The Wuxia MMORPG Blade and Soul is our MMO of the Month in 2016.
This was not an easy decision this month, and we discussed it internally quite controversially. The possibly more solid choice would have been Diablo 3. D 3 received a new free patch, it was chaos and everything (almost) ran smoothly.
But we decided on Blade and Soul as the MMORPG of January. Although there are currently some technical issues. But overall, there is simply too much in favor of the Asian gem that has made it to the West after many years to overlook Blade and Soul.
Blade and Soul – robust martial arts from Korea
Blade and Soul is a Wuxia MMORPG. Wuxia is known from the Kung Fu movies that play at night on channels that you can switch to somewhere in the high 30s with the remote control: The hero does not want to save the world, but he wants to take revenge.
The stories are often characterized by oversized weapons and characters. Everything is exaggerated.
Blade and Soul has been on the market in Korea since the summer of 2012, writing a success story in Asia. However, the port took a long time. There were many false starts, many pauses in communication, NCSoft did not cover itself with glory in that respect.
But during the three and a half years that fans were eagerly waiting here, the game was solidly and reasonably developed in Korea, provided with new PvE content, and an eSports scene in PvP also emerged.
In contrast to many other MMORPGs in Asia, which start off hot and then fizzle out, it is clear: Blade and Soul has come to stay.
The long lead time now means that we are starting with a solid base version of Blade and Soul and can expect steadily new content in the coming months. The first patch, bringing new content, is expected to come in 2 weeks.
Here are 5 reasons why Blade and Soul is our MMORPG of the Month January
The combat is great. When players want a new MMO, they often list various features and possibilities that they would like to have. This is understandable, but practice shows: Without a strong combat system, all of that is not worth much. And the combat in Blade and Soul, inspired by a fighter, is really fun. You feel the weight in the hits, the power of your own hero.
The movement system is fun. What does a player spend their time on in an MMORPG apart from fighting? Running to the next enemy or to the next quest area. In Blade and Soul, you sprint over water, glide through the air, and hop through the landscape in a martial arts sequence – very good! The two basics, fighting and running, have rarely been as much fun as in B&S.
The game is currently packed. These are the early days in B&S – which means, every area is filled with players, it is lively, communities form, discuss, guilds and friendships arise, Blade and Soul is the topic of the hour among Free2Play players and Asia-affine gamers who have been waiting for the next big thing.
There is instant action. Without a tank or healer, groups form in no time. Thanks to an exemplary dungeon lobby, no one has to wait around for half an hour. It continues quickly. Ideal for making progress in short gaming sessions, grabbing items, logging out a bit stronger than you logged in.
It is free. Anyone can take a look, there is no barrier – the waiting times are high during prime time and tempt you to buy a premium status. However, those who have time or play at unusual hours can avoid that.
Blade and Soul is our MMO of the Month in January. What was yours?
You can find a detailed presentation and opinion on Blade and Soul in our MMO review.
