[Dragon5]

I have a question. Does the strength amount effects the amount of damage that is given by special attacks that are not melee attacks? for example: Taylor's Lazer Beam or shield? Or Eason's energy blasts?

Of course. All attacks done by the character undergo the same multiplier; projectiles are no exception.  I don't know how Taylor's clones work, but it should be safe to assume they have the same strength as Taylor.

Honestly though, Marti should have never added in the drastic modifier between uneven levels as that is what ruined story mode.

In my humble opinion, the whole level system is uncalled for. LF2 works great without it, so I don't see why HF wouldn't. It not only ruins story mode as it also ruins network mode. Newcomers will quit rage if they join a room with high leveled players, why? Because they'll be powerless against them. And then they either spam troops (they don't know what normalize level does) or simply quit the game.

The level system could keep players stick to the game for a while (in order to level up), but this will only be temporary. What could really really keep players stick to the game would be the ability to modify it (at least to a certain extent), such as the ability to customize story and characters.

I think it had some potential, but Marti executed it poorly. Look at how character have more MP than what is shown. Combine that with the ability to easily overpower opponents a lower level and you have a slow-paced game that relies on grinding to eventually get something that becomes too good. If Marti just made everything do what it said instead of having hidden mechanics Travis and I had to dig out the level system would have been weaker, but more balanced.

Update: Gifs added to strength section. Will work on a draft for guarding tomorrow.