Blade & Soul

 PC
  • Publisher: NCSOFT
  • Release Date: Jan 19, 2016
User Score
4.6

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 281 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 98 out of 281
  2. Mixed: 42 out of 281
  3. Negative: 141 out of 281

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  1. Foxtina
    Jan 8, 2018
    6
    I had liked this game from the start, but after some expansion and update all my grinding turned to nothing. They change and change everything in the game, and change and change that it's ridiculous! They make it easier and easier for a new player, but what about us? My effort and money were wasted. Thank you.
  2. destinyfan1
    Nov 7, 2017
    6
    This was just an ok mmo but nothing more
    The combat is great and the graphics are great for an mmo and the game is sometimes fun
    But the content is mostly boring ,dungeons feel boring interface is a mess
    But because its free it might be worth picking up
  3. PhoenixShi
    Apr 20, 2017
    4
    It's not completely terrible, but I find it's not all that good either. Worst part is it's easy to see it could have been great, but after so many bad changes to the game, poor management, and a the horrid community, it's just not at all what I was hoping for. Take note that a lot of the reviews here are from around the time of the NA/EU launch, in one year they've put out content thatIt's not completely terrible, but I find it's not all that good either. Worst part is it's easy to see it could have been great, but after so many bad changes to the game, poor management, and a the horrid community, it's just not at all what I was hoping for. Take note that a lot of the reviews here are from around the time of the NA/EU launch, in one year they've put out content that took about four years to be released in Korea, as they're trying to get caught up in a big hurry, which isn't doing the game too many favours. The game now, simply is not like it was at the time when most of those reviews were written, so they can be largely ignored.

    After that mass of updates, the grind has increased by many times over what it was. Things that made the game stand out a bit more like the upgrading equipment system, and to an extent, the skill system, have since been dumbed down, or partially removed, because having choices to make is too hard for people apparently. They keep reducing the cost of the upgrades that still exist, but the real problem is how dependent you are on doing content with others for character bound items, and how toxic much of the player base is, who will refuse to team with people that aren't at end-game like they are, or just really hostile towards them, so many just end up quitting.

    Then if people complain in the forums, or such, there's always a group of white knights ready to yell at you, mods apparently won't penalize the hostile white knights, but may ban/suspend others over nothing. A community this bad, in a game where playing is so dependant on the community, just isn't a fun combination at all. Unless you start the game already knowing a group of people you can play with, don't even bother downloading the game.

    ____________________________________________

    Other things:
    The servers have always been kinda poor, and performance of the game client is weak.

    It uses a soft lock-on system, where when you aim at something, it's suppose to it lock-on automatically. If there's only one target, that works fine, but it can easily mess up in a group fight. Often enough I've been in cases where I'm aiming at a target in front of me, but my attacks will be flying off to my old target since I'm still locked on to it, even if it's now off screen.

    Making suggestions is largely a waste of time, as they're just pumping out the Korean content as quickly as possible. There isn't even a suggestions, or patch discussion forum section like most any other online game, even other NCSoft games have, which gives you an idea how little interest they have in suggestions, or what you think.

    Instead of improving the existing guild/clan system, they added Social Clans. A player must spend in-game money to start a Social Clan, but then has basically no control over it at all, as it's permanently open for anyone to join without being invited, you can only kick one person per day, but they can always hop right back in after you do so, which means you can't keep out disruptive players.

    If you don't like it when a game sells the materials you're suppose to be playing to get, then stay away, as they'll even do their best to remind you that those items are in the cash shop.

    Inventory/storage space gets to be a big problem due to all the *many* types of tokens/currency, materials, consumables, cosmetic items, and so forth taking up space.

    You can't customize your control scheme much at all, and it will use the same key, to do too many things, with no way to change what things are done on a key, or their priority, causing you to for instance pick an item up, rather than use an attack, since they use the same key. Also different classes will let you do the same sort of action, but each class may use a different key to do so, which makes playing multiple classes more difficult than it otherwise would be.

    Due to the amount of grind, number of character bound items, lack of control customization, and constant updates, if you like playing more than one character in a game, this isn't for you.

    Don't get too attached to your current skills, after the next update, you may find that some have been removed, heavily altered, or your option to select them blocked due to the further dumbing down of the game, forcing you to try to come up with a new skill rotation, again.

    Most events, even those supposedly aimed at helping players get to end-game, are aimed at end-game players due to being related to higher level dungeons, and the nature of the community.

    Getting the *character bound* upgrade equipment you need is very RNG based. Unless you're willing to keep buying special keys from the cash shop that guarantee you get the one you need, you could end up opening dozens of chests before you get the one you need. Then if it drops in a dungeon, some players will bid against you, even if they can't use it, since again, the community is often toxic.    … Expand
  4. ergenecondom
    Aug 27, 2017
    6
    Oyun rakiplerine göre baya iyi optimizyon çok iyi dandik pcde bile kasmıyor grafikleri iyi oldugu halde dövüş mekanikleri baya başarılı combo yapmanızı sağlıyor ve yetenk istiyor biraz harita tasarımları karrakter tasarımları gayet başarılı tek kötü yani oyunun hikayesi kısmı çok bayıcı son levele gelene kadar oyunu bırakabilirsiniz ama mmorpg oynamak istiyorsanız en başarılı örneklerindenOyun rakiplerine göre baya iyi optimizyon çok iyi dandik pcde bile kasmıyor grafikleri iyi oldugu halde dövüş mekanikleri baya başarılı combo yapmanızı sağlıyor ve yetenk istiyor biraz harita tasarımları karrakter tasarımları gayet başarılı tek kötü yani oyunun hikayesi kısmı çok bayıcı son levele gelene kadar oyunu bırakabilirsiniz ama mmorpg oynamak istiyorsanız en başarılı örneklerinden biri.… Expand
  5. JeisnWeid
    Mar 20, 2018
    0
    Can't really find a thing to like about this game, nothing about it stands out.
  6. switchkong
    Jun 2, 2018
    1
    A 1/10 for stellar graphics. That's it. This game has wayyyy too many keybindings and controls and is too confusing and frustrating to navigate and find things. Good grief. You can't even move attack buttons from the mouse to the 1-0 keys like a standard MMO. (For those with wrist pain.) Awful.
  7. hetzo
    Mar 2, 2019
    7
    Blade&Soul isn't that bad as it shows itself for first few hours. Storyline is good, level design is good either. The most successful thing in B&S is combat. After 10 years of target system MMO it was interesting and convenient. I think you should give this MMO a chance.
  8. Angel_Zerp
    Jul 21, 2019
    4
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Отличный сюжет и боевая система, но все это очень быстро наскучивает и тебя завставляют качать по 100 твинков, чтобы прокачать основу... коридорная ммо до ужаса. Про открытый мир забудьте, вы будете бегать от данжа к данжу по 200 раз. Заняться в этой игре кроме как ходить на арену и проходить одни и те же данжи просто нечем.… Expand
  9. Sandre
    Sep 8, 2021
    1
    To be crystal clear it is a grinder, but it is created to grind your money and nothing more.
    This is one of the worst game i ever played since 1989.
    This is extra linear and the quests are boring and almost useless. As usual the fill you with tone of trash to buy space into your inventory and the endgame is awful. And if you thinking you can avoid the pay to advance or win : you    To be crystal clear it is a grinder, but it is created to grind your money and nothing more.
    This is one of the worst game i ever played since 1989.

    This is extra linear and the quests are boring and almost useless.
    As usual the fill you with tone of trash to buy space into your inventory and the endgame is awful.

    And if you thinking you can avoid the pay to advance or win : you are dreaming !

    EVERYTHING is created to trap you around compulsion, addiction, upgrades and skins.

    This game have so many different money inside the game good luck to even understand,
    just forget it and focus the moment and even in the moment, that's way way too much.

    NCSoft have proved 1000 times per year they do not give a **** about players but they really care about money and only money.

    And to be honest UE4 or Not the game looks old and they remove now the game pad option, into ue4 ahah what a joke. Do not even waste 1 minutes of your time into this cash grab.    … Expand
  10. Yggdraszil
    May 16, 2020
    7
    English:
    Really very cool, play it with your friends, it is very visually friendly and to discover.

    Français:
    Vraiment très cool, jouez-y avec vos amis, il est très sympathique visuellement et à découvrir.
  11. Chrisplaysmore
    Sep 19, 2021
    0
    What an garbage game, nice graphics but that is the only positive! Why would anyone plays this when there are so many better games out there?
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Awards & Rankings

43
#43 Most Discussed PC Game of 2016
81
#81 Most Shared PC Game of 2016

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
68

Mixed or average reviews - based on 26 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 26
  2. Mixed: 17 out of 26
  3. Negative: 0 out of 26
  1. Games.cz
    May 18, 2016
    70
    Addictive MMORPG with a classic core, whose main attraction is a great and entertaining fight together with a number of well-functioning systems. Only some particular technical problems and boring quests prevent the gem to achieve the greater score.
    Read full review
  2. Everyeye.it
    Apr 20, 2016
    68
    We waited a lot to play Balde & Soul, but NCSOFT's MMO arrives on the west market a little too late. The action oriented combat system is interesting and well designed, but PvP is still unbalanced and the endgame is tasteless and boring. The game, in conclusion, has very good intuitions but a very bad structure.
    Read full review
  3. CD-Action
    Mar 30, 2016
    65
    A belated game following the band of other Korean MMOs vanishing on the horizon. [03/2016, p.58]
See all critic reviews »