Captains & Crew

There were perfect counters, dodging, grappling, and air juggling. It was a BnS NEO Divine Gems game I would become obsessed with, waiting for each new trailer to appear in a grainy 720p. But excitement came and went, as Blade and Soul eventually found a Western release in 2016, four years after its debut in Korea. It didn’t arrive with a bang, but instead a whimper. And while NCSOFT pushed for an active PvP scene, it didn’t come to fruition.

Plagued with bots, gold-sellers, and an obvious favoritism towards specific races and classes, Blade and Soul clung on. However, in January 2025, NC America announced it was bringing Blade and Soul Neo, a revamp of the MMORPG made in Unreal Engine 4, to the West. And given its status as a “modern reinterpretation” of this once promising MMORPG, it’s more of a remaster, carrying over almost all of the issues…

"We have those moments where we play the view a little bit to show you a landmark or a vista and stuff like that," Luis Barriga, Game Director on Diablo IV Gold in Blizzard informs me. "And then when it comes to a World Boss, we zoom out the camera out a significant distance to set you in the exact same space with 12 other players. That will be uncommon in the live game, but we included it in the demonstration to ensure everybody got to see it."

This flavor of what a World Boss encounter or large-scale multiplayer occasion may look like in Diablo 4 was eloquent in the demo, the camera pulling back to reveal that a large imposing demon named Ashava. New players seeming, and a significant battle then taking place. Even though the experience was sped up for the demo, it was an opportunity for all…

Scattered throughout the jungle are powerful mini-bosses known as Corrupted Guardians. These entities protect the remnants of Vaal technology and must be defeated to progress. Each Guardian has unique mechanics that POE 2 Currency Orbs require quick thinking and adaptability. For example, one may summon waves of minions while another relies on area-of-effect attacks that punish players who stand still.

As you progress, you'll encounter an area known as the Vaal Overgrowth, an overrun section of the jungle featuring some of the deadliest enemies in Act Three. Before venturing further, ensure your gear and resistances are optimized using POE 2 Currency like Orbs of Alchemy and Chromatic Orbs. The Vaal Jungle introduces treacherous paths filled with traps. From dart-launching statues to collapsing bridges, you'll need sharp reflexes and precise movement. To mitigate damage, prioritize gear with high mobility stats and increased life.

These mini bosses represent some of the most…