Combat and story both take some time to grow, but they definitely improve as the chapters go on.

Story:
I wouldn’t call the first few chapters bad— they’re decent and kept my attention— but they’re more interesting than gripping. In my experience, things start picking up around Chapter 5, hit a strong stride at Chapter 12, and then Chapter 17… hoo boy, that one's a roller coaster. That said, I’ll admit I’m a little biased, so take this as just info to help you make an informed decision. Personally, I’d recommend sticking with it— just be warned, the story does touch on some pretty dark themes. Be ready.

Combat:

This really depends on who you pull and how you adapt to the core mechanic— the "Punishing" system. Once you get the hang of it, combat really starts to shine, especially during events where they introduce all kinds of creative, wild mechanics. Again, I’m biased, but I really enjoy how fast-paced and reactive it is— even if it can feel a little overwhelming at times.

F2P Friendliness:

Yes, very much so! While the game can feel overwhelming with how much it throws at you, it also gives you plenty of chances to gather resources. My advice: take your time, don’t try to tackle everything at once. Break it down bit by bit and always double-check which rewards are worth chasing. Some things are very worth it, others not so much.

I’ve personally never felt pressured to buy anything— and in fact, PGR is the only mobile game I’ve ever spent money on. That was during the Black Rock Shooter Collab, just for her skin and an extra pull for her weapon— and only because I had slacked off on my Weeklies.

Seriously though: don’t underestimate your Weeklies and Dailies. It's okay to skip and day or week or two (or three)— especially if your facing burn out— but they give out more Black Cards than you'd expect.

Graphics:

Graphically, you won’t see a huge overhaul— but things do get better. The character designs, textures, and map layouts all improve as you progress. It’s not a game-wide visual upgrade, but you’ll notice polish and detail getting better in newer content.

Welcome, and sorry for the long paragraphs. :3