For the global launch, Black Desert Mobile struggled with poor reviews in the stores as well as increased Pay2Win accusations. What was going on? And should one still take a look at the game? MeinMMO author Robert has a clear opinion.
What is Black Desert Mobile or BDM? The new mobile MMO has been available on the global market for a few days now. Previously, the game was only available in Asia. Black Desert Mobile is heavily based on Black Desert Online, which is available for PC as well as PS4 and Xbox One.
As is typical for the genre, you need to complete missions, collect equipment, face increasingly powerful bosses, and compete against other players in combat.
Poor reviews at launch – what was going on? The graphics and scope are outstanding for a mobile game – still, it received some poor reviews at the global launch. This had various reasons:
- In the Asian version of the game, significantly more items could be purchased with in-game currency, while in the global version you need to spend real money for that.
- In preparation for the launch, players could only create characters but not play. There were, curiously enough, poor reviews for that.
- Bugs and problems additionally complicate the launch.
Especially the differences to the Korean version were harshly criticized in a widely noticed Reddit post. In the global version, companions can only be obtained with premium currency, not with in-game currency (with one exception). The developers were accused of greed.
I share this criticism, but not the consequence of a resulting devaluation of the game. I have never played the Korean version, so I can only evaluate the global variant of the game. And it’s a lot of fun – even without spending money.
How much Pay2Win is in Black Desert Mobile?
This is my current state in the game: I have been playing for about 15 hours, have reached character level 46, and have an attack power of about 2000. At the beginning of the game, I invested some euros to acquire an additional companion. Companions automatically pick up loot, but do not make you stronger.
Since then, I can complete main missions, participate in raids, challenge bosses, and accumulate knowledge about the game world. The really fantastic graphics (assuming a powerful device) and the large game world invite exploration.
However, I still have not reached a “wall” where I would only progress with real money or excessive grinding, which I consider a very good value for a mobile game after 15 hours of play. On the contrary. There’s still a lot I haven’t seen, I haven’t completed the story, nor played all activities.
However, that does not mean that Black Desert Mobile is not Pay2Win. Of course not.
How to accelerate progress in Black Desert Mobile
With real money, progress in the game can be significantly accelerated. You can buy in-game currency (silver) directly or convert purchased pearls into black pearls to buy items on the market that make your character stronger.
However, to get the best equipment, you have to dig into your pockets. Only the so-called “whales” (players who spend a lot of money to lead the leaderboards) are likely to invest that much money.
This Pay2Win mechanic is a problem for you if you
- want to lead the leaderboards at all costs,
- want to be at the forefront in the PvP arena or
- want to fight bosses at the highest difficulty levels.
As in every mobile game, players who invest large amounts of money dominate. They buy a time advantage. So if you want to achieve success as quickly as possible without relying on luck, you invest money.
If you are not in a hurry but think long-term and do not care about leaderboards, you can have fun in every mobile game.
If you don’t want to spend money, you can still have a lot of fun in BDM: The great graphics, the large game world, and the many little things to discover already make Black Desert Mobile a great mobile game for me.
Furthermore, with the many convenience options, Black Desert Mobile can be played casually, without having to spend hours daily on micromanagement.
Conclusion: Pay2Win: Yes! Is it possible without money? Yes!
Black Desert Mobile offers Pay2Win mechanics, which should not surprise anyone who has frequently dealt with such games. However, you can also have a lot of fun if you invest some time.
Black Desert Mobile is, in contrast to many other genre representatives, still diverse even after long play times. Due to the many collections, there is also a lot to do in the long run.
The significant differences to the Asian version of the game may be annoying, but I did not find these restrictions to be drastic.
How have the reviews for Black Desert Mobile evolved? By now, BDM has a significantly better rating than at launch. Players appreciate the scope as well as the graphics of the game. Additionally, some differences to the Korean version have been eliminated. Currently, BDM is among the best-rated mobile MMOs overall.
Have you tried Black Desert Mobile? How do you like it?
