If you are just coming into the game for the first time, then this is the ideal place to start. The update makes starting over from fresh an ideal experience, even if the new content continues the storyline. This is because the overall experience is so different that starting over will help you experience everything best.
There are new zones added that massively enhance the game space, as well as new modes added. These modes have been altered in update patches since the Breach update was released and new changes have been made and are still being done. Moon Studios has made changes to hardcore mode, as well as adjustments to overall balance in interesting ways, and I like the direction they are going in.
The new zones, the lowland meadows and the Marin Woods, are beautifully crafted with new enemies and bosses, including four new main campaign bosses, nine plague bosses, and two new enemy factions. This is not all though, as the previously existing areas have also been reworked and updated with new changes and secrets to make it worth playing them again. There is also a new safe area called Marin Village, that serves as a great spot to shop and to upgrade gear.
Combat and weapons have been overhauled as well, but recent patches have changed some of the mechanics added. Still, there are great new approaches for melee and agile attacks, as well as a magical playstyle that is more defensive. There has also been an overhaul to the shield system to make it easier to use and less of a cumbersome mechanic.
One neat touch added in The Breach is the new pestilence system that randomly corrupts zones with the plague. Once corrupted, these regions become infected with dangerous enemies, marked with purple on your map, after entering the Pestilence Zone. To clear the zone of pestilence, you must keep track of the bar that marks the plague strength. Depleting it will spawn a plague boss that will reward you with loot when defeated, and then the zone will clear. If you find them too easy though, you can find a torn resources, items that drop only from infected enemies, and make the experience more challenging and receive better rewards as a result.
Other changes include the increases to the number of enemy factions appearing in zones, and dropped items will now scale better with your levels. Additionally, the game now gives you more options for building a character, by providing items from previous zones in other areas now rather than needing a replay. Healing has also been reworked by removing the cooldown period and instead limiting how much you can eat during combat, a limit which you can strategically increase with care even if the game tries to keep it limited for balance.
There are also new fast travel options with whisper stones that let you travel quickly and directly from your house to anywhere, and inventory management has been reworked as well as the resources stack in your home chest can now go up to 99. and lastly, the building projects have been vastly improved by giving you the option to feed feed project workers food and ingredients to speed up building time and reducing waiting.
So how is The Breach overall? Honestly, this feels like a drastically new experience, and as stated, this feels like the perfect jumping on point for new players, as well as those wanting to come back after feeling like they did all they can. No rest for The Wicked has has quite the change since launch and all these new updates and changes have really improved the experience. Everything feels better with more variety, stories, overhauled loot, new areas to explore, new and improved combat styles, and so many quality-of-life improvements that it is staggering how different the game is now.
There is still a way to go for the game, yes, but it helps that Moon Studios has been listening to fan feedback and has responded by fixing many of the complaints fans initially had with the update via new patches and making it something everyone can enjoy. If you have not played it yet, now is the time to play No Rest For The Wicked. You will not regret the experience and joining in on the ride of a lifetime.
Disclaimer: A review key was provided
Images provided by Moon Studios
