xbH

Make no mistake: this game is exceptional. The world is vast and beautiful, the music is sumptuous, and the gameplay is fast-paced and addictive (in the best possible way). The passionate artistic teams have delivered a true gem here. HOWEVER, the corporate machine that is NCSoft has tainted this work of art with every conceivable addictive mechanic—it becomes truly sickening over time. I personally spent about sixty hours of pure enjoyment, reaching an item level of 1600, only to hit a brick wall: a system of monetization, daily quotas, and content deliberately designed to drain your energy, your time, and your money. NCSoft, back in the day, I played *Lineage 2* and the original *Aion* (2009)—monumental titles in the world of video games and online multiplayer. But if all you have to offer today is a casino disguised as an MMO, then I’m out. My advice if you want to give it a try: "Play for free just for the fun of it, and stop the moment you feel like getting your credit card out. It is where the real game/nightmare begins."