Blade & Soul NEO is free-to-play,which sounds great at BnS NEO Classic Divine Gems first. You can jump in without paying a dime. But it doesn't take long to realize how this business model influences nearly every system in the game. From the ground up,NEO feels engineered to stretch your time,nudging you toward the cash shop.
Long grinds,multiple currencies,upgrade systems,and inventory limitations all begin to feel less like features and more like friction meant to encourage spending.
Still,to NCSoft's credit,almost everything in the game can be earned through gameplay—if you have the time and patience. For players who enjoy grinding,Blade & Soul NEO offers an overwhelming buffet of systems to interact with: crafting,gear enhancement,PvP arenas,dungeons,marketplace trading,and more. However,the overwhelming number of BnS NEO Divine Gems currencies and systems can leave new players dazed and confused.
