Few people can deny that the original MapleStory had a decent number of die-hard fans who loved the gameplay, artwork, and community established by Nexon. Recently, MapleStory 2 launched and while it wasn’t a major commercial success, those who have grabbed the game absolutely love it. It’s rare for a sequel of a game that’s around 15 years old to find love in the review space from actual fans of the brand, but MapleStory 2 has done a stellar job at delivering a polished MMORPG that, while aimed at people around the age of 20, is still accessible and enjoyable to pretty much anyone.
Few can deny that MapleStory 2 has a big appeal to people who love anime, indulge in the odd adult sex game from time to time and want a casual title they can play for fun that doesn’t require hardcore grinding in order to be enjoyable. The customization is clearly a major selling point of MapleStory 2, and the social aspect of the game is just as important as the gameplay itself. Take selfies, try on different outfits and interact with a huge range of emotes with the people around you – equal parts MMO and social network is the best way to think about this title!
MapleStory 2 is currently sitting on 131 reviews over at Steam, with a 83% positive feedback rate: compare this to other titles in the MMORPG space on Steam like Black Desert Online (64% positive feedback), ARK: Survival Evolved (68% positive feedback) and Bless Online (44% positive feedback) – it’s quite clear that MapleStory 2 has done a pretty good job of delivering an MMORPG in an insanely hostile environment where young people are unable to relive their teenage days of playing World of Warcraft all summer long. For many, the best part about MapleStory 2 is that it’s not a pay to win title – everyone has an equal footing and purchases are mainly limited to cosmetics and other quality of life improvements.
So the question becomes – should I purchase MapleStory 2? Well there’s not much point right now, seeing as the game is going to go free to play in just a few days! Early access is offered on Steam at three price points of $24.99, $59.99 and $99.99, although these aren’t required to be purchased when the game releases as a fully free-to-play title on October the 10th. No doubt that the lack of pay to win, zero-dollar price tag and polished final product will bump up the number of positive reviews on MapleStory 2 even higher.
For a niche game in a genre dominated by lackluster final products, MapleStory 2 is a top choice for people that want a casual MMORPG. Our advice: wait a few days and download this game for free – if you like it, stick around and be consumed by the community. It’s fun, engaging and best of all, it has a user base that doesn’t constantly complain about the developers or choices made by the publishers.
