THE GAME IS CUTE, BUT WHERE DID THE PROMISE GO?
Game: Wonderers: Eternal World
Platform: Mobile & PC
Genre: Casual Action / MMORPG / Free to Play
Overview
Having a game like this that is on the same visual scale as a game like MapleStory 2 (may it rest in peace) is an intriguing concept. That will undoubtedly capture the interest of a great number of casual players who are trying to have some fun but are not looking for a great deal of actual in-depth lore or any other element that one would look for in a MMORPG that can make many feel a bit puzzled or even lost.
Wanderers: Eternal World appears to be a great adventure in every sense of the word, including the name, the visuals, and the trailer. However, when you take the time to sit down and actually take in what this game is in its current condition, you will find that it represents an unfortunate failure. Unless this is just some side-test of different features, but it really just feels like they stripped the game down a lot.
It's possible that the developers did not launch the game; it's possible that it was an error; neither of these explanations makes any sense when they refer to it as the official release of the game, rather than a beta or a test, when it is exactly that.
Issues
There are so many of them, ranging from the misleading trailer visuals and content to the assertion that this is an Open World, when in reality it is a small testing area with very little to actually do. It is aa poorly done and sometimes enjoyable dungeon crawler with terrible connectivity to player against player. It is possible that you may successfully complete a full clear of a dungeon, only to discover that you have not gained any currency and ultimately wasted your time.
You may have purchased an item from the shop, only to discover that it has been removed from your inventory. As I continued to run into problem after problem, including imbalanced combat, janky controls, and a great deal more, I found myself frustrated for 4 hours straight, hoping that this wasn't all that there was to experience.
Unfortunately my fears were realized, we were lied to.
Graphics & Presentation
I really like and wish to appreciate the visuals, it seemed as though they made the decision to depart from the initial concept of a cell-shaded and extremely attractive design for their characters. They are still appealing, but I would have appreciated seeing a little bit more detail and more ability to customize characters.
I had every expectation that there would be some kind of open world portion, even if it was only a desolate field with a few creatures or activities to participate in or something like that. However, the entire time I was trapped inside of a cage, and there was no way out of the situation besides dungeons or pvp.
I have to say that this is without a doubt one of the most disheartening first impressions I have witnessed in a considerable amount of time, not even mentioning the very poorly added in AI generated voice acting which felt like the cherry on top.
Gameplay
Before you start witnessing all of the problems, such as the creatures attacking you before you even spawn in and dying because the controls got frozen before you could initiate a dodge, the gameplay is actually really enjoyable when it actually works, but once you start noticing all of the flaws, it becomes very frustrating to play.
I got lucky and was able to get (2) legendary artifacts that allowed me to one shot everything and just finish the level. The balance is just too poor. On the other hand, even if you had those boosts, everything can still stun you or kill you instantly if you were not too careful or just played a melee class as they are rather frail.
Conclusion
Everything is staring me right in the face and the problems inevitable, I can't see myself ever recommending this game to anyone until I see what was promised in their marketing efforts. I truly want to like it, but I can't see myself doing so until they produce what they have promised. Open world, more content, no more bugs, items appearing after purchase, rewards being distributed, etc.
It makes sense that this is an attempt to be a casual game. Considering everything that has gone wrong, I have a strong skepticism that this will ever become a reality. It really could have been the successor for MapleStory 2, but it is highly unlikely.
Mentioned games
