This game is definitely pay to play. The story is fun, but you cannot get through the story or dates without spending a lot of cash. The influence required to fight bosses increases significantly from chapter to chapter. Chapter 6 requires 35 million - chapter 7 requires 55 million. It's ridiculous. Also very hard to get the items required to pass dates. I can't get through Adrian's first section because I don't have any items tagged "royal."