Smilegate RPG kicked off its test for 'Lost Ark Mobile' on the 13th. Running until the 16th, this test invites pre-selected adventurers to dive in via both mobile devices and PC (STOVE). Smilegate aims to showcase a blend of the original's core content alongside exclusive, original experiences tailored for the mobile iteration.

Lost Ark Mobile inherits the pillars of the original: a sprawling world, cinematic flair, hack-and-slash combat, and a dizzying array of content. But it is not just a carbon copy; it promises a distinct flavour by layering in mobile-exclusive features. Let us take a closer look at what this version brings to the table.

Long ago, heroes fended off a demonic invasion during the Chain War. Now, with those legends gone, the human world faces the abyss once more. The demons are hunting for the 'Arks'—the very source of the power that once saved humanity—now split into seven hidden shards. You, having stumbled upon this dark plot, join forces with the Delain priest Armen to recover these shards and stave off the encroaching nightmare.

Along the way, you will cross paths with a colourful cast. 'Armen' is a Delain, a half-human, half-demon priest. He seeks the Arks to shield the world, yet he constantly wrestles with his inner demon, eventually spiralling into a rampage before vanishing under the weight of his own guilt. Then there is 'Beatrice', a mysterious woman gifted with foresight; she guides heroes to the Arks and assists in your class advancement to halt the demon’s resurrection.

On the political front, 'Thirain' stands as the rightful heir to the Luterra throne, fighting to liberate his people from a regent and eventually asking you to track down the troubled Armen. On the flip side, 'Karmain' is a cryptic demon hell-bent on seizing the Arks, serving as a constant thorn in your side. You will also encounter various NPCs like 'Milla' from the expedition team and 'Jena', Armen's loyal bodyguard.

Starting your adventure, you have a wealth of classes to choose from. The Warrior branch features the 'Berserker', wielding a colossal greatsword with devastating force, and the 'Warlord', who stands firm with shield and gunlance. For those preferring the arcane, the Mage branch offers the 'Summoner', who calls forth elemental spirits, and the 'Bard', who weaves spells through the strings of her Liane harp.

The Hunter class is split between the 'Devil Hunter', who juggles three different firearms for stylish combat, and the 'Hawkeye', who darts through the fray with a mechanical bow and tactical arrows. The CBT version also introduces unique classes like the 'Battle Master', who uses elemental gauntlets for lightning-fast strikes, and the 'Sword Master', who utilises phantom blades.

As a multi-platform title, Lost Ark Mobile adapts its controls to the environment. On mobile, you are dealing with a touchscreen. There is an '8-button mode' for those who want precision and custom combo setups. Alternatively, a 'combo mode' is available, mapping multiple skills to a single button for a more streamlined experience.

On PC, it is standard mouse-and-keyboard fare. You click to move and cast based on positioning, with an option to swap left/right-click functions. WASD movement is also fully supported, along with directional keys, allowing you to handle almost all movement and combat without touching the mouse (UI navigation aside).

Several 'smart' features have been added to polish the combat experience. The 'Smart Dodge' highlights an icon when you are standing in a boss's danger zone, letting you tap to instantly slide out of harm's way—though it is limited by a cooldown gauge. Likewise, 'Smart Counter' lights up at the exact moment a counter-attack is possible, making it easier to turn the tables.

When a boss is staggered, a 'Smash' button appears for a heavy follow-up. If you are knocked down, a 'Wake-up' skill gets you back on your feet instantly. Skills come with various properties like Chain, Holding, Destruction, Stagger, and Counter, all clearly marked by icons. Your class-specific 'Identity Skill' remains the ultimate game-changer to flip the flow of battle.

The main HUD provides all the intel you need for combat and exploration at a glance. You have your character and expedition levels, mini-map, quest list, and party settings. Everything else—HP/MP bars, identity gauges, battle items, and skill buttons—is laid out intuitively.

The best part? It is entirely customisable. The 'Skill Grid' system lets you drag, drop, and resize skill buttons to your heart’s content, allowing you to create an interface that fits your own ergonomic preferences. Even the HP/MP bars and buff UIs can be shuffled around.

Progression is anchored by the 'Expedition' system, an account-wide foundation that manages achievements, pets, mounts, and engravings. You will earn your first companion, 'Joy', through quests, which significantly eases the burden of daily play.

Individual characters can be customised in the 'My Info' tab, where you equip gear and distribute stats. Your loadout consists of a primary weapon, five pieces of armour, and a suite of accessories—necklaces, earrings, rings, and ability stones—that fine-tune your specific attributes.

The core of the grind is 'Gear Refinement'. You visit an NPC to boost your gear's stats, a process governed by success rates. Fail, and you lose materials; in certain tiers, you even risk a downgrade. This is where the 'Tempering' system comes in, letting you lock in a minimum level to protect your gear from failure.

Accessories follow a separate 'Accessory Growth' path. By feeding them materials, you accumulate experience; hitting milestones (25%, 50%, 75%) unlocks new options, and reaching 100% upgrades the gear tier. This enhances your base stats, engravings, and random options. There is also an 'Accessory Research' system specifically for tweaking those random rolls.

To ease the sting of progression, there is a 'Gear Inheritance' system, allowing you to transfer stats from old gear to new pieces, effectively cutting down on farming fatigue. 'Ability Stone Faceting' adds a layer of probability-based customisation for engravings, while the 'Orbit of Fate' system is there to help you find your footing in the early game.

Trading is split between the 'Item Exchange' and the 'Auction House'. The Exchange is for fixed-stat items traded between players for gold, with a 'Pheons' fee attached. The Auction House handles gear with unique stats or enhancements. It is a free-market system where the highest bidder takes the prize, also requiring gold and Pheons.

Lost Ark Mobile doesn't just rehash the original; it reinterprets it. Key dungeon content includes Chaos Break, Chaos Dungeons, Guardian Raid Competitions, Ebony Cubes, Abyss Dungeons, Legion Dungeons, and Legion Raids, providing a steady stream of challenges as you level up.

'Chaos Break' is a mobile original: a hack-and-slash mode where you clear stages, grow your skills, and chase high scores in an infinite mode. 'Legion Dungeons' are also exclusive, requiring a currency called 'Dungeon Stones'. Clear faster to upgrade your stones, tackle higher difficulties, and climb the leaderboards.

'Legion Raids' take the endgame content from the original and inject it with mobile-specific gimmicks. The 'Procyon's Power' checkpoint system takes the edge off the frustration of repeated wipes. For PvP fans, the 'Proving Grounds' offers 1v1, 3v3 annihilation, and 3v3 team elimination matches, while 'Guardian Raid Competition' pits teams of four against each other in a DPS race.

A defining feature of this mobile iteration is the pervasive use of AI. It is not just a gimmick; it is baked into everything from user convenience to core gameplay, creating a personalised experience for every player. A prime example is the 'Death Guidance' feature, featuring the mascot 'Herilik'.

If you perish during a raid, Herilik’s AI analyses your death, breaking down the boss's patterns and telling you exactly what went wrong. It is essentially a post-mortem review, helping you adjust your strategy for the next attempt.

The 'Mercenary System' is a godsend for solo players. You can hire other characters from your own expedition or those of other adventurers as AI party members. These mercenaries are not just mindless bots; you can actively command them via button prompts or even voice commands.

AI also touches quests and customisation. 'AI Quests' allow for branching paths based on how you converse with NPCs. 'AI Costume Customisation' lets you upload photos or input text to generate unique patterns for your outfits. Plus, you have AI chatting with Herilik and personalized 'My Room' decoration, showing just how far they have integrated this tech.