As a seasoned MMO adventurer with countless hours spent traversing virtual lands, I must admit that New World: Aeternum has managed to pique my interest like no other early access period game before it. Having played through the original, I can attest to its struggles with player retention and the blurred lines between genres that it presents.
Experiencing Multiplayer Online Games (MMOs) during their pre-release phases can sometimes feel unusual. If you fancy killing monsters for resources, there’s no shortage of them, and nobody seems to mind if you annihilate dozens. When it comes to selling the loot, the merchants are visible. However, when it comes to tackling high-level quests that necessitate a well-coordinated team, there can be some awkwardness… Fortunately, New World has traditionally been more welcoming to solo players compared to other games, and the latest update, New World: Aeturnum, is even more accommodating in this regard.
Essentially, Aeternum can be seen as an updated version of New World, or New World 2.0. It shares the same fundamental concept but has been redesigned in many aspects, particularly focusing on welcoming new players. Given that New World has faced challenges with player retention for some time now, attracting fresh participants seems like a logical move. However, the changes do not seem to provide more clarity regarding Aeternum’s identity, which lies at the intersection of MMO, survival crafting, and multiplayer RPG genres. In fact, it appears that these boundaries might become even more blurred in Aeternum.
To be honest, I was really enjoying my peaceful solitude in Aeternum, but the return of the crowd isn’t something I’m looking forward to. However, I must admit it runs smoothly on PlayStation 5. The auto-run feature triggered by the sprint button feels a bit odd, but the combat is excellent with a controller. Now that they’ve added more depth to the early quests and simplified some systems, it plays more like a survival RPG instead of a typical MMO – and that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
At the beginning of the game, you’ll find yourself with seven distinct Characters to select, each equipped with their unique starting equipment and weapons. Moreover, these Characters are exceptionally skilled in three out of the six crafting disciplines, such as a Musketeer being adept at skinning, armor work, and plant gathering. This initial proficiency, coupled with your character’s initial attire, helps to mitigate the common new player experience of feeling completely inept compared to the game’s environment. You can switch Characters later on, but the skills and abilities you acquire by upgrading your weapons are influenced by your Character’s specialties.
Initially, swimming was missing, which didn’t seem right considering the original. However, with its addition, along with the incorporation of mounts, enhancements from the Angry Earth expansion, and other improvements, Aeturnum now offers a more comprehensive action RPG experience. Gone are the awkward silences typical of new MMOs as they grow. New Non-Player Characters (NPCs) provide quests and instructions, while existing characters have expanded dialogue to enrich their stories and the world. A clear antagonist and personal motivations create a feeling that you’re not merely a small part in a larger system.
Initially, the game’s early stages seem like a series of fetch tasks and dialogues, yet the skills you acquire for crafting and gathering entice you to delve deeper into the world. In the initial settlement, you can customize your character or change the color of your clothes using in-game money, not premium currency, and the auction house is still present. I recall feeling a bit lost in New World when I was suddenly surrounded by players, and this may occur in New World: Aeturnum as well when it becomes populated, but at least now there’s more significance to our actions.
With its pledge of a more robust final phase, 10-player battles, and seamless multiplatform compatibility, the New World Aeturnum update could very well be the one that sparks enthusiasm for Amazon’s MMO among players. The open beta extends until September 16, so if you’re even slightly interested, it’s definitely worth exploring firsthand.
In an early access event hosted by the publisher, it has been revealed that the game “New World: Aeternum” is set to debut on both PC and consoles on October 15, 2024. These impressions are a result of this event.
Read More
- LUNC PREDICTION. LUNC cryptocurrency
- USD COP PREDICTION
- EUR PLN PREDICTION
- USD PHP PREDICTION
- POWR PREDICTION. POWR cryptocurrency
- Avowed May Lack a Major Feature on Xbox Consoles
- BAN PREDICTION. BAN cryptocurrency
- EUR THB PREDICTION
- ARB PREDICTION. ARB cryptocurrency
- Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater Gets Encouraging Update
2024-09-11 19:16