The Massive Multiplayer Online Action RPG (MMORPG) space is filled with stiff competition, with World of Warcraft and Final Fantasy XIV taking up the lion’s share of the player base, it can be difficult for new games to break into the genre. But there is a push, and with Blue Protocol, there just might be a new MMO that has legs. Blue Protocol is developed by BANDAI NAMCO Online and BANDAI NAMCO Studios and published by Amazon Games.
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A free-to-play MMORPG, Blue Protocol, allows players to create their own hero and explore the beautiful world of Regnas. The game aims to give players an immersive multiplayer experience through deep character customization and a more action-based combat system not found in your traditional MMORPGs as they travel the Regnas, a world inspired by anime art and aesthetics.
Blue Protocol doesn’t come to America until some time in 2024; however, But Why Tho? got a complete hands-on preview earlier this year at Summer Game Fest before its release in Japan in June of this year. We were able to check out the character customization, try out the varying classes, explore the world, and even do a group Dungeon.
Players start out creating their characters before choosing a starting class. The character creator itself is a pretty standard character creator giving players options of choosing hair color, body type, and such that are found in most character creators. The real character customization comes from the class system where players can choose from five different classes. The five classes are Blade Warden, Twin Striker, Keen Strider, Spell Weaver, and Foe Breaker. Blue Protocols allows great flexibility in that players can switch classes at any time without having to switch characters.
The classes are dependent on the weapon of choice. Blade Wardens carry a sword and shield; Twin Striker has duel axes; Keen Strider uses bows, Spell Weaver for staves; and Foe Breaker a heavyweight hammer. All of these options allow for varying playstyles, and with the class-switching systems, players can swap on the fly to help defeat varying challenges are they occur. The other unique thing about Blue Protocol class system is each class has its own unique set of abilities that add damage, healing, and elemental effects that can be modified and leveled up as players progress.
As players progress, they can shape and customization their playstyles for each class. This is one of the first things I noticed and marveled at was being able to play as a Keen Strider, where I was a healer with a bow. That type of weapon being used by a healer is usually not heard of in most MMORPGs.
The action combat system plays differently than your traditional MMOs. Players can still target enemies, but they must aim when using skills and base attacks. The combat system, while different, does feel similar to Amazon’s other Multiplayer Online RPG of New World. The combat does have its action as it is a relatively fast pace as players are constantly moving, so you must not only be within range for each attack but be able to aim at the target. Having this type of combat system mixed with the flexible class system really makes doing combat quite enjoyable.
The world itself is quite beautiful and has a very distinct anime art style. The environments are full of vibrant colors, which makes the game feel very much like you are sometimes playing an anime. This may be a turn-off to some people, especially if you are into a more realistic art style, but overall, it works great with the aesthetic and surrounding that Blue Protocol seems to be going for.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Multiplayer Online RPG game without Dungeons, Raids, Boss Battles, and other various team activities. Blue Protocol has all of those and gives players three options to take on these challenges of Solo, Matchmaking, and Recruiting Parties. The amount of players scales each activity both on difficulty, but also for rewards so it should be worth it to venture out with people from time to time. Players should also expect your basic MMO features such as Teams, which are like guilds, for players to work together, Adventure Board Challenges, and of course questing.
Overall, I walked away from the hands-on preview pleasantly surprised with Blue Protocol. There is definitely a way to go before this game launches for the rest of the world outside of Japan, particularly in localization. That said, there seem to be plenty of things to be excited about. It can be rough out there in today’s MMO market, but Blue Protocol seems to be building a solid foundation that should be given a shot at launch. Their Japan launch has gone really well, as it has reached player milestones faster than any other game in Bandai Namco Online’s history.
Blue Protocol is available for download in Japan and is expected to be released in the US in 2024 on PC, Xbox Series X/S, and PlayStation via Amazon Games.
