Wonderful game with a great battle system, but terrible netcode
Foreword
I got to know "Naraka: Bladepoint" through a friend.
At first I was very skeptical, so I only bought the Standard Edition, and later the Ultimate and Deluxe Editions.
First of all, this game has a steep learning curve with its battles.
Exactly why the game may not be suitable for everyone.
Unfortunately, that doesn't make the playerbase any better, but read more about that below.
Nevertheless, the game and especially the combat system offers a lot of potential and has a lot of posivites to offer.
Positives
<*>Regular updates with ever increasing content
<*>Few to almost no bugs and if they are, then they are fixed very quickly
<*>Steep learning curve - Especially at the beginning the game is not easy, but you can quickly get into it with friends
<*>Pleasant graphics
<*>Nice sound design, which is location dependent
<*>Potential to grind for higher ranks and for the Hall of Fame
<*>Different game modes and events
<*>Extremely extensive combat system - many possibilities to conter weapons
<*>Extensive stats, either ingame or with Naraka+ mobile app (app is absolutely top!)
<*>Well thought through character designs
<*>Extremely individual character editor - From Thanos to Bruce Lee everything is customizable.
Neutral
<*>Climbing system - It's really good compared to other games. However, you still sometimes get stuck on edges or can't get to the platforms above.
<*>Microtransactions - I'm personally not a fan of them, but it's not a must in this game and doesn't favor anyone.
<*>Answers of Discord team members very questionable on some questions
Negatives
<*>Terrible netcode - players with highpings are treated preferentially
<*>Few European players - Extremely many VPN players with many different Asian characters and languages in the voicechat
<*>Voicechat is not well thought through
<*>Partial performance losses
<*>Ranking matches are partly wrong - Either with new players (Bronze) or experienced players (Asura)
<*>Partially bad English, as well as German translation
<*>Some abilities are combined absolutely disgusting and unfortunately more or less meta
Review written out
Naraka has become a real love-hate relationship game for me.
I love the extensive combat system and also the steep learning curve from noob to a slightly experienced player. (I am Platinum 1 - Solar 5 at the time of this review).
So while the combat system could be frustrating at times at first, I love it all the more now.
Only the climbing system, as well as some combinations of abilities or ultimates could be revised.
For example, it is common practice (meta) that many players use Ultimates that stun and ensure that you immediately get into the next Ultimate.
This is sometimes a bit frustrating, because these combinations are played very often and other heroes, especially the new ones, are not really played because of it.
However, you can work around these combinations or counter them yourself. Unfortunately, this is not always easy, especially for new players.
(For example, the combination of Valda - Viper - Tianhai).
However, a victory and the killing of opponents, especially higher ones, with whom you are unfortunately sometimes matched, releases a lot of endorphins in Naraka, so that a victory feels extremely rewarding.
Unfortunately, this brings me to the part that makes it extremely difficult for me to decide on a positive rating for this game.
The game, for being released in 2021, has a horrible netcode for a martial arts battle royale game.
There are extremely many Asian players who connect directly or via VPN to the europian servers.
This is especially noticeable when you activate the voice chat, which by the way, has no individual regulation for volume or a mute function per player.
Unfortunately, those players have a ping beyond 150ms.
Sadly, this is a big problem for people with low latency.
You partly punch through enemies bodies.
Various focus attacks are therefore not always blockable or the opponent lags at you, while the player for himself has no lags at all.
This is not only unfair, but should actually no longer be a problem in 2022.
For example, it would be enough to not let players with a ping greater than 150ms/200ms move.
According to the Discord community manager, there is a region lock and most of the names are just "memes" .
But you don't notice anything about the region lock in the game and we can theoretically connect to other servers.
Another big problem is the matchmaking.
Even with Bronze or Silver, you are matched with Asura players when there is a lack of players.
This is not necessarily nice, but you get a lot of points for survival and you also learn a lot of techniques.
As negative as this all sounds, the game still gets a positive rating from me.
I love the sound design, which comes into its proper place in the battles and is different for each location on the map.
This reminds me of Prince of Persia in some areas and provides more excitement in fights.
In addition, the varied battles, no matter how hopeless they sometimes seem, are all the more rewarding if you win.
Especially when you're killing another team, consisting of 3 people, as the last survivor of your team.
The map design is also absolutely great. Every location has been carefully thought through.
Great lighting design really highlights some of the locations.
You can overlook small bugs like misplaced branches (a branch hangs in the air next to a tree).
But my favorite part is the grinding to a higher rank.
The ranking system and especially the Hall of Fame encourage you to play.
Getting into the top 100 of a much-played character feels very rewarding.
So does slaying a moonbane.
Epilogue
All in all, despite the flaws, Naraka has a lot going for it, and even though the larger issues can be extremely frustrating, the game saves itself with the extensive battle system, the incredibly great locations including sound design, and the extensive ranking system including Hall of Fame.
I love the game because of the thoughtful little things, even if I hate it extremely at times.
Even though the game can quickly become frustrating for new players, you should be aware that it has a lot to offer if you are willing to learn.
The accompanying app is an extremely well thought through and great gimmick in this regard.
I would be happy to take you by the hand and introduce you to the game.
Just visit us on our Discord.
I would like to thank all of you who have read my review until the end.
I'm looking forward to your opinions :)
With best regards
Your Holt
