Dungeon Runners E3 Review - NCsoft

Dungeon Runners is a completely new take on MMORPGs as we, as a collective group of gamers, know it… yet at the same time it holds onto such an addictive Diablo-esque feel you can’t help but want to keep playing. Dungeon Runners combined with Exteel (another up coming NCsoft title) represent a new business model for MMORPGs. Guildwars entered the scene experimenting with the no subscription rate model. Dungeon Runners and Exteel will enter representing the next step in NCsoft’s experimental ever evolving business model. Dungeon Runners and Exteel are completely free to download and completely free to play. There is absolutely no cost involved in being able to play a complete version of this game. Instead, later in the games release, NCsoft will open up expansions to the content; armor, weapons, dungeons, skills etc… Expansions will be the only thing about Dungeon Runners that you will need to pay for. Add content as quickly as they can make it or pick and choose to get exactly what you want. Even as a paying customer you will still be able to play with all the gamers who are non-paying. This may not include new explore-able areas and dungeons but you can at least revisit the originals that everyone is playing on and make them drool over all your crazy gear.

Graphics

The graphics for Dungeon Runners are superb. Close attention to detail really shows itself in graphic elements such as; the tall grass only moving as you or monsters pass through it. Armor and weapons look drastically different from each other and the scenery is highly detailed. In fact, when you read more about Dungeon Runners in my Gameplay section you’ll learn why this is even more of an amazing feat than at first appearances…

Questing

The questing in Dungeon Runners is very intuitive with symbols over NPC heads depicting they would like to speak with you. The quests prominently display the area in which they should be completed and notifications for completing goals popup to let you know you’re on the right track.

With not too much time behind the wheel it’s difficult to say how much variety there is in quest types but we’ll keep you informed as we learn more.

Gameplay

This game is a blast to play. This aptly named game will have you tearing through dungeons in no time. As soon as you sit down at the keyboard you immediately begin having fun. The gameplay focuses in on killing lots of enemies at all times with spells, swords, pole arms, and gargantuan oversized two handed weapons to constantly be using.

An active combat system brings you back to the dungeon crawling days of Diablo and with so many mobs dying you’ve got tons of loot flying forth from monsters in all directions. Loot in this game is huge and definitely works to separate your character out from the crowd as well as deal significantly more damage to enemies. As you play through you will find drops which are for levels above you, giving you a solid reason to want to continue to level since you will have gear ready to equip.

The dungeons are a ton of fun and are completely random maps! Every time you enter any dungeon in the game the terrain and mobs will be completely different. This is a huge bonus to replay-ability ensuring you’ll still have a great time reentering dungeons you may have already conquered.

Character Progression

Character Progression in Dungeon Runners is handled in a number of different ways; attributes, skills, and gear all play large roles in advancing through the game. The most noticeable of which being skills and gear. Every level gained in Dungeon Runners will allow you to work up skills both active and passive and the benefits are immediately realized. Some passive skills may increase your damage output by 10% each level! That is monstrous and definitely gives you the feeling you are well on your way to becoming a godlike character. Defense may even be increased the same way, in some cases boosting your defense buy up to 25% per level.

In Dungeon Runners you will really feel each level. Unlike many other games where you work 5 hours for a level only to gain a 2% damage output change. This makes the game even more addictive to play. Plan on spending many long nights on this title when you get your hands on it.

Gear

Gear is massive in this game and probably the single most important thing to improving your character over time. The weapons you will find throughout the game will significantly increase your damage just as the armor will drastically improve your defense. Finding loot is as easy as killing the two bazillion mobs that will come at you and making a clean sweep of the floor once you’re done with the slaughter fest.

Drops are also handled with both prefixes and suffixes and may also have random stats. For example two swords may have no prefix or suffix but one may do 12 – 18 damage while the other may do 12 – 20. This could keep you searching for days, weeks, or even months at the higher levels to find exactly what you are looking for.

In addition, all vendor items are player provided. Meaning you will be able to find hand-me-downs from the higher level characters dropping their gear for resale at the vendors. With Dungeon Runners being free to download and free to play we definitely don’t expect there to be a problem keeping the vendors stocked up on lots of goodies.

Overall

Overall Dungeon Runners looks to be an amazing title at a very attractive price, FREE! A highly additive title right from the start with a ton of gameplay available right out of the box (or install files in this case). This is a title you will definitely want to install and check out and it isn’t going to cost you a dime. Even if Dungeon Runners was going to cost you the standard $50 to purchase it would still be a title worth picking up. If you are an old Diablo fan then you definitely won’t want to miss this game. In fact you can even hop over to the Official Site and Register for the Beta!