24 Entertainment's upcoming battle royale game Naraka: Bladepoint received a 10-minute-long pre-order trailer on Day 2 of E3 2021. The video didn't just showcase some incredible gameplay footage, but also give fans a glimpse of the in-depth character customization options, and introduce a new weapon--it also put the spotlight on a crossover hero available in Naraka: Bladepoint as a pre-order bonus.
Pre-ordering the game means that sword spirit Yoto Hime from the mobile game Onmyouji will arrive on Modus Island along with an exclusive Tarka Ji outfit. Though her original game is about as far from Naraka: Bladepoint as one can get while keeping the stylized medieval Japan aesthetic, gameplay footage suggests that Yoto Hime will fit right in. Naraka: Bladepoint is already a battle royale game perfect for non-battle royale fans, so fans of Yoto Hime probably won't run into any issues following her to her new home.
In her home game, Yoto Hime is an absolute powerhouse, especially with a solid team behind her. So far, Naraka: Bladepoint hasn't drawn attention to her specific strengths and weaknesses, but the game has showcased her dancing across the battlefield, apparently teleporting between foes. Naraka: Bladepoint is getting another open beta next week from June 16-22, which gives players some time to try out the mechanics and get used to the game before deciding if they want to pre-order for Yoto Hime.
Yoto Hime isn't the only new character who will be coming to Naraka: Bladepoint soon. In the last beta, three characters were locked, and a beta launch interview with Naraka: Bladepoint Marketing Manager Raylan Kwan shed some light on the matter. According to Kwan, there are more than three new characters currently in production for Naraka: Bladepoint. Between these new additions to the roster and the reveal of the new Spear weapon, which will feature a unique mechanic and takes heavy inspiration from Martial Arts movies, it appears that Naraka: Bladepoint still has many more tricks up its sleeve.
The 60-player battle royale game appears to place a heavy emphasis on aerial combat. Previous Naraka: Bladepoint trailers have shown off combat mechanics that make players appear to be flying across the battlefield. Judging by the pre-order video, most attacks can be dodged or avoided with cover. Long-ranged sniping is viable, but melee characters can still rapidly close the distance between them and an attacker using the grappling hook mechanic and some slick parkour moves. This focus on three-dimensional combat means that players are often shown attacking from rooftops, bouncing off walls, and descending on targets from above. Spear users appear to be more firmly anchored than other characters, but even they glide gracefully toward their opponents with lethal intent. The result is an incredibly stylish battle system that is beautiful to watch.
Naraka: Bladepoint releases on August 12, 2021 for PC.