Emerging from the deepest depths of Korea for European consumption in 2007, Maplestory is a massively popular MMORPG, with over fifty million players worldwide.Inspiring everything from Anime and fan art to a range of snacks. Whilst being extremely popular, the game is also very different from its online siblings, boasting unique visuals and side scrolling gameplay, while retaining many of the classic elements that make the genre so popular. With the recent release of the expansion pack, Knights of Cygnus, the time seemed right to look at what makes the game such a fan favourite.

After the initial, coma inducing tedium that comes with installing any downloadable PC game, it quickly becomes apparent that Maplestory is much more, and in some cases much less, than an ordinary MMORPG title. Visually the game looks like a cross between an upscale anime and the psychedelic imaginings of an overactive twelve year old splattered across the monitor. Colourful players roam across 2D backgrounds reminiscent of an early Megadrive title, interacting with surprisingly detailed characters and items, while a retro digital soundtrack will either serenade them or drive them insane. This style will instantly put a lot of more mature gamers off, but for those willing to look past Maplestory’s out of retirement presentation, a deep and engrossing MMORPG experience awaits.

The gameplay of Maplestory will feel familiar to anyone who has played an MMORPG before. Players choose from a host of different characters and skill types before going out into the world, in this case the “Mapleworld,” in search of gold and glory gained by taking on a variety of quests and bloodthirsty enemies. What makes Maplestory so unique within its genre, is the fresh way in which it approaches this core layout. Instead of simply choosing a characters’ class at the start of the game like many other MMORPGS, Maplestory has assigned each of its main towns with a class theme, which the player must then travel to in order gain the skills they desire. Not only does this concept encourage exploration of the games impressively sized world but dictates each towns theme, for example the warrior town is a harsh mountainous area which specialises in the sale of death dealing weaponry and armour.

Other aspects of the game will feel more familiar to seasoned veterans, with the gameplay quickly becoming the usual affair of taking on progressively more difficult quests in order to gain experience; money, (affectionately known as mesos), and notoriety. Players are able to join guilds in order to band together to tackle more difficult adversaries and complex quests, which encourages lengthy alliances and friendships between gamers, one of the most important aspects in a successful MMORPG experience. As well as this, the use of “special events,”( triggered by the Maplestory team themselves,) keeps gameplay fresh.  While the gameplay is both recognisable and enjoyable, Maplestory suffers from a desire to appeal to a large mainstream audience, making it all the more unappealing to mature loyal MMORPG gamers. Items and armour within the game suffer, from being tied too closely to its cute theme. What’s the point in buying a Viking helm and chainmail, which can make your girlfriend point out how cute your character is, when you want him to be a viscous, fear invoking killing machine? Other features, such as the in-game marriage and the inventory full of “stylish” clothes and accessories, will succeed in both sending some gamers back to Warcraft, while attracting many casual newcomers.

After almost five years since the games American release, the developers behind Maplestory have released the new expansion Knights of Cygnus, which sparked both resurgence in interest for the game and this very review. The expansion sees a new quest line added to the game, in which players must band together in order to aid the Goddess Cygnus in defeating the Black Wizard and saving the Mapleworld. To help gamers do this are the new items and, more importantly, character classes included in the expansion. While the quest itself is pretty straightforward and the new character classes are more developments on existing roles than entirely new ones, the release of an expansion pack this comprehensive shows how seriously the game is taken by its players and the developers themselves, as well as adding new life into an already almost infinite lifespan.

Whilst Maplestory is an enjoyable experience, it isn’t perfect. The games’ visuals and overall aesthetic can become over simplified and, in the case of the music, soul destroying. Combat is too simple and the sheer colour and cheeriness of the game can sometimes become tiresome. A lot of time has been spent to make the game appealing to the casual PC user, but this has scared away the rest of us gamers that like to dwell in our bedrooms for days on end exploring menus and inventories. Everything about the game seems to be designed with those new to the genre in mind, from the comprehensive help on the games website, to the simple and easy to understand layout of the in game features. If you’re a level seventy Orc on Warcraft this isn’t the game for you, however it may be the game to show your girlfriend how much fun MMORPGS can be, or at least keep her occupied with the vibrant colours.

Maplestory’s ability to appeal to a mass audience and bring fresh life into a previously elitist genre should be commended. While some may criticise the games presentation and simple gameplay, anything that can make MMORPGS more hip and widespread is a good thing for gaming as a whole. So if you’re curious about MMORPGS and have an open mind, then download your free copy of the game, get set up, get involved, and see what all this MMORPG fuss is about.

Overall rating: 7.5/10 A decent title that's definantly worth a look for those new to the genre or veterans after a new challenge.