2Moons Review

by Mary Garcia, Onrpg writer



2Moons is a free-to-play MMORPG by Acclaim. It is based on the Korean game Dekaron. Instead of translating and directly porting Dekaron, Acclaim instead reworked the game to suit a US release. Originally announced for US release in 2006, 2Moons is currently still in open-beta phase, with an official launch date unknown. 2Moons tagline is “No mercy for the weak, no pity for the dying, no tears for the slain”. And it indeed lives up to this.



Gameplay:

2Moons is a free MMO to play. However, unlike similar free MMOs, Acclaim has decided to take the marketing model one step further. Aside from the 2Moons shop, where you can purchase game items such as coins for potions and costumes for your character, you have the option of turning off the in-game advertising at the cost of slower leveling speed.



New players can choose between six jobs; Azure Knight, Hunter, Incar Magician, Vicious Summoner, Segnale or Bagi Warrior. The controls were somewhat easy to use, though using the mouse initially annoyed me. Luckily there is easy customization of these controls as well as keyboard shortcuts to help navigate around the game.



2Moons is heavily focused on its violence aspect. PK (player killing) and PvP pretty much rule here, living up to its tagline of “No mercy for the weak, no pity for the dying.” Players may feel frustrated at the rampant PK that goes on while they are exploring or leveling up. Quests are also scarce, and players are met with cheerful profanity from the NPCs in town. The storyline is also lacking. The majority of the game’s plot is what is written on the 2Moons website. With the focus being heavily on violence and mass killings, it may be a turn-off for those that enjoy questing or otherwise leveling up without being bothered.



Bots have also made their way into this game, like so many other MMOs. The spam bots in the towns spam frequently enough to where you have to leave the main part of the town just to chat. The higher level bots are well equipped and PK players or otherwise grief them. This can be frustrating since it is very difficult to kill them and remove them from the area.



Graphics:

2Moon’s overall look is dark and foreboding, which fits the nature of this game well. Bright happy colors are rarely used. The graphics are also semi-dated, but that doesn’t take away from enjoying the visual fights.



There isn’t much in the way of character customization save for costumes, which can be purchased at the 2Moons shop. Without costumes, the characters look similar. You are also limited to a specific gender based on what job you choose to play.



Overall:
If you’re into mass killings and violence, then this game is definitely worth a try. If you’re the casual gamer type who is into questing and engaging storylines, it may not be as enjoyable.



Pros:

-Free to play

-Controls are easy to learn; keyboard shortcuts are also convenient

-Graphics are rich despite being semi-dated



Cons:

-PK may be frustrating to casual gamers who aren’t into that aspect of MMO gaming

-Characters tend to look the same without purchasing a costume

-Bots that grief players