Shadow Arena PC

Shadow Arena is a battle royale game and spin-off of the Black Desert Online. Like the MMORPG, the game was created in the Korean studio Pearl Abyss, which describes it as an arena fighting game. The project started as a mini-game in Black Desert Online, but was removed in April 2019. Six months later, the Shadow Arena was announced as an stand-alone game.

Mechanics

Shadow Arena combines Fortnite: Battle Royale or Playerunknown's Battlegrounds with elements of Black Desert Online. The game begins with choosing one of the available classes, represented by characters known from Pearl Abyss studio debut title. Each of them has different weapons and abilities, which we can check before the start of the round in the company of other players. We can choose from archers, mages, bersekers, assassins and many other characters who can freeze, knock or shot with arrows, set traps, heal or become invisible.

When we are ready, we get to the large map in the form of a shadow ball that we can control to start the game in the most favorable place. According to the battle royale schemes, our task is to stay alive and eliminate the other players, keeping an eye on the constantly shrinking battle zone. If we get outside of it, our character will start to lose health points, which will quickly lead to death. The combat system itself was borrowed from Black Desert Online, with the creators introducing some simplifications to make the game more accessible.

Unlike other games in the genre, Shadow Arena also contains PvE elements in the form of monsters controlled by artificial intelligence. They become more powerful as the battle zone gets smaller and, as in MMORPG or hack'n'slash productions, drop useful items, including armor, weapons and potions. There is also no shortage of bosses, whose defeat allows to gain exceptionally valuable loot. In addition, for each victory, we gain special points, allowing us to improve the hero's skills. We can also temporarily strengthen our hero by opening hidden chests and killing bosses or other players at the very beginning of the round, but warriors killed during this time can still return to the game.

Game modes

Shadow Arena was created for online gaming and the creators did not foresee the possibility of playing without an Internet connection. We can play alone or in a team, either with friends or randomly selected partners, and up to 40 players take part in the battle at the same time. In addition, the creators have included a training mode and a manual with useful information and tips.

Technical aspects

As a spin-off of Black Desert Online, the game uses the same engine as the Pearl Abyss MMORPG. Thanks to this, Shadow Arena offers a high-quality visuals, featuring detailed character models and environments. Animations are just as good, and clashes are enhanced by spectacular visual effects.

Last updated on 22 June 2023