Returning Player Thoughts – Game Feels Less Fun, More Like Forced Spending

Hey everyone,

I used to play MCoC years ago, and recently I started fresh with a new account. I’ve been playing again for a few months now, and I wanted to share some honest thoughts as a returning casual player.

One of the first things I noticed is how overwhelming the game has become. There are so many champions now that I haven’t even encountered a good chunk of them yet, and I’ve already fully explored Act 5 and dipped into Battlegrounds. The number of buff types and interactions is also way more complicated than it used to be. It used to just be things like Bleed and Poison, but now there’s Rupture, Neutralize, Wither, Slow, and more. It’s honestly confusing, especially when nodes stack multiple new effects and you have no idea what counters what.

I remember when 5* Blade first dropped, opening crystals and farming for him was genuinely exciting. Now? That thrill just isn’t there. Pulling champs doesn’t feel as rewarding when so many fights require very specific counters, and the number of champions means it’s hard to even keep track of who’s who.

The overall difficulty of content has gone up, and not in a good, satisfying way. It feels more like you’re being punished for not having the right champ. For example, I haven’t been lucky with pulls and still don’t have a single bleed-immune champ, which made Act 6 a nightmare compared to Act 5. So many nodes feel like hard stops unless you have the perfect counter, and if you don’t, you’re either restarting, spending units on revives, or just giving up.

I’ve spent money on my old account and I’ll probably spend on this one too, but what used to be fun, optional spending now just feels forced. Every big event, like the Poolshields one or the upcoming 4th of July deals, seems to scream spend or fall behind. I’m not going to spend $99 every time a new event shows up. It’s just too much, and the constant pressure to spend really kills the enjoyment I used to get from the game.

I really wish there was a system where free-to-play players could grind hard to earn top rewards, while spenders could simply reach them faster. That way, there’s something to work toward, and if I fall short by a little, I might actually consider spending just to finish it off. That would make events more fun and even more profitable. Right now, it just feels like the only way to stay competitive is to spend every time, and as a casual player, that’s both exhausting and discouraging.

I’ve even heard some of my alliance mates talk about how the Christmas Banquet is an expensive event, where the best rewards are locked behind huge paywalls. Stuff like that just makes me feel left out, like I’m not part of the real game unless I’m willing to throw down money regularly.

Anyway, just my honest thoughts. I really did used to love this game, and I still want to, but right now it feels more like a storefront than a game.

Comments

Emilia90

Act content is easy though? Arc 6 is definitely the hardest thing they’ve released but bleed immune and other champs you need aren’t hard to get your hands on and there are plenty of fantastic attackers that fill these roles

There’s definitely a lot of node types and abilities but this is a 10 year old game, they have to introduce stuff to keep it fresh

Herbal_Taxman

Sounds like you should just move on at this point. Most of what you’re objecting to are fundamental characteristics of the game.

MrSanguini

Dude you talked about how in the past it was just bleed and poison and then proceeded to complain about not having a bleed immune?

You know this problem would have still occurred in the past too right? If it was like rupture or something I would understand, but bleed?

Herbal_Taxman

Also, the most recent event is a perfect example of an opportunity for ftp players to get everything they could possibly want. All you have to do is plan ahead and play arena like a crazy person. (Which, I’m told, some people really enjoy.)

Vendemiaire

You’re just drowned in nostalgia, man.

NoahSansman

Also, the most recent event is a perfect example of an opportunity for ftp players to get everything they could possibly want. All you have to do is plan ahead and play arena like a crazy person. (Which, I’m told, some people really enjoy.)

Nobody actually enjoys arena right?

ahmynuts

Also, the most recent event is a perfect example of an opportunity for ftp players to get everything they could possibly want. All you have to do is plan ahead and play arena like a crazy person. (Which, I’m told, some people really enjoy.)
Nobody actually enjoys arena right?

Herbal_Taxman

I mean, i know a lot of people grind tons of units in arena. I hope they enjoy it?

Monubean

Been this way, nothing new under the Sun of Kabam.

JESUSCHRIST

What happened to your old account?

Zacharias10719

I really wish there was a system where free-to-play players could grind hard to earn top rewards, while spenders could simply reach them faster. That way, there’s something to work toward, and if I fall short by a little, I might actually consider spending just to finish it off. That would make events more fun and even more profitable. Right now, it just feels like the only way to stay competitive is to spend every time, and as a casual player, that’s both exhausting and discouraging.

That system exists already. It's called arena and patience. Everything spenders get, ftp gets eventually, you just have to wait a bit longer for it. Or you can choose to grind arena for units so you can participate in the events and keep up (although you'll still be behind, just not as much) that way.

The real issue though is this, you're not supposed to and simply won't be able to stay competitive as a casual ftp player, because you know, you play casually. So your only option really is to play the game at your own pace, take what you get when you get it and be happy and content with that.

Otherwise if you want to stay/be competitive, you will have to spend or grind.

JESUSCHRIST

You can be valiant without spending in less than a week if you are good

Masquirade

Welcome back dude.

This game does a very good job of conjoining your own experience and the experience of other players, (the co-operative like AQ and the competitive like AW) so you're constantly seeing your own account in comparison with other people's and it can lead to that feeling of insufficiency and FOMO.

The learning curve is big in this game, not two ways around it. When I came back I just tried to take it one champ at a time and remember one or two things about them that I struggled with. In terms of champs with specific needs, try looking at the incursion store, there are crystals that have smaller pools that all typically share one ability or another.

Think about why you downloaded the app initially - it almost certainly wasn't to spend copious amounts money to feel like you "fit in" with a large group of strangers. Accept your limitations on spending, try not to compare your experience with everyone else's and if you still don't enjoy the game from there then logic would suggest you should probably move on from the game.

Best of luck dude.

BKSwisherSweet

Yeah this game has become a slog and you can’t help but feeling like you always have to keep up. I find this true especially if you are in an alliance with an event like the HoF event that going on right now, seeing some of your teammates getting ahead by spending. You do what you have to do to have fun but know what you want out of this and know your limitations.

If MCoC starts becoming un-fun I usually just go solo for a while of take a few months off (knowing it put me further behind). You have to ask yourself what’s the end game in doing all of this, get some new 7* and rank up some champs? At the end of the day it’s just a game and I ain’t spending no $1000 to be getting a few good champ for a mobile app game.

Furrymoosen

If you're just getting out of Act 5 and already feel like there is a requirement to spend, I'd suggest either quitting or getting an 8th job, because it's gonna get expense if you're spending now.

World Eater

Good feedback. Yes, the game is pretty overwhelming. There’s so much going on and a lot to keep track of , in addition to new champs , abilities and nodes. I can’t imagine what it’s like for a brand new player.

JESUSCHRIST

It shouldn't matter if you are a casual player

Casual players don't care about the state of the game, they are here to have fun, they don't care about winning or losing fights

The moment you care about losing fights is when you become competitive with yourself

The moment you care about losing fights against other players is when you become competitive with others

You cannot claim to be a casual player if you care about winning