[3] The game was described as having a strong storyline, and emphasis on the single player mode.

[7] The game was produced by Yasuyuki Tsuzuki of Sega and Hiroyuki Tamura of tri-Ace, and the in-game music was composed by Motoi Sakuraba.

Photon Arts and Technics from earlier games in the series will not be usable, as a result of certain plot mechanisms.

[11] As part of the Arks Special Planetary Exploration Group Alter, the player is on a journey to return alive from Machia, a chaotic planet where photons have no effect, after the Delta Valiant warship crashes on Machia with 1,000 crew on board.

[12] The story revolves around three main characters:[7][8] The game received a Famitsu review score of 36/40.