With Azur Lane: Crosswave coming to PlayStation 4 in days, the original mobile game that inspired it, Azur Lane, is once again buzzing with the gaming community. And we can see where that interest is coming from, as it seamlessly mixes side-scrolling shoot-em-up with simulation and role-playing. Oh, and did we mention that the ships are personified by anime women?
With that, we took a look back to see all of the ship's girls in the game, and picked the best one to choose from. Your taste may vary depending on what you are looking for in terms of performance. That said, there is no doubt that the girls are definitely "ship shaped".
Destroyers
While not the most powerful ships when it comes to overall firepower, Destroyers are still a great class for two reasons. The first is that they are very fast, which makes it easy to move around and trace your next move. But there is also the real reason for choosing them - their torpedoes. Drop them in the right place and they will do massive damage.
When you first start the game, you will be able to choose from three to start with: Javelin, Laffrey, and z23.
The javelin is the best when it comes to general evasion, great for dodging enemy fire. She can also amplify her torpedoes using Assault Mode once activated, which can destroy a number of opponents with a few explosions at the right time.
Laffey has a balanced overall charge, although she is the best when it comes to reload speed. Those of you with quick release fingers will really appreciate what she brings to the table. His skill, Solomon Wargod, can also increase his skills by 20% by chance. Once activated, it is a good generator of difference.
Finally, the oddly named z23 has the best overall firepower. This is due to his Light Cruiser pistol, which works with his torpedoes to increase his arsenal. You can also activate his Iron Blood Vanguard to increase the strength of his weapons; and once you unlock the Retrofit, you can summon shields to protect her.
All three characters are excellent overall. However, if that's the firepower you're looking for, the z23 is an ideal choice. In fact, Laffey is our secondary choice, mainly because of its ability to reload quickly.
Come on, z23, come on! (Image capture via Japan CD.)Light cruisers
Even with a lower amount of health than other ships, Light Cruisers more than make up for the higher firepower. Their dodge is also greatly improved.
Here there are two general recommendations that we can make right off the bat.
The first is Phoenix. She's an amazing character when it comes to health regeneration, as her Red Phoenix skill allows her to recover a much-needed 15% when she drops dangerously low. It is also good on the front lines with its overall weapon strength.
Then there's Helena, who has a balance between the different categories. This includes evasion, as well as firepower which is on a higher level. Additionally, if her Radar Scan is enabled, it makes it much easier to track any enemies that are onscreen, increasing her overall damage.
These two are exceptional characters in their fields. If we had to pick one, it should be Helena. Not only is she finely tuned for battle, but she also looks like she came straight out of an anime.
Helena is simply amazing. (Screenshot via Idea Factory)Heavy cruisers
Although much slower than the Light class and not so good with Evasion, Heavy Cruisers gain their value with the ability to take stronger hits, as well as their superior firepower.
Here we have two more choices that stand out overall.
First of all, the incredible Minneapolis. What it lacks in torpedo capacity, it more than makes up for it with its robustness and balanced weapons. She can also activate a pair of special abilities. Dullahan allows her to take more hits with less damage (useful if she is depleted in health), and she can also activate Thrill of the Hunt and increase her overall offensive stats.
Then there is Prinz Eugen, which seems to be practically a walking arsenal. Overall, she has even more strength than Minneapolis, thanks to her combination of armor and health. Not to mention that she can activate an unbreakable shield that will take a lot of hits.
Those are two great selections, but we'll go with Prinz Eugen any day of the week.
Prinz Eugen at your service. (Screenshot via Idea Factory)
