You know an MMO's starting to click with you when you're logging on during lunch breaks. There's a moreish interplay between New World's gathering and crafting that's got its hooks in me. But for everything that Amazon Games has got right in its new MMO, there are plenty more features that feel undercooked and ill-considered, putting a significant dampener on the experience.
Does it scratch that itch you've got in the back of your brain for a new MMO? Definitely. Will you be gasping in awe, wondering how Amazon Games has managed to reinvigorate the genre? Probably not.
As soon as you get your first sword and shield in the tutorial zone, you'll notice that New World's combat differs significantly from most other MMOs. Rather than leaning on auto-attacks and cooldown-based abilities, New World employs an action-combat system that's closer to Elder Scrolls Online's bastardised take on Skyrim's combat. The result is that swordplay feels so much more satisfying, and I'm no longer mindlessly clicking between mobs until the XP bar ticks over. It's certainly not the first MMO to give the player a more active role in combat, but melee brawls feel tight and responsive.
RELATED LINKS:
New World's Steam reviews are now 'mostly positive'
The best weapons in New World for PvP and PvE
New World beginner's guide - tips for new players
