My spouse first introduced Chimeraland to my consideration earlier this 12 months. My preliminary response was lukewarm as I’m feeling a bit burned out with all of the microtransactions from different video games just lately, and I knew this one was additionally launching as a cellular MMO. However after watching her construct a house, discover a vibrant world, and seize varied pets, I regularly warmed as much as the concept of taking part in a survival gentle sandbox MMO. Developer Pixel comfortable and writer Stage Infinite have succeeded in crafting an expertise I’m having fun with thus far. Let’s dive into my first impressions.
I wish to contact on monetization first. It’s a free-to-play MMO launching on PC, Google Play, and the Apple Retailer. So count on pop-up screens when first logging in after creating a personality every day and the flexibility to purchase varied objects/sources/cosmetics within the store. My preliminary impression is that costs are affordable for a F2P recreation. The elective journey move for instance has two tiers: Luxurious $4.99 USD and Divine $9.99 USD. They seem to offer an honest quantity of rewards per degree, simply be cautious of the time left on the move earlier than shopping for it to find out whether it is worthwhile.
Totally different packs within the retailer gives you a head begin for sure features of the sport, like sources, however you continue to must rank up your varied expertise and character degree. I don’t wish to say way more till I’ve the time to look extra intently on the monetization system. However I’ll cowl it in my remaining evaluation. I did like that the screens which do seem after login embrace free each day rewards, notifications of occasions, and to a extra restricted diploma gross sales within the store. Every display additionally has a button to click on so that it’ll not seem once more that day after repeated logins.
My first couple of days taking part in Chimeraland on Steam had been a horrible expertise. The digital camera stuttering and terrain pop-in had been so frequent that I felt queasy throughout every quick session. As of Monday, the builders deployed a brand new patch, and the sport has been a a lot better expertise. I’m nonetheless seeing some terrain flickering within the distance and have some pop-in as I journey.
However there have been no consumer crashes, and the quite a few recreation programs have been responsive as I navigate backwards and forwards via the UI. I’m operating the sport on extremely settings with an uncapped framerate utilizing a 3080, and it’s a clean expertise.
Chimeraland’s graphics are a combined bag. I’m actually impressed with the quantity of character customization choices. There are lots of races to select from, and gamers can create a novel avatar utilizing varied sliders to fine-tune facial/physique options. It was tempting to make a Grewei or a Drake, however I lastly settled on ye previous Human to see what I can evolve them into later. (Extra on that to return)
At sure moments whereas exploring, I’m struck by the visuals when a sundown or up into the night time sky. Most of the fantastical creatures look nice, and the participant character fashions are effectively completed. However when wanting intently on the terrain, textures are of decrease high quality, and it appears like there’s a disconnect between the world’s artwork design and the monsters roaming its floor. It jogs my memory of EverQuest 2 or Ark: Survival Developed whenever you rise up near the terrain. I might see it being jarring at occasions for different gamers.
The music and sound are principally effectively completed. As you’ll count on, varied tracks repeat usually, however the extra frequent ones are peaceable and stress-free. Nice for these lengthy stretches of constructing out your home or when gathering. The restricted voiceovers are acceptable. The one difficulty I might word is that they velocity up a bit throughout just a few quest/problem directions. There are additionally some polish localization points, and a few buttons/quest textual content doesn’t fairly make sense for main English audio system. Gamers will primarily run into this with principal quests that function the sport’s tutorial.
Most new gamers will probably discover that Chimeraland has a steep studying curve. After making your character, you fall from the sky into the realm you select as your beginning island. As soon as on the bottom, the primary quest (tutorial), given by Bella, throws mechanics and programs at you rapidly. Whereas the UI is snappy and responsive, it isn’t intuitive. It may take a variety of observe to recollect the place crucial menus are, and the primary quest solely exhibits you some options as soon as. Fortunately, when you hit ESC there’s a Information button with quick written tutorials about varied programs with useful photographs. The first quest expertise does clean out after the preliminary deluge of fundamental programs and finally ends up being extraordinarily useful.
Fight in Chimeraland is pleasing, although at occasions it may well really feel fundamental and unchallenging whereas leveling. Monsters are inclined to have one particular assault that may be averted simply. Participant assaults are based mostly on the weapon wielded, and every weapon has one or two secondary assaults/skills relying on its high quality. Up to now, I’ve had no difficulty taking down enemies of a a lot larger degree if I’m keen to strafe whereas firing. It simply takes longer. I’m wanting ahead to searching rarer creatures at larger ranges because the varieties of weapons, outfitted gear, pet/mount, and retainer can all play into how efficient you’re versus sure varieties of enemy monsters. It ought to hopefully be more difficult. The sport additionally has three factions and a devoted PvP island that I’ve not touched but.
On the survival aspect of issues, I’ve solely needed to take care of retaining my character fed thus far relating to ongoing mechanics. Fullness ticks down over time and when harvesting/combating. Although I do see that how moist you’re and the way scorching an space is can have an effect. One thing I used to be shocked by was the random environmental hazards, thus far I’ve been flung by a roaming twister twice and managed to keep away from what regarded like a big a part of terrain catching fireplace simply exterior my home.
Preliminary constructing in Chimeraland is your commonplace survival recreation expertise. You collect sources from varied nodes and animals. As you collect, the associated mastery expertise enhance for every kind of useful resource and also you acquire ability factors. By spending ability factors gamers unlock new refining choices, gathering traits, and stats. Gamers then set down a Spirit Orb and construct out the muse. You may set it down nearly anyplace. The primary exception is if you find yourself too near different gamers’ houses.
As new constructing sections and objects are positioned, gamers acquire construct factors. These could be spent researching new objects and growing a house’s degree. Extra ranges enable gamers to construct out a bigger constructing. The location of partitions/flooring/ceilings/doorways is on par with different video games however might nonetheless use a little bit of tweaking as they do not all the time snap into place simply. As you acquire extra expertise further choices open for refining stations, crafting stations, and decorations.
Chimeraland’s evolution programs are what I’m most fascinated about exploring extra as I proceed to degree up. Gamers can seize creatures as they discover the world and purchase both everlasting pet/mount eggs that must be hatched or momentary summoning stones. When a brief summoning stone is used, a everlasting pet can devour the goal. It will provide an opportunity to amass a chunk of the creature devoured that may evolve elements of your pet, reminiscent of the top, tail, or one other physique half. Gamers can even create eggs or purchase them within the store that can evolve a pet into a very new species. A participant character can evolve as effectively by including traits from different races, like wings, horns, and tails.
Whereas Chimeraland has a steep studying curve for brand spanking new gamers, there are a variety of fascinating programs to discover. The preliminary fight is easy and enjoyable, however some might discover it boring. For these trying to calm down, discover, and construct then this can be a terrific recreation to attempt. Simply remember that there are some localization points and a cellular money store, although the pricing doesn’t look too unhealthy at first look. There are hints and bits of a world story, however that is very a lot a sandbox expertise. Simply do not be too shocked when somebody goes by on an advanced flying whale.
Full Disclosure: In-game foreign money and objects supplied by PR for the needs of this evaluation.
