Arcana Heart 3 LOVEMAX SIXSTARS V1.08-DARKSiDERS
Theodora Glime
Arcana Heart 3 LOVEMAX SIXSTARS v1.08-DARKSiDERS: A Review of the Latest Update of the Anime Fighting Game
If you are a fan of anime-style fighting games, you might have heard of Arcana Heart 3 LOVEMAX SIXSTARS!!!!!!, a 2D fighting game developed by EXAMU Inc. and published by Arc System Works. The game features a cast of 23 female fighters, each with their own unique personality, fighting style, and Arcana, a mystical being that grants them special powers and abilities.
The game was originally released in Japan arcades in 2014, and later ported to PC via Steam in 2017. Since then, the game has received several updates and patches, adding new characters, Arcanas, modes, and features. The latest update, v1.08-DARKSiDERS, was released on November 2, 2019, and it brings some significant changes and improvements to the game.
In this article, we will review the main features of Arcana Heart 3 LOVEMAX SIXSTARS v1.08-DARKSiDERS, and see what makes it worth playing for fans of the genre.
New Playable Character: Minori Amanohara
One of the most notable additions in this update is Minori Amanohara, a new playable character who was previously only available in Japan arcades. Minori is a "Hybride", a special type of Valkyrie who can dual-wield the powers of both an Arcana and a Geist, a weaponized artificial life form created by the Drexler Institute.
Minori is a cheerful and energetic girl who fights for world peace as the "Annihilation Angel Subaru" (a self-proclaimed superhero name). She uses her Geist, which resembles a giant drill, to perform powerful attacks and combos. She can also switch between two Arcanas: Ichor, the Arcana of Blood, which enhances her physical abilities and grants her healing powers; and Pistrix, the Arcana of Water, which allows her to manipulate water and ice.
Minori is a versatile and fun character to play with, as she can adapt to different situations and strategies with her dual-Arcana system. She also has some unique mechanics, such as her "Subaru Mode", which activates when she fills up her Subaru Gauge by performing certain actions. In this mode, she gains access to new moves and abilities that increase her offensive and defensive potential.
New Arcana: Ichor
Another new addition in this update is Ichor, the Arcana of Blood. This Arcana symbolizes the essence of life, and it is represented by a Mobius strip that signifies the reincarnation of all living beings. Ichor is not only available for Minori, but also for any other character who chooses it as their Arcana.
Ichor is an Arcana that enhances all aspects of a character's performance, such as speed, power, defense, recovery, and meter gain. It also has some unique abilities, such as "Blood Spike", which creates a blood puddle on the ground that damages the opponent and heals the user; "Blood Shield", which creates a barrier that absorbs attacks and restores health; and "Blood Rage", which increases the damage output and reduces the damage taken for a limited time.
Ichor is an Arcana that suits any playstyle and preference, as it offers a balanced mix of offense and defense. It can also synergize well with different characters and strategies, depending on how the player utilizes its potential.
More Playable Characters in Future Patches
Arcana Heart 3 LOVEMAX SIXSTARS v1.08-DARKSiDERS is not the final update for the game, as there are more characters and features planned for future patches. Thanks to the successful crowdfunding campaign that was held in 2017, two more stretch goals were achieved: a new character named "Shark Girl" (a temporary name), who is a mysterious fighter with shark-like features; and a new Arcana named "Paracelsia", the Arcana of Life.
Both Shark Girl and Paracelsia are still in development, and they will be introduced into the game at a later date. They will be implemented as paid DLC for the new characters. The developers have also promised to add more modes, stages, music tracks, balance adjustments, bug fixes, and other improvements to the game as well.