MMO Insider May 2024

Hello and welcome to MMO Insider, where we delve into the latest MMORPGs undergoing testing each month. May has been relatively quiet for testing, right up until the last week when all the MMOs we’re reviewing decided to conduct their tests!

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My first session this month was with Tarisland, which held its final technical test before launching on June 21st, 2024. Since the release is imminent, I’ll keep this brief, as a full review will follow the global launch. This session focused on reviewing changes since previous tests.

Unfortunately, the cutscenes and NPC dialogues remain problematic, with text not matching the voiceovers and voice lines being cut off by rapidly moving text and animations. This should have been resolved by now.

On a positive note, the game looks promising with a heavy PvE focus, featuring exciting content like challenge dungeons and elite raids. As a Tank, I’m particularly looking forward to the endgame content. However, Tarisland has increasingly adopted mobile-friendly features like assisted skill casting and auto-waypoints, which is slightly concerning.

Despite this, the game appears to be a standout mobile MMORPG that avoids the typical auto-play mechanics. Instead, it offers progressive content and character development with challenging endgame activities requiring active play.

While I’m excited to play on PC, I have reservations about the game’s long-term appeal. A significant concern is the upcoming seasons mode, which remains unclear. Rumours suggest that each new season will require starting fresh. Although systems like this work for games like Fortnite and Diablo, I’m hesitant to invest in an MMO if my progress is wiped each season. The impact will depend on how quickly one can reach endgame (30 hours or 300?) and the amount of new content added each season.

Overall, Tarisland has potential and has been enjoyable during testing. It’s free-to-play, but the presence of pay-to-win elements is uncertain, given the developers’ history with other games.

Excitement Level: 3 out of 5

I discovered Monsters & Memories at the last minute but managed to get in about 20 minutes of playtime. The game boasts a vast array of classes, which is a huge plus for me as I love having plenty of options. I chose to play as an Ogre because they look like absolute beasts. While the class choices are impressive, the character creation options are quite limited, though it is still in early development.

During those 20 minutes, I must admit I was underwhelmed. The UI was massive, and the game screen had an odd size. I soon realized the auto resolution setting was the issue, and adjusting it helped somewhat. As a fan of classic and retro-style MMORPGs, I appreciate the nostalgia they bring. However, the performance of Monsters & Memories was problematic. Objects frequently disappeared and reappeared, making the game feel unstable.

Nothing in this game was clear or intuitive. My first task was to deliver a letter from my backpack to the correct NPC. Without a map or quest marker, I wandered aimlessly. The signposts didn’t match the location name in the letter, adding to the confusion. Attempting to attack nearby enemies proved futile, as they were too strong for a beginner. It felt odd to place such strong enemies in the starting area.

I spent most of my time wandering without accomplishing anything significant. My brief experience with Monsters & Memories left much to be desired. Given that this was an early test and the game is expected to enter early access in 2026, I’ll keep an eye on it for future testing. This initial impression may not be a fair representation of the final product, but it made me question if I’d invest time in a game that not only looks retro but feels dated for a 2024 MMORPG.

Excitement Level: 1.5 out of 5

Why have I included Wayfinder? Originally, it was planned to be an MMO. I invested over 200 hours into it during early access, enjoying its fast-paced dungeon looter mechanics and making some friends along the way. The game’s potential was evident, and I was excited about its future based on the roadmap.

Fast forward to May 2024, and the publisher has abandoned the project, leaving the developer to self-publish. Wayfinder is now being converted into a single-player game with an option to play co-op with up to three friends with it’s Echoes update. This shift is disappointing because Wayfinder was genuinely fun, though it lacked long-term content—something that was supposed to be addressed in future updates. The endless loop of grinding to level characters and weapons soon became tedious.

In the new version, you have to start from scratch. While some UI and menu clean-ups are noticeable, it feels like the same game, just played solo and without any future content updates expected. This transition seems like a last-ditch effort to recoup development costs, ensuring the game isn’t a complete waste of time and resources.

Excitement Level: 0 out of 5

I’ve been excited to try Corepunk for a while, and thanks to a code someone sent me, I finally got the chance. I love Corepunk’s visual style, and heading into the game, I encountered several challenges from the first quest. There’s little to no direction beyond the initial interaction with the quest-giving NPC, so if you don’t follow the dialogue closely, you can get stuck quickly. However, this aligns with the fog-of-war style gameplay, encouraging exploration.

Corepunk’s setting is more modern compared to many MMORPGs, and its NPC dialogue is both amusing and filled with contemporary slang. During the test session, there were some issues—entering certain areas would result in a “kick” notification, though it didn’t actually kick you out. These glitches, along with delays in the test, highlight the importance of these sessions to iron out problems before the full launch.

Combat in Corepunk is straightforward but slow to develop. Initially, you spend most of your time auto-attacking, with skills on long cooldowns. As you level up, you unlock more abilities, improving the experience. New players might find the game’s pace and difficulty surprising, as gaining levels is a slow process. Upon reaching the first town, you’re inundated with quests, many of which are challenging or lack clear direction. It requires careful listening to NPCs and figuring things out independently, making the process time-consuming.

I eventually realized I needed specific materials to progress my quests. After wandering the map and finding no nodes, I discovered a small forest area containing the necessary materials. I established a rotation, collecting nodes for hours. The RNG nature of gathering materials was frustrating, but it improved as my gathering profession leveled up. Higher levels increase your chances of finding better items, but it’s a grind to get there. I dread the competition for nodes during the first weeks after launch, which could cause frustration and toxicity among players.

The game’s difficulty was enjoyable, bringing a sense of excitement and danger. Unlike many MMORPGs targeting a casual audience, Corepunk demands attention to your surroundings. The fog-of-war mechanic, limited view, and higher-level enemies chasing you down added to the thrill. Knowing I could drop hard-earned items upon death heightened the stakes, despite the potential annoyance.

Health and mana don’t regenerate on their own, so you need to stock up on food, gather items to make it, and sometimes build a campfire to regenerate. Eventually, you gain access to passives that help regenerate stats out of combat, making it a bit easier.

I hope to participate in future tests to see how they address the issues from this session and improve the beginner experience. Adding more accessible level 2-4 quests that don’t require rare materials would alleviate many of my concerns. Despite the test ending sooner than I’d hoped, I enjoyed the style of Corepunk.

Excitement Level: 3.5 out of 5

In June, there doesn’t seem to be much ongoing MMORPG testing. However, with the release of Tarisland and many popular MMOs rolling out new expansions and updates, we’ll be busy covering all of that. Rest assured, we’ll keep our eyes peeled for any testing opportunities we can dive into.