''Blade Wars'' is a free-to-play massively-multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) first released in China in 2007. It was developed and published by

Changyou.com Changyou.com Ltd. operates online games, primarily massively multiplayer online games, in China. Originally a division of Chinese Internet company Sohu, Changyou was Corporate spin-off, spun off and Initial public offering, went public in 2009 thr ...

. ''Blade Wars'' is inspired by

martial arts Martial arts are codified systems and traditions of combat practiced for a number of reasons such as self-defense; military and law enforcement applications; combat sport, competition; physical, mental, and spiritual development; entertainment; a ...

and takes place in a fantasy universe where three playable races, the Abyssals, Humans, and Immortals battle for dominance in PVP encounters.

Gameplay

The game features F2P martial arts and uses an

isometric view Isometric projection is a method for visually representing three-dimensional objects in two dimensions in technical and engineering drawings. It is an axonometric projection in which the three coordinate axes appear equally foreshortened and ...

and employs a control scheme similar to the one used in RuneScape and the Diablo game series. The battle system is based on a dynamic algorithm that factors in a player's level, the time between attacks and the enemy's position. Players are able to feign attacks or dodge an opponent's strikes. Skill combinations can be customized to result in powerful attacks, which generate extra damage during a battle. The game incorporates many of the features found in Changyou's previously released title, ''

Dragon Oath ''Dragon Oath'', also known as ''Tian Long Ba Bu'' (abbreviation: ''TLBB'') in China, is a free-to-play MMORPG developed and published by Changyou.com and Sohu and launched in May 2007. The game's story is based on the novel ''Demi-Gods and Semi- ...

''. Mounts, trading, guild battles and daily events are included in ''Blade Wars''. Unlike ''Dragon Oath'', ''Blade Wars'' uses a

2.5D 2.5D (two-and-a-half dimensional) perspective refers to gameplay or movement in a video game or virtual reality environment that is restricted to a two-dimensional (2D) plane with little to no access to a third dimension in a space that otherwis ...

graphics engine Rendering or image synthesis is the process of generating a physically-based rendering, photorealistic or Non-photorealistic rendering, non-photorealistic image from a 2D model, 2D or 3D model by means of a computer program. The resulting im ...

, mixing 2D and 3D graphics into an isometric view. The game allows players to use strategy in customizing the fighting system and encourages skilled players to challenge each other for supremacy. After choosing one of the five classes available (Knight, Assassin, Shura, Warlock, or Warrior), players will be able to dive and explore a visually stunning world filled with challenges and fierce wars.

Development and release

E3 2010 Blade Wars ChangYou martial arts dancer demo

Originally released in China in 2007, ''Blade Wars'' received an English adaptation and was launched on American and British markets in 2010.

Reception

''Blade Wars'' received an award in 2009 from the Chinese gaming site Wangyou for Original Title of the Year.

References

External links

* {{cite web , url=http://games.softpedia.com/get/Online-Games-Clients/Blade-Wars-Client.shtml , title=Download Blade Wars Client 20550 , publisher=Games.softpedia.com , date=2012-09-16 , accessdate=2013-11-02 , url-status=dead , archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103233032/http://games.softpedia.com/get/Online-Games-Clients/Blade-Wars-Client.shtml , archivedate=2013-11-03
Official North American website

Official European website

Official Malaysian website

Official Chinese website
Fantasy massively multiplayer online role-playing games Windows games Windows-only games Video games developed in China Video games based on novels Video games with isometric graphics Free-to-play video games 2007 video games