Summit1g critiques New World’s PvE combat mechanics and offers solutions for improvement
Initial Impressions and Beta Concerns
The popular MMO streamer hasn’t been impressed with what he’s seen of New World, at least when it comes to combat.
Popular Twitch streamer Summit1g doesn’t seem impressed with what he’s seen of New World’s PvE combat so far. Even though the game’s still in beta, he believes the mechanics are still far from where they need to be.
Amazon Games Studios’ latest release, New World, is making waves in the MMO scene, in part because it’s a brand-new IP. But also because it features a hack-and-slash combat system not seen in games like WoW.
With plenty of players watching streamers grind or grabbing keys and hopping in for themselves, New World is easily one of the biggest games of the Summer. Summit1g though hasn’t been blown away by what he’s seen so far.
After explaining he wasn’t going to play New World because it was still technically only in beta, so his time woudn’t “count” once the test ends, Summit explained he quickly got bored watching streams of the game as well.
Combat System Flaws Identified
“I honestly don’t think it looks incredible. I think aspects to it I like, and aspects to it I don’t like, I think it’s too basic, but we’ll see when it comes out,” he explained. “It gets boring fast? Here’s my thought process on it: I can’t tell the difference between someone PvEing at level 20 vs. level 60.”
Summit, who admitted he hasn’t played the Summer 2021 beta, added his biggest issue with the game was its PvE and boss mechanics, or lack thereof.
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Specific Combat Critiques
“PvE hack-and-slash, your fight is completely different,” he continued. “The boss has to do mechanics that you at least need to avoid — and so far what I have seen is five or six people get around a boss and just spam their attacks on them, and that is f**king it, and I’m not exaggerating. I think it’s kind of sad, in a PvE sense.”
Bosses without any kind of AOE attacks to keep players on their toes also seems to have thrown Summit for a loop, with the streamer apparently at a loss to how they aren’t in an MMO like New World.
“You couldn’t give some mechanics in this fight? You couldn’t do a big AOE that likes knocks them back, maybe snipes a guy for half his health or something?” Summit wondered. “It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to just think ‘hey, hack-and-slash game, maybe we should have some mechanics.’”
Potential Solutions and Comparisons
The MMO vet admitted New World looks great, and that the PvP does looks fun. He also gave some suggestions to devs: to improve the PvE mechanics and boss battles, look no further than the Dark Souls series.
As an experienced MMO analyst, I’ve observed that successful combat systems typically incorporate three key elements: telegraphed attacks, environmental interactions, and progressive difficulty scaling. New World currently appears to lack these fundamental components that separate engaging PvE from repetitive grinding.
Many players fall into the trap of assuming hack-and-slash combat should prioritize speed over strategy. However, the most memorable MMO encounters balance both elements, creating moments that require quick thinking rather than just quick clicking.
Player Impact and Community Response
The community response to Summit1g’s critique has been mixed, with some players agreeing about the combat simplicity while others argue the game is still in development. What’s clear is that streamer feedback can significantly influence player expectations and developer priorities.
For players currently experiencing New World’s PvE content, focusing on weapon mastery and ability combinations can provide temporary depth. However, without mechanical complexity at the boss level, even optimized builds eventually face repetition fatigue.
Advanced players should experiment with unconventional weapon pairings and movement techniques to create self-imposed challenges. This approach can help bridge the gap until developers implement more substantial mechanical improvements.
No reproduction without permission：SeeYouSoon Game Club » Summit1g explains why New World PvE combat “looks sad” Summit1g critiques New World's PvE combat mechanics and offers solutions for improvement