New World: Aeternum Review

Here we go, folks—Amazon’s updated MMO/Action RPG experience for consoles (and also coming to PC), New World: Aeternum, is here. For the first time, the MMO is playable on consoles, and while it’s an MMO, and those tend to be an either you like it or you don’t kind of thing, I did enjoy the little bit I played during the Summer Game Fest, and during the review period. If you’re looking for an MMO to keep you warm through those cold Fall and Winter days and nights, this one ain’t half bad.

Game Name: New World: Aeternum
Platform(s): PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
Developer(s): Amazon Games
Publisher(s): Amazon Games
Release Date: October 15, 2024

Before I jump into my review, I want to clarify that I did not play much of the original New World MMO available on PC. That said, I wasn’t aware of the frustration among PC gamers who felt neglected when Amazon announced this new console version of the MMO. While it’s not the case that they are being abandoned—since the features of New World: Aeternum will also be added to the existing PC version—I do understand their concerns. I’m also not aware of the issues that plagued the PC version. That said, since I’m approaching this as a new player, this review will be from the perspective of someone jumping into Amazon’s MMO on the PlayStation 5.

It’s A Whole New World

New World: Aeternum begins by introducing us to Father Russo, Captain Thorpe, and several crewmates aboard a ship, right before giving you an option of selecting from several archetypes, which is a new addition in the update. These are character classes that influence your gear, weapons, and gameplay style before you even step foot into the game. I’ll touch on this later. After selecting your class, You’re sent to a character creator, which isn’t bad and where you can easily spend hours customizing your appearance and choosing a name.

Afterward, I’m immediately thrown into a combat tutorial that explains the game’s combat system. Once you’ve got the basics down, you’re tasked with taking out several basic enemies. I appreciate this approach, as the game teaches you how to play rather than just saying, ‘Here you go, good luck,’ like so many other games do. It’s also here that I noticed that while New World: Aeternum is an MMO, this updated version draws more from Action RPG titles and less from traditional MMO gameplay.

The biggest issue I had with New World: Aeternum during the review process was the severe lack of other players online. When I played, I only saw a handful of people, which, for an MMO, defeats the purpose. However, the major addition to the console version is the introduction of single-player content. It feels like Amazon took a page from Square Enix’s playbook, given how much single-player content has been added, similar to Final Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborn. This means anyone playing the game can experience the entire story without stepping foot into the game’s dungeons, called Expeditions. While these dungeons are the fun parts of the game, and they’re now optional, I wish there were a way to experience them without needing other players to join your team.

Adding in Action RPG elements for players who aren’t fans of the traditional MMO experience, and making the game viable for consoles, meant a few things had to be adjusted. However, Amazon has done a commendable job of adapting the game for controller use. Mapping the keyboard and mouse functions to a controller means there’s a specific way to control your character while also using special attacks and items. They’ve assigned your special abilities to the L1 and R1 buttons—each button controls a separate ability, and pressing both together activates a third ability. While this setup feels a bit awkward since the block and attack buttons are mapped to L2 and R2, with no option to remap them, it still works.

As for using items, you need to assign them in your menu, then hold down L2 and press the corresponding button to use them. I’ll admit, I forgot about this a few times and had to get used to it. After playing too many Soulslikes, adjusting to this took some time. It’s viable, but awkward at times.

Don’t even get me started on the auto-aim—I hate it. The purpose of auto-aim is to lock onto whatever is in front of you, but if there are multiple enemies, it tends to lock onto either the one to your left or right, which can be frustrating. While there is a lock-on feature, you have to aim at the enemy first to engage it. If you’re using melee weapons, you can manage, but if you’re casting spells or shooting with a gun, well, good luck.

For those who’ve played their fair share of Action RPGs, you’ll feel right at home with the setup. Even if you haven’t, a few minutes of gameplay and you’ll quickly adjust to the controls. Having controller support is something fans of the PC version of New World have been asking for, and it’s implemented quite well on the console.

A nice touch is that all the characters you interact with are voiced, which adds to the immersion. This especially enhances the storytelling, which, from what I’ve experienced so far, is top-notch. I don’t remember this being part of the original New World launch on PC, so this will be one of the first improvements players will notice.

Also, maybe it’s just me, but chopping down trees, mining for materials, and harvesting all feel… what’s the word? Relaxing.

Choose Your Character

The first major change in New World: Aeternum is the addition of archetypes, which I already mentioned, are classes that players can select when starting the game. Since the original game, at least from what I remember, didn’t have classes, this addition allows players to jump in with a clearer idea of how they want to play. This is pretty cool, though I can see it frustrating some players who might prefer starting with a blank slate, so to speak. It caused me some trouble as well, as I changed my character several times during the review period simply because I didn’t like the playstyle.

Each archetype starts with two weapons that you can switch between at any time, even in combat, and these weapons can be leveled up to level 50. This is where things can get either muddled or interesting, depending on your perspective. Having two main weapons means you’ll either be using both and trying to level them equally, or you’ll focus on one and treat the other as a secondary—unless it has some special ability you just can’t live without.

If you pick a class and later decide you don’t like it after spending a lot of time leveling up, you can simply change your weapons, which changes your archetype. This means you don’t have to start over with a new character—bonus points for that. However, it can also feel like a bit of a waste of time. It left me in a position I didn’t like from the start: Should I stick with this archetype or switch to another one later on? This aspect of the game highlights its Action RPG elements, which might be a bit frustrating for players used to the original MMO.

Speaking of leveling, reaching level 50 also applies to all your other skills, such as cooking, fishing, and crafting gear. Some archetypes even provide a boost to certain skills, so that becomes part of the decision-making process as well.

Visuals and Performace

To be honest, New World: Aeternum isn’t going to stun or overwhelm you with its visuals. The same can be said for the sound design, which I felt the developers should revisit and improve. The audio lacks any sort of impactful or engaging quality. For example, hitting an enemy with a massive sword feels underwhelming because the sound doesn’t match the action. I want to hear a hearty metallic clang when I land a hit like that.

The PlayStation 5 version of the game includes three options for adjusting your visual settings: Performance, Quality, and 4K. After switching between them for a while, I didn’t notice a big difference between Performance and Quality, but I saw the frame rate drop when playing in 4K. However, it did look better thanks to the added enhancements for those with access to a 4K TV or monitor.

Which Is It?

While I can appreciate and understand what Amazon is attempting to do with New World: Aeternum, I noticed a trend while playing the game. There are two specific types of gameplay here: MMO and Action RPG. Throughout my review process, I couldn’t partake in any of the MMO features, as there were hardly any other players online during that time. I think I saw one or two people very briefly.

On the same token, I was perfectly fine playing solo, thanks to the changes Amazon made to its MMO structure. However, this positions the game against other Action RPGs that, frankly, do what Amazon is trying to achieve, but much better. To be honest, it might be hard for this game to find an audience since there are so many Action RPGs and MMOs that nearly everything New World: Aeternum is trying to do has already been done, and often done better.

This, at least in my opinion, is going to make it tough for people to decide to jump into this game if they plan on playing by themselves. The only way New World: Aeternum is going to thrive is if players are willing to transition from the PC version, which wouldn’t make much sense since that version will also be receiving all the updates and features available in the console version. Alternatively, the online experience must become one that players can’t refuse.

There’s simply too much competition out there for this game, which finds itself stuck in the middle of being both an MMO and an Action RPG. This situation might change in the coming days, but right now, New World: Aeternum risks being overshadowed by other games that fulfill their intended roles and do so effectively. In contrast, New World: Aeternum is attempting to do both, at least for now, and I’m not 100% sold on that.

Don’t get me wrong—I enjoyed what I played, and I love the presentation of the game, the voiced characters, and the updated questing system that aligns with Action RPG standards. I jumped into the game every moment I could, which is saying something given how many other games were available during the review period. Dare I say I loved what I experienced, and I can’t wait to dedicate more time to it. The combat is fun, the world is interesting, and the story falls somewhere between “interesting” and “okay, I’m bored now.” However, given my relatively short time with the game, I hope it improves.

What Do I Think Now?

It’s been a few days since the game went live and so far what I already mentioned about the game still sticks. I did get a chance to do some expeditions, so that was both fun and interesting.

If you’re wondering whether you should give the game a try, it’s a decent way to spend your time. If other console MMOs aren’t your cup of tea, New World: Aeternum offers something unique that those games don’t, making it worth a shot. It’s Amazon Games’ first MMO that has been refined and finally made its way to consoles, and the overall product isn’t bad. I’m not sure I’ll stick around, as MMOs and I have a history I’d rather not repeat. However, if you’re looking for something different and maybe Final Fantasy 14 isn’t doing it for you, you might find something appealing in New World: Aeternum. At the very least, unlike many other MMOs, this one doesn’t have a subscription fee, which is a nice bonus.

The question, however, is how will Amazon Games’ proceed after the launch. With the PC and console versions now being on the same version of the game, I want to see more of this. This is such a good start, I don’t want them to squander all their efforts. The ball is in their court.

Review Disclosure Statement: A copy of New World: Aetherum was provided to us by Amazon Games for review purposes. For more information on how we review video games and other media/technology, please review our Review Guideline/Scoring Policy.

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