By Sid Natividad
Black Desert Online is a great MMORPG, and there are several things about it that is better than most others out right now.
Black Desert Online has been out for a while now; it remains one of the strongest MMORPG titles in the industry despite some flaws or shortcomings that would have made other MMORPGs go belly up. It certainly does something right and better than other MMORPGs and by the looks of it, the game is still going strong with frequent updates and a massive population.
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Those who are still on the fence about joining in on the adventure and are looking for a little push have come to the right place. Because BDO has certain strengths and advantages against other MMOs that need to be enumerated to be appreciated better. These are what's keeping Black Desert Online at the top of the MMORPG hierarchy, and often, they're enough to keep people invested.
8 In-Depth Character Creation
The character creator is and has always been one of the most defining features of Black Desert Online. When it was first showcased in 2014, it earned Black Desert Online the title of the "prettiest" MMORPG, combined with the gorgeous graphics. The character models in this game are customizable down to the moisture of their skin.
The closest thing to it would be a heavily-modded Skyrim. There are certain limitations such as gender-locked classes and racial presets but still, this level of official character customization is somewhat unparalleled among video games. One can even consider the character creation screen as an aspect of gameplay due to its intricacy.
7 Beautiful Cosmetics
Black Desert Online's developers know what the players are after and what makes them tick, and they have consequently locked it behind a paywall. That would be the cosmetic system. The costumes and skins in Black Desert Online are mesmerizing. They're like the medieval fantasy equivalent of runway clothing.
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From hulking plates to attractive tights, every class has a personalized flavor of cosmetics and some universal ones added for variety. But again, like the character creation, there are some debilitating limitations such as the stingy dye system. Still, one can't deny just how much of a fashion paradise Black Desert Online is compared to most MMORPGs.
6 Combo-Based Action Combat
The beautiful graphics and the aesthetically-superior character models would be wasted if the actual gameplay was lackluster, but thankfully, Black Desert Online didn't lag behind in that department. In fact, it outdoes most other MMORPGs. It's likely still the running crown holder for the most dynamic and fluid combat in an MMORPG.
That's because Black Desert Online's combat plays out like a 3D fighting game, similar to Tekken but faster and flashier. There are complex combos that players need to pull off and memorize in the heat of battle to outplay others in PvP or grind efficiently in PvE. Combat in Black Desert Online will likely ruin other MMORPGs for players once they've gotten used to it.
5 Lack Of Fast Travel
For players who have limited time, an open-world game without fast travel might be a dealbreaker. However, this very feature (or lack thereof) changes the way players approach and appreciate the open world. Black Desert Online omitting fast travel is a way to get players more invested in other means of traversal or transportation.
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Moreover, it forces players to plan out their actions and activities in the game instead of just rushing into everything and eventually just seeing the open-world environment as nothing more than an obstacle. In anything, the lack of faster travel makes it easier for players to orient themselves in the game world and its distinct locations.
4 Sandbox Structure
Players who were used to or were indoctrinated into the theme park MMO progression often find themselves at a loss for Black Desert Online's usual gameplay loop. Because this game gives players multiple ways to play and they're all viable. Whether it's killing thousands of faceless mobs over and over again or plucking daisies in a random forest, everything the player does can contribute to the economy and to their progression.
If players want, they can even just go on a cheap raft and get themselves stranded in the middle of the sea, turning their gameplay loop in a bid for survival (though this isn't recommended). The whole world is the playground and players aren't really railroaded into anything unless they're leveling up from one to 56, which is considered the tutorial segment of the game.
3 Huge Organic Environment
Adding another point for the game's welcoming open world, there's a certain importance to the placements of environments and cities in Black Desert Online apart from just the lore. Faraway cities can be just as much of an opportunity for players as the random animals running around. Because there are numerous life skills or sandbox activities in the game such as hunting or trading.
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And players can even "live off the land" if they're diligent or strategic enough. Some players can build worker empires by exploiting farms while others can make huge payouts by buying low and selling high in faraway cities. The environment in the game isn't just for show; it's a living and breathing world that ties into the player-driven economy.
2 Ocean Gameplay
Not many games can successfully integrate maritime gameplay into their loop while still making sense. Black Desert Online did it well. By introducing ships and sailing into the core gameplay, Black Desert Online not only gave a new sandbox activity for players but also expanded upon the lore and the game world in multiple layers.
There's even an aspect of maritime gameplay where players can hunt sea monsters with their towering and imposing ships. It's also another way for players to become rich since sailing also introduces another form of mercantilism in the game. And of course, there's also a ship PvP for those who wanted to roleplay as pirates or assassins.
1 PvP
Speaking of PvP, Black Desert Online can be rather unforgiving in this aspect since as soon as players finish the tutorial part of the game (level 56), they're chucked right out into the Wild West of forced PvP. It's a good incentive for players to find guilds that can protect them, and therein lies another huge layer of PvP in the form of guild or territory wars.
It's a lot more dramatic than it sounds, especially if some rogue players belonging to a certain guild randomly attacked another guild's players and a full-blown guild war ensues. That kind of drama and PvP interaction is quite rare in other MMORPGs, and it can easily turn into one of the most memorable moments in Black Desert Online.
Black Desert Online is available on Mobile, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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