Our MMORPG expert Karsten Scholz is having so much fun with Where Winds Meet that he is playing through the open-world RPG for the second time. Unfortunately, the developers have adjusted a detail that unnecessarily slows down the fun of the game.
If you have read my preview report on Where Winds Meet, you know that the ambitious open-world RPG from Everstone Studio positively surprised me despite some weaknesses. I joyfully played through the available story acts as well as all major side quest lines in the pre-release version, leveled up to level 70+, and explored large parts of the beautiful game world.
With the official launch, there was of course a complete progress wipe on the beta server. Like everyone else, I had to start over. This was my third restart if I count a previous opportunity to play.
When you have already invested so much time in an extensive game before its release, it often negatively affects your motivation to fully dive back in. Not with Where Winds Meet. I looked forward to the restart and immersed myself again in this fascinating Wuxia world. By now, I am stuck at the current maximum level 55 and … something has changed.
Barely Timegating? A lot of Timegating!
Just before the launch, a reader asked me curiously how things looked with timegating in Where Winds Meet, meaning with content that is initially unavailable due to time constraints. In the pre-release version that we received for Where Winds Meet, there was this type of hurdle, but in homeopathic doses:
- The leveling phase is divided into several phases. To transition from one phase (for example, level 50 to 55) to the next (level 55 to 60), you must initiate a breakthrough. You can only do this if you meet specified requirements, such as reaching a character level and mastering basic tests.
- In the first week with the pre-release version, breakthroughs were time-limited. Once you reached the maximum available level of the day, you had to wait until the next day to perform the breakthrough for the next level area. After 6 days, there were no more restrictions for leveling.
- Certain main missions could only be approached once you reached a specific character level. So here, too, you had to play until the next day within the first week to continue.
- Some side quests also only continued the next real-time day after you reached a certain point.
All in all, I didn’t find this system bad, as there was noticeable progress every day, and the week of restrictions passed quickly.
Our preview report in video form:
What is different in the release version? The developers have adjusted the timegating for the final version of Where Winds Meet and noticeably slowed down the so-called pacing (the speed at which you progress through the leveling phase and the main missions).
Already at the breakthrough for reaching character level 50, I had to wait 2 days. After that, it was 4 or 5 days to level up to 55. By now, we have arrived at 9 days of waiting time.
What happens after that? No idea! As I said: It was completely different in the pre-release version. By the way, what is new is how main missions behave in parallel. I could not approach the current mission “Wheels and Shops” with my current level 55 as expected, but had to wait 2 additional days. As a result, I have felt constantly slowed down for almost a week, which is annoying.
Then just play the many other contents!
Exactly what I did extensively last week. I explored large parts of the game world, completed many smaller quests, liberated outposts, and defeated bosses. The good news: The experience points earned during this time are saved by the game and distributed across upcoming level ups.
The bad news: This way, you reach the new maximum level in no time, making the wait for the next breakthrough a topic almost immediately again.
My hope now is that the timegating will be removed after the next breakthrough – as it was in the pre-release version. If they make it 18 days in the next step from 9 days, I’m out. And that would be a shame. Where Winds Meet actually has the potential to be my game of the year. By the way, you can find out what our community currently thinks of Where Winds Meet here: How is Where Winds Meet received by you? You have a strong opinion, but are not in agreement
