In New World on October 18, the new area Brimstone Sands appears. MeinMMO editor Alexander Leitsch has already spent several hours on the test server and played the new patch. He finds the new area to be great but misses mounts for the first time.
Brimstone Sands is an area I have been looking forward to for a long time. On the one hand, it is the first new zone since the release, and on the other hand, the desert setting was discovered back in November 2021 and piqued my curiosity even then, simply because it looked completely different from the previous areas.
And Brimstone Sands does not disappoint me. After about 5 hours on the test server, I conclude that it is the best area in the game so far. It impresses both visually and in terms of content.
Here you will find all the information on the time and the complete patch notes for the update.
Brimstone Sands is beautiful and brings a new mechanic
The entry into the area already excites me. After a few steps, you see the enormous size and expanse of the area. Additionally, there is the harmonious lighting and the shadows cast by the rocks. A beautiful contrast to the many forests in New World.
Overall, Brimstone Sands relies on a mix of Roman and Egyptian styles. The visual highlights are the new city of Neukorsika, which has a temple at its center, and the large pyramid in the middle of the area, where the new dungeon is hidden.
However, the MMORPG remains true to its graphic style. There are still the same models for stairs or houses. The area feels fresh but not completely new or inconsistent regarding the old world.
Amazon has done a good job with the quests. At the beginning, there is only a main story that you follow, and as you progress, additional side quests are unlocked. In the end, there are about 15 quests available at once, but you are not overwhelmed like in the old areas.
A small plus point is the variety of enemies. In the first 15 minutes, I fight against hyenas, elementals, tigers, scorpions, corrupted, and jackals. However, I would have liked to see more enemy types overall. New World still has some catching up to do.
However, many of the enemy mechanics are really fun. In the first quests, you encounter a level 63 tiger that deals a lot of damage but has clear animations. If you dodge the big attacks, you can win the fight quite easily.
Additionally, the new mechanics of the entire desert are exciting:
- There is now the material Brimstone, which allows you to craft the new heart jewels. These are somewhat like a fourth skill slot with a special effect that you can use anytime and across weapons.
- There is also acid water, which deals damage if you stand in it. You must quickly leave the water to avoid being killed by enemies. You can also equip your armor with acid protection, which takes some time.
The mechanics and materials make the area immediately exciting for veterans. But it’s also worth it for returnees: Many quests offer you gypsum orbs to level up your skills and therefore your equipment faster. But be careful – of course, Brimstone Sands is aimed at players level 60.
Now would be the time for mounts
As beautiful as the new area is, it awakens a new desire in me. For the first time, I miss the mounts in New World. They were simply not necessary in the old areas because they were small and often quite cluttered. Nevertheless, mounts were discussed at release and desired by many players.
However, Brimstone Sands covers the size of at least two areas and has many expansive spaces due to the desert setting. Here, mounts would be useful for the first time, as there are no trees or rocks in the way. Furthermore, despite 13 fast travel points, the walking paths are still relatively long.
Mounts were also introduced in Guild Wars 2 when it came to the expansive deserts. Especially the mechanics of the raptor, which can run quickly and jump far, would fit perfectly with Brimstone Sands.
New patch brings greatsword and new dungeon
If you are still looking for reasons to like the new patch outside of the area, you should look at the entire feature list of the update. Because along with Brimstone Sands, a new endgame dungeon and the greatsword weapon are added to the game.
Like the other weapons, the greatsword relies on two skill trees with three abilities each:
- “Slaughter” focuses on offensive abilities and damage. With the final talent, your attacks reduce the cooldown of abilities, making you even more offensive.
- “Defense,” on the other hand, focuses on defensive abilities and crowd control. With the last talent, you also receive 5% healing from your attacks.
For returnees and newcomers, there is also another highlight. The leveling experience from level 1 to 25 has been revised – both visually and in content. There are fewer monotonous quests, and the main story is now told more smoothly and with fewer travels.
If you are currently considering starting New World, you should wait a little longer. In November, completely new servers will be launched, and there will be a “Fresh Start.” We at MeinMMO will also update our beginner guides accordingly for this occasion. You can learn more about the Fresh Start here:
What do you think of Brimstone Sands? Are you excited about the area and ready to jump right in, or will you wait a bit longer?
