Oath of Peak is a new mobile MMORPG from the development studio Roc Game, taking the player into a world inspired by Chinese mythology with fast-paced action combat and a lot of customization for the characters.
I won’t lie, the game does feel like a fairly typical Chinese Action RPG that have popped up since Genshin Impact got so big, but unlike a lot of these games, this one has actually been localized into English. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing though as the game is pretty fun in terms of combat even if it also has a handful of drawbacks, the worst of them being that it contains NFTs.
Graphic & Design
The art style looks cute and give off a nice Genshin Vibe with the cell-shaded models, just imagine that the entire game takes place in the Liyue region. The animation, however, looks subpar with a lot of janky stuttering, especially during the cutscenes. The models likewise have a cheap plastic-like feel to them. It’s serviceable and can even look more solid in motion, but it’s still noticeable.
I also think the UI could be a little clearer. For example, the skill upgrade menu doesn’t actually tell you how many skill points you have left. Simple touches like that could make the game a lot more accessible.
Despite these gripes, I like the amount of character customization. There’s a lot you can do to change your hair, the shape of your face, eyes, and more to really make the player avatar feel like your own.
Pick your class
There are a total of five different classes in the game that you can choose from when you start:
- Alkaid: Melee tank that uses a greatsword
- Megrez: Ranged DPS that uses a brush (Ancient Chinese pen)
- Dubhe: Melee burst that duo yielding a sword
- Phecd: Ranged healer that uses a gourd
- Alioth: Ranged DPS that control puppets, like the drone caster in Arknights
Despite the classes being different, everyone here has some sort of damage-dealing skills, so it doesn’t matter which one you choose to be honest. Even the Phecd who is healing support can kill stuff pretty easily, so just go with whichever takes your fancy. They each have decent attack combos that can be easily executed in the heat of battle.
The combat is pretty easy overall though. Like a lot of Mobile MMORPGs, once you reach a certain level, all you need to do is just turn on the auto-battle and watch them go, you’ll likely never lose a round. That being said, there are actually quite a lot of things that you can do in the game other than just mindlessly farming the enemies.
Going on Quests
Different events give you different things like EXP or equipment. You can apply for quests at the Xuanzhong Mandate like collecting certain items or defeating certain enemies. There are also multiplayer events like the Land Adventure where you just go through a dungeon/raid which in turn nets you tons of EXP and gear. Some of the events are multiplayer only, so you need to form a party of at least three before you go in. The loot and great you can find are pretty addictive and serve as one of the best parts of the game.
Another large detriment to the game is that it includes NFTs. A silver lining here however is that these can be fully ignored without much of an effect on the main game (from what we’ve played at least).
I should also note that I have yet to find a PvP event, so I’m not sure if there are any.
The Spirits
Another interesting aspect of the game is that you can get these cute little pet creatures called Spirits. They are sort of like pokemon, where you have to seek them out, battle them and then seal them up. Once you have one, you can summon them to fight with you in battle. You can also breed them to get more, much like Pokemon. I wonder if they come with EVs as well.
Oath of Peak
Oath of Peak has the potential to be a good MMORPG. The foundations are there with solid exploration and customization. The animation isn’t the best and while I appreciate that some people like more casual MMOs, it would be nice if there was more challenge. At the very least it would be nice if you couldn’t auto-battle your way through more enemies once you get a high enough level.
Overall though I did have fun with Oath of Peak but it still needs a lot of work and it’ll be interesting to see how it improves with further updates.
Warning: Oath of Peak also contains NFTs which we do not condone and refused to use throughout our playthrough of the game. As such, player discretion is advised.