Martial arts MMORPG Blade & Soul launched in the West today, bringing with it one of the most gut-wrenchingly awesome movement systems I’ve ever experienced in the genre. Hold on to your stomachs, kids.
You may have seen this before — Blade & Soul has been out in Asian countries since its 2012 launch in Korea. Having spent only a little bit of time in the beta myself, I’d managed to almost but not quite get to the part where the glowing bits called Dragon Pulses become a movement option.
I knew the game was renowned for its movement systems, but I figured that was due to the gliding, sprinting, hopping across the surface of water and briefly flying. Oh how stupid I was.
For those who can’t watch the video, here’s what happens. At around level 16 or 17 there’s a quest in the game to unlock Dragon Pulses. It’s all tied up in the game’s narrative of the player becoming one of the legendary heroes destined to destroy the darkness something something.
What’s important is these glowing circles.
Step into one, activate it and you’re launched across the world in cinematic fashion.
Sometimes it’s just a simple high jump to an out-of-reach ledge. Other times, like in the video above (you really should watch it), it’s like something out of a combat anime. I’ve never moved quite like this before in an MMO.
I plan on exploring Blade & Soul beyond the fancy movement systems and weird little animal people now that the free-to-play MMO is officially open here. For now enjoy the flight, check out the opening moments or just go download the game and play it yourself.
Comments
10 responses to “Movement In Blade & Soul Is Extremely Cool”
I thought we were gonna see some innovative character movement, instead its just cinematics. Maybe you’re just easily impressed
If they’re not skippable, they’ll get old and annoying very quickly
What is Aus ping like?
I’ve been getting around 150-200ms consistently; more than enough to level however PvP which the game is centred on is a whole different question.
Because the gameplay’s so fast paced and all attacks need to connect to register if your opponent has better latency you wont even know where they are to strike them.
Movement system would imply actual gameplay involvement. This is much more like the barrels in DKCR, except even those had interactivity.
This is flashy fast travel, it sits below quicktime event in the scheme of movement systems.
I would have to agree with you, I feel as though it would be so much more interactive if they even threw in some quick time event whilst the movement was happening and if you failed it you would fall and have to find your way again. I would not know I am no game developer.
*throws up*
……..I thought it looked good.
That’s kind of disappointing. I was hoping it actually did something innovative rather than just integrate a jump/conveyance pad which isn’t a new thing at all.
Pretty unremarkable. Looks a bit over the top and kind of unnecessary. Especially if it’s a constant means of getting around. Also she sounds like she’s giving birth…