Since February 27, you can test Shadow Arena, the battle royale from Pearl Abyss, in a beta on Steam. Our author Alexander Leitsch has taken a closer look at the offshoot of Black Desert and also conducted an interview with Executive Producer Kwangsam Kim.
What is Shadow Arena? Shadow Arena was originally a battle royale in the MMORPG Black Desert. However, the mode could not reach its full potential, as Kwangsam Kim told MeinMMO.
That’s why Pearl Abyss decided to create an entirely new game from the mode. In it, you will be thrown into a large arena along with 40 other players, which shrinks over time.
There, you not only collect equipment but also level up against PvE enemies and learn new skills. You essentially play an MMORPG in fast forward. A round lasts about 15 minutes on average.
According to Kwangsam Kim, the game is no longer comparable to the original battle royale in Black Desert, as many features had to be adjusted for the standalone version. However, the visuals and the black spirit theme still remind of the MMORPG.
The first closed beta test runs until Sunday, March 8. You can still win keys with us. A release is planned for the first half of 2020. The game is supposed to be free-to-play, and the associated shop is currently deactivated.
Why is Shadow Arena fun? After the interview, I decided to try Shadow Arena myself. And after seven rounds, I can say that I really enjoy the battle royale.
The different classes, the short rounds, and the strategic elements provide a lot of variety. And since I enjoyed playing Black Desert, it’s like a “light version” for PvP fans. But let’s take it step by step.
Loot, level up, and PvP
What is there to do in advance? At the start, I have a choice between different modes:
- Solo – 40 players fight against each other
- Team – Teams of 2 players fight against each other
- Practice – To get to know the game
- Private Matches – To fight specifically with friends in an arena
After deciding on a mode, I choose from one of 9 characters, which I will introduce in more detail later. I can also bring one piece of equipment of my choice into battle. At the end of the match, I can take one item back out with me.
Once I’ve made my selection, I have to wait until enough players have signed up. On the European servers, this took between 2 and 4 minutes. During this time, I am already in a small arena, where I can try out skills and jokingly attack other players.
How does a match work? When the match starts, I am shot out of the arena in black spirit form into the world. I can control the flight a bit and determine where I land and against which PvE enemies I fight. There are even boss battles on the map!
In the first 4 minutes, there is a grace period. If I die during this time, I will respawn and even retain the experience points I’ve collected.
Every character has two attacks on the mouse buttons and 4 additional skills that I have to unlock first. For this, I need XP and skill books. Both can be obtained by fighting the creatures in the vicinity.
These also drop equipment that I can equip with the press of a button. The game immediately shows me whether the equipment is better or worse than my current one. Very practical in the heat of battle.
My first PvP experience: Since the PvE mobs don’t take much damage, I was surprised how differently the battle went after I encountered my first player.
Unlike in Ashes of Creation Apocalypse, we both can withstand several hits, dodge, and control the opponent with CC. The fight lasts almost 1 minute due to potions and defensive skills and ends with my victory.
Soon after, however, another player caught me while I still had half health left. I ended up in 14th place out of 40, but I also had the ambition to continue.
9 different characters
Which character started my journey? The first rounds, I played as usual as an archer. I had Orwen available, a mix of human and elf.
While Orwen has a huge advantage against PvE mobs due to range, she struggles a lot when attacked in close combat by assassins like Haru. She has virtually no CC, and aiming against fast opponents is really difficult.
How does Haru play? After three rounds with Orwen, both of which were mediocre, I decided to go with Haru. Haru is a little assassin who can become invisible and also has a teleport.
The quirky character provides a lot of fun and has two skills to keep enemies at bay. With her, I even reached the top 8 in one round.
What can the other characters do? Executive Producer Kwangsam Kim briefly described the abilities of all characters and shared his assessment:
- Jordine Ducas – A well-balanced character between offense and defense. Good for beginners.
- Yeonhwa – Melee fighter with very high speed. Deals a lot of damage but has low defense.
- Ahon Kirus – A character with medium range. Can be very strong but is difficult to control.
- Gehard Schultz – A strong fighter who ignores CC. He is devastating in close combat.
- Herawen – A ranged fighter with solid defense and a strong healing skill.
- Goyen – An aggressive character who uses his own hit points as a resource but also possesses healing skills.
- Badal the Golden – Martial arts fighter with a very unique skill set.
Long-term motivation through leaderboards and new updates
What does the future of Shadow Arena look like? To keep players engaged in the long run, Pearl Abyss relies on a uniquely created ranking system:
There is a ranking and tier system in Shadow Arena. The rank is based on player skills, a bit of luck, and consecutive successes. The system is unique.
Kwangsam Kim
The Executive Producer also shared a few details about the future of the game. Several new features have already been prepared that will be released shortly after launch.
Overall, the developers plan many updates for Shadow Arena to keep the game exciting and varied.
A huge PvP fun, especially for fans of Black Desert
What is the conclusion for Shadow Arena? If you want to experience a battle royale in the style of an MMORPG, then Shadow Arena is definitely an option. The fights are fast and dynamic, leveling up is quick, and motivation is given by a prominently displayed leaderboard.
Of course, the game is especially fun for fans of Black Desert, who will recognize many similarities. However, even those who have not yet come into contact with the MMORPG can have a lot of fun with Shadow Arena.
In any case, I had a lot of fun and will continue to keep an eye on the battle royale. Since Shadow Arena will be free-to-play, everyone can easily check it out on Steam. Pearl Abyss is also planning 3 more MMOs besides Shadow Arena, including a PvE MMORPG:
