Bless Online
- October 23, 2018
- NEOWIZ BLESS STUDIO
- 12h median play time
"Bless Online is a free-to-play MMORPG set in a sprawling fantasy world. Choose from several races and classes, and embark on a vast, open-world adventure filled with quests, dungeon raids, and PvP battles. Experience breathtaking graphics and immersive storytelling in this expansive online gaming experience."
Reviews
- The graphics are outstanding, more realistic than many other MMOs.
- The taming system is a unique and enjoyable feature, allowing players to capture and train various creatures.
- The combat system, while different, can be engaging and offers a sense of skill with its combo mechanics.
- The game suffers from severe optimization issues, leading to low frame rates and crashes.
- There is a lack of endgame content, making the game feel empty after reaching max level.
- The class balance is poor, with certain classes being overpowered while others feel weak and unplayable.
- optimization1,878 mentions
- 7 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has been widely criticized, with many players reporting severe performance issues, including low frame rates and stuttering, even on high-end systems. Despite some community-driven tweaks to improve performance, the game is still considered poorly optimized, particularly in crowded areas and during large-scale events. Overall, players express frustration over the lack of promised optimization improvements, leading to a generally negative perception of the game's performance.
“The game is great, there are some optimization issues that they slowly resolve.”
“Tons of new content, and most of the optimization is definitely better.”
“I'll admit it, yes the game needs optimization among a number of other things.. but the potential and the motivation the developers are currently showing towards fixing these issues shows me that we might watch this game grow further, rather than crumble.”
“The optimization was so bad you had to mod a workaround.”
“The game is poorly optimized even with the ini file fixes; the combat is fun but there's a lot of bugs in the game and the fps is ass, so I would buy it when the developers fix the issues.”
“The game is poorly optimized, and it is not what it was advertised.”
- story1,568 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The story in Bless Online has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its depth and voice acting, particularly in the main quests, while others criticize it for being generic and poorly translated. Many players find the questing system repetitive, often involving grind-heavy tasks that detract from the overall narrative experience. Additionally, bugs and translation issues have led to confusion and frustration, impacting players' ability to engage with the story effectively.
“The story is cool with voice acting on the main storyline.”
“I think the story is neat (different story for each of the two factions) and I love how each race has their own little starting questline.”
“The storyline is not as bland as expected and Neowiz now actually have done English voice-overs of dialogue (although there are lines missing here and there) but the storyline definitely at least keeps things interesting with different plot twists thrown in here and there and some pretty unexpected scenes happening around halfway through the storyline.”
“The story was bland.”
“The story, if you can call it that, is barely even there and is simply generic fantasy pap that the pot plant on my desk could put together in an hour.”
“The storyline is not as bland as expected and neowiz now actually have done english voice-overs of dialogue (although there are a lines missing here and there >.>) but the storyline definitely at least keeps things interesting with different plot twists thrown in here and there and some pretty unexpected scenes happening around halfway through the storyline.”
- graphics1,024 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while the visuals can be stunning and aesthetically pleasing, they are ultimately hampered by poor optimization and the use of an outdated engine (Unreal Engine 3). Some players appreciate the art style and character design, but frequent frame rate drops and graphical glitches detract from the overall experience, leading to frustration among those with high-end hardware. Overall, while the graphics have potential, they fall short of modern standards, leaving many players disappointed.
“Its graphics are simply stunning and highly realistic.”
“The graphics are beautiful once you've optimized your ini file and I think the art style in Bless is on point.”
“The graphics look great, the world is huge and there are no loading screens apart from instances.”
“Bad graphics, wonky gameplay, refund worthy.”
“The graphics are severely dated and the movements are super clunky.”
“Graphics are completely outdated; a lot of mobile games look better than Bless Online, and this is coming from someone who maxed all graphics settings.”
- gameplay889 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Bless Online has received mixed reviews, with many players criticizing its clunky mechanics, poor optimization, and repetitive questing. While some appreciate the unique combat system and taming features, others find the overall experience uninspired and lacking depth, often comparing it unfavorably to other MMOs. Technical issues, such as lag and bugs, further detract from the enjoyment, leading to a general sentiment that the game needs significant improvements to be truly engaging.
“Gameplay wise, it's all standard MMO quest grinding flair with a unique-ish combat system and companion/mount taming.”
“The gameplay is a lot of fun, and taming wild creatures is a really cool feature that I've been enjoying a lot.”
“I really like the game so far, clear interface, good gameplay, nice ambient.”
“The gameplay was atrocious.”
“Game is trash, refunding it, runs terrible and gameplay is stuttering and menus freeze when opening and closing.”
“Not polished, no content, and boring gameplay.”
- monetization374 mentions
- 1 % positive mentions
- 5 % neutral mentions
- 94 % negative mentions
The monetization of the game has been overwhelmingly criticized as a blatant cash grab, with numerous users expressing frustration over its aggressive microtransaction model and lack of meaningful content. Many reviewers describe the game as poorly executed and a desperate attempt by the developers to recoup losses from previous failed launches, leading to widespread disappointment and calls to avoid purchasing it. Overall, the sentiment is that the game's monetization strategy prioritizes profit over player experience, making it a significant point of contention among the community.
“The monetization is fair enough in terms of cash-shop items (this is subjective, due to everyone having their different opinion).”
“It's monetization is fair, I can't recommend enough for this reason.”
“As of October 2017, Neowiz Games is still assessing in-game monetization options, with a scope to avoid pay-to-win mechanics.”
“This is an unequivocal cash grab and the greatest waste of time and money I have ever had the displeasure to invest.”
“The game is a total lie, a cash grab; there is a reason it has failed in every market, the game is broken, the devs are useless and there is no end game.”
“I would avoid it until it's in a better state, but I see this as a last ditch cash grab in our market after failing in two other markets.”
- stability300 mentions
- 3 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 97 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with many players reporting frequent bugs, crashes, and performance issues such as lag and freezes, particularly in populated areas. While some users have had relatively smooth experiences, the overwhelming consensus is that the game is currently too unstable for a satisfactory experience, especially given its early access status. Overall, players express frustration over the game's technical shortcomings, which detract significantly from its potential enjoyment.
“Game always runs great for me no matter where my character is.”
“My own experience was very much bug-free from 1-45 on Ventus, very lively with open PvP and full of fun.”
“To everyone saying it is unoptimized, you can configure the ini yourself and the game runs great.”
“20 hours of the 32 hours I spent on this game were dedicated to troubleshooting and dealing with error/frozen screens. I managed to get 2 characters to level 20, but the performance issues were so bad that I gave up. I would not recommend this game as the company seems to have given up on it, now releasing the game for free and attempting to carry it over to Xbox. The game has flopped multiple times, and I urge anyone thinking about buying it to stay away and play another MMO; it's not worth the hassle.”
“The first day of early access was a disaster with frequent crashes and freezes. The game keeps crashing, I keep getting a white screen, and it freezes every fight. Even after the recent patch/fix, the FPS drops and the game freezes when you open any window.”
“This game is a horrible unfinished mess. Please do not waste your money; maybe in a year or two it'll be better, but right now it's just a Google-translated, buggy, laggy, poorly optimized, blatant cash grab piece of garbage.”
- grinding242 mentions
- 2 % positive mentions
- 1 % neutral mentions
- 98 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it excessively tedious and repetitive, particularly at higher levels. While some appreciate the questing system that alleviates the grind to an extent, others feel that the overall experience is marred by a lack of engaging content and a reliance on grinding for progression. Players have noted that while the combat can be enjoyable, the grind often feels like a chore, leading to frustration and a sense of monotony.
“Overall, the game is amazing with a decent storyline, sidequests that aren't tedious, PvP on a level that parallels vanilla WoW, but also implements its own features to make it even more fun and unique.”
“Grinding is the only option and even by grinding standards is boring as hell.”
“The game is way too grindy, and the grind is tedious at best and I hear it gets worse at later levels.”
“It is painfully grindy and slow.”
- music140 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising it as a standout feature that enhances the overall experience, while others criticize it as formulaic and uninspired, reminiscent of typical Southeast Asian MMO scores. Many players appreciate the soundtrack's quality and its ability to create an immersive atmosphere, though some find it repetitive or poorly integrated into gameplay. Overall, the music is often highlighted as one of the game's redeeming qualities, despite its flaws.
“The game also has a very enjoyable soundtrack that goes well with the gameplay.”
“The background music and ambience is pretty immersive and rather lovely when questing.”
“This game has an amazing atmosphere and soundtrack.”
“Music is an uninspired retread of the same dull formulaic music scores of every Southeast Asian MMO like this, and the English voiceover ranges from pretty decent to, 'why did they choose this option.'”
“- battle music is really repetitive and can't be turned off.”
“The music and sounds of the world are altogether forgettable.”
- humor98 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is often described as unintentional, stemming from poor translations, absurd bugs, and the overall chaotic experience players encounter. Many find the side quests and character interactions amusing, while others laugh at the game's shortcomings and the reactions of frustrated players. Overall, the humor is likened to a "so bad it's good" scenario, making the experience entertaining despite its flaws.
“Pretty funny actually in a B-rated, blockbuster rental, VHS horror flick kind of way.”
“Couldn't stop laughing at the hilarious side quest stories.”
“The translations can be a bit off in some areas, the most glaring are in the tutorial which if you don't have a prior knowledge can be a bit confusing but it's not game breaking, it's on Blade and Soul levels of translation which are kind of just funny to me.”
- character development16 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
Character development in the game has received mixed feedback, with many praising the aesthetic and design of the characters but criticizing the lack of meaningful progression and specialization options. Players noted that while the character design is visually appealing, the poorly translated skill descriptions and bugs detract from the overall experience, making character development feel frustrating rather than rewarding. Overall, the game showcases potential in its artistic elements but falls short in delivering a robust character development system.
“The character designer is really nice.”
“I love the character design of the mascots; they're adorable and I love being a small character flailing an axe around.”
“- Aesthetic character design despite a relatively dated engine.”
“Also missing loads of advanced character development, specializations and progressions.”
“There's an auction house bug that lets you duplicate items, giving an unfair advantage to the few willing to exploit it, and skill descriptions are so badly translated that it makes character development and progression not fun at all.”
“It was a huge disappointment; they could have used other combat mechanics for this type of game. The character design and the art, as well as the overall background story, are great, but I feel like it's the combat mechanics that ruin it.”
- emotional10 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- -10 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
Players express a mix of emotional engagement and frustration with the game. While the unique backgrounds of each race foster a connection to characters, the harsh refinement system and dated combat mechanics lead to feelings of heartbreak and disconnection, ultimately overshadowing the positive aspects and resulting in some players opting for refunds.
“Refinement can be harsh - while the system increases your chances with each attempt, it is still heartbreaking when you fall at a level and drop 8 levels lower to start against.”
“Cool story, each race has its own unique background, which made me feel more connected to my character.”
“It may have just been me, but even the combat motions, though pretty, seem disconnected and made me feel that this was a bit dated for some reason.”
“The emotional depth of the story was lacking, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
“I found the attempts at emotional moments to be forced and unconvincing.”
“The game failed to evoke any real feelings, leaving me feeling detached from the narrative.”
- atmosphere10 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
Reviews of the game's atmosphere are mixed; while some players appreciate the impressive soundtrack and overall ambiance, others criticize the open world for feeling vast yet empty, lacking engaging environmental details. Overall, the atmosphere is rated around 7/10, indicating a generally positive but not universally acclaimed experience.
“This game has an amazing atmosphere and soundtrack.”
“Atmosphere: 7/10”
“The world may feel big, but it's very empty due to the lack of atmosphere.”
“I am not satisfied with the open world atmosphere created by the developers.”
- replayability6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Players feel that the game's replayability is currently limited, with many expressing that it would benefit from the reintroduction of previously available gameplay modes and events. While recent updates have improved playability, there is a consensus that the game lacks sufficient content to justify its price, suggesting that future expansions or additional modes could enhance its replay value significantly.
“If the game is expanded with the gameplay modes/events that were once available, it will be much more replayable.”
“The game should promise to add more replayable content or some battlegrounds PvP to enhance its value.”
“In its current state, the game is not worth $40-$150; it should be a maximum of $20 with the promise of adding more replayable content or some battlegrounds PvP of some sort.”
“If the game is expanded with the gameplay modes/events that were once available, it will be more playable.”
“After several emergency maintenances and an apology from the devs, the game is much more playable.”