Naraka Bladepoint has been available on Steam for some time after a successful beta, and the positive trend is not slowing down. Thousands of players are simultaneously battling with swords and cannons, and the reviews are also very good. But what makes the game so popular?
What is Naraka Bladepoint? Naraka: Bladepoint is a fast-paced battle royale that was released on Steam on August 12, 2021. In Naraka Bladepoint, the goal is to gain the power of a dead god on a cursed island.
The world is clearly inspired by various medieval cultures of Asia, and the selectable heroes also conform to typical Wuxia clichés. Among them are the blind swordmaster, the drunken martial artist, and the stoic warrior monk.
Each hero has different skills; for instance, the swordmaster can use poison, the drunkard catches fire, and the monk temporarily becomes a sort of four-armed colossus.
Throughout the game, you first explore the island unarmed, acquire weapons and gear, and escape the toxic breath of the dead gods that continuously shrinks the play area. Along the way, you defeat your enemies, and if you are the last one standing at the end, you win the round.
What is the situation on Steam? Even at the beta of Naraka Bladepoint, tens of thousands of players were online. This trend has not been stopped, and even three weeks post-release, Naraka Bladepoint is still a hit on Steam.
Every day, player numbers climb to over 100,000 at peak times. The last peak on September 2, 2021, was 126,842 players, just behind the previous high of 128,628 players on August 30.
This high player count is based on extremely positive reviews. The game has been rated over 27,000 times, with 80 percent of those reviews being positive (as of September 3, 2021).
Smooth action combat system, cool heroes, and high addiction factor – This is why Naraka Bladepoint rocks
Why is the game so well received? When looking at the ratings and comments for Naraka Bladepoint (via Steam), the following features are repeatedly mentioned positively:
- The game has an extensive character editor that allows you to customize the pre-made heroes, and even crazy creations are possible
- The gameplay allows for three-dimensional movement with a grappling hook and other acrobatic stunts reminiscent of the single-player hit Sekiro
- The combat system with various blades and firearms is well-thought-out and balanced. One is constantly in motion and must actively block and dodge. Additionally, weapons will break over time and need to be repaired.
- The heroes, with their skills, play differently and are a lot of fun, with clearly distinguishable roles, such as support or tank
- The game offers a very motivating start, as you primarily fight against bots at first, and the lobbies fill with humans only after some experience.
- Battle pass, competitive ranking, and in-game voice chat are also available.
- Unlocking cosmetics and achievements is very motivating and can be addictive
Also, MeinMMO author Jürgen Horn has also played Naraka Bladepoint and can mostly confirm the above-mentioned points of criticism.
What is still criticized? Negative feedback on Naraka Bladepoint is indeed much less prevalent, but there are still some issues worth mentioning:
- Server problems and poor ping times spoil the fun for some players. This is probably due to players from various regions (e.g., Europe and Asia) being matched together
- The tutorial allegedly explains the gameplay too little, and many functions are unknown at the start, putting players at a disadvantage
- The matchmaking is unfair and throws players of significantly different ranks together
However, even in the negative comments, it often stands out that players still find the game enjoyable, just that performance, etc., is lacking. If the developers address these issues, the response would certainly be even more positive. At least the pings, according to a dev announcement, should be improved soon.
Are you looking for more PvP games with a lot of action? Then check out this article: The 15 best multiplayer shooters of 2021 for PS4, PS5, Xbox, and PC
