Lost Ark feels more solid. I had a lot of fun and look forward to returning to the game to explore the many different environments, and to dive into some challenging dungeon content. The sole impediment to me playing further is that my character is on the impermanent PTR. We recommend you check out Lost Ark, and will see you in Arkesia soon!
Having achieved a modicum of security, I decided it was time to pack my bags, unfurl the sails and expand my horizons. Preparation is key – having a good variety of food and potions available, with better options being more complex to create, will dramatically increase your health, stamina, and overall survivability. Better armour and weapons, meanwhile, will greatly increase your effectiveness at fighting. The crafting system is satisfyingly deep, and finding resources to unlock new recipes provides a strong incentive to explore the world.
Frankly, it’s a unique experience that is likely to provide some entertainment to players where nostalgia is a factor. For new players who are unfamiliar with the game, this is a low energy, low intensity experience that certainly warrants a few hours of your time during these never-ending lockdown days.
The first hour or so of the expansion provides a great introduction to the setting and story. The quests involve pushing through The Maw with the help of storied heroes from WoW's lore, with frequent cut-scenes and events which make for a surprisingly cinematic experience. WoW's expansions have been a little inconsistent in the strength of their stories, but I found this narrative and its characters to be compelling. Although The Maw is not the most aesthetically pleasing zone, perhaps by design, the overall introduction seemed like a very polished experience and demonstrates quite how far WoW has come in 16 years.
Ultimately, Bless Unleashed is a very solid MMORPG with a fun and engaging combat system, an interesting world to explore, and a high degree of accessibility for players due to its free-to-play availability on consoles. Bless Unleashed is well-worth checking out if you are looking for your next MMORPG fix.