Star Resonance’s Day One Reception: Not So Good

Blue Protocol: Star Resonance is finally here! This new free-to-play MMORPG has already sparked debate. It quickly rose to Steam’s Top 10 Most Played games at launch, reaching a peak of around 94,000 concurrent players. Sounds promising, right? However, the reviews tell a different story. The game currently holds a “Mostly Negative” rating, hovering around 30%. The majority of players aren’t complaining about bugs or stability issues; instead, they simply dislike the game itself.

Much of the dissatisfaction stems from design choices that seem heavily influenced by mobile gaming. Progression is time-gated on a daily basis, restricting players from advancing quickly, at least for now. According to players, reaching Level 60, the current maximum level, will take approximately two weeks. The developers likely intend for players to progress together, which is a noble sentiment, but it feels restrictive. Currently, gameplay involves logging in, completing a few story quests, claiming daily rewards, and then logging off until the next content update. Some appreciate this pacing to prevent burnout, while others, including myself, dislike being limited in their playtime.

The combat and presentation have also drawn criticism. Many players describe the animations as stiff, the cutscenes as awkwardly edited, and a significant portion of the dialogue as unvoiced. This diminishes immersion for those who expected a high-quality anime MMO. Furthermore, the UI feels like it belongs on a mobile device, even on PC. This manifests as endless pop-ups, layered menus, and daily claim screens that overwhelm the interface before players can even understand their purpose.

Adding to the challenges, the launch isn’t truly “global.” Servers are reportedly located in North America, leaving players in Europe, Australia, and Southeast Asia with significant latency issues. This is more than just inconvenient for an action-combat MMORPG; it can be game-breaking. Some players are already uninstalling the game due to their ping making dodging attacks or timing combos nearly impossible.

Monetization has also become a major point of discussion. While the cash shop is filled with cosmetics, which is expected, the controversy revolves around the “Imagine” and “Battle Will” systems. These gacha mechanics provide stat bonuses and even new abilities. While players can grind for them and the game lacks PvP, many still view this as a potential slippery slope. It’s not the most aggressive system, but it also doesn’t feel entirely fair.

Despite these criticisms, Blue Protocol: Star Resonance will likely find its niche. It will probably cultivate a community, albeit a smaller one. It’s an anime-style MMORPG designed for casual players seeking a relaxing game to enjoy after work. You can tackle a few dungeons, appreciate the art style, and collect appealing outfits with friends. The world is vibrant, the soundtrack is calming, and it certainly captures the Sword Art Online vibe that many players, including myself, were hoping for. If you don’t mind a slower pace and can overlook the cash shop, there’s a good amount of fun to be had, I believe.

However, if you were expecting a true revival of Bandai Namco’s original Blue Protocol, this might not be what you envisioned. Under Tencent’s new direction, the game feels less like a PC MMORPG and more like a cross-platform mobile title. It’s packed with systems geared toward retention rather than immersion. Timegates, auto-combat, layered menus, multiple currencies – it’s all present and intentional.

In my opinion, Blue Protocol: Star Resonance offers a polished but ultimately shallow experience. I was excited, genuinely so, but I’m left feeling disappointed. All those years of anticipation for a somewhat unfinished product. The game looks appealing, runs smoothly, and feels cozy, but lacks substantial depth. And that’s a shame. Some players will appreciate the simplicity, while others will immediately lose interest. I find myself somewhere in between.