Ether Saga Online Now Officially Online
After months of testing that may have seemed like playing a launched game to the uninitiated, Perfect World’s Ether Saga Online is finally declared fit for launch.
Ether Saga Online is another one of these extremely adorable Asian MMO titles, this time based on the classic Chinese story Journey to the West, which I was told soon after posting my last story on ESO was pretty much the basis for everything ever created, ever. Good to know!
With the official launch comes a slew of changes and enhancements to the free-to-play title, which makes you wonder who was testing them while everyone else was testing the beta version. That question aside, 15 more levels tacked onto the already existing 90 is nothing to sneeze at, and the addition of Easy and Hard dungeon modes should make things appropriately easier or harder, as the case may be.
Check out the full list of launch enhancements below, or visit eso.perfectworld.com to wade into the cuteness.
The latest Ether Saga Online game play update includes additional features and enhancements such as:
* Increased Level Cap to 105 – Characters gain access to 13 new class skills from levels 91-105, effectively doubling the number of core player skills.
* Quest Line Enhancements – The main quest line from levels 1-45 has been streamlined to introduce players to the game mechanics and reduce the number of kill quests.
* New Raid Encounter – A new raid has been introduced. Designed for 6-24 players, The Obscurity is sure to challenge adventurers.
* New Difficulty Modes – Now features Easy and Hard modes for dungeons to encourage more casual gamers to compete in quests.
* Enhanced Gear Upgrading – Enhancements to the gear upgrading system provide players with new options to increase their chances for successful upgrades.
* New Monsters! – The addition of new elite monsters and the White Dragon world boss further adds to one of the most compelling aspects of Ether Saga Online’s game play.These new game play elements further bolster Ether Saga Online’s extensive feature set, which also includes:
* Integrated Quest/Navigation System – Players will not be confused about where to go or what monsters to kill. Quests will have “link” which allow players to click on them and automatically navigate to their quest objectives.
* Unique Races and Classes – Three different races as well as six different classes. Each class having its own unique play style and gameplay.
* In-Depth Pet System – Every player starts with their own pet. Players can tame and capture new pets as they adventure through the world.
* Element Leveling System – As players level up, they receive points that can be assigned to specific elements. Each element has its own characteristics and affects the core gameplay of each user.
* Unique Skill System – Each class has a set of unique skills. Skills are not learned from trainers but rather on the fly through a battlefield menu system.
* Birthday Skills – Each character receives special abilities and skills related to the day their character was born.
* Clan Skills – Players can create clans/guilds and have opportunities to learn new abilities and skills as a group.
* Fusion System – Players can actually fuse with their pets and gain access to new abilities and gameplay options.
* Monster Card System – Players can collect monster cards which allow them to transform into specific monsters. In monster form, players gain access to new abilities and skills.
* Crafting System – Players can choose from 9 different crafting and gathering skills.
* Reputation System – Monsters will have their own factions in-game. Players can gain reputation with these creatures and gain access to new content.
* Alliance System – Clans can group up into Alliances in order to combat difficult monsters or even other Alliances.
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Comments (AU Comments | US Comments)
@Relee:
Once you acquire int-based skills (pretty much every single offensive skill past the first) it's far more efficient to stock up on MP pots and spam skills instead of using standard attacks. At lvl 69, my standard attacks do about 900 while my skills do 2-3k. Not to mention AoE spells doing about 2.5k.
riceburner4540
@Relee:
how does this compare to rose online. looks pretty much the same.
I dunno, maybe the game opens up at higher levels, I only played up untill the region after the three newbie areas, but all I ever used was my basic attack along with a pet, and a fused pet. Using special abilities used up MP that I was using for the fused pet, and didn't to much bonus damage, so it was more efficient for me to just use the basic attack constantly, instead of using up all my MP every few fights and having take an MP break, I would just keep fighting untill my HP went down, which took much longer to happen, and the fights weren't significantly longer.
I don't suppose there's anything stopping you from using special abilities it's just less efficient.
Relee
@SpishackCola posts comments Like A Boss:
They actually don't sell any weapons or armor in the item mall. Keeps it pretty balanced.
KyofuBAD
@Xaevier: It definitely gets more complex as you go on. Regular attacks will suffice initially but you'll be spamming skills to kill things later. Not sure if that's exactly a good thing or not, though. Also, quests are your primary source of exp, killing monsters for those quests are a secondary source of exp.
riceburner4540
@SpishackCola posts comments Like A Boss: You can't actually buy equipment from the item mall. It sells stuff like costumes, flying mounts, ground mounts (both are obtainable in-game with gold, but don't look nearly as cool), and auxiliary items to help you upgrade your gear.
You can actually be a very competitive player without spending a single dollar. I've spent maybe 300 or so E-Bucks (the item mall currency, which would cost $300) but all of it was bought with in-game gold instead of real money.
riceburner4540
@Achenar: Yeah, it's pretty fun.
A few things I should point out though:
Killing monsters gets a ridiculously small amount of exp. Much of your exp will be gained through quests.
Upgrading weapons will make you want to kill yourself.
Pets are an integral part of the game. You will be spending a large amount of time getting good pets to help you through.
Contrary to what someone below said, you will be spamming skills to kill most things. Regular attacks are extremely weak in comparison.
The primary damage stat for ALL characters is int, because it affects skill damage. Refer to the above.
Dungeons are instanced, and are pretty challenging on default or "Hard" difficulty. Expect bosses to hit for 40% or more of your hp. Per second.
There is a system for automatically leveling up. It is essentially an in-game bot, you program what skills to use at what intervals, what potions to use, etc. but it is not a cash shop item. You can acquire as many of these as you want via an in-game quest. Set yourself in an area with non-aggressive enemies and go to work/school/whatever. Come back to find yourself a level higher.
Most importantly, cash shop balance. The cash shop has many items to help you out with things like upgrading your equipment and getting places, but isn't particularly unbalanced. You can have mounts but the in-game versions require effort while you can just shell out some dough for the cash shop versions. There's a neat system in place for you to buy cash shop currency with in-game gold, but because you buy from other players via a broker, prices fluctuate. You can actually make a good amount of in-game gold just trading the cash shop currency.
riceburner4540
@Xaevier: Could be worse. "The Me in a 12 year old girl is really liking this."
riceburner4540
@T3rm1n4L:
Don't listen to them ;) my Girlfriend play MMO too and I already married her :p
No children though, because then I wouldn't have time to play anymore!
Lauraliane
@Xaevier:
Just played it for like 20 minutes and I hit level 13-14 without even knowing what I was doing.
Every single quest leveled me once and the quest system LITERALLY walks you to your destination, I could have clicked on the destination made a sandwich and come back.
Overall the controls were simple
Click to attack
Monster dies in 2 seconds
Attack new monster
Repeat for infinity
It's a cute game and so insanely easy it's ridiculous but if you have some time to blow it isn't as bad as most other free mmos ive played.
Xaevier
@T3rm1n4L: Kick her in the ovaries, or kick her to the curb. Do one, not both at the sametime.
I played this game in beta. Gameplay wise it's monstrously horrible. It's the grindiest grind-fest I've ever ground, and I've ground some grindy grindy-fests. The game is designed to be botted, and includes an in-game botting client you can unlock by paying real money. The game balances botting players by having all the monsters stand around in big herds like cattle feedlots, and having them respawn every twenty seconds. I was able to power level standing in one place and killing the same three monsters over and over again. Quests typically require you to kill between one and two hundred monsters, one at a time.
The combat system is basically irrelevant, since using your basic attack and nothing else is more efficient than using any special attacks. It's very 'click and ignore', at least on World of Warcraft you had to push some buttons.
The only redeeming point of this game, for me, was the graphical design. To call it Cute is an understatement. It's SUPER ULTRA MEGA CUTE. It would give Hello Kitty diabetes. Most of the characters are voiced by a ten year old girl. I love cute things, and I play Ether Saga every now and again just to watch them act cute.
Relee
@stalin23:
Wait you have candy...I have a van... Genius idea!
Xaevier
@wazzzup16:
I tried neosteam but I got kinda annoyed with it.
I just finished downloading this one so ill let you guys know if its ok.
Xaevier
@madog: I have joked around about it before haha. And I already bought her the sexiest dress in the game. Robes of Insight. Also Mooncloth robes are sexy to. Oh dear see what you started.
@Fluorine: That's what I'm assuming to after reading the article. Hence me saying it MIGHT be good. Here is hoping.
@Wireless Joe: +1 good sir.
@madog: I did the same.
Diablo III is looking better and better.
@Xaevier: It's free so that's reason enough for blowing some hours into...
I myself have played a bunch of free korean mmos... most of em aren't worth really committing to. Ones that i can think of are Maplestory, Grand Chase, Neo Steam, Mabinogi Dragonica, and Perfect World. Ima try this game out... see if it's any good :P Mabinogi is the most unique experience out of all of them... although it is pretty relentless to beginners imo...
wazzzup16
@T3rm1n4L: Well... reading the list of features, it doesn't sound like mindless fluff. THere's lots fo stuff to do at least.
If you're going to get roped into something, this looks ok once you get past the 'puked on by a rainbow' colour scheme.
@Just_as_planned: You want some candy? Hey, I have lots in my house..
stalin23
@T3rm1n4L: Fuck normal. What was normal 10 years isn't normal today. Buy her a bedpan and marry here in WoW. I'll get you some nice magecloth.
madog
@Just_as_planned:
That sounds so very very wrong...
Xaevier
I played this game in beta. It was one of the better Free MMORPGs i have to admit. Graphics are really nice compare to the other free games out there. There were a few issues then, but it looks like the devs addressed it in the Launch update. Took a break from it, but i'll be checking back in to re-activate my Conjurer.
jsgongwon
the 12 year old girl in me is really liking this
Just_as_planned
Bright colours, free...
Anyone played it and can tell me whether it's worth a try?
@MysidianMan: I was wondering the same thing.
SenileProfessorOak
@T3rm1n4L: Come on we all know you don't have a girlfriend. and you'll be playing this like the rest of us.
Dash_Stryker
@Pitchswitch: well.. she is a mammal
Kiri Komori
Alright, that little kitten thing is DAMN cute...the adorable tag is well-deserved.
@Michael Dukakis the infuriated Mets fan: OH! Me see.
@Strife Fox †: Heh it was expected I'm surprised it didn't happen sooner ;)
@madog:
To be brief, shes a type 1 diabetic so shes home all the time while I work so yes she plays mmo's to kill time. She is a ridiculous WoW fanatic but anything this colorful will get her attention. Example, FreeRealms. Why do I not like playing with her? She likes to RP and takes ridiculous amounts of bio breaks. Try doing an instance in WoW with her going afk every 5 minutes. Or so help me Kotaku, coming home for Valentine's Day to have her yell at me to log on so she can give me gifts and relax at whatever scenic location she chose. One day, one day I will do normal couple things but for now, mmo's have cursed me. :(
@T3rm1n4L:
"Girlfriend"
And then you woke up.
I'm sorry, had to be done (:
Strife Fox â€
I read the title as: " Either Saga Online Now Available..."
Before reading the rest, I felt a little angry for you not telling me which Saga would be available. Then, I continued on and found out that I'm an idiot. Carry on.
madog
@aspasticninja: for your proposal, just show her this string of comments! ^_^
@madog: seconded
@T3rm1n4L: Your girlfriend plays MMOS?
Here's a bit of advice: MARRY HER RIGHT NOW and father many children with her.
madog
Eh, depends on how the drops are compared to the item mall. Not a fan of the 'Here's your level 5-15 weapon drop that does nothing, but you can buy a weapon from the item mall for a level 5 that is better than the in-game drops at level 30'.
@excel_excel: No way those are definitely two watermelons on sticks you can see his hands holding them.
The first, last, and only time I'll ever use that sentence in my lifetime.
@excel_excel: I wasn't talking about that cat. Get it?! ...
I'll be on my way now.
You can play as a Delcatty?
Hmm getting tired of WoW...anyone know if this game is worth blowing a spare hours into?
Xaevier
@Michael Dukakis the infuriated Mets fan: I ask that everytime I see a Darkstalkers fan art.
@Michael Dukakis the infuriated Mets fan: Those are its arms.
Although how it learned to walk on two legs I haven't the foggiest
Why is that cat packing melons?
The in-house QA testers were probably the ones doing the testing of the new features. They don't play on the same servers as the beta testers.
Oh no another cutesy MMO the girlfriend will drag me to play with her :(
Well at least I could come back and make a review laters?
Someone help me.
Eh who knows, maybe it will be enjoyable I suppose.