Ragnarok Online
One of the longest-running MMORPGs is this sprite-based game by South Korean company, Gravity. Released in 2002, it quickly became a worldwide hit spreading across continents, from kRO in Korea on 31st August, 2002, to jRO in Japan on 1st December 2002, to the international server iRO in 2003, to pRO in the Philippines in 2004, and fRO in France in 2007.
After the release of the eAthena, private servers sprouted like mushrooms all around the globe, giving ordinary players the chance to build their own servers and be their own game masters.
Unlike recent MMOs that present a linear story wherein you are the “Chosen One”, Ragnarok Online gives players absolute freedom in their role-plays. The game does not present a “main quest” and neither does it have a full story. Instead, new locations–each with their own backstory–are added, together with monsters, items, and features, in each new episode (or patch).
In the game, you start as a Novice and upon reaching level 10, you can choose a job and complete its corresponding quest. Reaching job level 40 grants you the power to change into a 2nd job, and so on…
What I like most about Ragnarok Online, aside from the freedom it offers, is the abundance of profound stories that lay beneath each quest. Some of these are so intricately interwoven that some really patient people have spent countless hours trying to put things together.
(Lore): The Rekenber corporation, Biolabs, Thanatos Tower – iRO Wiki (Lore): The Rekenber corporation, Biolabs, Thanatos Tower General
RAN Online
You are the one of few hopes, who can bring our new future. You have to join the one of SFG (Saint Foundation Group) institutes to find out the truth, and to fight against the desperate reality…
South Korean game company Min Communications launched this game in 2004, giving MMORPG fans the chance to live as martial arts students fighting against a dark prophecy in their school uniforms.
Players take on the role of students in one of three rival universities (Sacred Gate, Phoenix and Mystic Pea) and must compete with one another while surviving on campuses filled with possessed enemies. There are four classes to choose from: Swordsman, Archer, Shaman and Brawler. Each class has its very own special trait.
Playing on a low-spec computer in the summer of 2009, RAN Online’s very low system requirements despite its 3D graphics made me enjoy this game for a while.
Cabal Online
Cabal Online was published by South Korean game company ESTsoft Corp. in October 2005. It features PvE and PvP, as well as instance dungeons and guild wars.
Long ago, the CABAL cleansed the land with fury and destruction. Amidst the needless devastation, seven great masters of Force Power led the remaining survivors to rebuild. Now, almost a thousand years later, the CABAL are puppeteering the evil again, breeding a child to be king and once again cleanse the land. It is up to you to face the invaders of Nevareth and uncover the conspiracy behind it…
Perfect World
This Chinese mythology-based game was created by a Chinese company of the same name. Boasting majestic graphics, countless quests, marriage and flight systems, territory wars, and a huge map, Perfect World continues to be a fan favourite even after 11 years!
Story Background – Pwpedia Below are the background stories for Perfect World and its various expansions. You can find out the dates for the expansions, along with links to their patch notes, expansion pages, and short lists of what was added in each the expansions on the Expansions page.
This game is one of the most fashionable ones! Numerous clothing items are available to make your character as hip as possible!
FlyFF
Fly For Fun was made available by South Korean game publisher, Gala Lab. As the title suggests, flying is one of its best features as it gives players the chance to delight in its vast environment on your way to your next destination.
A cutesy MMORPG, it also includes pet-raising, couple, and mentor-pupil systems aside from the usual PvP and guild wars.
When I was playing this game, I took pleasure in battling massive monsters with my chibi (teeny-tiny) character. It may seem ironic–but it gives meaning to the expression, “small but terrible”.
And… there you have it! Which of these games did you enjoy the most? Did this list remind you of your favourite oldies-but-goodies? Let us know and we’ll include it in a part 2!