Blue Protocol held a network test in Japan from March 31 to April 2. There, some players could try out the content up to level 20. We at MeinMMO were unable to participate in the test, but we summarize what the testers have to say about the MMORPG.
How is Blue Protocol received? The MMORPG is said to have developed significantly compared to the last test in 2020 and gained more depth. Especially the combat system is said to feel very dynamic – also thanks to jumping, dodging, and various auto-attacks.
The YouTuber MMOByte even claims that Blue Protocol is “far superior” to Genshin Impact in terms of animations and transitions between attacks. This is exactly the opposite of Throne and Liberty, which testers say plays very statically.
Some side aspects, such as strong boss fights, hidden treasure chests in the game world, or the photo mode, are also mentioned as positive examples.
However, there are also three points that are viewed critically:
- The high grind
- Leveling the Adventure Rank
- The very generic side quests
You can check out the first gameplay here:
Blue Protocol has more abilities than you might think
How does character creation work? At the beginning, you choose one of the five classes and can then create a character, having access to various customization options.
The editor is not as detailed as Black Desert, but offers some options to distinguish yourself from other players.
However, with your character, you are not bound to one class. After just a few levels, an NPC is said to offer you the opportunity to learn another class. However, that starts again at level 1. In the future, you will only need the appropriate weapon and can switch between all 5 classes as often as you like in any city.
How exactly does combat work? In Blue Protocol, each class has access to:
- Attacks with the left and right mouse buttons
- 4 abilities
- 2 pet abilities
That may sound like little, but there are many customization options for these abilities.
The attack with the left mouse button changes when you select a directional key. For example, if you attack with W + mouse button, the Twinblade class ignites enemies, while side-attacking (with A or D) + mouse button performs an AoE attack. This gives you a total of 3 types of auto-attacks.
Additionally, it is possible to use attacks and abilities from a jump. Although this has no additional effect, testers say it feels good. Sprinting and dodging are also important to avoid enemy attacks.
In addition to the main abilities, there are also two slots for pets that you can equip. You obtain these pets in-game through various tasks. They can heal, deal damage, or provide useful buffs.
In combat, you can decide whether to stay in an action view and aim with your attacks or whether to “lock on” to a target. This is done with the middle mouse button. Then all abilities fly directly to the enemy.
Those who forego the “lock on” may have advantages. As an archer, for instance, you deal more damage when hitting the enemy’s head.
Additionally, there are so-called attack chains. If you hit a target multiple times in a row, you increase your damage. After 50 hits, you deal 1% more damage, after another 100 hits 2%, and so on.
How action-packed the fights are and what the opponents can do is shown in this video by YouTuber Steparu, who runs the first group dungeon:
What do we know about group play? Blue Protocol places a strong emphasis on dungeons and raids that can be completed in small and large groups. You can either venture out with a fixed group or use a dungeon finder.
Guilds – called teams in Blue Protocol – have a limit on the number of members. However, this can be increased by leveling your guild.
There will initially be no PvP in Blue Protocol.
Criticism for high grind and boring side quests
What do testers criticize? A major criticism that keeps coming up is the grind. This applies to several content types. For instance, leveling the Adventure Ranks is said to be somewhat annoying.
The Adventure Rank is somewhat like your account level and runs parallel to class levels. You increase this through special tasks, which are said to be very generic. For example, you must defeat a certain number of enemies, gather herbs, and catch fish. All of this must be done because only with a higher Adventure Rank do new content such as quests and dungeons unlock.
Another grind aspect is crafting. Here you must farm special materials to craft and upgrade your gear. Monsters in the game do not drop armor or weapons.
However, some players are said to have already farmed for hours for upgrades because monsters rarely dropped the right materials. The drop and XP rates were increased specifically for this test, so some are concerned that the grind in the final version could be too extreme.
A third criticism is directed at the side quests. The tasks beyond the main story are said to be very generic. Kill X, collect Y, and run to Z – the typical MMORPG fare. Here, some hope that there will be more inspiration from Genshin Impact in the future, where the side quests also included one or two puzzles.
Mixed feelings about story and shop
What do testers say about the story? Quite little. You yourself are somewhat of the Chosen One, who has lost their memory. Over time, you regain pieces of memory and fight against a powerful villain, the Dragon King. A relatively typical scenario for an Asian RPG.
Some also view the lack of voice acting for quests in the game as a critical point. However, some hope that this will be addressed further, as it was only a test.
However, many testers admit that they understand little or no Japanese and therefore couldn’t really follow the story. Many also focused on other things due to the short period of time.
You can check out the conclusion video from MMOByte here:
What about the shop and Pay2Win? Blue Protocol will be Free2Play and has a Gacha system that mainly pertains to cosmetic content such as mounts, skins, and emotes. Additionally, there are orbs that provide advantages, such as when leveling the Adventure Rank. Some see this as a strong Pay2ProgressFaster.
Slightly more criticism is directed at the dungeon tickets. You receive 3 for free each day, but can buy more. While these tickets are not needed for entry, they are required for the big loot at the end. So, to grind faster, you need to buy these tickets for real money.
There is also a Battle Pass (both free and paid) as well as a Seasonal Shop, where offers regularly rotate, likely playing into the common “Fear of Missing Out,” or the fear of missing a good deal.
Importantly, Amazon has announced that they will adapt the shop in the Western version. How the MMORPG will be monetized here is still unclear.
What do you think about what has been shown of Blue Protocol so far? Are you looking forward to the MMORPG? And which questions remain open for you? Feel free to write it in the comments.
We have summarized all the information around the MMORPG again here:
Everything about the new MMORPG Blue Protocol: Release, classes, beta, and gameplay
