Plenty of games have taken inspiration from the mystical martial arts prowess of Wuxia films, from the Monk class in World of Warcraft to Final Fantasy XIV's lavish costumes and environments. However, the 2012 MMORPG Blade and Soul pushed to directly translate the genre's grandeur to videogame form. Despite a tie-in anime and a sequel, the MMORPG has been dormant for many years, but it just got a revitalization. The shiny new remake, Blade and Soul Neo, has arrived and you can play it right now.
MMORPG's graphics have been fully revamped in Unreal Engine 4. Character creation has also gotten a complete overhaul, so you'll be able to craft your perfect martial artist. Outside of aesthetics, you can choose from one of seven classes, from the wily Kung Fu Master to the elegant Blade Dancer. The skill system is brand new, giving a new shine to the game's combat. Blade and Souls' fast-paced movement, called windwalking, was originally linked to a stamina meter. This remaster allows you to windwalk infinitely, so you can leap across the game's fantastic world with ease.
Alongside all these major changes, Blade and Soul Neo maintains the same narrative that drove the original version. These exciting and thorough additions could make the game one of the best new MMOs.
To thank players for a big response to the pre-registration event, developer NC America is letting everyone get the pre-registration package. Just use the code THANKYOU (all caps, one word) as you make your profile. You can make your and Blade and Soul here.
Blade and Soul Neo is out today, February 25, and is free-to-play.
If mythical worlds strikes your fancy, check out our list of the best multiplayer games.
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