The release of World of Warcraft: Shadowlands is still some time away, but many of the new features can already be tested in the Alpha. MeinMMO author Benedict Grothaus is one of the testers and can’t get enough of one feature.
What kind of dungeon is this? It’s about Torghast, Tower of the Damned. Torghast is a kind of super-dungeon where players can earn legendary items among other things.
It’s an endgame feature of the new expansion Shadowlands, designed for players at the new maximum level 60. The dungeon becomes increasingly difficult, providing a growing challenge.
However, there are currently no rewards for this in the Alpha. Legendaries and other items have not yet been implemented. For each run, I am currently only receiving quite worthless placeholders. Moreover, only four classes are allowed:
Priest
Mage
Warlock
Demon Hunter
About the author: Benedict has been playing World of Warcraft for over 15 years and has had a nearly continuous subscription with a few breaks since then. Here at MeinMMO, he has been following the MMORPG since August 2017 and supporting Cortyn. Among other things, he maintains the current DPS list of WoW.
Although his primary activity in World of Warcraft is raiding, he has also dabbled in PvP (especially in the arena) and Mythic+ dungeons. During this time, he has looked at each of the 12 playable classes but generally tends to prefer melee fighters.
Although I should probably spend more time as an Alpha tester finding bugs and thoroughly exploring all areas, I must admit that I spend way too much time in Torghast.
By now, surely 10-15 hours of my Alpha playtime have flowed into this dungeon alone and I still can’t get enough. Torghast alone will keep me hooked on Shadowlands for months – and rightly so.
Torghast, the new endgame feature
What makes Torghast so good? The key to Torghast is that the dungeon gets endlessly harder. It is divided into layers, where I must defeat enemies and collect rewards. With the distributed “Anima,” I can strengthen my character during the dungeon run.
This is what a selection looks like. There are also some strange abilities, such as characters dying after time warps … not very helpful.
Crazy builds are possible because many Anima fundamentally change the functions of spells and abilities or even build synergy with each other. It’s similar to Diablo 3 – only that the entire game is squeezed into a dungeon.
The Tarragrue behind bars looks cute, but when it’s lumbering after you, it’s not so cute anymore.
Crazily insane builds and hours of fun
What builds are possible? I personally don’t like any of the classes that Torghast is currently playable with. Actually, I have been playing rogues, warriors, and death knights for many years. But for the test, I created a Mage, placed 6 in the list of the most popular classes in World of Warcraft, and had a blast.
The current selection of abilities in Torghast for the Mage includes many perks that build on the spell “Blink.” In my most fun run so far, my build consisted of the following core abilities:
Blink has no cooldown and costs no mana, but I can only move at 3 meters per second (“RP-Walk”) movement speed
casting Blink leaves a mirror image for 10 seconds
mirror images have more spells they can use
the spell “Mirror Image” summons an additional copy
In addition, there were many useful abilities like increased speed and damage. In the end, I got to the point where I had hardly any global cooldown on Blink and didn’t fight bosses myself anymore. Instead, I blinked against a wall and let my about 30-50 mirror images do the work:
Just a few me’s as friends.
A few more of me. What could possibly go wrong?
With too many egos, chaos ensues quickly.
The bosses can’t decide which Void Elf they want to nibble on first. Delightful!
The great thing about it is that this Anima can even stack, allowing me to summon even more mirror images or further increase my damage. Certainly not efficient on that level yet, but incredibly fun.
In other runs, I built a build around “Arcane Explosion,” which amplified it by 850% on its first use and steadily increased my damage, allowing me to basically run through the levels exploding.
And those were just the possibilities of the Arcane Mage – a class I don’t actually like. Now, if I imagine what I could do as a warrior, death knight, or in a group there, I’m really itching to try it out.
Besides Torghast, there currently aren’t many features that can be tested in the Alpha. The first area “Bastion” and recently the bloody “Revendreth” in Bloodborne style are currently the highlights.
The new zone Revendreth has a bit of the Victorian Bloodborne feel.
But I am sure that Shadowlands will turn out very well and will surely make it onto our list of the best WoW expansions. Moreover, I can already see that I will personally spend much more time in the new addon than I currently do in Battle for Azeroth, even if only to try out more hilarious builds in Torghast.
More on Alpha & Beta of Shadowlands
Now that Revendreth has been introduced, there are still three more of the new areas of Shadowlands missing: Maldraxxus, Ardenweald, and the Maw. I can’t say exactly if and when these will be testable.
MeinMMO will keep an eye on the development and report on the most important information and details about Shadowlands and the Alpha. If you want to get an impression of the new expansion, you can sign up yourself for testing. All information about Alpha & Beta can be found here in our round-up article.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Sony has launched the “Big in Japan” sale on PlayStation 4. We present you the best RPGs and MMOs that you can buy at a low price right now.We also take a look beyond the horizon.
Sony has started its “Big in Japan” sale in the official PlayStation Store. But which games are actually worth it amidst the multitude of offers?
MeinMMO has selected the best RPGs and MMOs for you that are particularly worth it right now. We will present them to you in the following unordered list.
How long does the “Big in Japan” sale last? The sale started on April 24, 2020, and lasts until May 8. All games that have been developed in Japan are offered at a discount.
How did we choose? The titles on our list were selected based on which ones are particularly popular among fans. We also took a look at the top list of the best PS4 games of all time (via GamePro) from our colleagues at GamePro. Additionally, we checked which titles have received updates in some form (remastered or re-release).
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Monster Hunter World
In Monster Hunter World, you will always be accompanied by a scientist who will give you valuable tips, especially at the beginning.
Genre: Action-RPG | Developer: Capcom | Platform: PC, PS4, Xbox One | Release Date: January 26, 2018 | Model: Buy-to-Play
What is Monster Hunter World? In Monster Hunter World, you fight monsters as a hunter, collect their remains, and strengthen your equipment with them. Through a “drop-in” multiplayer mode, you can hunt monsters together with other players or explore the game world. For Capcom, it is the best-selling game in the company’s history.
What does Monster Hunter World cost? The action RPG currently costs €14.99 instead of €29.99, making it perfect for those who have always wanted to take a look at Monster Hunter World.
Anyone who already owns Monster Hunter World can purchase the discounted expansion “Iceborne”. It costs €29.99 instead of €39.99 and expands the game world with another area and several monsters.
Black Desert Online offers 19 different classes, some of which have a gender lock.
Genre: MMORPG | Developer: Pearl Abyss | Platform: PC, PS4, Xbox One | Release Date: March 3, 2016 | Model: Buy-to-Play
What is Black Desert Online? Black Desert Online is an MMORPG that focuses on an action-heavy combat system. It combines typical MMORPG ingredients with sandbox features, such as crafting and extensive housing.
What has been happening in the game recently? Pearl Abyss recently opened season servers that play like Diablo 3, which are currently quite popular: These servers are reset after some time, but offer significantly more XP and money. For a while, you could also get Black Desert Online for free on Steam, and the game also benefits from high player numbers.
What does Black Desert Online cost? The MMORPG currently costs €14.99 instead of €29.99, so you save 50% when purchasing the title. You also need an active PlayStation Plus membership to play.
What is Persona 5? In Persona 5, you plunge into turn-based party battles in a parallel world with the male protagonist Joker. After the fights, you lead your life as a normal student, earn money, and get to know your friends better. After school, you then hunt for the hearts of evil people.
What has been happening in the game recently? On March 31, 2020, Atlus released the Royal Edition of Persona 5. This expands the game with an additional semester and two new characters. If you’re hesitant about the full price of Persona 5 Royal, you can start Atlus’ RPG for under €20.
Persona 5 optionally offers English and Japanese voice acting with English subtitles. Persona 5 Royal also includes German subtitles and interface.
Our colleagues at GamePro praise Persona 5 and award it 92 points. Heiko Klinge states, “every gear meshes perfectly, no game element feels unthought-out or misplaced.”
What does Persona 5 cost? The RPG currently costs €17.49 instead of €69.99. You save 75% when purchasing the game.
Final Fantasy XV. The image shows the mobile version.
What is Final Fantasy 15? Final Fantasy 15 is an action role-playing game. The protagonist Noctis fights in the fantasy world of Eos to regain his home. The game world is open and filled with side quests, and the battles are highly action-oriented.
What has been happening in the game recently? In 2017, a multiplayer mode called FFXV: Comrades was introduced to Final Fantasy XV. You create up to eight avatars and fight alone or together against enemies. With the resources, you can upgrade your weapons or unlock new quests.
To use the multiplayer mode, you need a valid PS Plus membership. Alternatively, you can also try Final Fantasy XIV, an official MMORPG around the fantasy world of Eos.
Hannes Rossow from GamePro explains in his review (rating 88 points) that Final Fantasy XV does many things differently, “but it still feels like a full-fledged installment, completely in line with Final Fantasy…”
What does Final Fantasy XV cost?The action RPG currently costs €17.49 instead of €34.99. So you save half of the normal price.
Oliver tries to save his mother with his companions. Image source: GamePro.de
What is Ni No Kuni Remastered? Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch is the first collaboration between the developers Level 5 and the animation studio Studio Ghibli (among others “Spirited Away” and “Princess Mononoke”). In this role-playing game, you play as the young Oliver who wants to save his mother from the evil witch in a parallel world. Along the way, you collect companions in a Pokémon-style that you can level up and equip.
What has been happening in the game recently? In 2019, Level-5 released a remastered version of the old PS3 title for PS4, PC, and Switch. The game features high-resolution graphics and is otherwise adapted for modern systems. On March 23, 2018, the sequel Ni No Kuni 2 was released, and a third part is already in the works (via GamePro).
The successor Ni No Kuni 2 Revenant Kingdom is also available in the “Big in Japan” sale. This focuses less on collecting companions; instead, you have to manage and expand a kingdom. You do not need to know the story of the predecessor to play Ni No Kuni 2.
PlayStation Plus is the paid subscription service from Sony for PlayStation 4. Currently, one of the best adventures of all time is available for free with PlayStation Plus. We present you the Lineup of PlayStation Plus for April 2020 and tell you why the membership is particularly worthwhile in April 2020.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Destiny 2, the new PvP mode “Trials of Osiris” has been struggling after just a few weeks. It has too few players. Now Bungie announces initial changes. However, the things many players look forward to are still far away. There are also considerations to stop offering the mode for free.
The Twitch streamer GernaderJake. He is the big winner of the new mode in Destiny 2, but he also worries about how it will continue.
Trials are rarely played – only 2.6% on PC, 5.7% on PS4
The PvP event was successful in Destiny 1 for a while, in Destiny 2 the concept was revised but later removed. Bungie was disappointed with the new Trials and apparently wanted to replace them with the new mode “Gambit”, their then favorite mode that came in September 2018.
Now the Trials were reintroduced with Season 10, but the mode doesn’t work. The Trials were supposed to be the highlight of the current Season but only reach a few players.
According to current values from warmind.io (as of Sunday, 1:50 PM), the Trials are played by:
only 2.6% of players on PC
4.1% on Xbox One
about 5.7% of players on PS4
The numbers surely vary – but especially on Sundays, the percentage participation in the Trials of Osiris is frighteningly low. On Fridays, at the start of the Trials, it is surely higher, but still so low that Bungie is announcing changes now.
The tracking site Warmind.io shows what players spend their time on in Destiny: (as of Sunday, April 26, around 1:50 PM German time)
Additionally, Bungie now believes it may have been a mistake to offer the Trials for free and not as part of the paid Season Pass. It could be that this changes: then only players who pay for the current Season could participate in the Trials.
Nothing will change in Season 10, but Bungie “will reevaluate the decision”.
It is said: If Bungie has to choose between accessibility and integrity, they will make the Trials a “sacred, protected place”.
What about the wishes of the fans? Hardcore players had actually hoped that Bungie would bring special rewards. They primarily wanted to see unique weapons for reaching the Lighthouse.
Bungie does not want to comment specifically on this, but only says: Such things might come in “future seasons.” If it comes, it will probably be different from previous rewards, which were Adept Weapons.
They are currently looking at this and want to reveal more later.
Bungie is putting a band-aid on the problem instead of operating on it
This is what’s behind it: Anyone hoping for clear communication from Bungie regarding the Trials will be disappointed. If real comprehensive changes are coming, then probably not until fall.
For Season 11, the Trials will be a bit more rewarding, but not substantially.
Bungie has decided to communicate short-term solutions for now. The access conditions to the Trials seem to be far from settled.
But it seems to lead towards restricting access to the Trials if Bungie cannot get the cheater problem under control.
Bungie wants to solve the biggest problems first.
The “communication offensive” that Bungie has announced is starting rather meekly in terms of the Trials. There are answers and improvements, but they are more of a band-aid than real surgery.
It’s been over 7 years since our MeinMMO author Sascha Asendorf recreated the human city of Stormwind from WoW in Minecraft. Even today, the city looks impressive in blocky style, but he wouldn’t do it again.
Wow – it’s already been 7 years since I took it upon myself to recreate the human city of Stormwind from the MMORPG World of Warcraft. How time flies. I still remember what it was like when I was building almost every day, which drove me and is why I started in the first place. However, I wouldn’t do it again today.
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The trailer already shows a lot of Stormwind in Minecraft. Filmed on an old computer
So much time went into this: I don’t know exactly how many hours went into this build. I did take breaks for days at a time during the process. However, over a period of 1.5 years, I managed to finish the build. I estimate that it added up to over 2,000 hours.
During that time, I am convinced that I created the most detailed Stormwind on a 1:1 scale. YouTuber Vale Yard, however, surpassed the level of detail under contract from Blizzard and achieved impressive results at a larger scale.
This is how it all started
I estimate that I started building around the end of 2011. At that time, the WoW expansion Cataclysm was running, where I completed all raids with my human paladin and had nothing significant left to do.
This is why I started: Boredom drove me so far that one evening I thought: “I could build something in Minecraft“. A raid colleague had previously encouraged me to start playing the block game. Although I was never particularly good at survival mode, I could let my imagination run free in creative mode and created many smaller buildings.
The entrance of the Castle Stormwind
I have always found the castle in Stormwind really cool. So I tried to recreate it in Minecraft. First just the entrance. But when I had proper fun with it and saw that it was working great to recreate something on a 1:1 scale, I continued to expand the castle.
After several hours or days – who really knows – the castle was also finished and looked impressive. The throne room was waiting for its king, the library was filled with books, and the garden looked well kept. That should have been it, but I wanted more.
The finished castle, as it looks in the standard Minecraft design in 2020
This is how it continued: After the castle was completed, I moved on to the old town. Subsequently, I implemented the trade quarter with the Valley of Heroes, the Dwarven District, and the Cathedral Square.
The Mage Quarter gave me quite a headache with its many round shapes. I postponed the build for a long time. Although parts of the city were destroyed by Deathwing in Cataclysm, I wanted to have a repaired version. So I completed the walls and also brought back the old park.
The Mage Tower in the center of the Mage Quarter
In the end, I reconstructed the entire harbor of Stormwind and edited the surrounding terrain with an in-game editor. But that also took many hours.
This is how detailed Stormwind is
About 95% of the entire city is hand laid stone by stone. Only large areas I filled in with the editor, such as the sea.
This is how I used the template: I tried to stay as close to the original as possible. Meanwhile, I always had WoW open on a second screen. This is how the 1:1 version in Minecraft was created, as well as it could be done in the block game. All walkable buildings have appropriate interiors, and the dungeon and the Mage Tower can also be inspected.
This is what Stormwind looked like during Cataclysm. However, I wanted to repair the destroyed park.
This is what Stormwind currently looks like in Minecraft
This is why the build was so easy for me: When I started building, I had already completed my first training. At that time, I was not an author, but a trained architectural draftsman.
I have developed good spatial imagination and used it in the construction. For each quarter, I previously laid out a floor plan in the game until it matched the scale or I was satisfied.
A floor plan like this is really helpful when building
I was often amazed at how well everything fit together and interlocked. At least, when you accepted that Stormwind cannot be perfectly recreated in Minecraft.
If you overlay the WoW UI over Minecraft, the similarity is already astonishing
The media and community motivated me
I spent about 1.5 years and 2,000 hours on the entire build. Of course, that requires a great source of motivation. At some point, I started recording videos of the build for my old YouTube account that I ran with friends. With my old junk computer 7 years ago, the quality was terrible, but the project still gained attention from the community.
Thanks to shader mods, Stormwind looked impressive in the Minecraft version 1.4.6. The community also liked it
This is what the community and media said: Many WoW and Minecraft fans cheered me on in the comments to keep going. They found the project really cool, and various media discovered the project:
The MMO site Buffed wrote: “That World of Warcraft is also a popular topic in Minecraft is no secret, but such a detailed version of the human city Stormwind is rare.”
Playcentral (formerly Playnation) was also thrilled: “YouTuber Sascha309 built Stormwind in blocky style. While there are already numerous recreations of the city, none are as detailed as this one.”
You can believe me when I say that I was very proud of it. Had MeinMMO existed back then, you would surely have read something about it here.
But that is exactly what contributed to my motivation. The WoW news site Vanion.eu also became aware of the project. The unfortunately deceased head of the site, Patrick Michalczak, sponsored me a Minecraft server back then so that other people could watch the build live.
Every day new people visited me, who felt at home as WoW fans. That gave me the drive to complete Stormwind.
I look back with pride but wouldn’t do it again
When I think back to that time or talk about it with friends, I realize how proud I am of this achievement. When I start Minecraft, I like to walk through this impressive city and ask myself: “How did I manage to do that?”.
Further insights into Stormwind
Never again! At the same time, I also tell myself that I will never do such a project in Minecraft again, under any circumstances, let alone finish it. And there are various reasons for that.
This is why I would never do it again
Sure, it was fun for me, and I am glad to have finished Stormwind. But the time that went into the build could have been invested much better in hindsight. I repeatedly neglected my friends or family, and my high school diploma also suffered. I was obsessed with finishing the build, which made me more antisocial at that time.
Today I know better, and like many others, I have much less time in my late 20s to invest 2,000 hours into a single game like this.
In Valorant, you have the choice of several agents, each bringing their own strengths and weaknesses. Phoenix’s abilities remind one of a CS:GO soldier and can create quite a chaos for the enemy team. Learn everything here about his nasty fire tricks and some good tactics.
Who is Phoenix? The duelist from the tough shooter Valorant loves playing with fire and is full of confidence. He is one of the starter agents and plays most like a classic shooter soldier with his skill set.
This fiery agent relies entirely on your gunplay skills. Although his skills can deal damage, they work better as cover or to scare opponents out of hiding spots. With his tricks, you can gain a brief but strong advantage in the fight, but you also need to secure the kills.
On top of that, he has strong self-healing powers. With his Molotov (Hot Hands) and the Firewall, he can heal himself, and his ultimate ability is a true respawn.
What role does he play in the team? As a duelist, Phoenix is always on the front lines and is expected to ensure a successful entry into the fight. He works best with an initiator like Sova, who provides him with the positions of the enemies, so he can start the fight with his flash grenade (Nasty Toss).
Here you can find some tips & tricks for the fiery daredevil Phoenix, one of the best agents of the Valorant beta.
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Phoenix – Strong Front Agent with a Flair for Gunplay
Is Phoenix right for me? The duelist is suited for aggressive players who are always looking for the next kill. You are the first the opponents encounter and hopefully the last they see in this round. If you prefer to pull the strings from the background or are into precise sniper kills, you’d better choose one of the other agents.
But even though Phoenix focuses on offense – Valorant is a tactical game, and you shouldn’t always go in headfirst through the Firewall. However, when action is required, you should be ready to step up first with Phoenix to give your team an early advantage in the round.
Phoenix gives you the opportunity to outsmart your opponent and dictate your playstyle. However, you must always be ready to take the next step yourself and still keep a cool head.
Pro
Abilities provide advantages in gunfights
Self-healing powers
One of the strongest ultis in the game
Can significantly support team advancement
Contra
Good gunplay is necessary
Works significantly better with support
Abilities can also hit team members
Abilities reveal the player’s position
Agent with Abilities like a CS:GO Soldier
Timing and communication are key to successfully playing with Phoenix. Learn the quirks of his abilities and use them efficiently. Here are the functions and some tips for using Phoenix’s fire tricks.
Passive Ability – Fire Healing
What does this skill do? Phoenix can heal himself using his damage abilities. “Hot Hands” and “Firewall” restore hit points to the duelist and prepare him for the next firefight.
With “Hot Hands” and “Firewall” you can heal yourself, but not your buddies.
How strong is the healing? The healing strength of the abilities is inversely proportional to their damage potential. “Hot Hands” deals more damage to the opponent but heals less. While the Firewall heals you heavily, it causes only minor damage to enemies:
Healing from Hot Hands: 39
Healing from Firewall: 69
Do my abilities heal teammates? No, it’s a pure self-healing skill. In fact, you even damage your teammates if you set them on fire.
Hot Hands – E-Skill
How do you get this skill? All Valorant agents have a signature ability that automatically charges each round, and for Phoenix, it is “Hot Hands”.
What does Hot Hands do? The ability is comparable to a Molotov cocktail and leaves a burning area at the impact site for about 4 seconds. It is Phoenix’s strongest damage ability.
When you activate the skill on E, you will be shown two throwing variants: “Normal” and “Lob.” When you throw the fireball normally, the projectile flies with good momentum and fairly straight in the desired direction. With the secondary throw, you have the option to throw the fireball in a high arc over nearby walls or the like.
You can throw the fireball quite far, but after at most 3 seconds, it will fall to the ground and leave a fiery area.
What is this skill good for? Essentially, you have 3 application possibilities here:
Dealing damage to enemies in the area
Blocking a zone to restrict enemy movement
Using the flames for self-healing
However, you should only use the skill to force a trapped enemy out of cover or for self-healing. Blocking a zone with it on a hunch or using the fire circle to block a passage usually isn’t worth it. Other agents are better at that, and Phoenix can calmly heal himself.
What creative applications does this skill offer? Grenades with AoE effects provide many interesting opportunities to outsmart or scare away enemies. Despite the relatively straight flight path of this nasty projectile, you can reach almost any point close by.
The ball will fly for a maximum of 3 seconds through the air and then crash directly onto the ground. This way, you can throw over cover and, with a little practice, achieve precise hits. While the enemy won’t be taken out, they often leave their position, allowing you to strike at the right moment.
What you need to keep in mind: The burning area also damages your teammates. If you want to use the skill for support in a fight, be mindful of your allies’ positions. Even if you throw the ball on the ground in front of you to grab some healing, take into account your comrades. The enemies will take more damage than your allies.
Nasty Toss – Q-Skill
What does Nasty Toss do? It is a classic flashbang. Players hit by the “flash beams” are severely blinded for nearly 2 seconds and can see nothing. Simply turning away does not help at all. The flash effect is weakened by this, but still affects vision for a moment. Blinded enemies can be recognized by a yellow marker above their heads.
Activate this skill with Q, and the game gives you 2 directions. Left mouse click for left, right for right. The small burning ball flies around the corner like a curveball. You cannot influence its flight path, only the direction. You can also throw it upwards, for example.
The flashbang flies around the corner like a curveball. Players who look directly into the blinder see nothing for a moment.
How do you obtain this skill? You must purchase this ability for 100 credits in the match shop. You can carry a maximum of 2 of these nasty flashbangs.
What is this skill good for? With the flashbang, you force the enemy into an uncomfortable position.
They have to dodge the ball and rethink
The opponent accepts the blinding and is briefly unprotected or can only shoot blindly
The enemy briefly turns around to minimize the effect and then does not know what is coming at them
You can use each of these situations to your advantage in a firefight. Remember how enemies react in different situations and learn to predict their behavioral patterns.
As with Phoenix’s other abilities, do not use the “Nasty Toss” on a hunch. Let a scout support you or blind rushing enemies.
What creative applications does this skill offer? This flashbang is a nasty toy and one of the best abilities to assist during the combat entry. If you have a rough idea of where an enemy is located, you can take them out of action for a brief moment and secure the frag.
With the right movement, you can benefit from the smaller blinding effect when turning away from the ball. Instead of waiting behind the corner, you go around the corner with the flashbang, quickly turn around, and then back. This way, you are directly in the fight and might already spot the precise position of the enemy and take them out.
What you need to keep in mind: The “Nasty Toss” also affects your teammates. A quick blind to support them in a fight is not a good idea.
Firewall – C-Skill
What does Firewall do? The ability creates a tall wall of flames that towers over every agent. The wall doesn’t deal too much damage, but is several meters long and provides reliable cover for 6 seconds, with several possible applications:
With the long wall, you can obscure areas
If you stand inside the wall, you receive healing
Players standing directly in the wall are blinded
Protects against optical abilities, such as the “Nasty Toss”
Firewall is activated with C and can then be released with a left mouse click. The wall does not appear directly, but first needs to build up to the endpoint. During this time, you can shape the wall, but you must hold the mouse button down.
If you move left or right with the crosshair, the wall’s trajectory will also change. You can even make an S shape if you move quickly left and right or draw a semicircle with a quick motion in one direction.
You can bend and curve the Firewall. However, it takes a bit of practice.
How do you get this skill? This blazing pleasure can be purchased in the match shop for 200 credits. You can carry one ability of this kind in each match.
What is this skill good for? The Firewall acts as a long smoke grenade and works best to cover your area of action from the gaze of curious enemies. You can block a corridor, split a room, or use the moment to take a new position. As long as you are near the wall, you even receive significant healing.
The wall also allows you to interrupt enemy advances. For example, if you are playing against another Phoenix who wants to blind you with their “Nasty Toss”, the Firewall will act like a real wall and block the flash.
What creative applications does this skill offer? Together with some scouting, this cover can work wonders. With the right mouse movement, you can secure a specific area for your team and position yourself well for an attack or shoot through the wall.
When attacking larger groups of enemies, a well-placed Firewall separates the team from each other. The enemies would have to accept a flash in order to reunite and are forced to act. You can then target the isolated prey.
What you need to keep in mind: The Firewall damages your teammates and can blind them. When used properly, this cover becomes a strong ability with many applications. However, without a specific plan, its effect quickly dissipates, and the use is in vain.
Revenge – Ultimate
What does Revenge do? This ultimate gives you a genuine respawn. With X, you immediately mark a location, and a timer starts. If you are eliminated now or the timer runs out, you respawn at the marked location.
How do you get this skill? Like all ultimates, you cannot purchase Revenge. You must charge the “respawn” with a total of 6 points before it is ready to use. You earn points through kills, collecting ultimate orbs in the match, achieving a point at the end of a round, and placing a spike. After that, the skill remains ready to use until you use it. After use, the ultimate can charge again.
What is this skill good for? The planned respawn provides you with many possibilities and is one of the strongest ultimates in the game. You can secure and scout areas aggressively for a while and then simply respawn at the marked location.
When you activate the ultimate, you leave a marking where you stand. After the timer expires, Phoenix returns to this point.
What creative applications does this skill offer? Don’t see the respawn solely as an opportunity to secure frags. When you go into battle with the confidence of “invincibility” and encounter an enemy who is still recovering from a nasty flash, you are practically always at an advantage. Unless a pro takes you down with a headshot while philosophizing about the Phantom and Vandal.
Set a goal for your respawn attack and think about how you can make the most of this strong advantage. If you have a location where enemies are present, set the spawn, aggressively take down one of the enemies, and scout for your initiator the other opponents. Gather not only frags but also important information for your team.
What you need to keep in mind: Revenge costs you your shield. If the fight doesn’t come down to life and respawn, you will lose your shield upon resetting. However, if you don’t have full health when resetting, you will return to 100 health.
Phoenix Gameplay – Tips & Tactics for the Duelist
How should I proceed with Phoenix? Duelists are the fraggers on the team, and you need to play aggressively. Unlike the nimble duelist Jett, who provides more lone wolf gameplay, Phoenix works particularly well in a team. However, this comes with the drawback that you can also hit your allies with your abilities.
Still, make sure to get support and strengthen your team with advantages in gunfights. But always be ready to take the reins yourself. You are the killer on the team and ensure a successful entry into the fight. However, Phoenix relies heavily on your gunfight skills. He does not slow down or weaken enemies; rather, he applies pressure and shoots them down mercilessly.
If you go in too boldly and recklessly, you can quickly disadvantage your team if the opposing duelist takes you out directly. Find the balance between attacking and waiting with Phoenix, and you can become really strong with him.
If you want to see Phoenix’s tricks in action, check here:
https://youtu.be/SOU6vvQAoH8
What should I watch for with Phoenix/how can I counter him? The duelist is strong in gunfights, but he can’t do everything perfectly. There are some weaknesses that you should know as both a Phoenix player and opponent.
If misused, the abilities quickly fizzle out. If you can provoke Phoenix, he will soon be left without skills.
His abilities reveal his position. If the enemy sees the flight path or effect direction, they know Phoenix’s position.
Since you can see where, for example, the flashbang is coming from, you can effectively block the possible attack path with automatic weapons. Simply spray a few bursts in the direction despite the flash or Firewall.
His abilities can blind, block vision, and deal a little damage, but they only affect you briefly. If Phoenix and his team do not capitalize during this time, they need a new strategy quickly.
How does Phoenix function in a team? You ensure a good entry into firefights and are expected to weaken the enemy with your solid abilities. Let yourself be supported by an initiator or tactician.
The duelist can be quite strong as a lone wolf, but with the right support, he becomes truly powerful. Always go in pairs, communicate the enemy’s positions, and set accents at the right moment.
As a team, take advantage of his strong ultimate and try to charge it as quickly as possible. When playing defense, always grab the ultimate orb with Phoenix. Even if there are no kills, after 3 rounds, you will have your first respawn, and with the “Revenge”, you can significantly influence the round.
Know your abilities very well. The Firewall blinds you when you pass through.
Which agent goes well with Phoenix? All agents that can help Phoenix scout enemy positions and put even more pressure on the foes enhance the fiery duelist’s gameplay.
Sova – The scout can share enemy positions with the team better than any other agent and provides Phoenix with the information he needs to initiate his attack plan. A great agent to start with in Valorant.
Viper – The nasty snake strategist can block large areas with her attacks and push the enemies in the desired direction. Together with Phoenix’s fire attacks, one can exert great dominance.
Cypher – This guardian helps to hold or scout enemies. A slower opponent is an easy target for a trigger-happy Phoenix, and if they are also blinded, they stand no chance.
Phoenix: Start-Setup and Suitable Weapons
What starting setup is recommended? Avoid going for an overly expensive weapon with Phoenix and instead invest in abilities. Feel free to fill your slots and invest 400 of your 800 starting credits in the match shop. This way, you can support a teammate trying to secure one-shot kills with the Sheriff.
If you want something powerful right from the start, try the Frenzy. The automatic pistol delivers quick kills at close range but has a decent range as well. Exactly your effective range.
Which weapon suits Phoenix? The choice of weapon type is often a matter of taste but should match the strengths of the agent.
Phoenix excels in close to medium-range combat but not as close as Jett, making shotguns a poor choice here. However, anything that fires automatically and possibly is quiet is fun to use with Phoenix.
Bulldog – Strong automatic assault rifle with the option to switch to a three-shot mode via zoom. Optimal for taking precise aim at separated enemies with the “Firewall”.
Phantom – The suppressed weapon is very expensive but also powerful. A mobile all-round assault rifle with an automatic firing mode and a zoom level.
Spectre – A fast and relatively cheap weapon that is also silenced. A mobile, fully automatic SMG that only has some weaknesses in range and loses damage after 20 meters.
Where does Phoenix stand compared to the other agents? The duelist is considered a strong character and can be hugely helpful to his team in gunfights. In our tier list, MeinMMO ranks him in category A. He is strong but not irreplaceable. A more defensive team can also acquire flash grenades or cover from other agents.
What makes him unique and incredibly strong, however, is his ultimate. The little respawn in between can be used for attacking, scouting, and can provide an advantage in virtually any situation.
The mixer streamer and shooter pro Michael “shroud” Grzesiek has a funny appearance in Microsoft’s new advertisement for the Xbox Game Pass on PC. The clip is built around his personality as a streamer and what the gamer stands for.
What is it about? Microsoft has released a new advertisement focused on the mixer streamer shroud and the Xbox Game Pass for PC. Throughout the clip, it becomes clear that the advertisement itself isn’t taking itself too seriously.
This is the clip: At first, you see shroud and a beaver hanging together on a glider. Initially, it looks quite realistic.
The commentator mentions that the streamer is currently playing Xbox Game Pass Halo on the PC. At first, everything appears to be an impressively staged spot that wants to go “one step further”.
Quickly, the clip shows that it all takes place in front of a greenscreen. The funny concept of the advertisement unfolds: the spot disassembles itself before the viewers’ eyes and shows that it was all just a pretty facade.
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Here you see the “Xbox Game Pass” advertisement with shroud
You hear shroud after a few directorial cues fly around the room: “Can we just show the games?” – The commentator agrees and a gameplay video with Game Pass games rolls.
At shroud’s request, the whole show should be canceled and only the essentials should be presented instead.
That’s why shroud is perfect for the job
What’s behind it? In summary, the advertisement shows that it prefers to forgo pompous staging and clearly states in the end:
he is known for playing on the PC and less on the console
and he embodies the image of a “Pure Gamer” – for him, the games come first, not the show or drama
So it’s no coincidence that Microsoft chose this streamer to promote their PC version of the Game Pass. They want to make it clear that the Xbox Game Pass is for PC and “legitimate”. It’s honest, no show, it’s made for the PC core gamers.
Twitch star Dr Disrespect weighs in: “That’s the difference!”
What would be the contrast to shroud? Streamer DrDisrespect stands for more of the opposite in streaming. For him, a big show and stories around his macho character are simply part of it. The show is often more important than the gameplay.
In response to the ad clip, he shows a video comparing his announcement of the big Twitch deal with the Mixer advertisement. He calls it “the difference between Twitch and Mixer”
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Fortnite presents a cool, shiny golden pickaxe as a new item for the “Battle Royale” mode. However, only selected players are allowed to wield the pickaxe.
What kind of item is this? Epic Games has now introduced the “Axe of Champions” pickaxe to players. A large, gold-plated pickaxe that should stand out in the game when a player is using it. But there is a catch. The item cannot be purchased like regular pickaxe bundles in the shop. Only selected players are allowed to use it.
Only 28 players around the world have access to it.
This is the “Axe of Champions” in Fortnite
Axe of Champions exclusively for the best players
Who can use the pickaxe? The Axe of Champions is the official FNCS trophy. Only the current FNCS champions have access to the item. It is therefore exclusive to the champions of Season 2 in Chapter 2.
Recently, Epic Games (via epicgames.com) announced the 28 professionals who have earned the title and the associated reward.
The letters “FNCS” stand for “Fortnite Champion Series”. The tournament has also garnered attention due to cheaters:
How long can players use the pickaxe? They can hold onto it until the next champions are determined. Fortnite states, “Every champion will eventually be dethroned.” After each FNCS finals, the pickaxe will be passed on to the new champions.
It doesn’t matter in which format the tournament is played.
However, there is one exception:
To properly celebrate all previous FNCS champions, we are making a one-time exception. During the upcoming FNCS Invitational tournament, we will equip all previous and current champions with the Axe of Champions in the locker. They may keep the pickaxe for as long as this special event lasts.
Source: Epic Games
The pickaxe will certainly be a showstopper when worn with the rarest skins in Fortnite. Do you think it’s good how Epic Games honors the tournament champions, or would you have preferred something different?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Pokémon GO there are currently many rumors about a possible level increase from 40 to 50. We show you what is known so far and what problems an increase could bring.
This has provided a lot of conversation material. Why would Niantic include a reward for level 50 if there wasn’t a level increase coming soon?
These findings sparked discussions. Source: reddit
Level increase in Pokémon GO – What does Niantic say?
What official information is available? Niantic has remained silent about a level increase so far. One of the last pieces of information on the subject was given to us by Niantic itself during an interview at the GO Fest 2019 in Dortmund. This took place in July.
There, we spoke with Laura Warner and Matt Ein from MeinMMO. They are both game designers at Niantic and provided insight into a possible increase.
It was mentioned that they are definitely considering an increase, but they need to figure out how to implement this feature. They want to set the level so that not many players can reach it immediately, but rather that everyone still has something to do.
Conversely, they don’t want to set it too high for casual players, otherwise they wouldn’t be able to reach it at all. They are looking for ways to reach the maximum level differently and not just through leveling up with XP – a kind of middle ground. But what could that look like?
Is level 40 soon no longer the maximum level?
What does this mean for the maximum level? Almost a year ago, there were thoughts about a possible level expansion. It is conceivable that Niantic may have found a solution to the problem by now and that an increase is coming soon.
Of course, one must also consider that Niantic’s statements are several months old and so far, only a leak has surfaced as new information. Until there is no official information, it is advisable to wait.
Possible problems with the level increase
This causes problems: What many players are wondering is how an increase could look. Are they purely prestige levels, meaning levels that don’t bring any further gameplay progress, or are they actually levels that would also provide benefits in the game?
If the level actually also brings gameplay advantages – such as additional levels for your Pokémon – then this could disrupt the meta quite significantly.
Some Pokémon already reach the power they have at level 40 at a slightly lower level. Further leveling is therefore not very useful. Other Pokémon gain significantly more power when leveled up further.
So, if you simply add 10 more levels, this could bring noticeable differences. New Pokémon could become more interesting, and previously strong Pokémon may become weaker.
Furthermore, the question also arises as to how much CP a Pokémon would gain per level-up and how expensive that would be. So far, the CP gained has been halved starting at level 30. The last two power-ups cost 10,000 stardust and 15 candies. With 10 more levels, it would become significantly more expensive.
Are the best attackers no longer strong?
How could a level increase be implemented? Referring to the statements of the developers and the mentioned problems, two steps seem conceivable:
The upcoming 10 levels are purely for prestige – they provide you with items, but no further advantages.
To reach these levels, one must not only collect XP – captured Pokémon or other indicators could be crucial.
What can be noted: It seems that Niantic is indeed working on a level increase. However, it is still very early to discuss more precise details here. One should therefore wait until more information becomes available.
If you are already level 40 and are bored, we recommend these tips:
The numbers on Steam have increased due to the coronavirus. This applies not only generally to the platform but also specifically to MMORPGs. We looked at the titles that have benefited the most from the situation.
What is the current situation on Steam? The coronavirus has led to record numbers on Steam in terms of concurrent users. This is because many more people are spending their time at home and can do less outside their own four walls.
This also benefits MMORPGs, with almost all titles being able to increase their numbers on Steam. The special thing about it is that most of these games rely on their own clients and were not initially released on Steam but later to become more accessible to the general public.
The total player numbers are likely to be significantly higher for almost all titles, especially since some also released versions for PS4 and Xbox One.
What is the situation for MMORPGs on Steam? The reddit user latin_latina created a graphic listing most MMORPGs available on Steam.
The image also shows the percentage development of the game. It compares the data from the last 30 days (from March 23 to April 21) with the previous 30 days.
This provides a good insight into the current trends.
Development of MMORPGs on Steam.
We took a closer look at the 6 most successful games on this list and will tell you how the player numbers have developed exactly and whether something special has happened recently.
The numbers refer to the values from the website Steamcharts.
ESO is particularly strong, benefiting from Free Week
With an increase of nearly 71% in player numbers, The Elder Scrolls Online made the biggest jump on Steam.
What is the reason? This is primarily because the MMORPG was free for two weeks at the beginning of April. As part of this action, ESO even set a new record on Steam with 49,061 concurrent players at peak. Over the last 30 days, an average of 27,217 players played.
Greymoor will be the new expansion of ESO and is set to be released in May for PC.
The old classic The Lord of the Rings Online has also increased significantly in percentage terms. The nearly 40% sounds impressive, but in March overall, the MMORPG increased by 62.2%.
While in February an average of 565 players played per day, it was 1,270 in the last 30 days. This is the best value since April 2013.
What is the reason? One possible reason for the boom could be the action where all expansions are playable for free until April 30. This saves a lot of money or In-game playtime. Additionally, the MMORPG took advantage of the situation and held events such as an XP boost during this time.
In 3rd place, the popular action MMORPG TERA is following, which saw an average of 1,254 players in the last 30 days, resulting in an increase of 38.73%.
With this, the game achieves its strongest value since May 2018 and overall the sixth best month since its release on Steam.
TERA is especially liked for its dynamic combat system.
The game is currently making headlines for wanting to make loot boxes more transparent with exact percentages (via Krafton). Whether this will also come to the EU version is currently unknown.
Losers despite Corona? BDO seems to have fewer players
What is wrong with Black Desert? Despite the boom in MMORPGs, there are also losers who have lost players.
The sandbox MMORPG is one of three titles that have lost players in the last 30 days. With an average of 23,694 players, Black Desert is one of the strongest MMOs on Steam.
Is this really a decline? The slight player decrease of 1.12% is mainly due to the fact that Black Desert held a free weekend event, but at the beginning of March. Compared to February when the MMORPG averaged 15,032 players daily, BDO has also increased.
If you are currently looking for a game you can play for free, we have compiled the 13 best Free2Play MMORPGs. Among these are also some titles that you can play via Steam.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Although millions of players battle daily for victory in Call of Duty: Warzone, there is criticism of the Battle Royale. One such critique comes from the top streamer on Twitch, Dr Disrespect, who apparently finds Warzone not challenging enough.
What does the Doc want to change? In one of his recent streams, Dr Disrespect revealed what bothers him about Warzone. He specifically lists four aspects of the Battle Royale that he believes need to be removed:
C4
Claymores
Rocket Launchers
Trucks
Without these items, Warzone would be a “more challenging” game, as he clearly states in the clip:
What is the problem with these items? The Doc does not elaborate on what specifically bothers him about these items. However, they are frequently criticized within the community. Apparently, it is too easy to achieve “cheap” kills that frustrate opponents with them.
On Twitch, CoD: Modern Warfare (Multiplayer and Warzone combined) is currently in fifth place among the most-watched games in the last seven days, according to sullygnome (as of April 26). However, it cannot surpass the number one spot held by the new shooter hit Valorant.
Dr Disrespect himself is currently in second place among the most-watched streamers in Call of Duty. Only NICKMERCS ranks above him. And despite the criticism, he still seems to be enjoying it: He even mocks some pros he has played with for camping.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
A player cleverly hides from other players in a session of GTA Online and is celebrated online for it. The GTA player chose the most conspicuous way as a VIP and got through without any problems.
What did the player do? To win a certain type of mission in GTA Online, a player had to hide from adversaries tasked with killing him. Instead of choosing a particularly convoluted spot to hide, he took a different approach. Player “I_do_not_have_corona” donned typical clothing worn by NPCs in GTA Online and simply strolled along the sidewalk. Right in the middle of the day, clearly visible along the street.
The hostile players searching for him drove mere meters past him. But because he acted like an NPC and carried no weapons, the player went unnoticed. Brilliant!
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He successfully deceived his opponents with this action. But right now, GTA Online itself is also deceiving its players, with a nasty bug at the Lucky Wheel.
Why couldn’t players see him?
Here’s why he hid: GTA Online offers a game mode for VIPs/CEOs called Executive Search. It’s a sort of hide-and-seek where a VIP/CEO must remain in a specific area of the map for 10 minutes:
If the player leaves the area of the map or dies, the mission fails.
Adversary players try to kill the player within these 10 minutes. This is made more difficult by the fact that the mark of the sought player is removed from the minimap and the player’s name is only displayed when the person stands still. If they keep moving, the name won’t appear and it becomes much harder to locate and eliminate the target.
How are players reacting? On reddit, the post is being actively discussed and upvoted. The post received over 17,000 upvotes and more than 520 comments on the social platform.
Players write:
“This man is too dangerous to let live”
“Chameleon”
“Legend”
“I remember that was funny in Watchdogs multiplayer”
“GTA Online should always be like this. No radar marking as long as you aren’t armed, so you can just chill”
“100 IQ play here”
“You could start a trend”
Another player found the idea so good that he wanted to replicate it. “That looks too damn funny. I need to focus my mission selection more towards entertainment like this, not on money-per-hour. Thanks for that,” writes NotABadMon. Shortly thereafter, he added to his comment:
“I tried it and got run over by 4 Khanjali tanks and they started griefing me. Forget it.”
This shows that while the idea is good, it requires a certain ignorance on the part of the adversaries to work. When tanks are in the game, it’s usually all over. The Khanjali tank is one of the 5 vehicles that every player should own in GTA Online in 2020.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Destiny 2 cheaters annoy honest players and ruin the PvP experience. An expert strikes backand shows his well-thought-out loadout.
This is why cheaters are currently causing problems: Since Season 10, the Trials, the PvP King class, are back in Destiny 2. Unfortunately, in this competitive mode, dishonest players are causing trouble.
While Bungie has banned about three times as many cheaters as usual since the start of the activity in early March, many players are shouting in unison that cheaters are running rampant in the Crucible – and some guardians have had enough.
PvP-Crack wants to counter cheaters with anti-cheater build
The YouTuber and Twitch streamer Drewskys is well-known in the Destiny community for his in-depth analyses and skills in the Crucible. As one of the few top players on PC, he is using a controller.
Cheaters expect that they have the information advantage. You use this misconception against them. Your intrinsic invisibility and dodge roll also break aim assist – even some cheaters can be temporarily fooled this way.
I don’t want to give cheaters a free win. I want to make the cheaters sweat, I want them to work for it.
This is why the weapons belong in the loadout: The weapon selection is also cleverly made and gives you advantages. When the brazen cheater gets too close, you charge up the destructive laser from the Devil’s Ruin. The charge time is no problem, as you see the enemy coming.
Once you’ve mastered the charge mechanic, enemies will think twice about challenging you in close combat. Even the most dominant PvP weapon falls short against the beam when it comes to TTK.
The normal fire mode of hand cannons is also useful in the current meta.
The laser is available to you at maximum power, even when there is only 1 round left in the magazine.
No one wants cheaters as opponents – but when they come, you want to be prepared
For long-range combat, you have perhaps the currently strongest sniper rifle in Destiny 2. And the ammo scarcity in the Trials is elegantly bypassed with it. With the special perk “Reversal of Wealth,” you regain the round in the magazine on misses. This allows you to make quite wild attacks. If you land a headshot, only 2 enemies stand in your way, if not: you get a second chance.
By the way, the combination of firearms and abilities is not only meant as a weapon against dishonest players. Even in duels with regular opponents, this setup proves to be very effective and is worth a look.
What do you think of the build and the idea behind fighting cheaters with their own weapons? Of course, this is no guarantee to automatically have the upper hand against cheaters. If you’re looking for good options for PvE, you’ll find this here: Destiny 2: The strongest Warmind builds for all 3 classes in Season 10
We have relied on his expertise on MeinMMO several times, including here:
How does the build counter cheaters? With the recently buffed Exo Gloves and Hunter abilities, you legally gain the advantage of many cheaters: wallhacks. In Destiny 2, this is called “True Sight” and highlights enemies through walls.
Cheaters expect that they have the information advantage. You use this misconception against them. Your intrinsic invisibility and dodge roll also break aim assist – even some cheaters can be temporarily fooled this way.
I don’t want to give cheaters a free win. I want to make the cheaters sweat, I want them to work for it.
This is why the weapons belong in the loadout: The weapon selection is also cleverly made and gives you advantages. When the brazen cheater gets too close, you charge up the destructive laser from the Devil’s Ruin. The charge time is no problem, as you see the enemy coming.
Once you’ve mastered the charge mechanic, enemies will think twice about challenging you in close combat. Even the most dominant PvP weapon falls short against the beam when it comes to TTK.
The normal fire mode of hand cannons is also useful in the current meta.
The laser is available to you at maximum power, even when there is only 1 round left in the magazine.
No one wants cheaters as opponents – but when they come, you want to be prepared
For long-range combat, you have perhaps the currently strongest sniper rifle in Destiny 2. And the ammo scarcity in the Trials is elegantly bypassed with it. With the special perk “Reversal of Wealth,” you regain the round in the magazine on misses. This allows you to make quite wild attacks. If you land a headshot, only 2 enemies stand in your way, if not: you get a second chance.
By the way, the combination of firearms and abilities is not only meant as a weapon against dishonest players. Even in duels with regular opponents, this setup proves to be very effective and is worth a look.
What do you think of the build and the idea behind fighting cheaters with their own weapons? Of course, this is no guarantee to automatically have the upper hand against cheaters. If you’re looking for good options for PvE, you’ll find this here: Destiny 2: The strongest Warmind builds for all 3 classes in Season 10
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The well-known Twitch streamer TimTheTatman ended up in a match in CoD Warzone in the Gulag. When he wanted to demonstrate his cool skills in a duel, a rock got in his way.
What happens in the Gulags of Warzone? In the Battle Royale mode of CoD WM, players who have been shot down in combat can fight for a second chance.
They end up in prison and must ultimately face another player in a duel. If they manage to win, they are freed and can jump back into the Battle Royale. If you lose, it’s the end of the match.
Exactly this happened to the well-known streamer Timothy “TimTheTatman” Betar.
During the stream, Tim boasted that he was really good in the Gulag fights. He would never lose when he landed there. When he was actually sent to the Gulag and it was his turn to fight, he confidently said:
I’ll show you why they call me “Gulag Gary,” Doc. Check this out.
He then took position next to a row of lockers, lay down on the ground, and placed a mine. Suddenly it exploded right in front of the streamer and blew him into the air.
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Why did the mine explode? The mine did not explode by coincidence. When you land in a Gulag in Warzone, you can initially watch the duels until it’s your turn. Meanwhile, players have the option to throw rocks at their opponents.
Normally, they deal very little damage and are not lethal. But one of those thrown rocks hit the trigger of the mine and sent the streamer to oblivion.
The new multiplayer game Bleeding Edge (PC, Xbox One) has released a new accolades trailer that differs from the usual trailers of its kind. It uses quotes from fans on Twitter and Discord instead of review reports. When it comes to reviews that appear on Metacritic, Bleeding Edge currently has a rather mediocre standing.
This is the situation: The multiplayer game Bleeding Edge by Ninja Theory was released on March 24 for Xbox One X and on Steam. In this colorful third-person brawler, you control a hero character with unique abilities. The heroes process each other into mush in an arena.
A accolades trailer for Bleeding Edge has now been released on YouTube, utilizing praise quotes gathered from fans on Twitter and Discord.
Accolades trailers typically feature laudatory statements and high ratings from major publications or well-known personalities in the gaming industry. This is meant to demonstrate that the game has been recognized and endorsed by critics.
The approach of highlighting the opinions of fans from Twitter and Discord for Bleeding Edge led to a number of negative comments under the video across various channels.
According to the sarcastic comments on YouTube, Bleeding Edge received such poor reviews that no positive quotes from major publications could be found for the trailer. Thus, the accolades trailer used quotes from “fanboys” to present a more favorable image than it is.
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The accolades trailer for Bleeding Edge features quotes from users on Twitter and Discord.
Moreover, some quotes used in the trailer could not be traced back. For instance, the Twitter accounts of @JPSHRACERGAMING and @JordanJaner do not yield matching quotes in the feeds. However, the tweet from Euphie (via Twitter) is available.
It is noticeable that the three quoted are not “huge influencers,” but rather have 87 followers, 139 followers, and 496 followers on Twitter. In terms of reviews that land on Metacritic, Bleeding Edge indeed has a rather mediocre standing.
This practice of quoting enthusiastic fans is less common and recognized than ratings from major gaming magazines. However, it is also not a newly introduced method solely used for Bleeding Edge, as some have claimed.
“Fan Accolades Trailers” are less known
Where else has this been done? It is not the first time that Ninja Theory has used fan quotes in their accolades trailers. While the accolades videos for Devil May Cry 2010 still included ratings from gaming magazines, nothing of the sort is seen in the corresponding trailer for Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice.
Instead, we find in the accolades trailer for Hellblade quotes from enthusiastic fans recounting their experiences with the game and expressing their gratitude. The trailer has 3,300 upvotes and only 82 downvotes on Sony’s YouTube account (as of April 25, 2020, 16:16).
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The accolades trailer for Hellblade is very emotional and well-received by fans.
Which companies do this as well? Ninja Theory is not the only one utilizing the concept of fan quotes in their accolades trailers. Other major companies and publishers have also resorted to this method in the past. These include Square Enix and Sony.
In some of these trailers, the playtime of users from whom the quotes originate was also mentioned.
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In the accolades trailer for Pathologic, playtime was also indicated.
How the reviews for Bleeding Edge turned out
The reviews for Bleeding Edge were indeed rather mediocre. On Metacritic, the game received:
a Metascore of 67 and a user score of 6.3 for Xbox One
on PC, the reviews achieved a Metascore of 61 and a user score of 5.3
In the 33 mediocre reviews for Bleeding Edge, the lack of game mods, characters, and gameplay depth was criticized. It was noted that the game has a lot of potential and is fun in the initial hours.
In the first few hours, Bleeding Edge is a blast and is definitely worth it if you have the Xbox Game Pass. But it currently lacks enough depth to sustain itself over time.
Bleeding Edge has its moments where I really had fun, but it doesn’t motivate me for more than a short round. For that, the rewards in the game and the feeling of getting better are lacking.
On Steam, Bleeding Edge fares better. Of the 1137 reviews for the game (as of April 25, 2020, 16:16), 74% are positive.
The Community Day in April with Abra was really enjoyable for MeinMMO editor Patrick Freese. For players in the village, this event in Pokémon GO went perfectly, he says.
What is it about? Today, April 25, 2020, the Community Day with Abra took place in Pokémon GO. Due to the current Corona situation, Niantic had to come up with something special for this event, as it is usually about meeting trainers nearby and enjoying the bonuses together in a community.
Now Niantic had to change the event so that you could also have fun from home. And as a village player, I benefited a lot from it and have to say: I would love it to happen like this every time.
A dream for village players – but why?
What made the event so good? Today at 11:00 AM it started – I immediately lit a “Lure”. The item usually attracts Pokémon for 30 minutes, today it lasted for 3 hours. So it was only natural for me to use it. At the same time, I activated a lucky egg to earn more XP, and off we went with the hunt.
Before the event started, I had purchased the ticket for the special research for €1 – it activated just in time for my first catch.
I could hardly believe my eyes – usually, the event spawns in my village are quite sparse, so rather meager. Without Lure, I see hardly any event Pokémon. With Lure, just a little more. On Community Days, I usually catch only a single Shiny.
Today I couldn’t stop catching. More and more Abra spawned, and after just a few minutes, I had my first Shiny. Then another, and then another one.
Part of my Shiny haul – I am satisfied
The combination of increased event spawns and Lure worked great. After just a few minutes, I was able to complete the special research “Investigating Illusions” without any problems and collect the rewards. So the investment quickly paid off for me.
I was able to take full advantage of the event. I found 9 Shiny Abra by the end of the event in my Pokémon collection. Plus a lot of Stardust, which I earned for the many catches. For me, it was a complete success.
Who is speaking? Patrick Freese has been playing the mobile hit Pokémon GO since its release in 2016. For him in the village, however, playing is not as “easy” as in the city. There is a lack of PokéStops, gyms, and spawns here. He wishes that the recent event changes would be permanent.
Why should it always be like this? For this event, which was organized specifically for home, developer Niantic made changes.
The Community Day in April lasted 6 instead of just 3 hours
Instead of increasing the effectiveness of Lure modules for PokéStops, the developers extended the duration of Lures
Increased chances of encountering Abra in the wild
These bonuses are super convenient for us village players, as Lures attract more Pokémon to PokéStops. This bonus is usually available on Community Days. But when the stops in the village are so far apart, there are fewer advantages compared to the city, where three stops are close together and can be supplied with modules.
Additionally, buddy Pokémon brought balls to trainers. Another advantage related to the fact that there are only a few stops in the village where you can normally get balls.
The event today went smoothly – Pikachu is happy too
In combination with the significantly increased spawn rate of Abra, I didn’t have to envy the city this time as a village player. I felt capable of fully taking advantage of the event this time. I didn’t have that feeling during other Community Days.
If it were up to me, Niantic should consider continuing to offer such bonuses during Community Days in the future. At least in rural areas. And if a practical promo code is distributed at the same time, that would be even better. What do you think about that?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
If the best loot in Destiny 2 no longer comes from the game, but is instead almost exclusively from the in-game shop, then the soul of Destiny is at risk, says our shooter expert Sven Galitzki. To him, the game almost resembles a shopping simulator.
What defines Destiny 2? What defines the core of Destiny? What is the soul of the game? Many play together with their friends and enjoy shared adventures in Destiny 2; some simply enjoy competing with others in PvP.
For most, myself included, the loot is likely one of the most important, if not the most important aspect of Destiny 2. After all, it’s the loot and the infamous loot spiral that motivate us time and again and drive us to dive back into the Destiny universe.
Hand on heart: Would any of you have sunk hundreds or thousands of hours into Destiny if there hadn’t been cool carrots like the Gjallarhorn, the Recluse, or the One Thousand Voices dangled in front of us by Bungie?
New exciting and rewarding loot for our guardians – whether it’s new weapons, armor pieces, ships, or ghost shells – is for many the heart, the main drive, the soul of Destiny.
Clearly, this whole thing is also set against a visually and audibly appealing backdrop in a fantastic universe.
But in the end, it really comes down to loot.
Loot is the heart of Destiny 2
What has kept me motivated in Destiny: The hunt for cool items is what has kept me entertained even during times of content drought.
I personally place a lot of importance on the appearance of my guardian. The armor can have the best stats, but if it doesn’t look good, I won’t put it on my guardian at all.
If I can combine top stats with good looks, I don’t say no. I’ve spent countless hours farming certain armor pieces to give my guardian the perfect look for me.
Before its nerf, the Recluse was a carrot dangling before us
In short: There were phases when the content in Destiny didn’t captivate me anymore, but I always found something to keep myself occupied with the hunt for certain missing items or in PvP. But that has changed recently.
Destiny 2 is no fun for me with Season 10
That’s why I’m currently taking a break from Destiny: Since Season 10, I haven’t been regularly playing Destiny 2 for the first time.
Overall, there simply isn’t enough new content this season that could motivate me to regularly put on my guardian’s clothes. Furthermore, I have reached a point where content that previously motivated me just isn’t fun for me anymore. Even the return of the Trials couldn’t change that.
The Trials were supposed to bring back the feeling of old times
What makes activities fundamentally attractive? The fun factor and – yes, that’s right – the rewards, i.e., the loot.
It wasn’t just the meager content that led me to play less. Since Shadowkeep, another problem has increasingly crept into Destiny 2 that has significantly contributed to my sporadic gameplay since the season of worthy – the loot in the Eververse.
This was the turning point for me: With Shadowkeep in October 2019, the core game of Destiny 2 was supplemented with numerous additional contents that became Free-to-Play, and there was a noticeable shift in the in-game store Eververse.
Tess Everis’s shop has since been intensely supplied with new, quirky, and creative offers – whether they are new ornaments for weapons and armor, cool new sparrows, or visually appealing ghost shells.
Tess always has new content in her inventory
The big problem is: The new loot is only available through the Eververse. New loot through gameplay has become rare in Destiny 2 and is far less appealing than the Eververse’s offers. You can immediately tell whether an item comes from the game or the shop.
In principle, Destiny 2’s loot system has developed such that the tastiest carrots are now almost exclusively from the shop – perhaps also through the last levels of the season pass. And within the game, the quality and, it feels like, the quantity of loot is noticeably decreasing.
In short: The coolest and best-looking loot is mostly available through the Eververse in Destiny 2. And when the best stuff in a loot shooter comes almost exclusively from the in-game shop, something is wrong. Because loot is the soul of Destiny. And this soul is increasingly being devoured by the Eververse.
This problem Destiny 2 must urgently address
For me, besides attractive content, this is the biggest problem: To name the problem:
In Destiny 2, the balance between in-game and shop loot is simply no longer right.
In-game, the quality and quantity of attractive items is declining, while the Eververse is filled with more and more of them.
Especially the replayability and attractiveness of in-game activities is suffering greatly.
Because for many of these items from the shop like finisher animations, new ghosts, or weapon or armor ornaments, I would now “grind my ass off” if they could only be obtained through gameplay.
New cool finishers are available in the Eververse
And when I say gameplay, I mean for example as strike-specific rewards, as rare drops in raids, from the escalation protocol, or from one of the many other cool activities that are currently just languishing in Destiny 2 – and not through dry glimmer bounties that ultimately lead me to the shop, or through the deft grip on the wallet.
Yes, I know Bungie needs to make money, but… the balance has to be right. And it is not at all at the moment. With this massive imbalance in the balance, the developers create no (urgently needed) incentives to play – they create incentives to shop in the store – whether with in-game currency or real money. No matter how you turn it – in the end, you can’t avoid the shop if you want to equip your guardian with the coolest stuff.
And this imbalance is something Bungie urgently needs to fix if they don’t want the game to turn from an MMO loot shooter into a shopping simulator. Because Destiny 2 is not far from that.
Is the break from Destiny 2 good? Not really… I actually hoped that I would feel more inclined to play Destiny 2 again due to the break. After all, it’s said that a little distance can work wonders. But I am increasingly realizing (and it hurts my heart): if nothing changes at this point, I doubt I will play Destiny 2 as intensely as before.
Destiny 1 and 2 will always be my favorite games and I sincerely hope that Bungie can steer the ship at the critical points again. But right now, it doesn’t look like that.
And so I have to sadly say that I am looking more forward to a possible (and hopefully better) Destiny 3 than to another year of Destiny 2 in its current state. Because for me, Destiny is no longer what it once was, but merely a shadow of its former self.
Something is changing: By the way, Bungie has recently announced: They are aware that a lot of players are currently unhappy with the state of Destiny 2. Therefore, there will now be an information offensive addressing the most urgent criticism from the community in the weekly developer blogs. They will start with plans against cheaters and measures for better Trials.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The Twitch streamer Natalia “Alinity” Mogollon (Apex Legends, Valorant) is under criticism again. Some are calling for Twitch to ban the streamer now. She has already been noted for her strange behavior with animals, and now an incident with her clothing should earn her the overdue ban, according to colleagues of the streamer.
The streamer Alinity (1.07 million followers) is known for her gameplay in Apex Legends or Valorant. She is a pretty good shooter player. But more attention is regularly drawn to her streams under the category “Just Chatting.” The native Colombian has caused quite a stir in recent months.
This is the latest controversy: In a stream on April 24, the streamer apparently wanted to put a pillow under her top to simulate a large belly.
However, she lifted her top and bra, and her left, bare breast was visible for a moment.
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Here is a censored version of the video. There are also uncensored versions of the few seconds.
The streamer visibly reacted in shock, murmuring an “Oh my God” and stepping back as if she wanted to distance herself from the situation. But it had already been broadcast live on Twitch worldwide.
Will she be banned within 24 hours or will we stage a revolt!
This was the reaction: The clip quickly spread on Reddit as “Alinity Nip Slip” and received over 10,000 upvotes. The (uncensored) clip in the post was later deleted.
The Twitch streamer Kacey “Kaceytron” Cavines is freaking out a bit. She writes in capital letters: Alinity must be banned for this, otherwise it only shows how unfair the whole mess is.
The LoL streamer Kaceytron gives Twitch 24 hours before people stage a revolt.
Why is there so much outrage over Alinity? Alinity is seen by many viewers as the poster child for a perceived favorite of the streaming service Twitch. She has drawn criticism in the past without receiving a ban:
That is why the outrage over Alinity is so intense now. People apparently feel: “Now she is overdue” and the focus is on Twitch and how they will respond to Alinity’s blunders.
Alinity sees the situations for which she is criticized differently. She feels she is being treated unfairly by critics. For example, she defends herself by stating that trolls have watched hours of her streams and created a misleading clip that creates the impression she enjoys being sniffed by her dog. In reality, it is all much more harmless and natural. Every woman knows how a dog reacts to its owner during their period.
Must Alinity be banned? According to Twitch’s rules, showing a bare breast is prohibited. However, Twitch always emphasizes how important the context of an action is. In Alinity’s case, it seems to have clearly been an accident. Nevertheless, the mood is so charged that there will likely be a temporary ban.
The handling of the streamer Alinity by Twitch is criticized. It is considered too lenient.
Update April 26: The streamer Alinity received a temporary Twitch ban on the night from Saturday to Sunday around 2 a.m. Her channel is therefore no longer reachable until the ban expires.
In Valorant there is the Shorty, the cheapest weapon to buy. But is the small sawed-off shotgun really worth anything? Here you will find out what the short shotgun is all about.
What is the Shorty all about? In Valorant, the Classic pistol is free at the start of each game. This is a solid weapon without many special features. If you want something else, you have to buy it, and luckily you start with 800 credits.
With that, you can buy skills, shields, or other pistols, including an expensive revolver that can achieve one-shot kills with headshots. Or you can spend just 200 credits and get the cheapest weapon in the game, the Shorty. It is actually much better than you might think at first glance.
The Shorty – The cheapest weapon in Valorant
The stats of the Shorty: Here are the properties of the Shorty at a glance.
Cost:
200
Magazine:
2
Wall Penetration:
Low
Rate of Fire (Primary/Secondary):
3.3 shots/second
Bullets per Shot
15
Damage 0 – 9 Meters (Body/Head/Leg):
12/36/10 per bullet
Damage 9 – 15 Meters (Body/Head/Leg):
8/24/6 per bullet
Damage 15 – 50 Meters (Body/Head/Leg):
3/9/2 per bullet
Primary Fire Mode:
Single shot
Alternative Fire Mode:
None
What is special about the Shorty? The Shorty doesn’t look particularly strong, and its stats initially sound weak. But that’s misleading. At close range, the Shorty can inflict up to 180 points of damage with a maximum of 15 pellets! That is absolutely deadly, not even the thickest armor can help. You don’t even need all 15 pellets to hit. It’s enough if 9 pellets connect to take down an unprotected opponent.
Pro
Extremely high damage at close range
Instant kills with body shots at close range
Very cheap
Good for Run&Gun
Contra
Dismal range
Extremely wide spread, even for a shotgun
Small magazine
This is still feasible at slightly longer distances (up to 9 meters), and you don’t even need to aim well. Just make sure to hit roughly the torso. Therefore, this weapon is optimal for Run&Gun players as it loses very little accuracy through movement.
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Here you can see the shooting behavior of the Shorty in the video.
If an opponent is right in front of the shotgun, just pull the trigger and blast them away. But be careful that the first shot lands. You have at most one shot left to correct, then you have to reload. And at that distance, your opponent shouldn’t let you get that close.
The exact data for lethal body shots, broken down by distance and possible armor, can be found in the following table.
Distance
Minimum Bullet Hits for Kill (Body)
0 – 9 Meters
9/11/13
9 – 15 Meters
13/16/19
15 – 50 Meters
34/42/50
The numbers for the required hits refer first to an unprotected opponent, then one with light and one with heavy armor.
You can see: The Shorty excels at close distances up to a maximum of 9 meters. After that, a lethal one-shot becomes increasingly unlikely.
In these situations, you should take the Shorty: Since the Shorty is so cheap, it is an optimal weapon for starting rounds or so-called “economy rounds,” where you can’t or don’t want to afford expensive equipment. With the cheap 200 credits, there is still enough money left for savings or useful skills and shields.
Here you can clearly see how much the spread increases with each range stage. By 20 meters at the latest, you can forget about it.
Which agents should take the Shorty? Additionally, the Shorty performs well with the following agents:
The lightning-fast Jett is particularly good with the Shorty as she can quickly close the gap to opponents or initiate flank attacks.
Phoenix can confuse opponents with his flash grenades and then quickly finish them off with the Shorty.
Breach can impair opponents through walls and then rush in quickly to get kills with the Shorty.
Omen can teleport close to opponents or use his skills for confusion.
Heroes that create visibility barriers, like Brimstone or Viper, benefit from the Shorty, allowing them to get closer to the opponent.
The Shorty holds a good place in our weapon tier list:
Are you more interested in the most expensive and best weapons in the endgame than a good weapon for save rounds? Then read our article on the eternal question “Phantom or Vandal” and find out which of the two top-tier assault rifles professional gamer shroud prefers in his matches.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Since Borderlands 3 was released in September 2019, a lot has changed. The latest update provided some great content. Here are 3 things you should check out now.
Borderlands 3 in transition: After Borderlands 3 has grown significantly since its release through events and two DLCs, Gearbox further expanded in late April with a major update.
Among other things, it included the endgame-changing Mayhem Mode 2.0, as well as two new events. These offer you plenty of new possibilities that keep the game exciting – even if you’ve seen and collected everything so far.
Play with new gear
What you can look for now: Most Borderlands players focus on the seemingly infinite variety of different weapons and gear. Looting as much as possible – true to this motto, many bosses have been farmed hundreds of times to grab legendary weapons.
With the new update, not only completely new guns came into play – new anointments have also been added. For example, you can now find weapons that:
deal 200% more damage while action skill is active
deal 300% bonus damage to enemies with over 90% health
receive 150% radiation damage when you only have 50% health.
For Zane, the 200% bonus damage while action skill is active is extremely suitable
Depending on the Vault Hunter, you can create incredibly strong combinations. So it’s worth going out to search, farming new weapons, and maybe trying out a few new guns.
By the way: If you have already unlocked Mayhem Mode by completing the story, you can choose from the 10 new chaos levels. The higher you go, the stronger the weapons you find. But: The game also gets harder – thanks to the next point on this list.
Try out new modifiers in Mayhem 2.0
This is what the new chaos mode offers: The Mayhem 2.0 mode not only expands the old four-tier system to 10 new levels but also introduces new modifiers. They are activated randomly and literally cause chaos on the map – but also a lot of fun. Here are a few minutes of gameplay under Mayhem 2.0 conditions:
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The new modifiers are a lot crazier than the well-known mods that mainly adjusted damage values. A small selection:
It may happen that everything and everyone suddenly has giant heads. Yes, that also applies to bosses.
Enemies that are dying may suddenly heal other enemies around them.
You will become 50% faster with each defeated enemy, which can stack up to three times.
Instead of going into “fight-for-your-life mode”, you just go down.
Defeated enemies release death in the form of a flying skull. It chases you until it catches you – and then you go down.
Additionally, there are many more mods that grant invincibility or cause loot explosions. The new chaos mode offers plenty of room for new shenanigans.
Fans have already discovered that you can lure the “death” to other players if it is chasing you. And bosses with giant heads simply look pretty ridiculous, as fans noted on reddit:
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This is the cartel event: The new event sends you hunting for gangsters scattered across the galaxy. The Saurian Maurice, who as usual gives you the event quest, has a score to settle with the guys: They broke his arm, and now he sends you after them.
If you defeat the gangsters and their reinforcements, you’ll receive the coordinates to Villa Ultraviolet – a new map where you face the cartel bosses. This has a noticeable 80’s vibe, as you can see here in the trailer:
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There’s new loot here as well – such as a fish grenade – new cosmetics, and new challenges. Fans are quite enjoying the event, which runs until June 4th.
“It’s only been out for a day, and I’ve had more fun with this map than with almost anything else in this game,” says user “cheezewarrior” (via reddit).
“This could be the prettiest place in the game. It looks like it’s the baby of Jackpot, Athenas, and Eden 6,” comments user white-bread (via reddit).
“This map is so cool, the music too! It would be such a waste if it disappeared forever,” also finds user lostmylast (via reddit).
For now, the event is scheduled for just six weeks. That’s enough time to defeat the cartels multiple times – but anyone taking a break from Borderlands 3 should not miss at least visiting the villa.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The first beta test of the anime MMORPG Blue Protocol crashed immediately at launch under the high demand of players. Nevertheless, the testers were able to play for a long time afterwards and share their impressions.
Apparently, the login servers of Blue Protocol could not withstand the influx of players and crashed. To resolve the issues, the start of the beta had to be pushed further back.
This is essentially a limited beta test. Originally, 50,000 players were to be allowed into the test, but Bandai Namco increased the number of testers by another 5,000 at short notice. However, the many simultaneous accesses to the login server still overloaded the system.
The developers apologized on Twitter for the problems. Due to the technical difficulties, the beta test was extended and now ends on Monday, April 27.
What is Blue Protocol? The action-based MMORPG Blue Protocol was announced last year by Bandai Namco and has already completed the alpha phase. In the game, you control a hero who has traveled back 1,000 years to prevent a major catastrophe.
What were the contents of the beta? When players managed to get onto the servers, they were able to get a detailed impression of the beta. The selection of content was very classic for an MMORPG:
There was a character editor where you could play with various options
The beta offered a selection of 4 classes: Archer, Mage, Warrior with an axe, and a Paladin-like class with shield and sword
Players could explore the starting city and interact with NPCs
Alternatively, you could follow the story of the MMORPG, told in colorful anime sequences
Outside the city, players could complete typical MMORPG quests, hunt monsters and explore the environment.
There were also special open-world bosses that you could fight together with other players
Screenshots from the beta of Blue Protocol (Image source: MMOByte)
This is how the gameplay works: The combat system of Blue Protocol is action-oriented, and you need to aim correctly when attacking to deal damage to your opponents.
The MMORPG uses a stamina bar similar to that in SoulsBorne games. It depletes when you attack or dodge and refills when the character remains still.
The individual classes also have a skill system that can be upgraded progressively. They are divided into active and passive skills, and for some of them, you have to choose between multiple upgrade options. It offers the possibility for custom builds.
You can watch detailed gameplay videos here, for example:
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Can we also join? It was possible for Western players to register for the beta tests with the help of VPN services, and some even managed to receive a key. However, registrations for the test are now closed.
Is Blue Protocol coming to Europe? Currently, there is no information on release dates for Blue Protocol. This applies not only to the Europe release, which remains unconfirmed, but also to the release in Japan.
