Naraka Bladepoint is launching on PlayStation 5 this July 13, 2023.
In a new PlayStation Blog, lead producer for the PlayStation 5 version, Yongcheng Liu, explained briefly what the game is about and what PlayStation fans can expect for themselves.
Naraka Bladepoint launched on Windows all the way back in 2021, and received ports on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One last year.
The game is a melee all action version of battle royale, eschewing the guns and modern weaponry, for a fighting arts based fantasy East Asian theme.
In the game scenario, the world’s human fighters squabble for control over the Immortal Mask, a divine item created from the war between two gods. Whoever takes control of the Immortal Mask becomes mighty among humans.
Developer Netease has created a 16 character roster with different backgrounds, personalities, and abilities. To match this up, Naraka Bladepoint also has you fighting in settings worthy of paintings. Waterfalls, temples, cities, it all heavily evokes the world of Chinese / Korean / Japanese legends.
Yongcheng also revealed the game’s rock-paper-scissors system that supposedly balances combat. Normal Attacks lose to powered up Focus Attacks, Focus Attacks lose to Counters, and Counters lose to Normal Attacks.
You can simply click L2 or R2 to use a Normal Attack. When you charge L2 or R2, you can hold the button to throw out a more powerful Focus Attack. Counters then act to parry Focus Attacks, throwing weapons out of your character’s hands. In turn, those Counters are easily beaten if you strike them with a quick Normal Attack.
This makes the gameplay sound like it could be reminiscent of a fighting game, or perhaps, Ubisoft’s For Honor, but you don’t lock onto your enemies automatically like in those games.
Naraka Bladepoint is a true battle royale with 3D movement mechanics, so you can simply run away from opponents if you want to. There are also special items and weapons you can use to tip the scales in your favor, such as giant crossbows to make short work of enemies.
The PlayStation 5 version of Naraka Bladepoint will have special and unique features. There is an aim-pilot that makes it easier to choose to strike either the enemy, or the ground for a unique effect. There will also be an auto-turnaround so you don’t feel sluggish like in a Soulsborne game.
The PlayStation 5 version of Naraka Bladepoint will also make use of the console’s SSD, bus most importantly, the game remains free-to-play.
PlayStation 5 players can expect some free items, and even more if you are on PlayStation Plus, when it arrives next week.
