PixlBit

I had this on a "most ancipated games of the year" blog I posted here a while back. Here are some screens

 

Basically a spiritual successor to Ragnarok Online, which I never played.   So I would describe it as "Secret of Mana/Ys: The MMO. A 16/32 bit  ARPG on steroids. The combat is action-based, with you moving around, jumping, attacking each time you press a button. There are spell cooldowns and other MMO aspects, but it feels like many a console ARPG we played back in the days before behind-the-character and first-person views dominated. This is something I welcome, as I've always like isometric/overhead perspective, and this game looks great as you can see. 3D models with a 2D look, the visuals are very charming and bright in that way many Japanese fantasy games were in those days (this is made in Korea I believe). Enemies are kind of cute rather than menacing.

The class system is simple but interesting. You pick one of four archetypes (Swordsman, Cleric, Archer, Wizard). You level up and at certain intervals you can choose to stick with your original archetype or move on to an evolved class, of which there are two options to choose from each rank.For example, my current character started as a wizard. When I reach the next rank, I will have the option of either staying with the wizard class and expanding those skills, or evolve into either a Pyromancer (fire caster) or Cryomancer (ice magic). Each rank offers 2 new classes within the same archetype but are completely different from the other ranks, e.g. Rank 3 will allow me to evolve to either a Psychokino (controls gravity, can pull in and throw enemies) or a Linker (links allies together to reduce damage, or enemies to amplify damage). I love these kinds of systems where you can ascend to "prestige classes" (term borrowd from Dungeons and Dragons).

The game seems to advance you along a series of connected quests. This "story" is very loose and light, but I like the forward momentum it promotes. I didn't see anything in the way of sidequests. Maps are layed out like a JRPG or Diablo-esque ARPG, so instead of vast open fields like the typical MMO, areas are comprised of scenic "corridors" that branch in different directions. I did get to a dungeon, but the enemies jumped up several levels and dealign with them was tedious, so I stopped there.

I have no idea what kind of payment model the game will have, but I look forward to finding out more and playing more of the beta.  I'm surprised I even got in. Fortune smiled on me this time.