Maplestory 2 is the sequel to the original Maplestory MMO. However, instead of going with the first game’s 2D graphics, it went with a Minecraft-like 3D voxel world. Much of the well-loved characters and locations from the older game still make an appearance in this game, so there’s definitely something in it to tickle old fans’ fancy.
While Maplestory 2 fosters cooperation and teamwork in-game, there is a host of things you can do solo. You can, for instance, gather Maplestory 2 Mesos, buy and decorate your own home, perform in towns, or go exploring. That’s on top of all the questing and raids available to players. Still, it begs the question, is it worth playing?
To answer that question, we’ll be taking a look at the game’s many facets, ranging from the good, the not-so-good, right to the downright bad.
The Good
Content
Reinforcing what’s been said, there’s a whole universe’s worth of things to do in this game. There’s the staple main quest, raids, and dungeons. Then, on the side of extra features, there’s player housing, minigames in the arcade, a veritable ton of collectibles, and exploration to do. If you’re more of a social gamer, there are community-wide events once in a while, and you can even visit a friend’s house and mess around. Not to mention there are life skills to master as well. What’s even better is that a majority of the collectibles can be acquired without the use of real money.
You’ll never be bored with all the things you can do in Maplestory 2!
Combat
Combat is smooth and surprisingly fun. It’s fast-paced, owing to the quick skill cooldown across the board. Fighting is also quite easy to pick up, yet can still be complex with the number of combos and strategies available. It’s also quite adaptable to the player’s preferences, as casual players often play differently from hardcore ones.
Having a good combat system does much to alleviate boredom, as it is something you’re going to do often.
The Okay
Story
It all began when sister gods made the Maple World. The Goddess of Light loved their creation so much, she prevented her sister from coming into the world they created. Angered by the declaration and fearing imbalance, the Goddess of Darkness declared war on her counterpart.
It was a long, hard fight, with the Goddess of Light ultimately triumphing over her sister. However, the defeated goddess was able to release her power before her defeat, corrupting the once pure world. Unwilling to see the destruction of her beloved creation, the surviving sister sacrificed herself to save it. She succeeded for the most part, but the darkness wasn’t completely erased.
Empress Ereve, formed from the light goddess’s remnants, found and gathered seven heroes to fight the corruption. They found that they couldn’t stop the darkness, so the empress and her sages created three relics. With the powers over time, space, and light in hand, the empress tried a purification rite to end the darkness once and for all. However, it didn’t work as intended. The relics were able to protect the world, but the sages were corrupted by the darkness. The ritual site was also deemed a no man’s land where none should tread.
Two heroes journeyed in anyway, to free the people trapped in there, and to complete the ritual. They did, at the cost of their lives. Peace ruled the land, but the darkness started to stir once again.
While the story seems like something clichéd and usual, it’s a good starting point even for players who didn’t play the first game. You’re also going to end up doing it, because at the moment, doing the main quest is the best way to level up. It’s up to player preference though, which is why it’s on the ‘okay’ section.
The Bad
Some Pay to Win Aspects
Nexon has a rather notorious reputation of using the pay-to-win model for most of their MMOs. Unfortunately, Maplestory 2 is not an exception. Though maybe not as blatant as other games, it does have a pay to win aspect in the ease and convenience of grinding. You can clear the main quests and several dungeons without spending a single cent of your savings, but you’ll have to grind it out in a considerably slower pace than those who do. Ultimately, it’s not a big deal if you’re there to enjoy the game anyway.
The UI
It’s a little clunky and takes up much of the screen. If you’re a fan of smooth, minimalist UIs this is a big letdown. It could be mitigated by screen resolution, but then again, that depends on your rig. Not as big as being pay to win, yet it’s something that could keep some people from playing the game.
The Conclusion
MapleStory 2 does have more good stuff than bad ones, but if you’re looking for a more serious game to play, this probably isn’t it. It’s more of a casual game you can pick up and stop anytime. There’s a bunch of content you can go through at your own pace.
So is it worth playing? Yes, if you’re looking for a light-hearted MMO that still offers sufficient challenge to progress. It’s also good to play with friends. You’re not even going to have trouble making them join, since it’s free to play, and has low requirements for PCs.
Summary: A list of pros, cons, and the in-between to answer the question “Is Maplestory 2 worth playing?”.It’s a game with a wide variety of content, from farming Maplestory 2 Mesos to running 10-man raids. Combat is also good, but it has some pay to win aspects that may put some off of this game.
