Blade & Soul NEO

MMORPG called Blade & Soul NEO is a revamped version of the original Blade & Soul on the Unreal Engine 4. Its action takes place in a fantasy universe, where you can see elements of Asian mythology, especially Korean, Mongolian, and Chinese. A lot of attention is also paid to Eastern martial arts, primarily kung fu.

Blade & Soul NEO looks like a full remaster of the original project from 2012 on a new engine. The scenery has more small details, characters look better, and realistic lighting has made the visuals especially beautiful. The transition to Unreal Engine 5 has also affected the animation, which is now smoother.

The NEO version has other changes as well, such as a revamped leveling system and an open economy that allows selling any trophies at auction for local currency. Restrictions related to the stamina scale have been lifted, so you can easily glide over mountains and run on water. As a result, the re-release can surprise even those who have already played the first version of Blade and Soul.

Moreover, at the moment the game regularly receives updates with new high-level content and additional modes, such as an arena for PvP battles.

Like in any multiplayer role-playing game, your abilities and combat tactics directly depend on the chosen character class. Currently, there are eight of them:

During battles, Blade & Soul NEO resembles a full-fledged third-person action game. It is important not only to use active skills but also to block or parry enemy strikes, dodge, and counterattack in time. Moreover, not only bosses but also regular mobs can fight back, so it's worth remembering the strengths and weaknesses of all types of opponents and planning tactics to combat them. For example, you can create several builds, each effective in a specific situation.

During joint battles against raid bosses, it is especially important for all players in the team to reflect enemy attacks. As is often the case in MMORPGs, the strongest teams are flexible ones, where there are warriors effective in close combat, mages who deal damage from a distance, as well as healers and support characters. Without timely health restoration and additional protection, surviving during prolonged battles is almost impossible.

In addition to the standard increase in characteristics and skill selection, in Blade & Soul NEO it is important to insert special skill books into the free slots of your jewelry. Only after that can you use active skills in battle. These books can be crafted, found while exploring dungeons, or simply bought from vendors. The number of skill slots in jewelry ranges from one to three. Try to choose sets with as many slots as possible.

Allow you to gain a noticeable attack bonus, increase critical hit chance, and much more. As you progress, you will be able to create your own deck that will give you an advantage. However, obtaining the best cards will not be easy. The factor of randomness comes into play. You will have to farm a lot and search through hundreds of chests in hopes that one of them will contain the rare card you need. Note that the bonuses from it will apply not to one specific hero but to all characters on your account.

All quests can be divided into four types by colors:

A special device through which the local gacha system operates. After defeating a boss located near the Wheel, you will receive an Essence, a special resource used as a consumable. With it, you have a chance to obtain valuable gear and various cosmetic items. This way, you can get powerful purple weapons at the beginning of the game.

Exploring such locations is a great way to obtain top-notch gear. The simplest ones can be completed solo, but the reward for defeating local bosses will be mediocre. If you want to venture into purple dungeons, you will need to gather a team of six people. There, you will face truly strong bosses, and the battles will remind you of fights from the Dark Souls series. You will need to strategize, coordinate actions, and try not to make mistakes. But the result is worth it — you will receive the best jewelry, excellent weaponry, skill books of various rarity, soul cores, unique maps, and much more.

Your activity during the game is limited by an energy bar, which is spent on battles with bosses and visits to dungeons. When it runs out, you will simply stop receiving rewards for victories. Recovery occurs automatically once a week. Additionally, you will replenish energy if you level up or drink a special potion.

Allow you to sell items that are no longer needed and acquire gear that fits your combat strategy. The currency used is coins. They can be obtained in-game or purchased for real money.

The system is standard — there is a list of objectives for which you will receive rewards upon completion. In the paid version of the battle pass, there are more challenges, so your leveling up and overall progress will be much faster.

You can activate each of them on your account only once. As a result, you will receive a small but pleasant gift. It includes cosmetic items, consumables, crafting material chests, and much more. You can get promo codes on the official social media pages and during partner streams. Please note that each of them is valid for a strictly limited period of time.