Blue Protocol: Star Resonance Review – Decent, But Not Quite There Yet

Introduction

After years of waiting and multiple setbacks, Blue Protocol: Star Resonance has finally launched worldwide. Developed by Bokura and published by A PLUS Japan, this MMORPG reintroduces players to the anime-inspired universe of Blue Protocol — now reborn with a fresh title and a new beginning.

Available on Steam, Epic Games, Android, and iOS, the game is completely free to play. But does this long-awaited release live up to expectations? After several hours of gameplay, Blue Protocol: Star Resonance shows promise, but it still feels like it’s missing something.

Let’s dive into our first impressions to see what works and what still needs improvement.

A New Journey in the World of Regnas

The story begins with the player waking up in Asterleeds, a peaceful town on the planet Regnas. You play as a nameless hero with no memory of your past. Soon after, you’re pulled into a deeper mystery that involves the fate of the entire world.

The setting feels vibrant and full of charm. The colorful visuals and anime-inspired art style make every scene look like it’s straight out of an animated series. While the game shares the same universe as the original Blue Protocol, it’s unclear how the two games are connected.

Even so, Star Resonance creates its own identity with a slightly different tone — less dramatic and more adventurous, focusing on exploration and teamwork rather than heavy storytelling.

Gameplay – Fun but Familiar

At its core, Blue Protocol: Star Resonance is a traditional MMORPG. You explore the world, complete quests, fight monsters, and collect loot. The combat is action-based, requiring you to time your attacks, dodge enemy blows, and chain abilities together for powerful combos.

Players can choose from multiple combat classes, including tanks, healers, and damage dealers. You start with one class but can unlock more later, giving you the freedom to experiment with different playstyles.

Boss fights are one of the game’s highlights. Each boss has its own attack patterns, and beating them requires good timing, teamwork, and positioning. Defeating a tough boss with your friends feels rewarding — and the loot makes it even better.

However, some early missions rely too much on fetch quests — simple tasks like running from one NPC to another or collecting items. These can feel repetitive after a while, and players may wish for more variety in mission design.

Exploration and Side Activities

When you’re not in combat, Blue Protocol: Star Resonance offers plenty of side activities. You can gather herbs, mine crystals, go fishing, or even participate in town events like dancing festivals.

These relaxing activities add a cozy touch to the otherwise action-heavy experience. They also help players take a break from grinding and enjoy the game’s world-building.

The open world of Asterleeds and its surrounding areas is beautifully designed. Even on lower settings, the visuals are charming, with detailed environments, warm lighting, and atmospheric effects. On high-end PCs, the game looks stunning — easily competing with titles like Genshin Impact and Wuthering Waves.

Character Customization – A Step Above

One of the most enjoyable parts of Star Resonance is the character creation system. Many MMORPGs give players only a few limited choices for appearance, but here, customization is deep and satisfying.

You can modify your character’s height, body type, hairstyle, and even input a custom HEX color code for hair. There are options for multi-layer hairstyles, detailed pupil gradients, and facial shapes.

While it’s not as deep as The Sims 4, it’s impressive for an MMORPG. Players can spend hours designing a unique character — and that level of personal expression adds charm to the game.

Outfits are also customizable. Early in the game, you’ll unlock several sets of clothing to mix and match. Even though everyone has access to the same outfits, the range of combinations makes every character look slightly different.

Visuals and Performance

Visually, Blue Protocol: Star Resonance delivers a clean and colorful anime style. The town of Asterleeds is lively, and the landscapes beyond it are filled with detail. Whether it’s the flowing rivers, tall forests, or glowing crystals, the world feels alive.

Performance-wise, the PC version runs well, though the mobile version can feel less smooth. On mobile, character movement and attack animations occasionally appear clunky or stiff. Hair clipping and awkward cutscene animations are also noticeable.

The developers have already released small patches to improve this, but it’s clear the game needs a bit more polish to feel truly seamless.

Monetization – Surprisingly Fair

Here’s something refreshing: Blue Protocol: Star Resonance uses a mostly cosmetic gacha system.

That means the in-game store mainly sells outfits and mounts — not powerful weapons or stat boosts. You can easily play and progress without spending a single dollar.

The free mount you receive is slightly slower than premium ones, but the difference isn’t big enough to make the game feel “pay-to-win.” For now, this balance between free and paid content feels fair — something rare in modern MMOs.

The MMO Experience – Community and Quests

As an MMORPG, Star Resonance shines the most when played with friends. Joining parties, teaming up for boss fights, or exploring dungeons together adds excitement to the gameplay.

The social aspect feels reminiscent of older online games like Flyff or Dragon Nest. There’s a nostalgic charm in chatting with other players, forming guilds, and sharing strategies.

However, solo players might find the early stages slow and repetitive. Many quests rely on simple tasks like running errands or fighting weak monsters, which can feel boring without friends or guildmates.

The Downsides – Rough Around the Edges

Despite its beauty and potential, Blue Protocol: Star Resonance has its fair share of problems.

• Animations feel stiff, especially on mobile. Characters sometimes “spaz out” before moving properly.
• Cutscenes lack polish, with strange mouth movements that don’t match the Japanese voice lines.
• Repetitive missions and long travel distances can make progress feel slow.
• Some UI elements are overloaded, especially for beginners.

These aren’t dealbreakers, but they show the game still needs optimization and refinement.

Pros and Cons

Final Verdict – A Decent Start, but Needs Work

Blue Protocol: Star Resonance is a decent but unpolished MMORPG that offers fun gameplay, beautiful visuals, and nostalgic MMO charm. It doesn’t break new ground, but it does provide a solid experience for players who enjoy exploring vast worlds and teaming up with friends.

If you’re looking for a free-to-play anime-style MMO with fair monetization and plenty of customization, this game is worth trying. However, if you expect something revolutionary or perfectly polished, you might be disappointed.

Still, with future updates and developer support, Star Resonance could easily grow into something special.

Final Score: 7.8 / 10
Verdict: A promising MMORPG with great potential, but not quite there yet.