Albus kind of ruins the game for me.

[neonhigh]

Honestly, playing as Albus ruins about 80% of the fun for me so-far. He feels so out-of-place in a game that's supposed to be an otherwise realistic tactical rpg. Like, everyone else is running about in heavy combat gear with automatic weapons, and the devs want you to believe that they're losing fights to a weeb running about with a katana? WAt. And the fact that he is literally the poster-child for 'jrpg protag with no personality' makes it worse.

And the final kick in the nethers is how blatant the hints that the redheaded female character is the protag or can at least be swapped in for him. There's nothing about this game that leads me to believe albus is required for it, so it makes no sense that a locked-in male protag is required.

[Hemmingfish]

Albus isn't just a guy with a sword. He has wind ESP for long-distance attacks, so he uses a sword to protect himself in close combat. There are a few other sword-using ESP users in the game, aside from the gang members who probably just use swords because they're cheap to maintain. Guns are exclusively used by people without ESP.
The redheaded girl actually has the least amount of plot importance out of every playable character in the game.

[The nameless Gamer]

Also, later in the game, you'll learn that what looks like a tracksuit is actually clothing more durable than kevlar, since it's made of materials extracted from very dangerous and very sturdy beasts. But I'm not spoiling anything. Also, half of the complete playable cast are actually using a genetically inherent power known as ESP. Albus is using Wind type. The related masteries reveal that his powers allow him to manipulate air molecules to amplify both offensive and defensive abilities. Also, the redhead from the thumbnail is fighting without a weapon to begin with. But her martial arts training combined with very potent Fire type SP actually results in her kicking over grown men twice her size.

[Godot]

Albus is easily one of the best character in the series, both gameplay wise and character wise. If you have this sort of opinion on Albus then I'll just assume you're still pretty early in the game.

I know the translations aren't the best in certain areas but I hope you take the time to follow the story. Albus is a great character.

[TheGrouch]

"otherwise realistic tactical rpg"

Excuse me what?

Him being extremely boring and getting close to zero character development I can agree with though. Also that Irene is the poster child of the game and not him and yet it takes more than 5 hours to actually get her in your team is not the best pacing and could turn you off easily. The devs have acknowledged that however. Nothing that can be done about it though. I suggest you stick with it until at least Irene joins and then decide whether it is for you or not. There will be way more characters that have a much more interesting personality than Albus and the cast as a whole is quite colorful.

[RexEviL]

Albus is scapegoat for everything. His mere existance makes other characters look good. He starts with full character development. At some point in game he starts to change a bit.

Albus has enough training for this , source below

This info is giving 10-30min in game I don't consider it spoiler but anyway.
Albus has been training under certain troubleshooter for 1 year, he has been through all kinds of small/big stuff and finally he can start his own company

Another info given in a bit mid-late game.
He also worked under another troubleshooter boss(Gisele) for a certain time.

[AT]

I have never heard of TS's claim to realism. The game takes place in an alternate modern day, with historically developed use of ESP by local inhabitants and living beings. "Realism" here can only exist very conditional, in the sense of "does what is happening correspond to the local laws of nature." And one person with an ESP and a katana, successfully ignoring bullets, fits into them well.

And Albus as "jrpg protag with no personality"... Albus is "a hard-nosed, overbearing, single-minded rookie". Even if this personality is slightly overused, it is still a personality. Not every character should be a hardcore freak.

[The nameless Gamer]

Originally posted by RexEviL:

Albus is scapegoat for everything. His mere existance makes other characters look good. He starts with full character development. At some point in game he starts to change a bit.

Albus has enough training for this , source below

This info is giving 10-30min in game I don't consider it spoiler but anyway.
Albus has been training under certain troubleshooter for 1 year, he has been through all kinds of small/big stuff and finally he can start his own company

Another info given in a bit mid-late game.
He also worked under another troubleshooter boss(Gisele) for a certain time.

And neither of his bosses was a particularly good teacher. Giselle and Jean are excellent Troubleshooters, but it appears that Albus learned mostly from Gyube, one of Giselle's subordinates.

[Ultimate Despair]

I generally agree with this, but i doubt it'll change considering the games age. I guess replacing albus as main would take a significant amount of time as the story and all scenes where he speaks would need to be altered. It's also possible that ppl with our opinion are the minority.

[Sleekie]

I didn't like him either to start with, but he's not personality-less. He's subtle, restrained and frankly rather conniving. The exact opposite of Sion, in fact. I grew to like him a lot....even if he is hard to build.

[Ryumanjisen]

"realistic tactical RPG"

You know that redhead you spoke of can shoot fireballs and take ENTIRE squads of enemies alone, right? And that other blonde guy who can shoot lightings right?

[Israly]

Originally posted by Ryumanjisen:

"realistic tactical RPG"

You know that redhead you spoke of can shoot fireballs and take ENTIRE squads of enemies alone, right? And that other blonde guy who can shoot lightings right?

i was so waiting someone to reply this hahaha, why must everything be realistic i wonder?

[Vheissu]

Ah yes, the realistic tactical game with a 14-year old child soldier, a delivery boy who shoots kamehamehas and a spoon cult.

A realistic Ghost in the Shell X-Com like would be pretty cool though, I think you're on to something.

[Mochan]

Originally posted by neonhigh:

Honestly, playing as Albus ruins about 80% of the fun for me so-far. He feels so out-of-place in a game that's supposed to be an otherwise realistic tactical rpg. Like, everyone else is running about in heavy combat gear with automatic weapons, and the devs want you to believe that they're losing fights to a weeb running about with a katana? WAt. And the fact that he is literally the poster-child for 'jrpg protag with no personality' makes it worse.

And the final kick in the nethers is how blatant the hints that the redheaded female character is the protag or can at least be swapped in for him. There's nothing about this game that leads me to believe albus is required for it, so it makes no sense that a locked-in male protag is required.

I see you haven't gotten Shion and Irene yet.

[harisenvin]

disagree. hes one of the better male MC in my opinion. yeah he runs around with casual clothes slashing people with guns and armor without proper explanation. but who cares? its power fantasy. what grinds my gears is the amount of time female units become part of the team. i only play like 1 to 2hrs a day and boy i was like damn its been a week of sausage fest right in here.

[The nameless Gamer]

Originally posted by harisenvin:

disagree. hes one of the better male MC in my opinion. yeah he runs around with casual clothes slashing people with guns and armor without proper explanation. but who cares? its power fantasy. what grinds my gears is the amount of time female units become part of the team. i only play like 1 to 2hrs a day and boy i was like damn its been a week of sausage fest right in here.

Let's count the full team:
Males: Albus, Sion, Heixing, Leton.
Females: Irene, Anne, Ray, Giselle, Kylie, Bianca and Alisa. And the upcoming Misty, if we count the final roster addition to the team.

So the girls will outnumber the lads with 2:1. Not that I'm complaining, just doing a head count.