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Here I will leave this beautiful Capybara, whoever passes by can pet it and give it a thumbs up (I need Steam Points).

As much as I LOVE the gameplay, I can't recommend the game in good conscience just because of how toxic the community is.

Lost Ark dazzles with its stunning visuals and engaging combat, featuring fast-paced fights and a variety of exciting classes. However, its deeper flaws quickly overshadow the enjoyment it tries to offer. The game often feels like a second job; if you’re not constantly grinding, you fall behind. It aggressively pushes you to spend money to bypass the grind, making progress feel tied to how much you're willing to pay. The gearing system adds to the frustration, relying heavily on random luck and turning upgrades into a gamble rather than a reward. One of the biggest letdowns is how the game seems designed to cater to big spenders, or "whales," while delivering a subpar experience to those who only want to spend a reasonable amount. It’s disheartening when the focus is on profiting from high spenders rather than offering a fair experience for everyone. The community is another major hurdle. Older content, which isn't part of the current progression, is often inaccessible. Many of these raids need a full 8-player party, and with few people queuing for them, you might find it nearly impossible to experience or complete them. This lack of access is especially frustrating for those who want to explore all the game has to offer. Plus, the game’s focus on specific builds and numerous buffs means that if you’re not using the popular setups, you’re often left out. While the boss design in Lost Ark is excellent, with challenging and rewarding mechanics, the major flaw is that being unable to access this content due to the issues mentioned undermines the game’s strengths. The frustrating design, where you can get “jailed” or locked out of progression, makes it hard to enjoy the game and feels like a penalty for simply trying to play and have fun. I understand that being free-to-play means the game is more accessible to casual players and needs some form of monetization. Yet, I believe this aggressive model will ultimately drive the game to its end, as it alienates many players and pushes them away. The game clearly has a lot of love put into it, but very aggressive and non-consumer-friendly practices prevent many players from fully enjoying it. This situation seems to push developers toward even more aggressive tactics to keep the game afloat, which only further alienates its player base. Overall, I had fun with the main story and some of the earlier legion fights, but the frustrating gearing experience has made me quit the game three times now, and I believe this time it’s for good.