Blue Protocol: Star Resonance is lastly right here, and the brand new free-to-play MMORPG has already break up the room. It shot straight into Steam’s Prime 10 Most Performed at launch, peaking round 94,000 concurrent gamers. Sounds good, yeah? Properly, the critiques inform a special story. The sport sits at “Largely Detrimental,” hovering within the 30% vary. Most gamers usually are not complaining about bugs or stability. Nope. They simply don’t like the sport itself.
A variety of the frustration comes right down to design selections that lean far too closely into cellular territory. Development is timegated on a each day schedule, that means gamers can’t rush forward even when they need to. A minimum of not proper now. Gamers say it should take about two weeks from as we speak to achieve Degree 60, which is presently the utmost stage. The builders doubtless need gamers to progress collectively in the intervening time. I just like the sentiment, however it simply comes off as restrictive. So proper now, you log in, play a couple of story quests, accumulate your each day rewards, after which sign off till the subsequent little bit of content material turns into obtainable. Some individuals like that type of pacing as a result of it prevents burnout. Others, myself included, dislike being advised how lengthy we’re allowed to play a online game.
Then there’s the fight and presentation. A variety of gamers are saying the animations really feel stiff, the cutscenes are awkwardly edited, and half the dialogue is just not even voiced. That alone kills immersion for a lot of gamers who anticipated a big-budget anime MMO. On prime of that, the UI feels “cellular,” even on PC. By that, I imply limitless pop-ups, layered menus, and each day declare screens that fill your interface earlier than you even start to know what all of them do.
To make issues worse, the launch is just not really “international.” The servers are reportedly positioned in North America, that means gamers in Europe, Australia, and Southeast Asia are caught with terrible latency. For an action-combat MMORPG, that isn’t simply inconvenient — it may be game-breaking. Some gamers are already uninstalling after discovering their ping makes dodging assaults or timing combos nearly unimaginable.
The monetization has additionally change into a significant speaking level. The money store is full of cosmetics, which is anticipated, however the controversy surrounds the “Think about” and “Battle Will” programs. These are gacha mechanics that present stat bonuses and even new talents. You’ll be able to grind for them, and the sport doesn’t characteristic PvP, however many gamers nonetheless see it as a slippery slope. It isn’t probably the most predatory system on the market, however it doesn’t really feel essentially honest both.
Regardless of all of that, Blue Protocol: Star Resonance will most likely be high-quality. It would domesticate a neighborhood, although doubtless a small one. It’s an anime-style MMORPG that appears designed for informal gamers who simply need one thing enjoyable to select up after work. You’ll be able to run a couple of dungeons, benefit from the artwork model, and accumulate cute outfits with your mates. The world is vibrant, the soundtrack is calming, and it positively nails the Sword Artwork On-line vibe that a variety of gamers like myself had been craving. If you don’t thoughts a slower tempo and may ignore the money store, there’s a good quantity of enjoyable available right here, I guess.
Nonetheless, if you happen to had been ready for a real revival of Bandai Namco’s authentic Blue Protocol, that is most likely not what you needed. Underneath Tencent’s new course, the sport feels much less like a PC MMORPG and extra like a cross-platform cellular title. It’s full of programs designed for retention, not immersion. Timegates, auto-combat, layered menus, a number of currencies — it’s all right here, and on goal.
For my part, Blue Protocol: Star Resonance is a refined however shallow expertise. I used to be excited, I actually was, however as we speak I’m feeling letdown. All these years of ready for a half-baked product. The sport appears good, runs nicely, and feels cozy. However there’s not a lot substance beneath the floor. And that sucks. Some gamers will benefit from the simplicity, whereas others will bounce off instantly. I’m someplace within the center.
