Star Resonance: Pretty Anime MMORPG, But Flawed.

After a long wait, I finally got to play Blue Protocol, now known as Blue Protocol: Star Resonance. This free-to-play anime MMORPG kicked off its closed beta on August 22nd, and I’ve been diving in all weekend. My initial thoughts are a mixed bag, but generally positive.

Blue Protocol: Star Resonance lives up to the hype of being an authentic anime MMORPG, boasting exciting combat, stunning graphics, and lots of social interaction. However, it also suffers from some serious drawbacks, like incredibly boring quests, questionable monetization tactics, and some irritating limitations.

Let’s start with the positives.

One of the first things that struck me was the sheer scale of the game. Each server (or line) can hold up to 500 players in a single area, and Blue Protocol: Star Resonance truly feels like a proper MMORPG. Zones are teeming with players, and world boss encounters attract dozens at a time, making battles feel dynamic and engaging.

The combat system is another major plus. Blue Protocol: Star Resonance features fully action-oriented combat, where dodging, aiming, and chaining combos are crucial. It feels responsive and satisfying, especially in boss fights that require strategic gameplay. These encounters are relatively short, intense, and worth replaying. While not perfect—it can sometimes feel a bit repetitive—I’m generally a fan of the combat system.

However, I’m not a fan of the auto-combat feature. While it’s optional, it often becomes the easiest way to deal with weaker enemies or during massive world boss fights, cheapening the overall experience. What’s worse, there’s no auto-gathering. Why can I have my character auto-attack enemies but still have to manually search for resources and press “F” on each one to start mining?

Visually, Blue Protocol: Star Resonance is a masterpiece. The anime-inspired art style is gorgeous, and the world feels meticulously designed. Movement is fluid, and with double jumps and gliding, exploration is a joy. I often found myself distracted from quests, hunting for hidden treasure chests on cliffs or simply admiring the scenery. Blue Protocol: Star Resonance is a visual treat.

Now, for the negatives.

The story and quests are simply terrible and bring down the entire experience. I skipped cutscenes and dialogue because they were so dull, but I was still forced to endure them as quests are the primary source of experience points. Progression feels like a chore instead of an adventure. Most quests involve killing a certain number of creatures or retrieving an item from across the map, with very little variation. The stark contrast between Blue Protocol: Star Resonance’s beautiful world and its uninspired narrative is jarring.

Crafting and life skills initially seemed promising. With 10 different professions like alchemy, cooking, and geology, there’s plenty to do outside of combat, and the systems interact well. However, I quickly encountered stamina limitations and daily restrictions. Progression is artificially capped, making the entire system feel more restrictive than rewarding.

Then there’s the monetization. Blue Protocol: Star Resonance primarily adopts a “pay-for-convenience” model, offering cosmetics, mounts, seasonal passes, and materials to speed up crafting or upgrades. While no core content appears to be locked behind a paywall—free players can access everything—the sheer number of currencies is overwhelming. There are over half a dozen different tokens, coins, and gems, each tied to specific progression systems. It’s confusing at best and potentially predatory, as complex systems often mask opportunities for real-money shortcuts. While I wouldn’t call it outright pay-to-win, the design certainly encourages players to spend money for a smoother experience.

Despite its flaws, I’m still excited for the full launch. Blue Protocol: Star Resonance excels in the most important areas—fun combat, stunning visuals, and a vibrant world—but undermines itself with auto-combat, dreadful story quests, and a convoluted monetization system. If you’re a fan of anime, it’s definitely worth checking out. And since it’s free-to-play, you don’t have much to lose.