Secret World Legends

Secret World Legends launched this past weekend, I had been meaning to downloading it but wasn't sure who was allowed in early access. Turns out everyone was over the weekend and I had an account already so I would have been still. It was a long download, finally finishing it up I was able to jump in and see what this new version was all about before the weekend was over. I wanted to write a post yesterday but I kept playing instead, heh.


Years ago when TSW released I was there, I loved the feel and ambiance of the game but I just drifted off, I can't really recall why. I don't think the combat was bad, so bad that it needed to be changed. The combat isn't the best now in this new version, in my opinion, as I am not a huge fan of action combat. However, it isn't the worst. Games like Tera and Revelation Online will wear my hands out in a few minutes. Others like Neverwinter and ESO seem to be easier on me, for some odd reason. I would have to say SWL is somewhere on the side I can handle. When I trim the front shrubs I can be in pain for a week from it, and stubborn as I am I won't let anyone else do it because I like things a certain way. As I get older, my wrist issues seem to plague me more making action games a bit tough on me sometimes. So I like when things are kept simple or old school.

So, combat rework, it is alright. I can bind everything to the mouse almost. Things die quickly for the most part, until I get too far ahead of myself, as I often do, and end up going after mobs a bit higher than myself. Things go south quickly when I run out of resources. So I have to make a point to look for all those little side quests.

The game otherwise is very much the same in most aspects. Not all, but most of it is as I remembered. The story, the world, they seem the same while other things have changed. The story is just as good. The game looks the same. The character creation is a bit different, all the sliders are missing. But I managed to make a character I could live with. Inventory issues are nonexistent this far. Upgrading items is easy and a breeze. Huge bonus there. Easy and simple. You basically feed items to other items.

There are times I get stumped or frustrated. However, I am having fun, a lot of fun. Things feel more oriented for soloing the story. This beautiful world is unique in a MMO type setting. The world is so beautiful in a creepy and dark way, if you stop to look at all the details and love that were put into the game. I really have to stop and appreciate it as I go through the story, looking around at everything. As a huge Walking Dead and Stranger Things fan I love it. It is probably the closest thing I'll ever play that might feel like wandering though Nightvale, heh. Why didn't I love it before? I did, but something didn't click with leveling, though I can't recall what. The game is really a work of art, I have so much appreciation for every little detail. I have read a few people commenting that it is dark and ugly, I wonder if they stop to think of how the setting is part of the story that was tailored for it.

I love the sprint abilities. I roller skate around, jumping over zombies without a care in the world. I think the only other game I have been able to roller skate in was SL. It is so fun for some odd reason, just skating around corners, over things, in the grass, on the road, lol. I like the fun aspects like that, the game has a lot of flavor. It isn't perfect but is any game?

The name system threw me off. I like to use Sablesix a lot, so I read the first and last name were just flavor, with the nickname being your actual name. I ended up running about with Sable 'Sablesix' Six over my head, which looked really stupid. So I wanted to take advantage and find a comical name with three words. I had a lot of trouble finding one not taken, the nickname that is. I ended up with Ending. For me it is pretty funny, seeing the whole name- Never 'Ending' Story. I made myself chuckle at least.



When you start out in the game, you have to get to Agartha before you can claim your items if you connected your old account. I had no issues linking accounts and I didn't even have to make a new one, I just logged in and hit a button and it was done. I had a few goodies I was happy to see. There is also a new tutorial mixed in with the old one. I didn't mind it, easy and kind of interesting for someone who had been gone a long time. I didn't know what to do anyhow so it was good in my opinion to get a small guide on my way in.

All in all I am very happy to see the game get more attention and for myself to have a second chance at it. There are a few games that I have to keep current with, especially those with story, so maybe this will be one of them. There was a lot of downtime over the weekend, people were angry, but isn't that always the case. I wasn't able to play while it was down anyhow, so it wasn't a big deal to me. Things are good now and that was on a Sunday, which the team apparently was working hard to get things running, on a weekend at that.

Should you play? If you are looking for a perfect game to hold your hand, this isn't it. If you are looking for a unique game with flavor and story, this might be one for you. I can't say there is anything out there like it, appreciate it for what it is.