Snail Games would do well to remember that this kind of pay-to-win model is something Western gamers have never tolerated from their MMOs.ĭespite the obvious and numerous problems, it is wonderful to see a title so rich with possibility, and clearly one that has a keen development studio behind it, not to mention an active fanbase. Quite how this is able to encourage patronage rather than absolute derision in the eyes of gamers is a mystery. This isn’t even limited to game time – log out for any period and the countdown timer continues.

In addition, and rather bafflingly, some items available for purchase have a limited shelf life, placing players in the unenviable position of losing their virtual purchases after a period of time.

The translation team employed by the Chinese developer appears to have given up at some point early in the process, as there’s still extensive use of Chinese characters in lieu of English, and it’s often necessary to do quite a bit of research online before making decisions around skill allocation. It’s a little more challenging to convey precisely how the game should be played, as most of the tutorials and tooltips are seriously lacking in clarity. Waterways shimmer, flowers and plants sway realistically and ornately decorated townships are anything but dull. Much like real martial arts, character progression is achieved with complex sets of skills requiring substantial training and research to master, all of which is presented by an able game engine that manages to render the medieval environment with pleasing depth and attention to detail.Īs can be expected from most Asian MMO titles, the landscapes and colour palettes in particular have had attention lavished upon them, with predictably pretty results. Set during China’s Ming dynasty, and centred upon the expansive and ever-popular wuxia fantasy, Age of Wushu features a classless permanent PvP sandbox environment with a large PvE component. Although there’s no shortage of massively-multiplayer online titles these days, Snail Games are hoping to draw in scores of new players with its new take on a traditional theme.

Age of wushu money making guide