Smilegate's NEW MMORPG - Lord Nine

Introduction

Overview

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to my first impressions of Smilegate's latest MMORPG, Lord Nine. Initially, I had high hopes for this game, especially considering its massive hype in Korea and the involvement of big-time creators. Let's dive into my detailed first impressions of the game and see if it lives up to the excitement generated in Korea.

First Impressions

Visuals and Presentation

Upon launching the game, the graphics are undoubtedly impressive. Despite being a cross-platform mobile game, the character models and weapon concepts are visually striking. The cutscenes are in Chinese, which is a bit surprising given that it's a KR (Korean) game, and it can throw you off if you were expecting it to be in Korean.

Character Creation

The game offers a solid character creation system with attractive presets for both male and female characters. The models are quite appealing, and the customization options, like hair and eyes, are decently varied. I ended up creating a female character with a great outfit that surprisingly looked better than many costumes from other games.

Gameplay and Controls

Combat

The combat system revealed some flaws early on. The movement feels clunky and somewhat tile-based. The game features different weapons, including sword and shield, staff, and two-handed great swords, among others. I ended up choosing the sword and shield, although the auto-attack combat made it feel static and underwhelming.

Overall Experience

The game's user interface (UI) is very mobile-centric, which detracts from the PC gaming experience. The auto-combat feature is heavily emphasized, which can be a turn-off for players looking for a more engaging combat system.

Monetization

The monetization strategy of Lord Nine appears predatory. The game includes gacha mechanics with excessively high rates for legendary items, costing upwards of $ 30,000 USD for a single legendary pull, which is highly discouraging.

Skins and Costumes

The game’s skins and costumes are undeniably attractive and offer significant stat boosts, which raises the issue of pay-to-win mechanics. The costumes look fantastic visually but come with a hefty price tag.

Conclusion

Lord Nine is primarily a mobile game with cross-platform functionality. Its beautiful graphics and character design are overshadowed by clunky movement and unengaging auto-combat. The monetization model, with its predatory gacha mechanics, is a significant letdown. While it offers an idle playstyle suited to mobile devices, it falls short for those looking for a substantial PC gaming experience.

Keywords

Smilegate
Lord Nine
MMORPG
First Impressions
Cross-platform
Mobile Game
Auto-combat
Graphics
Character Creation
Monetization
Gacha Mechanics

FAQ

Q: What platforms is Lord Nine available on? A: Lord Nine is available on both PC and mobile platforms.

Q: Is the game primarily designed for mobile or PC? A: The game is heavily designed for mobile, with cross-platform capabilities, but it does not translate well to PC in terms of user interface and gameplay experience.

Q: How is the combat system in Lord Nine? A: The combat system is auto-attack based and feels static and clunky, which may not appeal to players looking for an engaging combat experience.

Q: What about the game’s graphics? A: The graphics in Lord Nine are visually impressive and well-designed, especially for a mobile game, with detailed character models and attractive presets.

Q: How is the monetization in Lord Nine? A: The monetization is considered predatory, with gacha mechanics requiring significant amounts of money to obtain high-tier items, which introduces pay-to-win elements.

Q: Are the skins and costumes just for aesthetics? A: No, the skins and costumes in Lord Nine offer substantial stat boosts which can heavily impact gameplay.

Q: Is Lord Nine worth playing on PC? A: For players looking for a PC-focused MMORPG experience, Lord Nine might not meet expectations due to its mobile-centric design and auto-combat mechanics.