Since I have been playing since the Global release on my phone as well as on Steam, I feel like I can write a review.
TL;DR: The game is fun to watch play out. But if you do not like watching the fruit of your labour do their best without your input, press buttons and watch outcomes, or read Slice-of-Life Visual novels, You are not going to like this game.
Now the long part.
Good: >The characters are lovable. Despite having preferences like every other person, I can not point to a character I ACTIVELY dislike. Their quirks are silly, and the stories saying how those quirks clash with one another are wholesome and enjoyable.
>The Art style embraces the cuteness of the girls as well. The designs fit their personalities and as I have researched out of curiosity, they are faithful to portrayals of the IRL horses.
>There are constant QoL additions. I remember when the events expected me to do 3 runs a day while I'm stuck at work, but with Independent training, and them counting as completed careers, clearing goals has become easier.
>Being able to clear dailies in one hour is acceptable, though that clear means skipping the story of your Uma.
>RNG is always active during races. The unpredictability of every race comes out. Skills, and stats raise your chances of victory, but every so often, your Uma can decide she becomes lame mid race, or swarmed and unable to break out which adds spice and excitement when she does break through.
>Events are plentiful which add the possibility to get a full Max Limit Broken SSR card into your deck just by playing.
>The Gacha system does not deal in exclusives. Every Racer, and card is added to the pull pool, the banner is only a higher chance at the promoted choice.
Bad: >The Pity system and Gacha rules are brutal. Instead of a chance at a 3 Star / SSR pull (Yes. Two Systems on the same premium currency) not being a Guaranteed random pull with a higher chance but a free pick after 200 pulls promotes hogging the Premium currency for bulk pulls. As a Free player, that means grinding every carat, skipping every story, and collecting as much as possible just to roll the slot machine again every 2-3 months
>The power creep is real where even your favourite Support cards quickly become useless and Deck builds for Supports become predictable and same. At that point experimentation takes too long, and the "Ol' Reliable -HARIKITE IKO-" becomes the MUST HAVE option. You may hear "You can reach High ranks with Rare level cards" but those people will NOT show you the 99 failed attempts with that same rare deck.
>Skipping the story and concerts becomes the norm with Quick mode. The temptation to do this even with a new Uma you pull where you haven't seen their story becomes tempting because Even though it is GOOD that there is so much story for the character, the fact reading it might take your entire afternoon, and leaving it for another day to continue without being able to have an Independent run on the side to hit that Daily is rough.
>Every Champions Meet My body becomes a machine that turns "No. 1 Fave" into "6th place" (This is not bad game design, just a complaint.)
That's about it. If you are still reading and want to start. A word of advice from an older player:
Your first pulls should 100% be Support banners, not Uma Banners. Save 30k Carats to do mass pulls and earn the 1 pity extra. Check Game8 for High quality cards to invest in and place on your profile to subsist off of Friendship points. And run your Oshis. The only good Uma is the one you love. (Unless you love a full Debuffer Nice Nature. I am sorry bro but I hope your day is mildly inconvenienced mr. No-fun-allowed.)
