Black Desert Online (BDO) is a well-known MMORPG game that has been around since 2015. Even 2014 if you started when it was in beta version. So, 10 years of existence, is it still any good? Was it good at the beginning? I explore BDO as a new player, and I have many things to say. Let’s get started.
First impression
I loved the graphics and the combats. It is one of the better-looking MMORPGs out there. The world of Black Desert Online is stunning, and the video effects while combats are immersive. As a first-time player, I got a fast, high-level horse that makes traveling between regions in the game very fast. And if you want to go even faster, you can use the newly introduced teleportation, which is great. While I was checking with some friends of mine who used to play it back in the day, they told me that the fast traveling was a huge upgrade. This, together with the update in the inventory that allows you to access your items from all regions from everywhere, are quite useful for players. And yet, I was not sold on BDO. Follow up on this article to see what exactly I didn’t like about this online game.
Overview
Black Desert Online, as you may know already, is an open-world sandbox MMORPG that offers many quests and enemies for grinding. The game includes a visually stunning combat system and an extensive skills catalog that can take you countless hours to develop. If you like SIMS-kind-of-games, you can dedicate yourself to breeding horses, hunting, cooking delicious meals, farming, killing moles, fighting enemies, or fighting other players. In my opinion, the game is too individual. It is not like other MMORPGs where being a part of a guide is a must. You don’t need to create big communities to fight bosses. It caters more to the people who just want to slash some enemies and have a simple gameplay. Even the quests are not as engaging as some other MMOs.
Player base
Are there any players like us who are still online, after a decade of BDO? Yes! There are still enough players that regularly connect. On any given day, there are around 20,000 players. It is not a massive number, but the number of active players is relatively stable, which is great. You know what happens when the number goes too low? The game dies. Here, we are not close to this, and with the additional bonuses for new players, like the fast horse and unique items, new players are receiving a good welcome. What I experienced here is that there are too many pay-to-win dynamics. Don’t get me wrong. You can still play by yourself and advance, but if you want to compare to the rest of the players, you can stay too far behind if you are not paying for in-game items.
New player experience
When I first opened the game, I was welcomed by 27 unique characters from which to choose. You will find classical wizards, archers, and knights, but also cool Corsair creators, who can transform into a mermaid or Sage, who can summon lighting. As you can expect, each of the characters has their unique skills and playstyle, and the classes are race-locked. Nothing that really bothers me here.
Let’s go back to my character creation. The system that Black Desert Online uses is really detailed. It may be one of the most detailed ones that I have seen in an MMO, so you can customize many aspects of your hero. You can spend hours choosing eyes, hairstyle, and many more small details.
When you first start the game, you can choose one of the three locations, and you can further progress on a traditional zone-by-zone progression.
I took advantage of the seasonal server called the Eternal, which really eased me into the game. The progression was accelerated, and there were plenty of rewards all the time. Playing for just a week, I managed to level up to level 60 and have very good gear. Later, thanks to the fast beginning, I could easily dive into the endgame content.
Combat system
The combat system of BDO is probably its biggest selling point. To fully appreciate it, you will need a high-refresh-rate screen to enjoy the fluidity and beauty of the fights. The combat system is made in a way that it evolves as you gather experience and level up. When you reach level 56 of your character, you can unlock a new weapon and a new set of skills, which makes the game exciting again.
Life skills
Life skills are not my favorite, but I must notice that they are diverse in BDO. Those of you who love crafting, farming, cooking, horse training, or sailing can develop the so-called Life Skills. You don’t need to choose one, and you can develop them simultaneously. The sailing was quite fun. You can go fight sea monsters or just spend some time fishing. The progression in the skills is extensive, and it can be quite rewarding, too. You start as a beginner, and you can level up to a level of guru. Guru! I like this word.
What this game has, in contrast to other similar ones, is that it offers a node and worker system. You, as a player, can invest in a particular region of the map, own houses, create businesses, and get automated production lines for various crafted goods. You can be the master smith of the region and sell items to the rest of the players. As you can see, there are at least a few ways that you can play this game and tailor your gameplay based on your preferences. I am more focused on combats, but it is nice to have a small break and develop a life skill when you get too tired of the constant grinding of enemies.
Challenges
What challenges did I find during my game? BDO has one very annoying mechanic. Many things inside the game rely on an RNG – random number generator. Upgrading your gear gives you better tools, but each time you reach a higher level of your item, the chance that you will properly upgrade it gets lower. That means that when you are on a higher level, you will have a miserable chance of upgrading, and when you fail, the item gets downgraded. This happens with the horses, too. If you are a horse breeder, you will suffer a lot when your horse gets downgraded. The first time I failed to upgrade a gear got me so pissed off that I closed that game that day.
The other big challenge with Black Desert Online is that the game is heavily focused on grinding. I get it. Have played this kind of game since Diablo 2 was out, but maybe I had enough already. I am more looking for a fun experience for a while and not spending countless hours killing enemies for a small reward.
The endgame content is heavily focused on grinding. Players farm mobs for experience, gold, and gear. This continuous grind can be off-putting for those looking for more structured endgame activities like dungeons and raids.
There are quests in the game, but they are not some of the best in the industry. They are kind of boring and repetitive. What I learned from old-time players is that before, there were many more boss fights that eventually got removed from the game. Sadly, I started playing BDO too late and couldn’t enjoy them.
Pay-to-Win concerns
I really don’t like pay-to-win games, and you can easily see BDO as such a game. There is a cash shop where each player can buy items, gear, and pet enhancements. Yes, you can level up all of them through play, but spending money will dramatically accelerate the process. It is a clearly visible pay-to-win element that separates the players of the game. It overall leaves a bad taste in the mouth, so competing and trying to be the best player is not really achievable if you don’t spend money.
Recent improvements
There have been several important updates of BDO, especially focusing on new players:
- Free Dream Horse: Straight out, you get a tier 8 dream horse, which makes your traveling experience in the game a lot faster and more pleasant.
- Teleporting: A teleport system that lets you jump from city to city and significantly reduces your need to spend countless hours moving from place to place for a quest.
- Unified Storage: There are multiple regions in the game, but with the new update, you can access all your storage chests from a single menu. No need to actually travel to the chest in the game.
- Pity System: I told you that the RNG is very annoying. The creators of the game have noticed it, too. There is a pity system that auto-upgrades items after a certain number of fails. It is a small fix, but it still makes the game more pleasant.
Conclusion
So, should you start playing Black Desert Online today? The game is still good, and it can easily appeal to two types of players:
- Life Skill players (crafters and gatherers). If you are into creating in-game items and collecting items from the game map, you will have plenty of fun in BDO. The world looks great, and there are various activities that you can master.
- Grind enthusiasts. If you are into heavy grinding gameplay, with mostly solo progression and an amazing combat system, BDO is a good option for you. You can level up and gain new skills, which will make the combats even more engaging.
This game is not for those of you who are looking for an incredible story with amazing quests. Yes, there are some, but the stories are basic. This one is a simple game, and it is far away from other MMORPGs with their years of constantly evolving storylines.
I hope you enjoy my Black Desert Online review, and I hope you will come back for more game content. See you!