Think the glory days of the mid-00s F2P MMO boom are long gone? Think again. Your days of spending hours grinding mobs for a sliver of EXP with random anime avatars may have passed, but the will to do it again can never fade. Once you dip your toes into the MMO, you're hooked. You come for the expansive worlds and clear progression and stay until the community slowly fizzles out. If you've spent years, or even decades, hoping to feel that first max level grind again, your search may very well be over.
A lot of those millennial MMORPG haunts are long gone. But with the alternative often a hollow shell of what was, an oversimplified adventure bereft of personal achievement, it's hard to find something to scratch that anime-inspired itch. Let Blue Protocol: Star Resonance be the answer. With over 5 million pre-registrations in the weeks following its final closed beta, plenty of people are eager to call the continent of Magna their new home. And you could be one of them.
Made in partnership with Bandai Namco and Shanghai Bokura Network Technology Co., a team formed to carry on the legacy of the original adventure, Blue Protocol: Star Resonance expands upon the limited release and promises a welcome return to the cute fantasy MMO experiences of the past.
Hop into a bright and cheerful anime-inspired universe full of wonder that's yours to explore; where fleeting souls soon become fast friends and existential threats make a habit of interrupting its quiet tranquillity. Dangerous raids are simply busywork between dance parties in the bustling city of Asterleeds and post-raid night costume contests with the guildies.
Craft up a storm, gather materials for your next team challenge, or simply burn the midnight oil chatting with new allies on the benches around town. However you decide to live your life on Magna, you might just find that communal MMO magic you thought was gone the moment you landed your first job.
The world of Regnus is bigger than any one activity. Think fishing your days away is a waste of big boss-beating potential? With cross-platform play on mobile, serene gathering activities can pad out a long commute or sing you off to sleep. And once you're ready to tackle the tougher challenges away from a touchscreen, robust controller support and highly customizable keyboard and mouse play is ready to bolster your potential with options like Free Cast and Auto Combo.
Blue Protocol blends casual everyday gameplay with an ever-expanding, world-spanning storyline woven around a reactive action combat system. Light and heavy attacks give way to special abilities and class-specific casts, with tactical rolls and well-timed dashes essential for getting out of a pinch. In a group setting, strong class synergies reward cunning teamplay and forward thinking with powerful combos and tightly-woven character collaboration.
But at the heart of it all is an intricate character creation system that allows you to craft the anime protagonist of your dreams. Featuring three distinct body types for both genders, once you've chosen your desired figure, a clean and modern interface lets you easily visualize the many emotions of your new online persona from every angle.
Not feeling very creative? Too eager to jump into the vibrant world of Magna? Pick from over a dozen presets instead. Craft your own original character lore and that doppleganger causing a commotion in the chat channels can become your evil twin. And when it comes to hairstyles, you're free to make them your own by mixing front, back, and crown options with two-tone highlights and gradients.
Plentiful preview systems let you see your character in many of the best outfits and gearsets you'll work your way toward. And with a robust dye system, it's easy to dial in the perfect persona right out of the gate: even if that means building your hero around a totally adorable mascot costume like the Vita or Rab Meow getup. And it doesn't stop there. Accessories like fun hats, cool glasses, and even cute hairpins and headbands aplenty can give your character their wholly own personal flair and signature style.
Before you're ready to set foot in Magna, you have to pick the role you'll play in the grand battles to follow. Do you take on the challenge toe-to-toe as a daring Heavy Guardian or self-healing Shield Knights? Aim for the top of the damage charts as the rapid reaper-like Stormblade or the swift aerial Wind Knight? Maybe you go for efficient area damage or tactical strikes as a Marksman or Frost Mage? Or perhaps you live to keep your friends safe? Become the backbone of the whole team and call upon the land to reinvigorate your friends as the Verdant Oracle, or inspire your entourage by shredding chords as the rocking Beat Performer.
With Attack, Guard, and Support roles, the holy trinity of MMORPG class-based gameplay is alive and well in Blue Protocol: Star Resonance. And with eight ready at launch, you'll find plenty of reasons to revisit early zones like the Asteria Plains long after you hit your peak. Take on engaging world events or journey to find overlooked, serene hunting spots to grind with the friends you're sure to make along the way. Airona, the first friendly face you'll see on your journey, will certainly be pleased to see your progress.
The doors to the continent of Magna and the wider world of Regnus will finally reopen when Blue Protocol: Star Resonance launches on October 9 on PC and mobile. Before then, grab recruitment rewards like Random Toy Chests and Cooking Agents from the Blue Protocol: Star Resonance website. Rekindle those friendships lost on the grand search for your next new MMORPG, and you might just unlock the final pre-registration reward - a Loyal Pickup Pup pet that's sure to turn launch day in Asterleeds into an impromptu puppy party.