I was at a friend’s house the other week, messing around on hisXboxwhile I waited for him to finish work. We’d played someCassette Beaststhe day before, which reminded me of how much that game bangs, but I didn’t want to progress the story without him, especially since I’ve already finished it and he’s experiencing it for the first time.
Then I noticed that he had free-to-play battle royaleNaraka: Bladepointinstalled. He’d only played a couple of matches himself, but recommended it to me, so I took him up on his suggestion. I jumped into a couple of bot lobbies as an introduction, and found myself sucked into a world with great combat, interesting locations, and a giant, flaming phoenix filling the sky.
What the flipping h*ck had I got myself into? I still don’t quite understand, but Naraka: Bladepoint shows exactly how you refresh the battle royale genre. I played a few matches of the game in beta back in 2021 and promptly forgot about it thanks to getting my arse thoroughly handed to me when up against real players who had clearly already put many hours in.
This time around though, with bots as my only foes, I had a ball. I got to grips with the mechanics first and foremost, understanding how all the different weapons worked and what I preferred to use. You’d expect rifles to dominate in a swordfighting setting, but their slow rate of fire and inaccuracy lets them down. It’s easy to close down space between you and someone aiming down their sights, and before you know it, you’ve stuck them through the ribs with a spear.
Tip: Embrace the chaos of Naraka: Bladepoint. Don’t ask questions. Don’t Google. Enjoy.
Traversal is of utmost importance in a game that requires you to flee from the zone and head across the map, and Naraka excels here. It’s not quite Apex levels of movement, but two mechanics in particular take it clear of your average Warzone match. The first is the grappling hook. You can pick up single-use grappling hooks as floor loot, much like you can weapons, and use these to propel yourself across the map. They allow you to reach high places – more on the map’s verticality later – or shoot yourself into the zone. However, they can also be used in a fight, either to grapple onto a fleeing opponent in order to deal the last smidgen of damage, or to escape yourself and find a better angle of approach.
The hooks, as always in video games, are satisfying to use, and the multiple uses for them take them above and beyond those in other games. However, there’s another mechanic that deserves a mention, and you only find it if you die. Yes, I died to bots, but it was my first match and I was using a controller instead of my usual keyboard and mouse, allow it.
When you die in Naraka: Bladepoint, you get a second chance. You’re able to traverse the map as a ghost, and if you make it to a respawn beacon (not their proper name), you return to full life. As a ghost, you can’t damage anyone else, but jumping causes you to fly through the air. It’s great for scouting enemy positions and finding a safe place to revive yourself, as well as just being a fun way to zoom about.
Note: I may have been disingenuous with the title of this piece, as Naraka: Bladepoint is currently the fifth most-played game on Steam, but it’s still largely slept on in the West
So, the combat’s great and the movement’s even better, but what really pulled me into Naraka: Bladepoint was its world. The map itself is exquisitely designed with every game mechanic kept in mind, and achievements focus your attention on certain areas. I want to be a Temple Warrior, so I’m going to drop in Shadow Jade Mine again next match.
One match I just spent exploring, and reached the highest point I could find on the map. I climbed and grappled up a series of floating rocks above Eventide Temple, and at the top was met with a glorious view of the battlefield. Not a second later, a giant phoenix flew through the air. I don’t know why, I don’t know what, but I need to find out more. There are hints, some subtle and some not so subtle, to deep lore behind this game, and a giant phoenix swooping through the skies is exactly the kind of thing that makes me want to find out more.
I only tried two characters, but there’s a whole roster complete with a wide range of abilities to try out. From the menu, there’s also an area where you compete in a bouncing race while transformed into a ball for some reason. I’ve only scratched the surface of Naraka: Bladepoint, but there’s a wealth of stuff I can’t wait to check out.
Next:I Wish I’d Taken Shadowheart To The Underdark In Baldur’s Gate 3
