Recent reviews by 『 Kuma 』

Worth every cent if you like turn-based RPG and buy it discounted.

This game is from 2016, so 8 years old already. I always skipped it on the front page because it didn't seem attractive. But now I regret not having tried it sooner. I personally find it really fun and challenging due to RNG. (Even picked up DD2 because it's apparently totally different)

• Very RNG-heavy which makes it challenging (but rage-inducing for impatient kids)
  
• Very rewarding when you slowly figure things out and see progress
  
• Frustrating if your roster gets wiped out
  
• Funny to see the characters going insane/desperate and pissing at each other's legs while you beg them to get along and ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ focus on attacking
  
• 25 hours in and I'm still crawling around in lvl 1 dungeons, can probably sink 100+ hours into this game
  
• Bought at a 85% discount for 3,67€, so definitely worth the money
  
• Character interactions/dialogue are quite nice but apparently better in DD2

I've played this game since 2004, on and off with breaks in-between. It is one of the first F2P MMOs and still going strong with updates every 3 months for the past 21 years (Korean version), offering players one of the best 2D side-scrolling graphics and music, while other MMOs shut down.

Updated 29/11/2024:

Is this game a good MMO?
Honestly, no. It's multiplayer, yes and you do some bossing with players but other than that, it's mostly a solo-grind heavy game like 90% of it. People only socialize on discord nowadays. This game used to be very co-op friendly but Nexon keeps pushing it into a very anti-social solo experience. If you want to play this game but with party-play an social interactions then check-out Maplestory Worlds which is basically their modern vanilla version of this game.

Is it a good RPG?
Yes, definitely. You have over 48 classes to choose from, it's an open world, has lots of quests (but they give useless exp and rewards), and really beautiful OSTs. The graphics are a mix of old assets and up-to-date pixels. It's a very beautiful 2D-side scroller and I can only recommend checking it out for a month. There's a reason why this game is still alive and getting updated.

Does it have a good publisher?
Not so much. There's lots of microtransactions to lure players to spend BUT you can go completely F2P and still get cosmetics, pets and stuff. Often times, Nexon or specifically the Korean director will try to push horrible changes which causes player boycotts and review bombing BUT sometimes they do listen and try to backpaddle or find a middle ground.

• Yes, it has a lot of bugs that need to be constantly fixed, this is a game from 2003 after all. Just like League of Legends and any other old online game has crappy coding.
  
• If you play this game for fun and only as a hobby without getting too invested then you will enjoy it.
  
• Reaching late and end-game requires lots of dedication and frustration since it involves daily tasks that can take up to 2-3 hours minimum. Beating end-game bosses will require you to pour at least 2 years (if not more) into a single character.
  
• There's barely any multiplayer and party support left in the game since it changed from the way it used to be. The game is more catered towards solo progression so if you're looking to party up with friends then this is not the right game or try out Maplestory Worlds.
  
• There are servers that are P2W and ones that let you progress F2P in exchange for demanding a lot of time.
  
• The game still has a fairly big and active playerbase if you play Reboot NA (Kronos) to the point that the servers can't handle the amount of players during peak hours and big events.
  
• The game is still constantly receiving updates and a ton of events with Nexon reworking older classes and releasing even more than 40+ classes.
  
• There's a lot of character customization and cosmetics.
  
• There are catch-up events for new and returning players so they can reach mid to late-game.

No, seriously.

• You have your house and your characters in the beginning
• Your neighbourhood consists of different locations where you can visit/scavenge
• Your characters annoy you by demanding food, sleep, consumables and blabla
• They get soooo depressed and sad when they get into a fight
• You have neighbours little buggers knocking on your door

Summary:
This War of Mine isn't only about the war in the game but it also has a double meaning, referring to the internal struggle of the player to make decisions. It is a really nice game. I've spent roughly 30 hours to reach the end and it was my second try. None of my survivors died and the only times I really struggled was winter and the military outpost.
I loved the different scenarios like saving the girl in the supermarket or the two women trapped in the basement. There were a couple of others which were really nice and that's really something I have to highlight.

It's always difficult to start out but once you get hold of the right tools and weapons, it's really easy. At some point a bit too easy. After killing some bandits and soldiers I was actually looking forward to killing more bad guys and thankfully I didn't end up harming innocent people out of boredom. Kinda scary there.
Unfortunately some locations are locked for some characters so you have to replay the story with other characters to unlock different locations with different scenarios which is kinda a plus regarding the playtime but overall, I wouldn't complete the stories more than twice.

Was it worth the money?
Hm, difficult to say. The graphics, scenarios and interactions are really awesome but I expected the game to be longer. Perhaps if they'll add more characters, locations, scenarios and interactions in the future then YES but considering you can have a bunch of better games for less money then NO. I bought this game when it was discounted and roughly $14. I wouldn't recommend buying it for more than $10 unless you want to support the game and its developers.

Definitely worth installing!

Not only is it free but also really addictive, epsecially if you play with friends or if you get the hang of it.
Teaming up can be hard but it's always fun to see how well you can work together with randomers. Priceless chats.

Don't take it too serious and just have fun. It's one of the most hilarious Steam games for a reason. x3

Nostalgia all over again...

One of the most epic and well-known parts of the Final Fantasy series, a true masterpiece. This game may not be up to date and it certainly cannot beat what games nowadays can offer you but it is an important piece of gaming history. Something for old and new gamers.

For new players it is recommended to go into this game without any expectations in order to fully understand the story and let yourself get sucked into it.
For veteran players, well... you know why the money you've spent is worth every cent and with the Steam achievements you can at the same time reward yourself for your hard work.

My advice:

Buy the game if
- you want to play one of the most influential games from the Playstation 1
- love RPG games
- love dramatic storylines
- just want to try something fun
- you are a Final Fantasy fan
- want to relive your childhood memories

I've played this game 7 years ago and I'm really happy that I was able to get a hold of it again. The graphics are slightly better than back on the Playstation 1. Even tho it might look the same, it has a slightly better resolution.