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Join me on an epic journey to play every MMORPG ever created, starting with The Realm Online—one of the pioneers of the genre. Dive into this classic MMORPG with me as we explore what it's like to play in 2024. We'll rate the game, delve into its features, and soak in the nostalgia of late 90s gaming.
What to Expect in This Video:
○ A Detailed Review: Insights into gameplay, graphics, and unique features of The Realm Online.
○ Nostalgic Moments: Reliving the magic of one of the first MMORPGs ever made.
○ 2024 Player Experience: How does this classic hold up in today's gaming world?
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0:00
Hello and welcome to playing every MMORPG ever, the series where we hop into the MMORPG time
0:07
machine and embark on a journey through the rich history and evolution of these beloved games
0:13
Despite my 25 years of experience in the genre, I've realised there are countless amazing titles
0:19
that I've missed out on, so now I'm setting out to rediscover them, even if I'm three decades
0:24
late to the party. So grab your gear and let's dive in. This week we're dusting off the ancient
0:30
scrolls of MMORPG history with The Realm Online. Often hailed as one of the first publicly playable
0:37
MMORPGs, The Realm is a true pioneer of the genre. Developed and published by Sierra Online
0:44
it launched in December 1996, back when MMORPG wasn't even a term yet. They were known as
0:51
graphical muds or multi-user dungeon games. Throughout its long lifespan, The Realm Online
0:56
has changed hands between multiple publishers and even faced closure in June 2023. But fear not
1:03
the game was given a second life by a new publisher, reopening with a free-to-play classic
1:08
server where you might even be able to dust off your old login credentials. There's also a new
1:13
paid server under regular development, promising to retain the original game's charm while introducing
1:19
revolutionary updates and new features. Now let's talk about what makes The Realm stand out. First
1:25
we have the beautiful hand-drawn 2D graphics which bring a nostalgic charm to the game. Back
1:31
in its heyday, it featured a unique turn-based combat system that was particularly convenient
1:36
for players dealing with dial-up internet connections, allowing for a more strategic
1:41
gameplay. And yes, you can even engage in PvP combat, adding a thrilling competitive edge to
1:47
the experience. In its prime, The Realm Online boasted tens of thousands of paid subscribers
1:53
and was famous for hosting in-game events organized by voluntary staff. Players would
1:57
participate in various activities to earn coppers, a special currency used to buy housing decorations
2:04
Join me as we explore this iconic game that paved the way for MMORPGs as we know and love today
2:10
I'll be playing on the classic server to experience the nostalgic feeling that The Realm players
2:15
cherish and remember. Alright adventurers, let's dive into the heart of The Realm Online
2:20
the gameplay. We'll start with the character creation process, a delightful journey that
2:25
lets you sculpt your virtual alter ego with surprising depth. You can customize your
2:29
character's appearance, slap on a personal title and weave a bio that gives life to your in-game
2:35
persona. You also get to choose a race and class where there are multiple options to choose from
2:40
plus decide if you're going to be a hero or a villain. Your choices will influence whether
2:44
certain enemies will help you or harm you in the open world. One critical aspect of character
2:49
creation is assigning your character's attributes. This part was a real frustration point for many
2:55
players back in the day. There's no going back, no reset button, so if you don't get it right
3:00
you could be at a disadvantage compared to other players. Without the aid of online guides
3:05
figuring out the optimal setup was a real adventure and often by the time you did figure it
3:10
out, it was too late to change it. But hey, at least you can show off your rare gear. Your
3:15
character's appearance evolves with each new piece of equipment, making rare hats and sashes badges
3:20
of honor for long-time players. As you step into the game, you're greeted with a brief introduction
3:26
You read a tutorial book and you hand it to an NPC to get started. Quests are few and far between
3:32
and while I managed to complete a couple of the quests that exist, the game isn't really about
3:36
questing. Hilariously, most NPCs will turn you down if you offer help. Combat and leveling in the realm
3:42
is an intriguing mix of turn-based strategy and build optimization. You have the option to charge
3:48
or attack, though for solo players the difference might not seem immediately noticeable. When things
3:53
get hairy, you can try to evade early in a fight, but once you're locked in, escaping becomes a real
3:58
challenge. Items like food, drinks and potions and orbs can be lifesavers, offering various benefits
4:05
such as healing or temporarily immobilizing your enemies. Spellcasting is a whole other level
4:10
requiring you to invest in and learn the various magical arts. These spells can provide powerful
4:16
effects including healing, buffs, area of effect damage and crowd control. Your character's build
4:22
and gear play a crucial role in combat, with different items offering unique effects that
4:27
can turn the tides of battle in your favor. The realm is essentially a world of interconnected
4:32
boxes or cells. You can move north, south, east and west on the screen, unless blocked by walls
4:38
or other objects. Reaching the edge of the screen takes you into the next cell. Towns might consist
4:44
for example of 30 cells, each one housing a shop or a landmark. As an MMO you'll encounter other
4:50
players moving between these boxes in the shared world environment. Teleporting between main towns
4:55
is possible through an NPC who can also teleport you to your house or another player's house
5:01
Exploring beyond town areas leads to various named regions, each suitable for a specific
5:07
level range with appropriately powered enemies. Typically the further you venture from a town
5:12
the more dangerous the foes you encounter, with chances of discovering secret areas and underground dungeons
5:18
It didn't take long before it interacted with the community in the realm. The Ivory Moon Cafe is the
5:24
go-to spot and I guarantee you if you log in right now, you'll find President in his usual seat
5:30
surrounded by items left by players for new adventurers. The community is small with only 30
5:35
to 40 players online during peak hours on the classic server, with even more on the new server
5:40
as well, but they are incredibly friendly and welcoming. Everyone knows each other, forming a
5:44
tight-knit community that feels rare compared to modern MMOs. A special shout out to Black Wiz
5:50
who was my guiding light throughout my journey in the realm. They helped me with gear, build tips
5:56
hunting areas and gear enchantments, and it's not just me that they help. Any new face is welcomed
6:01
with open arms, making this community truly special. It brings back fond memories of the early
6:06
days in Tibia where I'd spend hours just standing around chatting and making friends. The main game
6:11
mechanic of the realm online is leveling and progressing your character. On the classic server
6:16
I played on, the max level is 1000, although on the newer updated server it's capped at just 100
6:23
To level up, you need to defeat enemies and earn experience points. Each time you level up, your
6:28
health increases and you earn build points, which are essential for improving your skills. Skills can
6:33
be enhanced by looting skill books or purchasing them from skill book shops. Be cautious about
6:39
spending your build points, as I'm pretty sure there's no way to reclaim them once used. I focused
6:44
on increasing my mace to level 4, then boosting my crit to level 5, before maxing out mace at level 5
6:51
Afterwards I moved on to Thalmaturge to start learning support spells. You need to increase
6:55
your skill within a magic type and then learn each individual spell, and let me tell you it's
7:00
well worth investing the build points into sorcery for the go-home spell. One of the quirkiest parts
7:06
about leveling is that it's faster if you multi-box. This involves opening a second client with another
7:12
account and character, then grouping them together. Have the second character follow your main
7:16
character and you'll gain a lot more experience. At higher levels it becomes especially beneficial
7:22
For example, pairing a warrior with a wizard allows a warrior to charge in and pummel enemies
7:26
while the wizard sits back casting spells to immobilize or heal. I was skeptical at first
7:31
but I eventually caved and did it to push to level 100 and beyond. You have to be careful when
7:36
hunting. At level 66 I found myself battling bounty hunters and accidentally engaged one
7:42
while wearing a zerker helmet. This helmet makes you rush and smash enemies before they can react
7:48
which is great when pulverizing foes. Not so great when you accidentally attack a bounty hunter
7:53
with a pet snake. They killed me and stole my prized mace, leaving me unable to continue until
7:58
I acquired another weapon. It's hard to know when enemies are grouped together, try to avoid fighting
8:04
these as much as possible. The realm also features player housing, which is quite impressive given its
8:09
age. Players can sometimes visit your house and throw items onto your lawn. I once had someone
8:15
deliver a new mace after mine was stolen by that damn snake. And back in the day, players could use
8:20
invisibility to sneak into your house while the front door was open and wait for you to unlock
8:24
your chest, which serves as your bank. If you accidentally left your doors or boxes unlocked
8:29
people could walk in and steal from you, hence the addition of the evict button. It's not just
8:34
housing that's instanced in the realm, as you wander around you'll occasionally stumble upon
8:39
different dungeons. These are group-based instances where you can team up with other players
8:44
Some dungeons require level 1000 and a group of six people to tackle, providing truly challenging
8:50
end-game content. Completing dungeons and defeating enemies in various areas can yield new gear and
8:57
rare items, crucial for strengthening your character. However, I did find it concerning that the main
9:03
end-game content is often completed solo by one person, multiboxing six different characters due
9:09
to the lack of trust over loot. Killing enemies provides a shared loot pool that anybody can pick
9:15
up. To survive in the realm, you'll need to regularly eat and drink. If you don't, you'll
9:19
eventually perish, adding a survival element to the game as well. There are spells and items to
9:24
prevent hunger and thirst, which I assume is how the president chap we mentioned earlier manages
9:30
to stay online 24-7. The economy in the game seems almost non-existent. Players typically give items
9:36
to each other, which is possible by dragging items onto someone after they have wrote the
9:40
command forward slash give. But there's no formal trading system or marketplace. In the past, players
9:45
use middlemen to facilitate trades. While the economy is lacking, making money isn't difficult
9:50
NPCs buy everything you can pick up, so it's easy to sell items to them. It's always nice to pay it
9:56
forward. Players are happy to help and provide items, so when you no longer need gear, leaving
10:01
it for the next new player is a kind gesture. The realm is such an easy and casual game to pick up
10:06
and play in 2024, largely due to the availability of the best builds, gear and information, as well
10:13
as the helpful community. While much of the game feels simple, there are intricate layers of
10:17
complexity beneath the surface. From learning weaponsmithing and enchanting gear, to mastering
10:23
complex builds, stats and combat strategies, the realm offers depth and detail that can mean the
10:29
difference between life and death later in the game. Before diving into the realm online, I
10:34
expected to play for just a couple of hours and be done with it, assuming there wouldn't be any online
10:39
players. To my surprise, there was an active chat with players discussing the game, builds, information
10:44
and where to find shops and craft gear. I was genuinely surprised to see such activity. While
10:49
the community isn't large, it's incredibly welcoming and comfortable to join, which is a big factor in
10:55
the enjoyment of the game. Reflecting on this game now has opened my eyes to the level of tech
11:00
available in the late 90s. Seeing features like instanced dungeons and player housing were the two
11:06
biggest surprises. I did not expect a game created so long ago to have the technical capabilities or
11:12
the connection speed and infrastructure to perform these kind of tasks. The game runs smoothly with
11:17
no lag, which is also fairly impressive. What's really cool is seeing how many elements in this
11:22
MMORPG have become fundamental parts of virtually every game released since then. The only
11:28
disappointment with the realm online is that it hasn't been fully maintained. Although it might
11:32
mostly appeal to an older nostalgic audience, it deserves more love and attention due to its place
11:38
in MMORPG history. When it comes to graphics and sound, the realm online is definitely showing its
11:43
age. However, the fact that all content is hand-drawn is impressive in its own right. The
11:48
sounds become somewhat a little bit annoying after a while, but the dynamic soundscapes that
11:53
change as you move through different areas and biomes does add a nice touch. The world building
11:57
showcases diverse landscapes including forests, deserts, towns and dungeons. Each region is
12:03
designed to offer unique challenges and experiences suited to specific character levels, which adds
12:08
depth to exploration. The game's mechanics are generally straightforward, but things become
12:13
much more detailed and strategic as you progress onto harder content and face more difficult
12:18
enemies. The controls are simple, involving mostly point and click movements, and most actions require
12:24
you to click an on-screen prompt. For new players, the game is easy to pick up, thanks in large part
12:29
to its helpful and friendly community. Regarding the story and lore, the realm doesn't have an
12:33
overly detailed narrative. Instead, you find numerous books and NPC dialogues that provide
12:39
insight into the world. You can ask NPCs what they think of the town that they're in, or inquire
12:43
about rumours, but these interactions remain largely static. The game is set in a mythical
12:48
world filled with magic, mythical creatures and medieval elements. Its lore is built around classic
12:53
fantasy tropes, where your main quest is to defeat monsters, align as good or evil and discover
12:59
treasures. As one of the earliest MMORPGs, the game has a historical significance in the development
13:04
of online multiplayer games. Its lore is less about specific narrative and more about its place
13:10
in the evolution of online gaming. Much of the game's culture is shaped by its players
13:15
who form a close-knit community. The social aspect is a core part of the game, with players
13:20
often engaging in cooperative activities, chatting and helping each other. Joining in on a couple of
13:26
instant dungeons was a fantastic experience for me, showcasing how combat functions differently
13:32
within a six-person group environment. Due to its history and unique features, the realm was a trend
13:37
setter for the entire MMORPG genre, pioneering many elements that became staples in later MMOs
13:44
The game's innovation, ability to build lifelong memories and continued operation today must be
13:49
considered. My rating for this game is a 67 out of 100 on my MMORPG rating scale. This scale considers
13:58
10 key factors, but also accounts for when the game was created, benchmarking it as I would have
14:04
if I'd played it in the 90s, rather than comparing it to modern MMOs. At its core, the realm online
14:09
has an undeniable charm that makes it a genuinely enjoyable experience. Improving your gear, leveling
14:16
up, gaining build points to enhance your skills, exploring new zones, defeating new enemies and
14:22
tackling more challenging content and dungeons, all contribute to a progressive gameplay loop
14:28
that feels rewarding. You're constantly growing and improving, complemented by a community that
14:34
genuinely loves and cares for the game. The realm wouldn't be the same without its players and the
14:39
memories that they bring. This is a game that I genuinely see myself continuing to play in the
14:44
future. After grinding level 200, I'm just 20% of the way to max level. While the game may appear
14:52
visibly dated and simple on the surface, it's much more complex and detailed behind the scenes than
14:57
it initially seems. With nearly three decades of existence, most of what needs to be known in the
15:02
realm is already known, and the community is more than happy to share their knowledge to help you
15:07
progress more efficiently. If you love MMORPGs and want to experience the nostalgia and community
15:13
dynamic that you simply don't find in modern day MMORPGs and see where it all began, I highly
15:19
recommend picking up and playing the realm online. This game is iconic and a real piece of MMORPG
15:26
genre history, and it's still pretty fun to play even in 2024. I would love to hear your memories
15:33
of the realm online and for those who have never played it, what are your thoughts on this
15:37
innovative piece of MMORPG history? If you enjoyed the video, don't forget to like and for more MMORPG
15:43
content, subscribe and follow TCL and the Tank Club. We'll be back next week with another nostalgic
15:48
trip through MMORPG history. Thanks for watching and bye bye for now
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