Naraka Bladepoint is a Battle Royale title mainly focusing on hand-to-hand combat and martial arts. Everything is played from a third-person perspective, so if you’re a fan of Fortnite, you’ll quickly get comfortable with this. Those who enjoy first-person shooters may be immediately turned off or forced to take a long nap with the atmosphere here. It follows the same pattern as most Battle Royale games in its integration. 

This action-adventure battle royale game was developed by 24 Entertainment and published by NetEase Games Montreal. The game was released in August 2021and June 2022. It is currently available on Microsoft Windows, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PlayStation 5.

Fast-paced Battle Royale Game

Three epic parts make up the crust of the game’s offerings, but there are special events and twists on the regular modes. It has all the elements of everything you are used to, running through hot spots, closing the circle of impending death, and trying to survive to be the last fighter. It can be immediately apparent that the game is unique and feels very different.

Most Battle Royale events follow the same premise of raiding, looting, killing, and survival. Naraka Bladepoint is very fast compared to many others. Of course, you can play as much as you like, but if you are sharp or quick enough, you’ll probably get killed early in the game. It’s all about planning, scouting, inventory management, and preparation, so you’re well-equipped for head-to-head combat. Believe it when it is said that you must go nose to nose with enemies as quickly and efficiently as possible to have the best chance of survival.

Getting Started in Naraka Bladepoint 

The game eases you in with a quick guide. It is recommended that anyone take the time to play this hands-on game as it will introduce you to the basics, moves, and how to use skills and attacks. Soon after, you’ll be ready to jump into the game and continue. Don’t be impressed by a good performance in the first few rounds because the big guns are yet to be introduced into the arena. 

There’s no skydiving here; you pick a spot on the map where you want to nest. Yellow-shaded areas indicate hot spots filled with rarer elements. You will avoid them as this is where most players will be shooting shelters and open areas in rapid succession. Weapons follow the same traditional method of being marked with colors that represent their strength value. Green, blue, purple, and gold are the ones to look out for, but if you get something gold, you are at a real advantage.

Quite an Addictive Gameplay

The desire and need to excel in the game can make someone so addicted to Naraka Bladepoint. You always feel like you can improve your performance, and with the ease of moving and fighting enemies, there are endless and spontaneous adventures. It’s the first game in a long time that has you hitting the save clip button on your controller multiple times each episode because something weird happens. If you’re on Xbox and have a Game Pass subscription, it’s worth your time and patience to bring out your inner ninja.

So Many Weapons to Choose From

There are tons of options when it comes to weaponry. You can find daggers, swords, longswords, bows, low-level cannons, rifles, etc. All you need to do is to find what works best for you. I prefer short-range weapons for combat because they are usually more effective. Using a weapon that requires shooting someone requires precision and accuracy, which can be difficult with swift movements. However, this is a good way to break your opponent’s armor and then go for the kill from an intense ambush.

Intense Makeup, Menu, and Character Skills

There is a generous battle pass system, and even players who don’t want to spend money will be rewarded at every level. The game creates a cosmetic type of steady income by giving the player much to do to get free stuff. Daily, weekly and seasonal challenges exist along with progression for each character, weapon, and overall rank.

Some characters are available, and some need to be unlocked. Each one is unique in appearance, clothing, skills, and more. I would compare this to the characters in Apex Legends. They all have personalities, voices, movements, and how they play. 

Naraka Bladepoint is quite similar in this regard, and it was fun to dive into testing each ninja to see their special move and the different skills they could use. Each has its skill tree to progress, and skills can be changed by choosing three. If you’re not sure, there’s a screenshot slideshow that shows what each one does.

Mixed Pictures and Sound

The graphics look great, especially when you’re in a sword fight with two or three other people, as sparks and magical blasts fly across the screen. The map and layout have a Ghosts of Tsushima look and feel, with lots of forests and buildings to traverse with your grappling hook. The variety of colors is something you love when it comes to trees scattered around. Some would have red, amber, and green leaves, which made the environment less repetitive and pleasant to walk and explore. However, more could still be done in terms of visuals. 

The soundtrack and menu music has an oriental feel and touches that blend well. The game’s character and narrator’s voices are clear and concise and hit the spot. Sometimes you’ll see a giant dragon come out of the sky, a water wheel detaches and rolls down a hill, and an enemy hits you. These are just some of the occasional sounds you will notice in the game. All these sound effects are efficient and effective with headphones. However, you will get a few audio errors where you will lose all audio except for the odd sound. Besides, the footsteps didn’t fit the place where you’d hear them over and over again. This issue probably happened twice while I was playing. Nevertheless, the gameplay was excellent. Hopefully, the minor glitches will be fixed soon.

Conclusion

Naraka Bladepoint has the steepest learning curve of any war game ever played, but it’s satisfying and rewarding when done well. It’s a solid and enjoyable experience for the most part, with some bits and pieces here and there. Although the menu and everything else seems complicated at first, you will get used to everything and enjoy the learning process. As with any other Battle Royale game, it’s more fun with friends, and you’ll have great matches with random players with comms on. You should check out this amazing game if you love melee combat game styles.