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
- Beautiful graphics and character customization options.
- Engaging taming system for pets and mounts.
- Active development with regular updates and community feedback.
- Poor optimization leading to low frame rates and crashes.
- Lack of endgame content and meaningful rewards for dungeons.
- Class imbalances and unresponsive customer support.
- optimization936 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 technical performance.
“The game is great, there are some optimization issues that they slowly resolve.”
“With a few tweaks to the ini files, it's cool to play with low lags possible; memory leak issues aside, the game is amazing, but the optimization is lacking.”
“Game step by step improving; performance became much better than at launch of early access.”
“The game is poorly optimized, and it is not what it was advertised.”
“The optimization was horrendous! I was getting 8fps in town, open world as long as no one was around I had a constant 60, got into a small camp with a few people, it dropped to 30ish, for a 3 year old game running ue3, cmon, its 2018 we expect better.”
“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 terrible, so I would buy it when the developers fix the issues.”
- story782 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 questline, while others criticize it for being generic and poorly translated. Many players find the questing system repetitive, often involving standard kill and fetch quests, which can lead to a grindy experience. Additionally, numerous bugs and translation issues have hindered the overall narrative experience, leaving some players frustrated and disengaged from the storyline.
“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 a few 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 storyline is generic along with cutscenes during mainline quests that are nothing worth pining over.”
“The story is flat and boring, the quests are unimaginative, the market is run by web browser, the economy has no control, the cities and fields are empty, the dungeons are generic to the extreme.”
- graphics512 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 often hampered by poor optimization and performance issues. Several users pointed out that the graphics feel dated, reminiscent of older titles, and do not meet the expectations for a 2018 release, particularly when compared to more modern games. Overall, while some appreciate the art style and character design, the consensus is that significant improvements in optimization and graphical fidelity are needed.
“Its graphics are simply stunning and highly realistic.”
“The artwork, the buildings, the character movement, and the gear progression all feel like that old school MMO with a nice new coat.”
“The graphics are beautiful, and I have had no lag other than right before servers crash.”
“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.”
“The graphics suck, it’s not stable for my 1080ti and dual titan GPU; I need 200 fps!”
- gameplay444 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 typical of Korean MMOs. While some appreciate the unique combat system and taming mechanics, others find the overall experience uninspired and frustrating, particularly due to performance issues and a lack of engaging endgame content. Despite its potential, many players feel the game is currently not worth the investment due to its numerous technical problems and outdated design elements.
“Gameplay-wise, it's all standard MMO quest grinding flair with a unique-ish combat system and companion/mount taming.”
“The gameplay is fun and engaging for now despite these issues, so ultimately, the long-term success of the game hinges on the company being proactive in improving the product they have.”
“The combat mechanics are interesting and get you to really focus in on it (chain combo and different stances).”
“The gameplay was atrocious.”
“The issues span performance, gameplay, management, content, content updates, balancing and really any other aspect of a video game - this game has issues in them all.”
“Not polished, no content, and boring gameplay.”
- monetization186 mentions
- 2 % positive mentions
- 4 % 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 the developers' focus on profit rather than delivering a polished product. Many reviews highlight the presence of aggressive microtransactions and a lack of meaningful content, leading to a perception that the game was designed primarily to extract money from players. Overall, the sentiment is that the game's monetization strategy is exploitative and has contributed to its poor reception.
“As of October 2017, Neowiz Games is still assessing in-game monetization options, with a scope to avoid pay-to-win mechanics.”
“The monetization is fair enough in terms of cash-shop items; this is subjective, as everyone has their own opinion.”
“It's monetization is fair; I can't recommend it enough for this reason.”
“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 cash grab and even though the devs are communicating about what they are going to do, they are slow and their changes seem community-led which normally is a good thing but not this time.”
“This was a blatant cash grab and an embarrassment to the MMO genre.”
- stability150 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, particularly during its early access phase. While some users have experienced minimal problems, the majority highlight significant lag, freezing, and glitches that detract from gameplay, leading to frustration and disappointment. Overall, the game's stability is considered poor, with many recommending potential players to wait for further updates and fixes before investing.
“Game always runs great for me no matter where my character is.”
“My own experience was very much bug-free from levels 1-45 on Ventus, very lively with open PvP and full of fun.”
“When you get out of the cities, it runs great for me on a 750ti, i7 965 Extreme, and 8GB of RAM.”
“The first thing to address is the technical issues; throughout the hours of playing this, I have encountered two major freezes that forced me to use ctrl-alt-del to exit the game. There were also occasional freezes, mostly in populated areas.”
“20 hours of the 32 hours I spent on this game were dedicated to troubleshooting and dealing with error/frozen screens. The performance issues were so bad that I eventually gave up. I would not recommend this game as the company seems to have given up on it.”
“The game is incredibly buggy, and even though I have a powerful PC, I was only seeing around 20 FPS. The launch was a total mess, and it was buggy as hell.”
- grinding121 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 and farming mechanics, noting that they can provide a sense of progression, others criticize the grind as mind-numbing and lacking in rewarding experiences. Overall, the game is characterized by a heavy reliance on grinding, which can detract from the enjoyment for those who prefer a more balanced approach to gameplay.
“Overall, the game is amazing with a decent storyline, side quests 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.”
“The game is very hard to get a group in, let alone grinding to max would be unbearable as it's just a quest grind or single mob 'elite mob' farm, unless you want to treat it like a job.”
“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.”
- music70 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 atmosphere and gameplay, while others criticize it as formulaic and uninspired, reminiscent of typical Southeast Asian MMOs. Many players appreciate the soundtrack's quality and its ability to create an immersive experience, though some note issues with repetitiveness and poor integration with gameplay. Overall, while the music is often highlighted as a redeeming aspect, opinions vary significantly on its execution and impact.
“The game also has a very enjoyable soundtrack that goes well with the gameplay.”
“The music is amazing.. love the character creation... very attractive men!”
“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.”
- humor49 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 reviewers find the game's flaws, such as ridiculous quest narratives and comical glitches, to be amusing, likening it to a B-rated horror film. Despite the negative aspects, players often share a sense of camaraderie in laughing at the game's shortcomings, making the experience entertaining in its own right.
“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 development8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
Character development in the game has received mixed feedback, with many praising the character design and aesthetic appeal but criticizing the lack of meaningful progression and specialization options. While the art and background story are appreciated, players feel that the combat mechanics and poorly translated skill descriptions detract from the overall experience, making character development less enjoyable. Overall, the game showcases impressive character design but falls short in providing a robust development system.
“The character design and the art, along with the overall background story, are great.”
“The character designer is really nice.”
“I love the character design of the mascots; they're adorable and I enjoy playing as a small character wielding an axe.”
“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.”
- emotional5 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- -40 % neutral mentions
- 60 % 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 mechanics and dated combat animations detract from the overall experience, leading some to feel disillusioned and ultimately seek 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.”
“The emotional depth of the story was lacking, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
“I found the emotional moments to be forced and unconvincing, which really took me out of the experience.”
“Despite some interesting concepts, the game failed to evoke any real emotions, leaving me feeling indifferent.”
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 40 % 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 empty and lacking depth. The atmosphere rating varies significantly, with some giving it a 7/10, highlighting its strengths, while others express dissatisfaction with the environmental design and engagement.
“This game has an amazing atmosphere and soundtrack.”
“Atmosphere: 7/10”
“After reaching level 45, I am coming back to this review to say I am not satisfied with the open world atmosphere created by the developers.”
“The world may feel big, but it is very empty due to the lack of atmosphere.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players feel that the game's replayability is currently limited, with a desire for the return of previously available gameplay modes and events to enhance the experience. While recent updates have improved playability, many believe the game is overpriced unless more replayable content, such as PvP battlegrounds, is introduced.
“The game has great potential for replayability, especially if the developers expand it with new gameplay modes and events.”
“After several updates and improvements, the game has become much more enjoyable and replayable.”
“With the promise of adding more replayable content in the future, this game could be a worthwhile investment.”
“If the game is expanded with gameplay modes/events that were once available, such as on the Russian server, it will be more playable.”
“In its current state, the game is not worth $40-$150; this should be a maximum of $20 with the promise of adding more replayable content or some battleground PvP of some sort.”
“After several emergency maintenances and an apology from the devs, the game is much more playable.”