At its core,Blade & Soul NEO offers the same martial arts fantasy that fans of BnS NEO Classic Divine Gems the original game will recognize,but with enhanced graphics and accessibility. Unfortunately,while the remaster brings the visual appeal,it still clings to some of the same outdated gameplay design that characterized 2000s-era MMORPGs,for better and for worse.
Free-to-Play with a Hefty Grind
The first thing that becomes apparent after starting the game is its free-to-play nature. On the surface,it's easy to see why the game is free: monetization is woven deeply into the experience. Whether it's through crafting materials,in-game currency,or cosmetics,Blade & Soul NEO is built to encourage players to spend money,often by locking valuable rewards behind time-gated systems and repetition.
It's clear that the game's design is centered around a grind-heavy experience. While you can technically progress through the game by playing without paying a cent,it's the slow,repetitive nature of the grind that quickly becomes a chore. You'll find yourself bogged down by an array of currencies and materials needed to progress,and the quest objectives start to feel increasingly like busywork.
Wuxia films,known for their martial arts action and deep storytelling,have been a staple of East Asian cinema for decades. Yet,in the world of video games,they're largely underrepresented. While Western developers might struggle to capture the essence of wuxia due to cultural differences,NCSoft has been working to deliver this genre for years with Blade & Soul. The remaster,Blade & Soul NEO,seeks to introduce more international players to this experience. But does it succeed?
But here's the kicker: you don't have to spend real money to experience the game. Blade & Soul NEO does allow you to grind everything through gameplay,which may sound like a dream for Blade and Soul NEO Classic Divine Gems some players. However,the amount of repetition required to achieve anything meaningful will likely make you consider opening your wallet to speed things up.