Blade & Soul

Blade & Soul (Korean: 블레이드 앤 소울; RR: Beulleideu aen soul) is a Korean fantasy martial-arts massively multiplayer online role-playing game developed by NCSOFT (Team Bloodlust). On September 13, 2012, NCSOFT announced that Blade & Soul would release in Western territories, which eventually happened on January 19, 2016.[1] A Japanese animated television adaptation aired on April 3, 2014 on TBS and other stations[2] then finished on June 26, 2014.

Blade & Soul
Blade & Soul anime
GenreFantasy
Game
DeveloperTeam Bloodlust (NCsoft Developer Division) (PC)
Netmarble Neo (Mobile)
NC Interactive (console)
PublisherNCSOFT
GenreAction MMORPG
EngineUnreal Engine 3
PlatformMicrosoft Windows, iOS, Android
Released
  • KOR: June 30, 2012
  • JP: May 20, 2014
  • NA: January 19, 2016
  • EU: January 19, 2016
Anime television series
Directed byHiroshi Takeuchi
Hiroshi Hamasaki
Produced byGō Tanaka
Makoto Furukawa
Tetsuya Endō
Shigeaki Arima
Kiyotomo Sudō
Hidetada Soga
Gaku Nakagawa
Tadashi Hoshino
Yoshito Mitsui
Written byAtsuhiro Tomioka
Music byTaro Iwashiro
StudioGonzo
Licensed by
Hanabee
Original networkTBS, HBC, RKB, MBS, CBC, TBS Channel 1, BS-TBS, Anime Network
Original run April 3, 2014 – June 26, 2014
Episodes13

The mobile game adaptation Blade & Soul Revolution released on December 6, 2018.[3]

Gameplay

Blade & Soul features a combination of martial arts-inspired combat and qinggong in an open-world environment. Players create playable characters that explore around the world by completing quests assigned by various NPCs. The game uses a real-time battle system in the third-person camera view and requires players to "combo" a series of attacks, much like that of fighting games. According to NCSOFT, the game also features an innovative “Downed” mechanic, allowing players to recover from the brink of death. Players begin with “player-versus environment” combat (PvE) but may participate in “player-versus-player” (PvP) combat later in the game.[4]

Character customization

According to the developers, Blade & Soul provides a highly customizable system and it has been stated that NPCs in the game were made with the character customization system.[5] Customizations a player has access to include hairstyles, facial structures, facial markings and makeup, eye color, height, and body sliders.

Races

Characters may be one of four playable races based on the Four Chinese Symbols: The Gon (based on the Azure Dragon), the Jin (based on the Black Tortoise), the Yun (based on the Vermillion Bird, also known as the Fenghuang), or the Lyn (based on the White Tiger).

Development

Weeks before NCmedia day, NCSOFT announced a new Unreal Engine 3-based MMORPG only known by its codename Project [M]. For the next two weeks, a teaser website was updated revealing more information about the project.

During E3 2007, Sony revealed that they had entered into an exclusive deal with NCsoft to produce new titles exclusively for the PlayStation 3. This contract included titles from both existing intellectual properties owned by NCsoft.

In February 2010, it was announced that Blade & Soul, alongside Guild Wars 2, was being developed for release on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. However, since then, there have been no updates on the development of the titles for the consoles.

The first closed beta test was scheduled for April 27, 2011, while the open beta test and commercial release were to be determined within the year.

In July 2011, Tencent gained the publishing rights of Blade & Soul in China, and made its first appearance at ChinaJoy 2011.[6] Blade & Soul launched in China on November 23, 2013 with an open beta which seamlessly moved into official launch.

The second closed beta test took place from August 29 to September 10, 2011. During this event, the Assassin class was playable for the first time.

After an open beta test on June 21, 2012, with a record number of 150,000 players, NCSOFT confirmed that the official Korean Blade & Soul launch would commence on June 30, 2012.[7]

In 2013, HTK has stated that an English version of the game would indeed be released sometime in 2014 after the Chinese commercial launch of the new Blade & Soul anime in Japan alongside Taiwan and Russia.[8]

On May 20, 2015, Blade & Soul was announced for the NA and EU region and released in January 2016. The closed beta officially began on October 29, 2015.

NA and EU beta testing occurred over the course of five weekends beginning on October 30, 2015, and concluding on December 21, 2015.

The official launches of NA and EU servers occurred on January 19, 2016.[9]

On May 10, 2018, NCsoft has teased a new "Blade & Soul Vision Update", the renovation project that aims to upgrade the engine to Unreal Engine 4,[10] and released as the Blade & Soul Complete expansion in December 2019.

Media

Anime

An anime adaptation of the game was produced and aired from April to June 2014, in which Hiroshi Hamasaki and Takeuchi Hiroshi directed the anime at the studio Gonzo from scripts by Atsuhiro Tomioka. Eri Nagata adapts Hyung-Tae Kim's game character designs for animation and serves as chief animation director.[11] The original storyline revolves around a swordswoman named Alka who travels to seek revenge for her murdered teacher.[12] The opening theme of the anime is "Sayonara Usotsuki" (サヨナラ嘘ツキ) by MimimemeMIMI, and the ending theme is "RAINBOW" by LEGO BIG MORL. The series was streamed by Crunchyroll in the West.[12]

Episode list
No. Title Original airdate
1"Path"
"Michi" (Japanese: 道)		April 3, 2014 (2014-04-03)
Alka is hired by a group of villagers as a mercenary against the forces of the Param Empire. However, upon discovery of her true identity based on a butterfly marking under her arm, the Param Empire initiates a massacre of the village.
2"Desires"
"Yoku" (Japanese: 欲)		April 10, 2014 (2014-04-10)
Alka travels to a corrupt oasis city in search of information, where she is targeted by multiple mercenaries due to a bounty placed on her head by the Param Empire.
3"Revenge"
"Kataki" (Japanese: 仇)		April 17, 2014 (2014-04-17)
4"Sword"
"Ken" (Japanese: 剣)		April 24, 2014 (2014-04-24)
5"Flower"
"Hana" (Japanese: 花)		May 1, 2014 (2014-05-01)
6"Dream"
"Yume" (Japanese: 夢)		May 8, 2014 (2014-05-08)
7"Time"
"Jikan" (Japanese: 時)		May 15, 2014 (2014-05-15)
8"Sky"
"Sora" (Japanese: 空)		May 22, 2014 (2014-05-22)
9"Moon"
"Tsuki" (Japanese: 月)		May 29, 2014 (2014-05-29)
10"Sin"
"Tsumi" (Japanese: 罪)		June 5, 2014 (2014-06-05)
11"Punishment"
"Batsu" (Japanese: 罰)		June 12, 2014 (2014-06-12)
12"Soul"
"Tamashī" (Japanese: 魂)		June 19, 2014 (2014-06-19)
13"God"
"Kami" (Japanese: 神)		June 26, 2014 (2014-06-26)

References
  1. "Announcing Blade & Soul". NCsoft. Archived from the original on September 17, 2012. Retrieved September 18, 2012.
  2. "Blade & Soul Fantasy TV Anime's 1st Promo Streamed". Anime News Network. February 14, 2014. Retrieved April 3, 2014.
  3. Harris, Iain (December 12, 2018). "Netmarble's Blade and Soul Revolution tops iOS grossing charts in South Korea one day after launch". Pocket Gamer. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  4. "FAQ". NCsoft. Archived from the original on September 16, 2012. Retrieved September 13, 2012.
  5. "Massively". massively.joystiq.com. Archived from the original on February 13, 2012. Retrieved March 2, 2012.
  6. "MMOsite". MMOsite.com. Archived from the original on November 1, 2016. Retrieved February 26, 2012.
  7. "Blade & Soul Dojo". bladeandsouldojo.com. Archived from the original on March 29, 2016. Retrieved February 26, 2012.
  8. "김형태 Hyung-Tae Kim Interview at NCSOFT "Blade & Soul" studio". Cuteinkorea.com. Archived from the original on November 16, 2016. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  9. "Blade & Soul". NCSoft. Retrieved December 29, 2015.
  10. "NCsoft previews upgrade to Unreal Engine 4 for Asian fantasy MMORPG". MMOCulture. Retrieved May 11, 2018.
  11. "Blade & Soul Fantasy MMORPG Gets Anime by GONZO". Anime News Network. February 7, 2014. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  12. "Crunchyroll Adds Blade and Soul Anime for Spring 2014". Anime News Network. April 3, 2014.
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