Azur Lane

HISTORY

Azur Lane (Simplified Chinese: 碧蓝航线; traditional Chinese: 碧藍航線; pinyin: Bìlán Hángxiàn; lit. 'Deep Blue Course') is a side-scrolling shoot 'em up video game created by Chinese developers Shanghai Manjuu and Xiamen Yongshi, released in 2017 for the iOS and Android operating systems. Set in an alternate timeline of World War II, players engage in side-scrolling shooter gameplay, using female moe anthropomorphic characters based on warships from the war's major participants. Other gameplay elements, like customizing a dorm and in-game characters, are also present.

First released in China in May and in Japan in September 2017, Azur Lane was successful at launch, especially in Japan, where the player count reached five million within four months after its release. Players have voted the game among the top five on Google Play's Best Game of 2017 list for the region. Critics have attributed the game's popularity to its original and well-designed gameplay system. An English version started open beta in August 2018 and was formally released in May 2019. Later, in December 2019, the English version was expanded to Latin American region. PWB Play simultaneously released it to Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan in October 2019.

The game has been adapted into several manga and novelizations. Azur Lane Crosswave, a 3D adaptation for PlayStation 4, was published by Compile Heart in August 2019 with mixed reception. Crosswave's English localization was released in February 2020 for PlayStation 4 and PC. A Nintendo Switch port of the game was released in Japan in September 2020, and in February 2021 in North America and in February 2021 in Europe.

An anime television series adaptation by Bibury Animation Studios was announced in 2018 and aired from October 2019 to March 2020. Funimation licensed this series for a SimulDub while Beta Film licensed this series for Latin America. An anime television series adaptation of the Azur Lane: Slow Ahead! manga by studios Candy Box and Yostar Pictures aired from January to March 2021; a second season has been announced. A two-episode original video animation adaptation of the Azur Lane Queen's Orders manga was released in July 2023.

Gameplay

Azur Lane is a side-scrolling shoot 'em up, simulation, and role-playing video game. Players collect characters that are moe anthropomorphic interpretations of World War II warships ("shipgirls"), mainly from the United States Navy, Royal Navy, Imperial Japanese Navy and Kriegsmarine, with other ships from the French Navy (both Vichy and Free France flavors), Republic of China Navy, People's Liberation Army Navy, Regia Marina, Soviet Navy, Imperial Russian Navy, Imperial German Navy and Royal Netherlands Navy being added later; additionally, ships from the Age of Sail were added in as a faction named Tempesta. Players organize them into fleets of six and confront AI-controlled enemies or other players' fleets. These ships can gain experience points (EXP) from various methods (such as from battles, completing commissions, or placing these ships into Dormitories), and they require a certain amount of EXP to gain a stronger level. They have a certain maximum level limit on how far players can level up their ships, which can be increased via Limit Break. Most characters have their own set of upgradable abilities that can be activated in battle.

Personifications of American destroyer USS Laffey (DD-459), British destroyer HMS Javelin, and German destroyer Z23 (Chinese, English release) or Japanese destroyer Ayanami (Japanese, Korean release) are available for players to select as a starter ship. They are referred to as protagonists in-game. As of October 2024, more than 600 characters have been introduced to the game, representing ships from nine countries that participated in the war. The game is also notable for including preserved museum ships as its characters, such as the Japanese Mikasa and Russian Aurora.

An endgame content Operation Siren was announced on December 14, 2020, for a late December release.

Battle

When preparing for the game's main mode, players can organize two fleets (as the game progresses, they will unlock up to a maximum of 6 fleets), consisting of a front row and a back row, with three slots available in each row. Destroyers, light cruisers, and heavy cruisers can be allotted to the front row, while the back row is reserved for battleships, aircraft cruisers, monitors, repair ships, battlecruisers, and aircraft carriers; the positions of certain sailing frigates are determined between either row. Different combinations of ships are required to achieve victory in different battle situations. Players may then select and enter a map.

On entering a map, the player's fleet is placed on a grid-like map similar to that in the game Battleship. The map contains nodes, which are either combat nodes, which are enemy fleets, some immobile and others that pursue the player, or non-combat nodes, which provide ammunition, or mystery nodes, which can provide supplies such as repair kits, upgrade materials, or can spawn a special combat node called a Treasure Fleet. Players must navigate optimally and assemble their fleets tactically to clear obstructing enemies and, using minimal movements, reach the map's boss. When the player moves their fleet across the map, they can be ambushed in random encounters from which they may take damage, or they can be forced to engage the enemy, using fuel and ammo. Fuel is one of the two in-game resources. Ammo points are assigned to player fleets at each map, with one ammo point deducted at each battle. Fleets that run out of ammo can still fight, but may only deal half damage.

When battling an enemy, players can use a virtual joystick to control the front row, which can automatically fire shells at targets and manually launch torpedoes. While stationary, the back row can send shell barrages, and the player can manually call in airstrikes. These will activate a bullet-clearing effect, removing all projectiles and torpedoes on screen. Players have an auto mode option to give up this control to the game's AI. Characters' health is fully replenished when completing or exiting a map. Morale points are deducted for each fleet character in a battle. Should a character fall in battle, they cannot join in further action on the map, and a larger number of morale points are deducted for the fallen character at the end of the battle. Sustained low morale for a character decreases their stats and affection points. Low affection points lead the character to greet the player with vocals reflecting their disappointment.

The game features a player-versus-player mode. The player may prepare a defence fleet and organize an offence fleet to challenge opposing players' defence fleets. In this mode, battles are controlled entirely by AI, and the bullet-clearing effect of airstrikes is disabled. Tokens can be gained, and the player's ranking can rise through victory in this mode. Players receive no penalty if they lose a challenge or their defence fleet is defeated by other players. Exclusive characters and other items can be obtained using tokens (which are called Merits). The ranking is refreshed every 15 days. Additional mechanics were introduced after the game's release. Submarine and anti-submarine warfare systems were introduced in May 2018. This included anti-submarine campaign maps and characters based on German U-boats, and American and Japanese submarines. A ship's cat system was introduced in September 2018. Various cat breeds can be obtained at a cattery. They can be trained to provide buffs when brought along with fleets to battle.

Dormitory

The game sports a "Dormitory" feature. Characters in their chibi forms may be put in the furnished Dormitory where they can walk around and sit, sleep, or bathe. Characters may passively gain experience points and recover morale when they are given food by players. Players can purchase food using fuel or in-game currency. Players can also purchase variously themed, and occasionally time-limited, furniture sets and decorations using "furniture coins" obtained by sending characters through special quests. Furniture and decorations raise the rate experience is gained. They can be arranged freely. Players may increase Dormitory character capacity, unlock a second floor which recovers morale, and buy special interactive furniture using the in-game currency. As well, monuments can be awarded by clearing event stages. Players may inspect other players' Dormitories.…

STORY

Azur Lane is set in an alternate World War II timeline where Earth's oceans are invaded by a mysterious alien force known as the Sirens. These beings possess advanced technology far beyond humanity's capabilities, causing nations to lose over 90% of their maritime control. In response, four major naval powers—the Eagle Union (U.S.), Royal Navy (UK), Iron Blood (Germany), and Sakura Empire (Japan)—form the Azur Lane alliance. They use Wisdom Cubes to create shipgirls (Kansen), humanoid embodiments of warships, to fight back.

Initially successful, the alliance fractures when the Iron Blood and Sakura Empire defect to form the Crimson Axis (Red Axis). They adopt Siren technology to enhance their power, believing it is the only way to ensure humanity's survival. This ideological split reignites global conflict.