Let me tell you about the grind I've been through with JILI-Mega Ace - it's been both thrilling and frustrating in equal measure. When I first started playing, I thought I'd be unlocking new mechs left and right, but boy was I wrong. The game has this clever system where you can only get new mechs using Mission Tokens, and here's the kicker - each one costs 15,000 tokens. That's right, fifteen thousand! Now, if you're like me, you're probably thinking "that doesn't sound too bad," until you realize you only earn about 100-odd tokens per match.
I remember spending what felt like an eternity grinding away, match after match, just to see that token counter slowly creep upward. There were nights I'd play for hours and only accumulate enough for a fraction of what I needed. The worst part? Those artificial cooldowns on missions and the weekly reward caps basically ensure you can't progress faster than the game designers want you to. It's like being on an invisible leash - no matter how hard you try, you can only go so far each week.
But here's something I actually appreciate about the system - the seven-day trial period for new mechs. Last season, I saved up for what felt like forever to test the Thunderclap model, and thank goodness I did because it turned out to be completely wrong for my playstyle. Can you imagine spending 15,000 tokens on something only to discover it doesn't suit how you play? That would be devastating. The trial period saved me from making what could have been a season-ruining mistake.
What really gets me though is the seasonal token reset. I learned this the hard way during my first season when I thought I'd be smart and save up my tokens for the next season's releases. I had accumulated about 8,000 tokens and was feeling pretty good about myself, only to log in after the season reset and find my hard-earned tokens vanished into thin air. That was a tough lesson to learn - the game really doesn't want you hoarding tokens for future mechs that might better match your particular approach to combat.
The pacing is deliberately slow, and while it can be frustrating, I've come to see the wisdom in it. It forces you to really master the mechs you have rather than constantly chasing the next shiny new machine. I've seen players get so obsessed with unlocking new mechs that they forget to actually enjoy the gameplay itself. There's something to be said for developing deep familiarity with your current arsenal - you learn little tricks and techniques that you might overlook if you're constantly switching between different models.
That being said, the grind can feel excessive at times. When you're pulling in roughly 120 tokens per match (on a good day), and you need 15,000 for a new mech, you're looking at around 125 matches per unlock. If each match takes about 15 minutes including queue times, that's over 31 hours of gameplay for a single new mech. And that's assuming you're playing efficiently and not taking breaks! It's enough to make even the most dedicated players question their life choices sometimes.
What keeps me going is the satisfaction when you finally earn that new mech. There's this incredible moment of triumph when you hit that 15,000 token mark and get to claim your reward. I still remember unlocking my first premium mech - the satisfaction was palpable. It felt earned in a way that instant gratification never could. Plus, the seven-day trial means you get to properly test drive your new toy before committing, which takes some of the pressure off.
The system isn't perfect - I wish there were more ways to earn tokens or maybe some bonus events throughout the season - but it does create a sense of progression that keeps players engaged over the long haul. It's designed to make you value each new addition to your garage rather than treating mechs as disposable toys you cycle through without a second thought. And honestly? I respect that design philosophy, even when I'm groaning about how long it's taking to save up for that new model I've got my eye on.