TERA

74%
Game Brain Score Based on 3,447 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
TERA Game Cover
TERA may look past its prime on consoles, and maybe it is, but it's still a fun and relatively accessible Action-MMO Role-playing game that fits perfectly in the console space.
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TERA is a historical open-world MMORPG with great graphics, featuring single-player and multiplayer options including co-op and PvP. The True Action Combat system requires precision and strategy, allowing you to choose from seven races and 13 classes to take down Big Ass Monsters and explore dungeons and battlegrounds. Create your character and make a name for yourself in this immersive and action-packed fantasy universe.

  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Cloud
  • NVIDIA GeForce NOW
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

74%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,447 reviews
story98 positive mentions
grinding136 negative mentions
  • story511 mentions

    The story in TERA is often described as generic and linear, primarily consisting of repetitive fetch and kill quests that can detract from the overall experience. While some players find the narrative engaging and appreciate the character development and lore, many criticize the lack of depth and the overwhelming focus on grinding rather than storytelling. Overall, the game offers a visually appealing world with a decent storyline, but it may not captivate those seeking a rich narrative experience.

    • “Quests, dungeons, and storylines unfold within a detailed setting, immersing players in a fantasy realm filled with diverse landscapes and intriguing NPCs.”
    • “The story is fascinating, and it saddens me to know that some players skipped through it, because each chapter has interesting bosses and an exciting ending.”
    • “I enjoyed the larger-than-life visuals, the grand story, and meeting new characters that I slowly began to like, only for the game to kill them in brutal ways.”
    • “The story is forgettable.”
    • “It's sad to see how the story has changed; trying to play the game is now incredibly boring.”
    • “The story is bad, irrational, and irrelevant.”
  • gameplay318 mentions

    The gameplay in Tera is characterized by its dynamic, skill-based combat system and engaging boss mechanics, which many players find enjoyable and unique compared to other MMORPGs. However, issues such as optimization problems, repetitive content, and a steep learning curve for dungeon mechanics can detract from the overall experience. While the game offers extensive character customization and a vibrant community, some players feel that the gameplay can become stale over time due to a lack of new content and balance issues.

    • “Tera sets itself apart with its dynamic combat system that emphasizes skill-based gameplay.”
    • “The character customization and overall gameplay is amazing.”
    • “The gameplay is fun and the graphics are beautiful.”
    • “Optimization problems, including frame rate drops and loading times, can detract from the overall gameplay experience.”
    • “The gameplay feels repetitive and stale.”
    • “The game forces you to play solo until level 65 (which is an obscene amount of gameplay) and doesn't let you complete the story missions with other players.”
  • graphics287 mentions

    The graphics of the game are frequently praised for their stunning visuals and vibrant art style, creating an immersive fantasy world that captivates players. While many reviewers highlight the beauty and detail of the environments and character designs, some note that the graphics can feel dated compared to newer titles, with occasional performance issues and optimization concerns. Overall, the game's graphics are considered a strong point, contributing significantly to the overall enjoyment of the gameplay experience.

    • “The game boasts impressive graphics and a vibrant, fantasy-inspired art style.”
    • “The visuals are so impressive that sometimes I feel like wandering around the game just to enjoy the scenery!”
    • “The graphics are breathtaking, and if you're looking for an MMO gaming experience, this will definitely be something for you!”
    • “Graphically it looks pretty dated.”
    • “The graphics are bad and poorly optimized.”
    • “The graphics look like games made in 2007 at maximum, and everything renders quite slow.”
  • grinding144 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is a mixed bag, with many players finding it both tedious and necessary for progression, especially at higher levels. While some enjoy the mindless nature of grinding and the camaraderie it fosters among friends, others criticize it for being overly repetitive and time-consuming, often leading to burnout. The endgame content is particularly noted for its grindiness, with many players feeling that it requires excessive time investment or financial expenditure to keep up with gear upgrades and enhancements.

    • “It's still fun to play with many things to do and lots of PvE content, but there will be a time when you will have to put some money in if you want to progress faster and not grind forever.”
    • “A bit grindy sometimes.”
    • “One long, tedious grind.”
    • “The repetitive nature of questing can become tedious, especially during the leveling process.”
    • “Endgame is very grindy and all you do is farm, farm, farm until you get bored of it and quit the game for months until a new patch with new content comes out, like most people do.”
    • “Played 141 hours of this game and have to admit the upgrade system is still trash; hours and hours of relentless grinding to get the materials you need to upgrade the high-end gear only to be constantly trolled by the truly awful RNG this game has.”
  • optimization95 mentions

    The optimization of TERA has been widely criticized, with players reporting significant performance issues such as frame rate drops, stuttering, and long loading times, even on high-end systems. Many users note that the game's outdated Unreal Engine 3 contributes to its poor performance, making it unplayable for some. Despite a recent 64-bit update that improved some aspects, the overall consensus remains that the game is still poorly optimized and struggles to deliver a smooth gameplay experience.

    • “The best selling point of TERA is the dynamic PvE dungeons and boss fights as well as the large scale PvP offered at max level once you have all of your character's gear and stats optimized.”
    • “Before the switch to 64-bit, the game lagged really hard and just wasn't optimized well, especially in crowded areas like Velkia, but it's improved pretty well with the new 64-bit.”
    • “The game gained significant optimizations as of the 64-bit client update.”
    • “Despite its visual prowess, TERA may struggle with performance issues on lower-end systems.”
    • “Optimization problems, including frame rate drops and loading times, can detract from the overall gameplay experience.”
    • “The game has performance issues, where when you're trying to wander through the map, the game suddenly freezes for a few seconds before it starts responding again.”
  • stability36 mentions

    The game's stability is widely criticized, with players reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and performance issues that significantly hinder gameplay. Many experience frequent freezes, especially in populated areas, and a lack of updates to address these problems has left the game feeling unpolished and frustrating. While some find enjoyment in the game despite its flaws, the overall consensus is that it remains a "buggy mess" that detracts from the experience.

    • “The game has performance issues, where when you're trying to wander through the map, the game suddenly freezes for a few seconds, before it starts responding again.”
    • “Today, even my current computer, which can at least play Cyberpunk 2077 on medium without major drops, cannot even walk around the main city, resulting in 1-2 minute long freezes and the game temporarily not responding.”
    • “This game is still a buggy, janky, disjointed mess after a decade since its original release.”
  • music30 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising it as immersive and dramatic, enhancing the overall experience, while others find it repetitive or forgettable. Many appreciate the ambient sounds and specific tracks that elevate gameplay, but there are also critiques regarding the lack of atmospheric depth in certain pieces. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a strong point by some, while others feel it falls short of expectations for a fantasy game.

    • “Great class system, great story, great music, beautiful graphics that do the world justice which was always full and seemed like an actual world that was thriving.”
    • “I love the music in this game; if you take time to even pay attention to the score, you'll find most of it dramatic and gorgeous.”
    • “Music and sound are very good, with the ambient sounds of the world around you and some really nice music selections.”
    • “That is actually quite a pity, since the maps have somewhat alright designs, which may quickly be ruined by the music they placed on them.”
    • “- decent, albeit repetitive music”
    • “I'm missing that atmospheric feeling which the music can bring out immensely, if well done.”
  • monetization29 mentions

    The monetization in the game has drawn significant criticism, with many players labeling it as exploitative and overly reliant on microtransactions, particularly for cosmetic items and convenience boosts. While some users appreciate the optional nature of these purchases, others argue that the pricing is exorbitant and that the system leans towards pay-to-win mechanics, ultimately detracting from the overall experience. The game's transition to a cash grab model has led to frustration among players, who feel that it has negatively impacted gameplay and content updates.

    • “Optional microtransactions focus primarily on cosmetic items and convenience boosts, maintaining a fair balance for free and paying players.”
    • “But aside from that, the microtransactions are nothing too special or pay-to-win.”
    • “The in-game purchases are extremely overpriced, but I find the game still enjoyable without buying anything.”
    • “I remember when this game was the best action MMO, a stepping stone for future MMO action games. Sadly, it got sick with a disease known as 'monetization' that killed it, and now it's dead.”
    • “The game became a source of income for the developers through microtransactions that make you progress faster (or just progress at all, because you cannot without it after a time, which is pretty short), or just simply richer than anyone else.”
    • “From a straight-up buying system to free-to-play with microtransactions everywhere to almost pay-to-win with ridiculous prices on everything in the cash shop and adding a monthly subscription service, ruining the game down to a huge cash grab.”
  • humor23 mentions

    The humor in the game is often highlighted as a key aspect, particularly when playing with friends, leading to memorable and hilarious moments. Players enjoy the quirky mechanics, funny character designs, and amusing side quests, although some note that the main story lacks depth in humor. Overall, the game provides a lighthearted experience that can be enhanced by social interactions, despite some repetitive elements.

    • “The monkey boss with the funny banana mechanics.”
    • “And number one reason I am glad I returned - I was laughing and smiling and having fun within the first five minutes.”
    • “Especially fun with friends and has some really funny side quests!”
  • character development20 mentions

    Character development in the game is a mixed experience, with players appreciating the engaging NPC backstories and character designs, particularly the variety and aesthetics of character options. However, some users feel that the flexibility in character development could be improved, potentially limiting gameplay for certain players. Overall, while the character design is often praised, the depth of character development and story may not meet everyone's expectations.

    • “Lots of character development of NPCs and even backstory for the most important ones; it's written in a fun and exciting way.”
    • “I love the combat system and the character design in this game; they're the best ones of all the MMORPGs I have played.”
    • “Tera has a really nice art style, cool character designs, pretty locations, and good-looking animations.”
    • “Also, sometimes I think there could be more flexibility in character development, which may limit the gameplay experience for some players.”
    • “That is still not the whole mess: the story is not rewarding, in terms of extremely longer time to level and in social character development.”
    • “Bad character design.”
  • atmosphere8 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is characterized by a warm community feel fostered through player interaction and cooperative gameplay. Players appreciate the high-quality graphics and character designs, which contribute to an immersive experience, although some elements, like random costumes and signs, can detract from this ambiance. Additionally, the music and sound design play a crucial role in enhancing the overall atmosphere, allowing players to either rush through or savor the world at their own pace.

    • “The interaction between players and the sense of cooperation make this game offer a warm community atmosphere.”
    • “I like the quality and the graphics of this game; I also like the atmosphere.”
    • “Sound is good, quiet, yet not inaudible and adds subtle atmosphere.”
    • “Idk why, maybe it's the atmosphere or the character designs.”
    • “First of all, the races are very good looking (especially the female ones), and the world looks good as well, but some random costumes and weird trashy signs that people can put on the ground will destroy the atmosphere instantly.”
    • “The sound is good, quiet, yet not inaudible and adds subtle atmosphere.”
  • emotional5 mentions

    Players express a deep emotional connection to TERA, lamenting its removal from Steam and wishing for a reboot, highlighting the heartbreak of its absence. While some mechanics and character interactions evoke strong feelings, many users note that the overall emotional impact is limited, with only a few characters, primarily antagonists, leaving a lasting impression.

    • “I can't tell you how happy I was with TERA; looking at how it's gone makes me emotional.”
    • “So heartbreaking that it’s gone; I wish it would be rebooted.”
    • “They are mostly totally lame, only some characters will be emotionally important for you (mostly the antagonists).”
  • replayability5 mentions

    The game's replayability is mixed; while the storyline offers some replay value, many players find the overall progression and gameplay experience lacking, leading to minimal incentive to replay after the initial playthrough. However, experimenting with different character classes, such as sorcerer and valkyrie, provides a fresh experience for those seeking variety.

    • “The storyline is highly replayable.”
    • “I've played as a sorcerer and a valkyrie, and they both feel incredibly different from each other, so there's a lot of replayability if you want to try out a new class.”
    • “Based on my experience with the gameplay of this game, it has 0 replay value because of the boring progression.”
    • “Not very replayable after the first time playing or creating another character.”
    • “Only dungeons were playable.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

67% average critic score

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Play time

137hMedian play time
579hAverage play time
9-1109hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 20 analyzed playthroughs

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