Introduction:
In recent years, Blade and Soul, the popular MMORPG developed by NCSOFT, has undergone several updates and overhauls to enhance the game experience. One of the most significant changes came when the game transitioned from its original engine to Unreal Engine 4 (UE4). The move promised visual enhancements, better performance, and a more immersive world for players. However, despite the technical improvements, many players were disheartened by the unintended consequences of the update—namely, the destruction of animations.
Animation is one of the core elements that set Blade and Soul apart from other MMORPGs. The fluidity and precision of combat animations were not only an aesthetic marvel but also crucial to the gameplay experience. Unfortunately, after the Unreal Engine 4 update, players reported noticeable issues with the animations—poor fluidity, broken timing, and a loss of the natural flow that defined the game’s iconic martial arts combat. In this article, we’ll explore how the Unreal Engine 4 update destroyed animations in Blade and Soul and why it has left many fans frustrated.
The Unreal Engine 4 Overhaul: What Was Promised
When Blade and Soul made the transition to Unreal Engine 4, the development team aimed to deliver several improvements that would elevate the game to modern standards. These included:
- Enhanced Graphics and Visual Effects: UE4 allowed for better lighting, shadows, and textures. The upgrade was expected to bring a more immersive and visually polished experience to players.
- Improved Performance: With the new engine, the game would run more efficiently, especially on lower-end PCs, offering a smoother experience for a larger player base.
- Better Stability and Support for Future Updates: The Unreal Engine 4 upgrade promised a better foundation for future expansions and support for new game features.
- New Animations and Improved Combat Feel: This was a key selling point for many players. The shift to UE4 was seen as an opportunity to revamp the combat animations and make them even more dynamic and engaging.
For many players, the promise of a smoother, more immersive experience created a sense of excitement. However, the reality of the transition wasn’t all rosy. The new engine’s impact on animations, especially the combat animations, turned out to be a major problem.
The Destruction of Combat Animations
One of the defining features of Blade and Soul was its fast-paced, fluid combat system. Characters flowed seamlessly from one move to the next in a highly synchronized manner. Combat animations were carefully crafted to reflect the game’s martial arts themes, each move looking powerful, precise, and engaging. However, after the Unreal Engine 4 update, these animations were significantly altered, and not for the better.
Lost Fluidity in Animations
Before the update, the game’s combat animations were fast and fluid. Characters could perform combos with ease, each attack flowing naturally into the next. The Blade and Soul community fondly remembers how the game’s martial arts-inspired movements looked perfectly choreographed, creating a sense of realism and immersion.
After the UE4 update, however, many players noticed that the animations became stiff and disconnected. Combos no longer felt fluid, and the transitions between moves felt clunky. This disruption in the animation flow had a severe impact on the gameplay experience, as many of the most satisfying combat moments—those intricate and fast-paced combinations of moves—lost their shine.
Inconsistent Hitboxes and Timing
Another major issue that arose post-update was inconsistent hitboxes. Previously, when a player’s character performed an attack, the hitbox (the area in which the attack would register as a hit) was well-aligned with the animation. This allowed players to rely on their visual and auditory cues to time their attacks perfectly.
With Unreal Engine 4, however, the hitboxes often no longer aligned with the animations, leading to a frustrating experience. Attacks that looked like they should land often missed, and enemies seemed to hit players without their attacks making contact. This inconsistency greatly diminished the satisfaction of combat and made precise gameplay much harder to execute.
Disjointed NPC and Enemy Animations
It wasn’t just player animations that suffered—the NPCs and enemies were also affected by the Unreal Engine 4 transition. Many players reported that the AI-controlled characters moved in unnatural, jerky ways, breaking the immersion of battles. These disjointed animations made encounters feel less engaging and more like fighting static objects than dynamic enemies.
This issue was particularly noticeable in group fights, where enemies would often stand still or fail to animate properly during key attack sequences. In combat, this broke the rhythm and timing that players had come to expect, contributing to an overall sense of frustration.
The Impact on Player Experience
The destruction of animations had a significant impact on the overall player experience in Blade and Soul. For many fans, the fluid combat system was one of the primary reasons for playing the game. The update, while improving graphical quality in some areas, left players questioning whether the loss in animation quality was worth it.
Reduced Enjoyment of Combat
The most immediate impact was the reduced enjoyment of combat. Players who had grown accustomed to the smooth flow of combat felt disappointed by the jagged transitions and broken combos that now defined their gameplay. For many, the update’s poor handling of combat animations made the game feel like a shadow of its former self.
Frustration with Gameplay Mechanics
For high-level players, especially those who relied on precise timing and combos, the broken animations created a huge challenge. What once felt like a beautifully choreographed martial arts battle now felt like a series of awkward pauses and misfires. The precision-based combat system was compromised, making it difficult to achieve the same level of performance as before.
Aesthetic and Immersion Issues
Blade and Soul has always been a game that placed a significant emphasis on its aesthetic appeal. Players enjoyed not just the combat, but also the visual beauty of the world, character designs, and animations. The disruption to combat animations affected the immersion and visual integrity of the game, leading to a decline in player satisfaction.
Developer Response and the Future of Blade and Soul
In the aftermath of the Unreal Engine 4 update, the Blade and Soul development team acknowledged the issues with combat animations and other related problems. However, the process of fixing the broken animations has been slow. Players have voiced their frustrations on forums, social media, and through in-game feedback systems, but the lack of immediate action has caused some to question the future of the game.
The team has made small fixes here and there, but many players still feel that the core issues remain unresolved. It remains to be seen whether a more significant overhaul will be implemented to restore the fluidity and beauty that once defined the Blade and Soul combat experience.
Conclusion
The Unreal Engine 4 update to Blade and Soul undoubtedly brought some positive changes to the game, but it also introduced serious problems, particularly with the animations. What was once a fast-paced, visually stunning combat system has been marred by stiff, broken animations, inconsistent hitboxes, and disjointed enemy movements. While the update improved some aspects of the game, it also destroyed one of its most beloved features: its fluid and intricate combat animations. Until the issues with animation and combat fluidity are addressed, Blade and Soul will struggle to live up to the standards set by its earlier versions.
FAQs
Q: Did the Unreal Engine 4 update improve the game overall?
A: While the Unreal Engine 4 update improved some graphical aspects and overall performance, it caused significant issues with combat animations, which impacted the gameplay experience for many players.
Q: Are the animation issues being addressed by the developers?
A: The developers have acknowledged the issues and have made some changes, but many players feel that the fixes have been slow and insufficient. The problems with combat animations remain a major concern.
Q: Will the animations be restored to their original quality?
A: It’s unclear at this point whether the original animation quality will be fully restored. Players are hoping for a more significant update that will address the core issues.
Q: Can players still enjoy Blade and Soul despite the animation issues?
A: While the game is still enjoyable for some players, those who prioritize combat fluidity and smooth animations may find the experience less satisfying than before. It depends on individual preferences.
