Game-A-Week Episode 21: Maplestory 2

[9:54 PM]

Admittedly, I was going to tackle this game much later down the line.

[9:54 PM]

But since this game is actually shutting down on the 27th, I had no choice but to move it up the list.

[9:55 PM]

This was literally the last week I could do it.

[9:57 PM]

[9:58 PM]

You know, I've had that image on my computer for years and I've never had a good reason to use it until now.

[9:59 PM]

Anyway, MapleStory 2 is, as you would guess, a sequel to MapleStory. A side-scrolling MMORPG with platforming elements.

[10:00 PM]

I was never a fan of MapleStory to be perfectly honest. I much preferred WonderKing which was also a side-scrolling MMORPG but much less popular.

[10:00 PM]

After WonderKing shut down, I went to MapleStory in an attempt to fill the void WK left behind but I just didn't like it.

[10:02 PM]

I'm aware that WonderKing was probably a poor man's MapleStory but I just felt like MapleStory was a poor man's WonderKing. It was more or less the same thing, I just found Wonderking to be fun where MapleStory wasn't.

[10:02 PM]

But when a sequel was announced, I thought "Hey, maybe it could do it for me this time"

[10:03 PM]

And while, it didn't do what I wanted it to be (A WonderKing replacement), I did end up liking it.

[10:04 PM]

Unfortunately, it took me a tad bit too long because its all over in 3 days from now.

[10:05 PM]

But hey, the hype on Twitter when it released was pretty rad.

[10:06 PM]

Anyway, so instead of being a sidescrolling game, it takes a top down perspective and incorporates platforming elements.

[10:06 PM]

The world is make up of cubes which gives it a very odd, almost Minecraft-like aesthetic. Which, depending on your age group, could be either a good thing or a bad thing.

[10:07 PM]

Other than that, the game has a very adorable chibi artstyle. I both love it and hate it.

[10:07 PM]

I love it because it really is adorable.

[10:08 PM]

I hate it because the story tries to take itself seriously but I just can;t get into it when everything is just so dang cute. Some of these story beats would have actually been pretty epic if everyone didn't have bobbleheads.

[10:09 PM]

And also

[10:09 PM]

Despite this

[10:09 PM]

Somehow

[10:10 PM]

Almost every female NPC manages to be thicc.

[10:11 PM]

I don't know how this art style manages to achieve this but I have yet to encounter an NPC who was anything less than an 8/10. FBI have mercy on me.....

[10:12 PM]

Gameplay is pretty simple. Attack and move around enough to try not to get hit.

[10:13 PM]

Each class has a multitude of skills but other than support skills, I found little reason to use anything other than whatever does the most damage.

[10:14 PM]

Heck, even if you run out of Spirit (This game's version of MP), it'll automatically use your normal attack until you recover enough to use the skill again. So you have no reason to not just spam your strongest skill for every fight.

[10:14 PM]

Literally just hold down the button and you win.

[10:17 PM]

Because of this, the game is pretty easy. I've been able to solo every single dungeon I've made it to so far. Although, it DOES get a little hard around the level 25 mark but its nothing you can't do solo. Bosses don't instantly recover health when you wipe so if you can get back to the fight before it fully recovers, you'll always be able to brute force it.

[10:18 PM]

There's also no death penalty.

[10:19 PM]

You get a debuff when you revive but from what I can see, it doesn't do anything. It doesn't lower your stats so its nothing like WoW's resurrection sickness. You're just as effective after death than you are before death.

[10:19 PM]

Also, here's a weird one.

[10:19 PM]

You don't die in this game.

[10:20 PM]

When you drop to 0 HP, instead of dying, a tombstone falls out of the sky and lands on you. Trapping you underneath.

[10:21 PM]

You're still 100% conscious, you're just buried alive. Which is horrifying and some would argue, is actually worse than death

[10:22 PM]

Like I said before, there's a little platforming here and there but once you get a flying mount, this is all pointless.

[10:23 PM]

Maybe getting from point A to Point B would actually be difficult if I wasn't allowed to just whip out my flying angel pig and hold onto its tail as it takes me across the chasm of what would have been a jumping puzzle.

[10:24 PM]

The lore is all over the place. There are knights, faeries and magic but also modernized cities with cars and snapback hats.

[10:25 PM]

I have no idea what's going on with that but what I DO know is that there are the most adorable little plant people called boroboros

[10:25 PM]

[10:25 PM]

[10:25 PM]

[10:25 PM]

[10:25 PM]

Look, at this picture (or 4) of perfection.

[10:26 PM]

I love everything about boroboros.

[10:26 PM]

I want to hug a boroboro, I want to own a boroboro, I want to BE a boroboro.

[10:27 PM]

And your first encounter with one of them is this little guy who slowly walks up to your knight companion and says in his tiny voice "Excuse me..."

[10:27 PM]

The most tragic thing about losing this gamer forever is that I'll never be able to see another boroboro for as long as I live.

[10:29 PM]

I've actually already created another fantasy race for my tapletop RPG games based on the boroboro just to fill the hole that the loss of these guys will bring in 3 days

[10:29 PM]

I really do just love these little guys that much.

[10:30 PM]

I mean, just look at him, isn't he the cutest thing ever? Well, other than my son, that is.

[10:32 PM]

But, the best feature that this game has is the ability to design your own clothing. You can take any image file you have on your computer and just slap it onto an article of clothing. Its a level of customization I've always wanted in video games and to this day, this is the only game to deliver on that. And we're losing it.

[10:33 PM]

I remember when this game first launched, seeing all the hilarious outfits people have made is what made me what to play this game in the first place.

[10:35 PM]

But the thing I'll miss the most actually isn't the boroboros or the player-made clothing. Its the title screen. I'll miss seeing this adorable baby duck holding a four leafed clover while having a picnic with his mushroom friend in the tree.

[10:35 PM]

[10:36 PM]

But I do understand WHY this game is shutting down. There is one last thing left to touch on and its by far the most depressing.

[10:36 PM]

I have never seen an MMO so empty.

[10:37 PM]

Out of the entire week, I can count the number of players I encountered on one hand.

[10:38 PM]

There are MMOs that are considered dead that I've played that were less empty than this. It was THAT barren.

[10:40 PM]

I give MapleStory 2 an F/10. It doesn't feel fair to give a score to something that won't even make it to the end of the week. I liked it but that doesn't mean much when the world has deemed it unfit to exist. It was charming, funny, cute and fun. And I'll miss it.

[10:40 PM]

[10:40 PM]

[10:40 PM]

[10:41 PM]

I'll miss my adorable edgelord assassin and his Anti-Normie cape. OH SHOOT! I just realized I never took a screenshot of my duck mount. Oh man, I wish I could show it to you guys. It's truly something glorious.

Lord DankerinoToday at 10:50 PM

Okay, you know what? Screw it. Here you go. No regrets. I even threw in my flying pig and some extras for good measure. But you won't be getting my tiny car mount from me!!

[10:50 PM]

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