Chrono Odyssey’s closed beta test took place this weekend, and while it had a few rough spots, many MMO fans walked away more impressed than expected.
Going into the test, expectations were all over the place. Some players were a bit scared it would feel like vaporware or a clone of other MMOs (such as New World). But as they explored the world, tested different weapons, and went over the different crafting and Life Skills, the tide started to shift. One player summed it up best: “I went from hating this to loving it.”
A Promising Start
The beta used an old build from earlier this year, and not the most recent version. The developers say it was meant only to validate the core gameplay systems and stress-test servers, not to show off a polished or launch-ready product.
Despite that, many testers found themselves enjoying it:
- Combat feels complex enough and skill-based, often compared to Souls-like games.
- Exploration was a highlight, with hidden quests and chests scattered across the open world, with many more things to discover.
- Crafting and gathering turned out to be deeper than expected.
- Class variety (with weapon swapping and synergy systems) gave players room to experiment.
- Stability surprised some, with few crashes or disconnects during sessions.
Of course, this was far from a completely smooth experience. Optimization was an issue, even high-end PCs reported performance drops, lighting bugs, and frame issues. The UI also felt overly console-focused, and some players wanted better camera control, minimap options, and more flexible combat inputs. However, these are all things you can expect from an early build, or beta, and therefore weren’t really all that surprising, nor actually bad.
A Split Community – But Hopeful for the Future
There was a lot of debate online about whether the game was “a better New World” or just borrowing too much from it. Many Reddit threads were filled with cautious optimism, especially from long-time MMO veterans. Others pushed back against streamer takes that dismissed the game too quickly, arguing that the build was clearly not meant to represent the final product.
What most players seemed to agree on was this: the potential is there. And the developers know it too.
In response to early criticism, one dev confirmed the build was from late 2023 and that a much more updated internal version already exists. They promised to continue improvements in motion quality, and to polish combat, rendering, and overall gameplay systems.
“We completely understand your concerns… Our team placed greater importance on addressing server issues, enhancing combat enjoyment, and validating open-world play and content.”
Looking Ahead
Chrono Odyssey is not ready yet, and the devs aren’t pretending otherwise. But for many players, the closed beta brought back some long-lost excitement for MMOs!
The mix of Soulslike combat, amazing worldbuilding, and classic MMO systems hit a sweet spot.
With time, polish, and clear communication, this could be one of the best upcoming MMO games.
For more on the game, check out our latest news!
