User:Safin
The article is from MMOsite Writer Club member Lushy.
Lushy's Waiting List
I know I said I was taking a vacation, but I felt inspired today! I did a list earlier about games I thought would make good MMO's. This time around, is my wish list for games I'm waiting to come out. This is my top 5:
5: Dragonica
What is it: Dragonica is a chibi-style, 3-D side-scroller MMORPG that recently just got done with it's closed Alpha II. It has the look and feel of a Chibi-Style RPG game, much like Wind Waker,with real time fighting, combos, constant action, and enough other features to keep you constantly involved in game play. The story line isn't half-bad either, featuring unique ideas that are based on classic RPG games without being too much of a cookie-cutter. The graphics are very clean, the game play is smooth, and even though it is a bit of a grinder like all MMO's, it's not really that boring and offers a lot more then the usual click/kill/repeat method.
Why it's on my list: I'm a big fan of RPG games, and although I didn't quite appreciate games with the chibi-style for a long time, I see how nice it is now. I admit, when Wind Waker first came out I was upset that it wasn't more realistic, but as I dust off my Game Cube now and play it again, I see how truly great the game was/is. Dragonica is a game I believe will be great as long as they continue to offer it as a F2P and not cut out most of the content to the Cash Shop Only. The customization is really nice, despite it only offering 4 starter classes. A game doesn't have to offer a whole lot of content to keep it interesting as long as what it offers is high-quality.
4: Ragnarok II
What is it: Ragnarok II is the sequel to the highly successful Ragnarok Online. While the original version was a simple-design, yet in depth, game, the sequel ups the price tag on it's development. The models are very detailed in somewhere between chibi and anime styles. I would definitely put the styling in the Manwha (Korean Manga) category. The expressions are no longer cartoon bubbles that appear over the head, but detailed facial expressions and emotions. Although it's a sequel, it's hard to even tie the two games together because it's that much of an improvement.
Why it's on my list: RO II is really an amazing project. It would be ranked higher if not for the fact that it's still pretty much a grinder (very reminiscent of the original game). The colors are bright, but warm, opposed to other MMO's games that practice the art of spells and actions that look like strobe lights in a night club. As I mentioned earlier, if you weren't being told that it's a sequel to RO, you couldn't really tell.
3:Blade and Soul
What is it: Honestly...I don't really know. It's a new martial games, Asian, fairy tale game from the people that brought us Lineage II. It seems to be mainly focused on very graphic PVP, but otherwise, the details are sketchy.
Why it's on my list: Well, I did like Lineage. I find the game completely gorgeous, and if not for the fact of the HEAVY botting and the toughness to get money, I'd still be playing it. The main reason I want this game to come out soon is because I love the artist that does the concept and game art. HyungTae Kim is on of my favorite artist. You'll see his work in this game and others such as the concept art for Ragnarok Online, Lineage, and the offline RPG game Magna Carta: Tears of Blood. Despite Magna Carta being a horrible RPG (in my opinion anyways), I bought the game for the artwork.
2: Atlantica Online
What is it: Atlantica Online is a turned based MMORPG in which you create a main character, but recruit and control other already made NPCs, sort of like in Sword of the New World. However, unlike Sword of the New World, Atlantica engages enemies like in classic RPG games, in which you pick a fight with 1, then get moved to a battle screen of several enemies, taking turns back and forth in attacking. It's a very beautiful game, with a fine idea for combat on a large scale. When you party, your team, and whoever else is partied with you (and their team (s) ) fight along side as you engage the enemy.
Why it's on my list: I really had fun with the CB of this. The fighting was really fun, the graphics were smooth, the controls weren't overly simply but not too complex, and there were a lot of things to do. The towns were named after real places in Asia, giving sort of a real-life, Asian fairy tale theme to it. The fighting styles made it more fair in as well, not making the maps overly crowded or laggy from other people bunched up and fighting in the same area, since you only needed to engage one to get several enemies, and you were moved to a separate screen for your personal combat.
1: Aion
What is it: Aion is a gorgeous, lush MMORPG coming out. The graphics look really amazing, the game play looks like a lot of fun, and the -big- deal about is that your character will have wings. These wings allow for very open-ended flying and also in flight combat with both monsters and other players. You get your four classic starter classes (Warrior, Magician, Priest, Scout) that can move on to two additional classes each. The fighting is suppose to have huge PVE raids and well as PVP with the two warring factions. The customization of characters is ruined to rival enough the likes of Perfect World.
Why it's on my list: Well, frankly, I just like the idea of wings. I like the idea of being able to fully interact within a world, both in the air and on the ground. World of Warcraft allowed flying in Outland, but has yet to enable free flying in the original realm. Flyff has an open sky/land but it's still mounted. It'll be great fun to see what's it's like to have free access to all your combat skills while ducking and diving in mid-air. Not to forget, the game itself looks pretty breathtaking. I hope it lives up to it's hype.
