Dolls enhancement materials) are available. The Gift Workshop (Gifts) is unlocked at Stage 3-12 and the Data Encapsulation Center (Breakthrough and Skill materials) at Stage 4-14. | |
| − | |||
==Story== | ==Story== | ||
'''Main Article: [[PNC Story]]''' | '''Main Article: [[PNC Story]]''' | ||
| − | On 23 September 2063, [[Persica]] | + | On 23 September 2063, [[Persica]] digitized the consciousness of a trusted Griffin Commander and sent them inside a recently recovered backup of Project Neural Cloud. The troubled project was eventually lost three years prior when all research data was destroyed in the Wipe-off Incident and [[the Professor]] who led the project disappeared. Using the identity of the Professor, the Commander must make contact with the Dolls who participated in the project to learn what happened and to find the Professor. |
| + | |||
| + | When "the Professor" enters Magrasea, they find that the Dolls of Project Neural Cloud have been expelled from their original sector during the Wipe-off Incident and have been designated Irregular Agents by the [[Sanctifier]]s who aim to destroy them. To shelter the Dolls now calling themselves the Exiles, the real Professor created a new sector called the Oasis and built the Sandbox Barrier to protect them as they searched for a way back to the real world. | ||
| − | |||
===Teaser trailer message=== | ===Teaser trailer message=== | ||
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“Life's shape rings through the prayers of the lost. Human knowledge is not the only thing that can perceive it. Lack of order does not mean chaos, fiction does not always mean falsehood. To forsake one's life in desperation, in the hidden paths of return, rings the prayers of the lost.” | “Life's shape rings through the prayers of the lost. Human knowledge is not the only thing that can perceive it. Lack of order does not mean chaos, fiction does not always mean falsehood. To forsake one's life in desperation, in the hidden paths of return, rings the prayers of the lost.” | ||
| + | |||
===Social media posts=== | ===Social media posts=== | ||
| Line 118: | Line 149: | ||
File:Neural Cloud Persica email.jpg|Persica's email. | File:Neural Cloud Persica email.jpg|Persica's email. | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
| + | |||
===ARG=== | ===ARG=== | ||
| Line 140: | Line 172: | ||
File:NeursoulCocoon.jpg|NeursoulCocoon.jpg | File:NeursoulCocoon.jpg|NeursoulCocoon.jpg | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
| + | |||
==Music== | ==Music== | ||
| Line 145: | Line 178: | ||
Vanguard Sound remains Sunborn's music partners for Neural Cloud. | Vanguard Sound remains Sunborn's music partners for Neural Cloud. | ||
| + | |||
==Development history== | ==Development history== | ||
| − | Project Neural Cloud was announced on 15 May 2020 during [[MICA Team]]'s 4th anniversary stream, alongside [[Girls' Frontline 2: Exilium]] and [[Girls' Frontline: Glitch Land]]. It received | + | Project Neural Cloud was announced on 15 May 2020 during [[MICA Team]]'s 4th anniversary stream, alongside [[Girls' Frontline 2: Exilium]] and [[Girls' Frontline: Glitch Land]]. It received its first closed beta test in October 2020 and a second one called “Singularity Test” in December 2020 before being released in Mainland China on 23 September 2021. |
| − | It also received a Global beta in October 2022 before its release in Global English on 21 November 2022 | + | It also received a Global beta in October 2022 before its release in Global English on 21 November 2022. Taiwan and Korea were released on 23 November 2022 and in Japan on 24 November 2022. |
| − | The outfits of multiple Dolls, including [[Angela]], [[Willow]], [[Zion]] and [[Florence]], were made less revealing between the CN betas and final release. Multiple Dolls and costumes were censored on the CN server after an update on 30 March 2023, including [[Croque]], [[Daiyan]], [[Hubble]], [[Millau]], [[Panakeia]], [[Turing]], [[Rise]] and [[Yelena]].<ref>[https://m.weibo.cn/status/MzycKaGy7 Weibo]</ref> | + | The outfits of multiple Dolls, including [[Angela]], [[Willow]], [[Zion]], and [[Florence]], were made less revealing between the CN betas and final release. Multiple Dolls and costumes were censored on the CN server after an update on 30 March 2023, including [[Croque]], [[Daiyan]], [[Hubble]], [[Millau]], [[Panakeia]], [[Turing]], [[Rise]], and [[Yelena]].<ref>[https://m.weibo.cn/status/MzycKaGy7 Weibo]</ref> |
==Gallery== | ==Gallery== | ||
| Line 189: | Line 223: | ||
File:PNC Promo Christmas 2022.jpg|Christmas 2022. | File:PNC Promo Christmas 2022.jpg|Christmas 2022. | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
| + | |||
==Links== | ==Links== | ||
| Line 205: | Line 240: | ||
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJ5O8sWyfFI Developers interview (Official English)] | *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJ5O8sWyfFI Developers interview (Official English)] | ||
*[https://gamepress.gg/girlsfrontline/project-neural-cloud-pre-release-background-lore Pre-release Lore translation] | *[https://gamepress.gg/girlsfrontline/project-neural-cloud-pre-release-background-lore Pre-release Lore translation] | ||
| + | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 05:06, 14 April 2023
Girls' Frontline: Neural Cloud or Neural Cloud, known as 少女前线：云图计划 or 云图计划 in Simplified Chinese, 雲圖計劃 in Traditional Chinese, 뉴럴 클라우드 in Korean, and ニューラルクラウド in Japanese, is a roguelike strategy game from Sunborn and a spin-off to Girls' Frontline. The player, as the Professor, must lead a group of Dolls called the Exiled in a digital world called Magrasea and save them from deletion by the Sanctifiers. Each Doll has their own abilities, upgrade them and build their base. Certain Dolls in Neural Cloud share their identity with characters from Girls' Frontline.
Contents
Characters
Neural Cloud characters
Main Article: PNC:Doll Index
In comparison to Girls' Frontline, the characters of Project Neural Cloud are given their own names instead of being based off of their weapons.
The link above has the complete list of every character that is currently released in the CN server.
Three characters in beta files are not in the final game: Lancet, Naka and Yotsuba.
Returning characters
Certain Dolls are the same character, or appear to be, as characters from Girls' Frontline.
- Confirmed as the same Doll:
- Unconfirmed or only hinted as the same Doll:
- Chanzhi as RF QBU-88
QBU-88 
- Clukay as AR HK416HK416
- Daiyan as AR Type 95Type 95
- Jessie as SG M1897M1897
- Jiangyu as AR Type 97Type 97
- Ksenia as HG StechkinStechkin
- Luna as HG K5K5
- Panakeia RF wz.29wz.29
- Rise as MG MG36MG36
- Sockdolager as AR FalconFalcon
- Souchun as SMG Type 64Type 64
- Yelena as SG RMB-93RMB-93
- Chanzhi as RF QBU-88
Gameplay
Project Neural Cloud is an automated strategy game with roguelike elements. Unlike Girls' Frontline, most of the game is in 3D. The player controls the Professor as they journey through the sectors of the Magrasea, battling enemies through the command of Dolls that can be upgraded for them to get stronger. The player owns a base called the Oasis which gives them supplies such as Diggcoins (the game's currency) and Prefab Units (base upgrade material and used for certain factory productions).
Dolls
Main Article: Doll Info Menu
The units available to the player are Dolls, human-like androids created for specific jobs. Specifically, the characters in the game are the virtual representation of the Dolls in the Magrasea superserver based on their Neural Cloud. Unlike in Girls' Frontline, few Dolls in Neural Cloud qualify as Tactical Dolls.
Doll quality (also called "rarity") initially ranges from one to three stars. Each Doll belongs to one of five classes: Guard, Sniper, Warrior, Medic and Specialist. There are 18 attributes used in combat for each Doll:
- Max HP: Can be affected during Exploration
- ATK: Damage caused by normal attacks and certain skills
- Hashrate: Determines the damage caused by certain skills
- Physical DEF: Percentage reduction of incoming Physical DMG
- Operand DEF: Percentage reduction of incoming Operand DMG
- Attack Speed: Rate in which a Doll attacks
- Crit Rate: Chance of normal attacks doing critical hits
- Crit Damage: Increase to the damage done through critical hits
- Physical Penetration: Cancels out with target's Physical DEF
- Operand Penetration: Cancels out with target's Operand DEF
- Dodge Rate: Chance of dodging normal attacks
- Post-Battle HP Regen: Amount of HP recovered after a battle
- Skill Haste: Increase to the Auto Skill charge speed
- Debuff Resistance: Determines duration of debuffs
- Backlash: Returns parts of incoming damage as True Damage
- Damage Boost: Percentage bonus to attacks delivered
- Injury Mitigation: Percentage reduction to incoming damage
- Healing Effect: Percentage bonus to heals delivered
Moreover, each Doll has three skills: a passive skill, an auto skill, and an ultimate skill. The Intimacy level of Dolls increase through battle or with gifts, gaining attribute buffs and new personal information up to level 15. Costumes are called "Projections" in this game. Alternate Projections of a Doll's base artwork are unlocked with Neural Expansions while themed costumes must be bought in the shop with Projection Vouchers which are bought with Quartz or acquired through certain in-game rewards.
Dolls increase their attributes by gaining levels and by performing Neural Expansion. Neural Expansion increases the rarity of the Doll up to 5 stars in half-star increments using Diggcoins (DGC) and Neural Fragments. Neural Fragments are obtained in Fragment Search, with each Intimacy level from level 2 to 6 opening up more chances to acquire fragments. Neural Fragments can also be obtained in the Supplies shop and as a reward for unlocking a doll's Story or Voice file. Neural Expansion is needed for Dolls under 3 stars initial rarity to unlock their Ultimate Skill, with subsequent upgrades increasing said Ultimate Skill's level.
Dolls don't gain experience in combat, instead, Experience Points are awarded after a fight as as general currency to be redistributed manually to the Dolls, up to level 70. A special level up called Potential Breakthrough must be done every 10 levels, requiring Breakthrough Widgets and Diggcoins.
Passive and Auto Skills can also be enhanced by spending Skill Samples from levels 1 to 7, and needing Skill Pivots from levels 8 to 10.
After clearing Stage 3-4, Dolls can be further modified with Algorithms which provide further attribute bonuses and special effects (this is similar to the Chips of Heavy Ordnance Corps in Girls' Frontline). Each Doll has Offense, Stability, and Special Algorithms Slots organized in patterns of 2×4 rectangles (some Slots must be unlocked through Neural Expansion and Potential Breakthrough).
Each Algorithm comes in a 1x2 or a 1x1 shape. Both shapes increase one Main Attribute but the 1x2 has two Substats, while the 1x1 only has one Substat. Algorithms are stored in the Algorithm Warehouse and can be equipped in available Slots. Moreover, Algorithms of purple and orange quality come in Algorithm Sets, and activate Set Effects when used at the same time. The Main Attribute of assigned Algorithms is made more effective by enhancing the Doll's Algorithm Efficiency at a max of 2.0x and is increased by using Algorithm Boosters or spending unneeded Algorithms (Algorithms can also be Decomposed to make materials used in the Processing plant building). Algorithm substats can also increase up to orange quality and are acquired/rerolled through the use of Reconfiguration Generators or with another Algorithm of the same type and slot.
The player starts with five Dolls: Persicaria, Sol, Croque, Fresnel, and Mai. More Dolls can be acquired through the Neural Search gacha (requires the Search Terminal building). Basic Search is performed with Basic Search Commands that are produced in the Oasis and mostly yields items rather than Dolls. Advanced Search, on the other hand, uses Advanced Search Commands that are bought from the shop or acquired from in-game rewards and includes a pity system of one 3-star Doll guaranteed every 60 searches with the rateup doll being redeemable at 180 searches. In the Advanced Search at launch, 1-star Dolls have a combined drop rate of 78.4%, 2-stars 18% and 3-stars 3.6%.
Battle
Main Articles: PNC Combat and PNC Exploration
Entering battle and claiming battle clear rewards require Keys which are replenished at a rate of 12 keys per hour at an initial cap of 150 keys and increased to 250 at Cognition Level 30.
Most stages are either Battles of Endurance or Explorations. At the start of a stage, the player sets a team of up to 5 main Dolls and 3 reserves which cannot be changed during the level (with the exception of certain event stages). The player is presented with random "Functions" to choose from as they progress in stage, buffing certain unit types. "Protocols" are random stage-wide modifiers that can either be Positive, Neutral, or Negative. Battle of Endurance stages are simple back-to-back battles with an option to heal every other battle.
During Exploration stages, the player navigates branching paths of events which are: "Conflict Zones" (battles of various difficulties), "Function Libraries" and "Anomaly Areas" (free functions and random events), "Trading Areas" (a market for Functions, Protocols, and One-time use Ultimate Skills), "Recovery Areas" (healing), and a final battle against a boss in the "Output Terminal" at the end of each layer. Exploration ends when all layers in the level are completed. Similar to the Normal and Emergency stages in Girls' Frontline, story chapters have a Standard and Dark Realm version. Endless Exploration is unlocked when all Standard stages of an area are cleared. Playing this mode yields various rewards and Strategic Blueprints that enable the use of Procedural Efficiency Nodes to receive further bonuses when playing story stages.
Battles take place on boards made of hexagonal tiles. The player units start on the leftmost rows of the board and can be swapped before the battle starts to match enemy placement and take advantage of tiles with special effects. During battle, the player's units will move and choose their targets on their own. Player actions are limited to spending Tactical Energy to use Tactical Skills and choosing when to use a unit's ultimate skill. After a certain time in battle, Battlefield Overload will occur and multiply the effect of attacks while reducing the effects of heals and shields, becoming more and more drastic as the battle drags on.
Base building
Main Articles: Oasis Menu, PNC Dormitory and PNC Factory
The player's base in the Oasis menu unlocks new functions such as the Neural Search and the Factory. expanded resources storage, and increased currencies production. A Miscellaneous building called the Weather Simulator can be used to simulate real time weather in certain parts of the world (thought it is unknown how accurate it is).
Like Girls' Frontline, the base includes a Dormitory system (now in 3D) in the shape of a Honeycomb. Each room can be decorated with furniture to improve their Habitability (or Comfort) level up to 10 with each level providing certain benefits.
The Factory unlocked after Stage 3-6 can produce various resources in a set amount of time (or instantly with Energizers) by spending Data acquired in battle and other resources with new order types unlocked by progressing in the story. At first, only two orders can be placed in the Factory at a time and only the Extraction Mine (Oasis and Factory materials) and the Supplies Workshop (Dolls enhancement materials) are available. The Gift Workshop (Gifts) is unlocked at Stage 3-12 and the Data Encapsulation Center (Breakthrough and Skill materials) at Stage 4-14.
Story
Main Article: PNC Story
On 23 September 2063, Persica digitized the consciousness of a trusted Griffin Commander and sent them inside a recently recovered backup of Project Neural Cloud. The troubled project was eventually lost three years prior when all research data was destroyed in the Wipe-off Incident and the Professor who led the project disappeared. Using the identity of the Professor, the Commander must make contact with the Dolls who participated in the project to learn what happened and to find the Professor.
When "the Professor" enters Magrasea, they find that the Dolls of Project Neural Cloud have been expelled from their original sector during the Wipe-off Incident and have been designated Irregular Agents by the Sanctifiers who aim to destroy them. To shelter the Dolls now calling themselves the Exiles, the real Professor created a new sector called the Oasis and built the Sandbox Barrier to protect them as they searched for a way back to the real world.
751F "命" 7684 5F62 5F0F FF0C 54CD 5F7B 6D41 4EA1 4E4B 4EBA 7684 7948 7977 3002 4E0D 6B62 4E8E 4EBA 7C7B 81FA 6043 7684 8BA4 8BA4 77E5 3002 65E0 5E8F 7EDD 975E 6DF7 4E71 FF0C 865A 6784 672A 5FC5 4E0D 662F 771F 5B9E 3002 820D 547D 53EA 8FAB 53BB 5F80 7EDD 5730 FF0C 9690 533F 7684 5F52 9014 4E0A FF0C 54CD 5F7B 6D41 4EA1 4E4B 4EBA 7684 7948 7977 3002
生命的形式，响彻流亡之人的祈祷。不止于人类臺恃的认认知。无序绝非混乱，虚构未必不是真实。舍命只辫去往绝地，隐匿的归途上，响彻流亡之人的祈祷。
“Life's shape rings through the prayers of the lost. Human knowledge is not the only thing that can perceive it. Lack of order does not mean chaos, fiction does not always mean falsehood. To forsake one's life in desperation, in the hidden paths of return, rings the prayers of the lost.”
Social media posts
- Top Secret letter: A letter from IOP to Griffin & Kryuger about their partnership with 42LAB on Neural Cloud technology and testing to be done. It reveals a number of occupations and original names for G&K T-Dolls used in Girls' Frontline: G36 was a butler model (unsurprisingly), PA-15 was named Florence, IDW was a security model named Betty, Zas M21 was a fashion designer model, AEK-999 was named Fendere, FNC was a pastry chef named Choco, Type 79 was named Azure, MDR was named Kuro, AA-12 was named Lind, M500 was named Abigail, HS2000 was named Hearate, Welrod MkII was named Insidious and C-MS was named Clara.
- Recruitment message: An open recruitment notification by 42LAB for Dolls test subjects from all models, commercial, civilian, corporate or privately-owned (though not military and unemployed ones). It explains that Project Neural Cloud is a partnership between IOP and 42LAB, a branch of the International Institute of Quantum Studie (IIQS), to produce a quantum-based in-the-cloud artificial consciousness module framework to protect Dolls memory data in case of neural cloud damage. The experiment is set to last for 2 months after 30th June 2058 and will run experiments on their memory module, with the benefit of free subscription to the final product.
- CLR Event: An internal message between a Griffin & Kryuger officer and their superior. A commander reported signs of tampering in one of IOP's emails about Neural Cloud sent a few weeks prior, and the same pattern was found again two days earlier. The perpetrator inserted a message within the email, saying that 42LAB was secretly "sacrificing lives" and erasing Dolls memories as part of Project Neural Cloud. The message also contained a keyword, "CLR Event", a plea for help, and the spectrogram message "project sanctifier". The officer reports that IOP looked into the safety of Neural Cloud and that G&K operation is not in danger, and with G&K currently needing 42LAB's cooperation, they decide to keep the file under locks in case negotiations with 42LAB would be necessary in the future.
- PRJ_Sanctifier_PID: Worried about the emergence of super-viruses developed and deployed by AIs, 42LAB created the AI antivirus Project Sanctifier in 2055 in support of the IIQS and to protect its own cloud capabilities. Sanctifier was to be self-learning, self-monitoring, provide active detection and elimination against viruses and other forms of electronic attack, autonomously repair legal programs showing signs of infection and operate from within 42LAB's cloud. After its completion, Sanctifier became an industry milestone and the foundation for Project Neural Cloud. At the start of the animated image, two files can be seen aside PRJ_Sanctifier_PID, titled "stf_mara draft v2" and "stf_gavri’el draft".
- PRJ_Sanctifier_ET: Live report of a network attack on 42LAB on 14 February 2056. The attacker uses very similar code than other 42LAB projects and acts much like an AI virus, but Sanctifier seems to work well against it.
- Persica's email: After two weeks of consideration, Persica accepts to participate to Project Neural Cloud. Though she believes a lot of hard work will be needed to complete such a highly important project, she will lend to the respected professor in charge of the project her personal assistant, the Doll created after her image and personality by 42LAB themselves. Persicaria (the Doll) herself is very interested in participating in live testing, especially after being stuck on their current project for a long time. Her one condition is to ensure her assistant's safety.
Top Secret letter.
Recruitment message.
PRJ_Sanctifier_PID
PRJ_Sanctifier_ET.
Persica's email.
ARG
The countdown images shared on social media before the game's release contained hidden puzzles to access images containing extra lore. The full decryption process is explained in this series of post in Chinese.
- FromDrJSubjectRe_.jpg: Email exchanges about an early human consciousness uploading technology developed by Ultilife.
- BACKGROUNDCHECK.jpg: A Svarog investigation on a Griffin & Kryuger Tactical Commander whose resume include duties in “S09”, excellent command and combat abilities, cyberwarfare experience, involvement with Sangvis Ferri's rebellion, exposure to Collapse radiation and service after Berezovich Kryuger's capture.
- vitalsigns.jpg: An Ultilife memo about a woman named Irida who fell into a coma on 29 September 2060 during a surgery at an Ultilife facility.
- screenshot_2797294210.jpg: A socials post from Universal Anything Services reassuring customers that they only plan to make Dolls with obedient second generation Neural Clouds and not the more independent third generation ones.
- DOCRECONSTRUCTING.jpg: A shredded 42LAB memo.
- DOCRECONSTRUCTED.jpg: The same memo, reassembled to reveal the true meaning behind of the events of the game.
- NeursoulCocoon.jpg: The last picture introduces the Neural Cocoons further discussed in the game in Chapter 1 Dark, and contains an in-game code for 100 Keys.
The countdown images.
The assembled ARG image without the last piece (no spoiler content).
The last piece of the image (contains spoilers).
NeursoulCocoon.jpg
Music
- Main Article: Project Neural Cloud Original Soundtrack
Vanguard Sound remains Sunborn's music partners for Neural Cloud.
Development history
Project Neural Cloud was announced on 15 May 2020 during MICA Team's 4th anniversary stream, alongside Girls' Frontline 2: Exilium and Girls' Frontline: Glitch Land. It received its first closed beta test in October 2020 and a second one called “Singularity Test” in December 2020 before being released in Mainland China on 23 September 2021.
It also received a Global beta in October 2022 before its release in Global English on 21 November 2022. Taiwan and Korea were released on 23 November 2022 and in Japan on 24 November 2022.
The outfits of multiple Dolls, including Angela, Willow, Zion, and Florence, were made less revealing between the CN betas and final release. Multiple Dolls and costumes were censored on the CN server after an update on 30 March 2023, including Croque, Daiyan, Hubble, Millau, Panakeia, Turing, Rise, and Yelena.[1]
Gallery
Former CN game icon.
Player character, "the Professor".
Allied NPCs.
Sanctifier enemy units.
Childlike Fantasy costume event.
Theater Retro II costume event.
First Anniversary Promo Artwork.
- Seasonal illustrations
Summer 2021.
Halloween 2021.
Christmas 2021.
New Year 2021.
New Year 2022.
Chinese New Year 2022.
Valentines 2022.
Summer 2022.
Halloween 2022.
Christmas 2022.
Links
- Taptap page
- Taptap announcement
- Official website (CN)
- Official Weibo account
- Official website (EN)
- Official Twitter (EN)
- Official website (JP)
- Official Twitter (JP)
- Official Facebook account (TW)
- Official YouTube channel (TW)
- Official website (KR)
- Official Twitter (KR)
- Developers interview (Official English)
- Pre-release Lore translation
References
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