Parents' Guide to Blade&Soul: Revolution

Players sprint, zoom across canyons, and fight numerous foes in this intricate role-playing game(RPG). Blade&Soul: Revolution involves a number of different elements, ranging from main and side quests to an intricate gear system to enhance your warrior. All of these items are explained through in-game tutorials as well as a brief game and strategy guide. Even if you're still confused, the app's autoplay option can let you make progress and hopefully learn along the way. Between completing tasks and battling, the gameplay will pause periodically to show scenes that do significantly advance the plot, offering insight into characters' motives and plans. Shown from the point of view of the character you select at the start of the game, the graphics are top-notch -- characters clutch the ground as they crawl slowly to safety, water ripples, and fire looks almost like it does in real life.

Despite the game's many elements, it doesn't often feel overwhelming. You're not under pressure to finish tasks, and new characters and features are introduced in a steady, digestible way, giving players a chance to absorb information and test out new abilities. If players are anxious to advance quickly in the game, they might find that frustrating. But those who are content to focus on short-term goals will find some progression happens naturally as they play. Another issue is that with so many small symbols on the screen, it's easy to hit the wrong thing if you're using a phone. You also have to directly face an opponent for your battle moves to work, which can require some coordination. Parents also have to be comfortable with letting kids play a game where the focus is fighting and revenge, which isn't a great lesson to impart. But if younger players are aware that the violence isn't something to glorify or emulate, Blade&Soul: Revolution could provide an engaging, fun experience to fully explore over time.