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From Dungeon to Dragon: Nexon America at PAX

09/08/2009

Tags: Review
Posted in: PC, Preview

While at PAX I made time to stop by the Nexon America booth – how could I not, when they had Dungeon Fighter Online, Dragon Nest and Combat Arms for me to play? Of course, that was the morning that Adam (a.k.a. photographer, camera guy and man in charge of recording) was down for the count, so I was bumming it as an old school reporter. Not only is it mighty hard to mouse and WASD while taking notes, it’s extra hard when the games are fun. Really fun.

Time and again as I spoke with the guys at Nexon I heard the word “communication” repeated. Communication, an oft overlooked aspect of localization is really important to them, and the results are evident not only in their games but in the showing they had at PAX. There was someone available for each of the games shown, ready and willing to guide me through the gameplay, discuss the process of bringing the title to fruition, and even tell me that I didn’t completely suck. In all seriousness, the fruit of Nexon America’s labor was in full view at PAX.

Combat Arms: Quarantine Mode battle

While I never turn down a LAN party, truth is they only cross my path a couple times a year. Fortunately, Combat Arms doesn’t pull any punches. Easy as breathing, I had a blast and managed to not be the worst on my team at the end of the round. Sure, when I idly asked what demographic they had in mind for the game I received a dry “18-35 males”, but I appreciate the completely unapologetic nature of the shooter. It’s a “boys game”, a slick 3D MMOFPS, now with Quarantine Mode. Quarantine (read: Zombie) mode has the Showdown and Two Towers maps as well as a new mercenary, Hauser. Updates are frequent in Combat Arms, typically one a month, and it’s easy to be drawn into the fray.

Room with a view

Dungeon Fighter Online, a 2D side-scrolling action MMORPG is more than just a trip down memory lane. There is an admirable audacity in putting such a retro-style game out there, and what DFO delivers is a compelling and deep. The community offerings here are rich with guilds and events around holidays in the persistent online environment. DFO feels like an homage of sorts, a compilation of the last couple decades of gaming. Mark your calendars, the open beta kicks off on the 15th.

Dungeon Fighter: Gunner and Priest One on One 2

The free to play model is a popular choice over at Nexon, standard in the Asian market and quickly gaining ground here in the U.S. The logic is sound – the number of MMOs available, and the number of MMOs gamers want to play, is growing. A subscription model is a barrier to entry, and what MMO really wants to go toe-to-toe with WOW? Keeping games like Dragon Nest balanced is a breeze for these guys, limiting micro-transactions to appearance rather than skill based items.

Dragon Nest Concept Art

Calling the MMORPG Dragon Nest “cute” is just not fair. The game from Korean developer Eyedentity is beautiful. There are four classes to choose from, and while I typicaly opt for a ranged weapon class I was drawn to the giant hammer and dove in as a Warrior (other classes are Sorceress, Archer and Cleric). The fantasy themed game, which is free to play, was easily some of the most fun I had with game all weekend. I’m not an MMO star, in fact, I actively try to avoid liking them. All those barriers of self-preservation were melted by the graphics, feel of the combat and the sheer genuine quality of the game. This is no average port from the Korean market.

The game isn’t due out til 2010, so what I played were some enemy encounters as I advanced through portals to a boss battle. Between combat there was just enough time to appreciate the environments before the next enemy strike. Dragon Nest is strung together with portals and towns, the latter as unique locations the player unlocks as they level their character.

The pacing was excellent, the game addictive and the appeal has to be near universal. I’m pining for Dragon Nest.

Dragon Nest - explosive skills

Want more? Here’s the fact sheet:

Overview

Dragon Nest is an online action role-playing game. Actual gameplay involves adrenaline-pumping, high-speed combat with visually stunning attack combos. But, at the same time, it also incorporates an epic storyline and role-playing elements of both classic RPGs and MMORPGs alike. You follow the character through a third-person, over-the-shoulder perspective, and when in combat, you engage the enemy in a style reminiscent of first person shooters where many attacks are directed in front of the player through crosshairs.

There are four playable classes from which players may choose.

• ARCHER: The agile elven bow master rains arrows upon her enemies from afar, but when things get too close, she’s completely capable of handling the situation with powerful kick attacks.
• WARRIOR: Wielding powerful, two-handed weapons and specializing in close-range combat, the warrior is undoubtedly a dangerous and intimidating character in the battlegrounds.
• CLERIC: This spiritual character commands healing abilities to keep himself agile and employs lightning magic to smite his foes. Even with his magical proclivities, he can more than hold his own in physical combat.
• SORCERESS: Unleashing powerful spells to conquer her enemies from a distance, the mystical sorceress is the prime spell-caster of Dragon Nest.

As players progress through Dragon Nest, they can further specialize their class by choosing different paths of discipline.

It's better with friends

Players of Dragon Nest will often find themselves gathering in towns to form groups, selling the spoils from their adventures or even socializing and making friends. Progression takes place as a player levels up and clears through each chapter of the story. As a character becomes more powerful, more options become available, including player-versus-player (PVP) “NestWar” combat, where multiple parties may do battle against one another. For those who truly crave epic battles, “Dragon Raid” allows players to cultivate a party in order to slay the most fearsome creatures in the game—dragons!

Key Features

Unprecedented Next-Generation Action

Dragon Nest applies the WASD-mouse combo, a traditional control for first-person shooter games, which allows the player to quickly change views and move more fluidly. Unlike other massive online games, Dragon Nest does not place the character in the middle of the screen, but rather slightly to the left. This gives the player an over-the-shoulder perspective, which allows easier recognition of enemy movements and locations. Besides the action, Dragon Nest also offers an intriguing background story that is seamlessly manifested through many quests. Special events are reinforced with in-game cut-scenes that further the continuing story line of the player’s world and ultimate goal.

Four Unique Classes with Specialization Paths

The character classes of Dragon Nest are made up of four unique roles: the Warrior, Archer, Cleric, and Sorceress. As the player progresses through the game, new character customization paths open up, which allow players to emphasize their character’s growth in a particular area. Jewels and insignias also offer players different ways to customize their character. By arranging jewels in a specific order, players can create insignias that manifest in different ways, often times altering items or even granting new abilities.

Experiences of Mind and Might

Beyond destroying all nearby enemies, players are also forced to solve specific puzzles to advance. Such puzzles include opening a specific door or activating an instrument or device. The creatures of Dragon Nest also go beyond the typically-expected threats, both in species and their scale. Some present challenges with uniquely created monsters beyond the player’s immediate field of view, seeking to harm players from the air and/or the ground.

In addition, the geography itself plays a factor during combat, with the ability to knock enemies off the walls or ground and other obstacles in order to perform successive combat combos. When combined with party-fighting, this creates a constantly evolving player-versus-environment experience.

Community Focus

The towns that connect the world of Dragon Nest are set in unique locations that become unlocked as you advance the story and power of your character. Features like Dragon Raid and NestWar also help to promote community. Players may speak to anyone nearby in town or to their party in the 3D environment. Additional methods of communication such as game mail helps to strengthen the interaction and bond between players.