What is Big Time and How Can You Play It?

The game combines fun and dynamic gameplay with beautiful graphics.

Big Time is an MMORPG currently in the early access stage, developed by a team of veterans who have worked at major gaming giants. The game is set for a worldwide release in 2023, but has already stirred up a lot of interest among content creators and the gaming community.

Key findings

• A free-to-play game with a visionary roadmap and no paid dynamics.
• The game aims to combine fun and dynamic gameplay, beautiful graphics, challenging adventures and innovative aspects such as timeline and personal meta. Gameplay first is its motto.
• Several aspects of the game have yet to be developed and implemented, including tokenomics, but we know that Big Time tokens will only be available to active players, not assigned to external actors, and that there will be no ICO or IDO. this approach in itself represents a major step forward for Web3 games.

Fast action gameplay, a rich and dynamic world, challenging but rewarding dungeons, time travel, class variety, and free-to-play. As long-time RPG fans, we’ve probably seen these features in established games with millions of other players.

But combine these elements with a potentially limitless storyline and player-owned economy that blurs the lines between the virtual and real worlds, and you’ll find that Grand Age has so much to offer. A first-of-its-kind experience that is able to blend traditional RPG elements with features and visions that could become the benchmark for next-generation gaming.

We had the pleasure of playing an early access version of the game with pro gamer Yong, and here’s our review of the game in its current state of development. Please note that the game experience is likely to change significantly in the coming weeks and months, the more features that are added.

What is Big Time?

Big Time is an open-world multiplayer ARPG that puts players in the role of time travelers called to the end of the universe to fight back against the collapse of history. They will encounter hordes of thugs, from dinosaurs to robots, depending on the timeline they are in.

The game is currently being developed by Big Time Studios, which boasts one of the most experienced teams in gaming, including veterans from Epic Games, Rockstar, Riot, Activision, Blizzard, Decentraland and more.

Since Alpha’s launch in 2022, it has been able to catch the eye of many gamers and grow without a major marketing campaign. Why? Big Time is not an ordinary RPG title. Among other advantages, it allows players to monetize their playtime by finding unique cosmetic collectibles in the virtual world and trading them for real-world money. No pay-to-win mechanics are included without ruining the game experience.

Today, the game is still in the early access stage, but it can already count on over 1 million pre-registrations and a Discord community of over 400,000 members, as well as major features from streamers like Brycent, The Buffessor and Gen Z star Zachary Alexander Rice.

With these premises in mind, we’d say: Okay, here we go for an all-nighter. During our playthrough, we were definitely not disappointed – snacks piled to the bone.

The World- No Man´s Sky beauty

It is still hard to assess the size of the map of How Big Time, but we can tell by strolling through the starting area that the open playable world will be huge, not even considering the dungeons, where you will spend a lot of time.

How Big Time is divided

The universe of How Big Time, as it stands, can be divided into five areas, each with its own natural “theme” and difficulty.

• Rusty Forest and No Man’s Land – for beginners, with easy dungeons and starting equipment (lvl 1-20)
• Wasteland – Intermediate area with challenging dungeons and decent drops (lvl 20-40)
• Ice Wasteland and Ice Castle – Best drops, very intense battles (lvl 40+).

The surroundings are so beautiful, with bright colors, sharp elemental design and smooth action that it’s hard to choose a location to take the best screenshots, even at lower resolutions.

Every corner has its own unique beauty, whether it’s in a red forest, a cold cave or in the heart of a city. A great aspect is that despite being in the early stages of development, almost all playable areas can already be explored without getting stuck or running into bugs.

Not only does the game allow you to wander through the wilderness, but to some extent you are given a device called a “time machine”, also known as a “personal pocket metahuman” (PPM).

As Big Time says

This device is the player’s gateway to his own universe. You can think of the Time Machine as a starter home to play with friends or to show off your collections and loot.

We didn’t get a chance to explore our time machine in our early access game, but it sounds like a very promising feature, especially when tied to the crafting of tradable collectibles, as we’ll explain later in the article.

Classes- Hopping through time like there´s no tomorrow

Each player begins the game by choosing one of four available classes, each with its own skill tree.

1. Time Warrior. A tank that can attack enemies, stand and deal high damage. Given its high survivability, it is one of the most recommended starting classes even in single player.
2. Astronomer. Magic class, able to deal wide range damage and weak enemies. chronomancer is probably the best solo class because of its high range, and a well-equipped time warrior is the second best class.
3. Shadowblade. A stealthy ranger that deals high close range DPS.
4. Quantum Restorer. Healer that buffs allies and wears a shield to take damage. Quantum Restorer can’t really sustain damage once you get past the initial level.

Do you need to create different characters to try and enjoy each class? Of course you don’t! There is an amazing tool that expands the game infinitely based on each player’s preferences or needs: the Pocketwatch.

This device can be obtained through drops and players can wear it to change the “timeline” and switch levels at any point in the game without the hassle of reloading or respawning. One minute you’re a Shadow Blade, the next you can be a Quantum Restorer or any class and in the exact same location.

You’ll find plenty of watches in the game, each with its own characteristics. But be aware that each watch has its own timeline, so once you equip a watch and switch to a new class, you’ll be back at level 1 again. As streamer The Buffessor suggests, if you get a decent watch you like, level it up and collect all the best watches of the other levels before switching and leveling up again.

Also, not happy with the ability you paid for? No worries, all you have to do is reach one of the reset shrines on the map and you can get all your ability points back! In short, “Big Time” offers countless ability points.

All in all, Grand Age offers countless hours of fun, with different styles and gameplay styles that really depend on how the player chooses to play.

Dungeons- Bigger party, better drops

Dungeons represent the place where most of the fun (or humiliation) happens, and where better loot drops, especially during parties.

There are currently several types of dungeons: meadow/forest, ice, desert, and tech (siphon), which can be accessed through portals scattered across the map, and thanks to procedural generation techniques, offer a different, randomized experience with different minions, quests, bosses, and loot at each party.

However, the ultimate goal is usually to kill the final boss/boss and pick up rare drops and gold. Of course, the higher your character’s level, the more complex the dungeon becomes.

Clearing and completing a dungeon with a team of players (up to 6) will provide you with more drops, more collectibles, and more XP (in addition to being more fun) than playing solo.

Since the game is still in early access, finding a group of companions via in-game chat may not be easy, even in Watertown, but multiple big-time communities are active on Discord (official servers, Bull Guild, Big Time Warriors, etc.) where you can find and plan your raids.

A player-owned economy

Perhaps one of the most intriguing and innovative aspects of Grand Age is its vision for a collectible and in-game economy.

If you haven’t had the opportunity to try the Web3 game experience before, Grand Age will give you the classic ARPG experience with traditional game mechanics and story. The game will still be free-to-play, with no crappy pay-to-win aspects. Pretty cool, right?

However, if you want to test or enjoy the built-in Web3 features like tradable collectibles and community perks, Grand Age will give you the opportunity to do so, even for free.

Each player will be able to truly own valuable in-game items, whether they are mob drops or crafted items, with the opportunity to trade them freely and, for some of them, potentially earn real-world money.

The Web3 elements that will be introduced in Grand Age are either functional (practical) to the game experience or related to cosmetics. They are the following elements.

Extensive details about the upcoming in-game economy and tokens will be released by the development team soon, and we look forward to learning how they design it and envision its sustainability in the medium and long term. iCO and IDO will not be on the roadmap, as we already know.

In that sense, the novelty is that even without the Web3 elements in the game, it’s still a fully fledged MMORPG capable of entertaining and motivating players for countless hours, and we love it.

Conclusions

In a few months, players will be able to get their hands on the open version of Big Time. The game is growing rapidly and becoming more and more sought after due to the large number of content creators and guilds already expanding its reach around the world.

Many aspects of the game experience still need to be implemented, such as the basic plot, PvE, PvP (guild battles) and Tokens, which will constitute the main levers for acquiring and retaining gamers.

However, as gamers and Web3 professionals, Grand Age has developed a first-of-its-kind title that is able to blend fun, dynamic gameplay, beautiful graphics and challenging adventures with a new set of Web3 elements.

Because the game plays so well, it has a lot of potential. If they can get the lore and storyline right, “Big Time” will be a big hit with gamers.

Bryson.

Player-owned assets and tokens, tradable collectibles, and marketplace interoperability all have great potential as concepts, but so far have been abused in the Web3 gaming industry to sell speculation-based experiences that are very far from being enjoyable or even being able to be considered “gameplay”.

We have high hopes that such an experienced development team will be able to incorporate all of these aspects smoothly, rather than dividing players into those who seek fun and challenge and those who seek profit. From our experience with the game and interviews with the team, it’s clear that Big Time has understood the true value proposition that Web3 brings to players without infringing on a fully fledged, standalone ARPG experience.

How to join Big Time Early-Access phase?

As the game is currently available on an invitation-only basis, players willing to play Big Time can do so via Ruby Passes, distributed through partner initiatives or official giveaways, or by purchasing Gold, Silver and Emerald Passes through the Marketplace. So keep an eye on the official Big Time channels and leading streamers for upcoming opportunities. Also be careful not to buy early access passes on external marketplaces like OpenSea, they may not be real.

If, after reading this article, you’re dying to play but struggling to get a Ruby Pass, today is your lucky day. By purchasing a space, you will get a free Ruby Pass.

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