MapleStory 2 is a downloadable MMORPG, available on PC and was originally released in Korea on the 7th July 2015 but has only just come out worldwide on the 4th October 2018. Developed by Nexon Korea Corporation, the same team behind the original MapleStory and Counter-Strike Nexon: Zombies. By creating a cute, chibi-like character, you’ll be exploring the world, a vast number of dungeons, and acquiring new gear with each successful dungeon run and raid you decide to opt-in for.
How to Download MapleStory 2
You can get MapleStory 2 by downloading the Nexon Launcher. To do that click on the Download button at the end of the review. The game can be also downloaded from Steam.
The Game Review
Since the game has no real story, we’ll move straight onto the visuals. In terms of visuals, the game is designed with a very bright and vibrant pallet that is considered a feast for the eyes. Every character and NPC you encounter is wholly unique and doesn’t ever seem to have a single dark color attached to their clothing. The game wants you to enjoy the bright, colorful nature of its environments and characters and manages to do exactly that with ease.
The Game Mechanics
Unlike the original MapleStory that was a 2D side-scrolling MMORPG, MapleStory 2 is in actual fact more of a 3D action-RPG, where you move around the area of your own free accord, dodging and avoiding any attacks that come your way.
You can choose to simply basic attack an enemy, but as you develop your character more and more, you’re provided with a number of different hot-bar abilities to keep your enemies on edge. Combat doesn’t end until you’ve killed the thing you’ve set out to defeat, but you’re free to run away from it, providing you feel as if you don’t want to fight it anymore. As with many other MMO’s, by completing quests and defeating enemies, you’ll start to level up and will allow you to improve your class and character as you go along.
MapleStory 2 Classes
There are a number of different classes to pick and choose from, with some being melee and with others being focused on range instead. They are:
- Archer who uses primarily agility and their bow and arrows
- Assassin who uses luck together with their throwing knives
- Berserker who relies on strength to carry two-handed swords
- Heavy Gunner with agility based cannon attacks
- Knight who uses strength ti fight with their sword and shield
- Priest who employs intelligence to wield a scepter and use their spellbook
- Runeblade (a melee mystic might class with primary attribute of strength, and the primary weapon of two-handed bladed)
- Thief who relies on luck to use their daggers
- and Wizard with high intelligence and their mighty staff as a weapon
The Gear
Similar to the previous game, you can acquire different equipment and loot to improve your character and make some money on the side as well. A new inclusion for the series is fishing, which does, in fact, give your character some experience and can be done automatically and consistently for hours on end to acquire more and more experience for your character, without requiring any effort on your part.
There’s even a new option to purchase blocks and furniture to create your own house, giving you the opportunity to decorate it and design it as you please, with almost no restrictions on your part. Outside of pure bragging rights and showing it off to other players, it’s really only a fun thing to play around with.
Other Games, similar to MapleStory 2
In terms of comparisons, MapleStory 2 does take a lot from the original MapleStory, but its design choices in terms of combat are similar to 3D anime MMORPG’s, such as SoulWorker. The building mechanics, on the other hand, are reminiscent of something like Minecraft, especially in terms of the visuals, as a lot of the environments are designed purely out of these 3D blocks.
The Bottom Line
Anyone that’s looking for a great new MMORPG to sink their teeth into, without having to worry too much about the P2W nature of it all are going to enjoy what MapleStory 2 has to offer. It may be very different in comparison to the original, but it’s a nice change that keeps the series fresh for the player.
