Black Desert Online: Eternal Winter

It’s safe to say that Black Desert Online is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game, with over 40 million players across PC, console, and mobile; six expansions; an almost seven-year run; and a whopping 24 classes to choose from. When it comes to MMOs, having an extensive backstory can be both beneficial and detrimental. It’s easy for new players to get lost in a game’s complexity as more narrative, features, and systems are introduced. New players, on the other hand, are essential to the long-term health of an MMO.

Pearl Abyss, the South Korean developers behind Black Desert Online: Eternal Winter, may have chosen to focus on the “New Player Experience” because of this. To answer the question, “Is Black Desert worth starting in 2022?” this is your opportunity.

Beautiful landscapes in Black Desert Online (BDO) have earned the game an enviable reputation. Last year, we ranked the game as our best-looking MMORPG of all time. Still, you can’t help but be awed by the world Pearl Abyss has built. Glistening armour and vertigo-inducing precipice welcome you to the region.

Players can now apply filters and alter the weather in-game photography (Control+U) as part of the expansion. Even though these systems aren’t normally my cup of tea, I had to admit that I was tempted to take a picture of Drakania as the winter sun caught her armour.

With no loading screens and few instances (Black Desert Online uses instances for bosses to give it a classic MMO feel), Black Desert Online has accomplished something remarkable. And to think, I wasn’t even using the “Remastered” graphics settings at their most extreme.

Cutscenes between a variety of colourful characters introduce you to the game’s higher peaks. New players have an extended period here to get to grips with the controls (which I found to be intuitive and straight forward) (which I found to be intuitive and straight forward). When it comes to working with these voice actors, Pearl Abyss deserves credit for going above and beyond the call of duty.

With such great voice acting, it’s hard to skip cutscenes, but if you do, the game gives you a handy recap of what happened. I’ve never seen anything like this before.

These opening scenes serve as a tutorial for newcomers like myself. And this is where my first major gripe with the game comes into play. Talking is out of control. Eternal Winter is a narrative-heavy expansion, but there are a lot of walk-and-talk missions for those who aren’t interested in the narrative. Before I encountered a killable foe – some kind of non-hostile alpine squirrel-poodle hybrid that completely ignored me – I felt like I’d completed dozens of short quests.

In order to play Black Desert Online’s long story, players can choose to play it in chronological order or skip to the Mountain of Eternal Winter (the first new starting zone in BDO’s history). As a clever way to welcome new players, amnesia gives characters an excuse to recap their histories while also teaching them the fundamentals all over again.

The short summaries of the continent’s long history are, of course, difficult to follow.. Even if I didn’t find it very useful, it was still nice to see it included.

If you don’t remember anyone else, it doesn’t mean that they don’t remember you either. Of course, As you make your way through the icy mountains, expect to see a slew of familiar BDO characters. After completing Eternal Winter, players will be able to return to previous expansions and play them.

Pearl Abyss has done a lot to make it easier for new players to learn the game’s many systems. BDO’s Progression Pass serves as an aid in your exploration of the game’s various systems. These systems, like the Enhancement system, are simple. However, the sheer number of them can be overwhelming to new players.

There are still a few things that perplex me, and I write about MMORPGs for a living, and it took me far too long to figure out why I couldn’t use my skill points correctly in the tree of my characters.

Newcomers will find it helpful to be warned that powerful creatures are in the area, as well as additional warnings if they engage one in combat: It’s time to get out of here, you fool. You can’t handle such a tough opponent. I don’t know what to say. Squirrel poodles were driving me crazy. Catch-up mechanics help new players avoid feeling like they’re swimming in a sea of gigantic fish.

New players will be well-served by BDO: Eternal Winter in the long run. However, in order to prevent players from becoming bored before they’ve even begun the game, these tutorials should include a little more action.

The expansion’s “meat” is now ready to be discussed, so let’s get started. The new region, the Mountain of Eternal Winter, has some interesting features, but they’re not groundbreaking.

“One does not simply walk to the Mountain of Eternal Winter,” LOTRO’s opening line, is a reminder of how passé fire-breathing dragons and frosty mountaintops have become in the wake of Game of Thrones and the Hobbit trilogy.

Because of the heavy South American cultural influence in architecture, clothing, and colours, Pearl Abyss gave these mountains a distinct personality. Gamers should take advantage of the rich and diverse cultures of Latin America because it provides a unique and colourful backdrop for the eccentric characters who have made the freezing regions their own. With the arrival of the khan’s son, there are some Tibetan-looking influences as well as some Arabic ones.

Lando is without a doubt the most charismatic of these characters. One of the best sidekicks you’ll ever meet is this adorable and cheeky little snow fox. He wears a colourful sherpa’s outfit, but he speaks and sounds like a hotdog vendor from New York City.

The new playable character, Drakania, is certainly fierce. If only she were a little faster, I’d still be happy to use her in combat. With epic sword effects that make combat an explosion of colour, her attacks feel weighty and powerful. In her final move, she unleashes a massive bolt of lightning, complete with a dragon’s shadow, that flies through the air. So, what’s the catch?

Drakania has a powerful swing, just like her rival, Guardian. In BDO’s action-combat, mobility is critical in order to survive, and whereas Guardian slows opponents with debuffs, Drakania removes them from allies.

Erethea’s Limbo, a solo escape room/dungeon hybrid with puzzles, interesting mechanics, monsters, and, of course, plenty of treasure, is also deserving of high praise. Finding the key to Etherea’s Limbo requires a lot of slaying, even if you do manage to get there.

Despite its flaws, BDO is still a fantastic MMORPG that deserves a place in the hearts and minds of gamers everywhere. For fantasy creatures, such as giants, imps, and beastmen, its distinctive art style is a perfect fit. It’s a game that manages to be both fun and epic at the same time, while still being memorable and unique.

It’s exhilarating and rewarding to make your way up the mountain, despite the increasing danger.

Even with Eternal Winter, Black Desert is still a difficult game for newcomers to get their feet wet in. For those who are considering playing BDO, there has never been a better opportunity than right now.