

So many they're tedious to filter through, though the in-map achievement list helps. The game absolutely needs higher shadow core drop rates at higher levels (which it probably has) or some way to reliably grind them (which it might.) It kind of looks like there's a "grind for the ability to grind better so you can enhance your ability to grind your grinding" design here, which is not a fun mechanic. Also not sure the xp talismans were a good idea, since it means leveling talismans specifically for the purpose of leveling better, which means not using slots for talismans that help you win battles.

I like the talisman mechanic, but again, shadow cores, and I'm skeptical of the apparent need to spend shadow cores to level talismans that I'll eventually end up throwing away when I get better ones. I really hope that it's not balanced to require grinding easy levels for shadow cores in order to do those same levels again at higher difficulties. But I can spend as many as 56 on a single level and I only have two out of nine traits unlocked. I usually seem to get 2-4 per level, and the most I've seen is ~25. Not sure I like needing to spend shadow cores to get score modifiers, but presumably they'll be easier to get later on. Seems more difficult to progress though, because skills cap so easily leaving you with nothing to spend level up points on extra extra starting mana. Seems to be overall a good blend of the features from each of them. Certainly more complicated than Chapter Zero.
