#ftpb

Platform: PC

Plot: Changes from year to year, but in its essence - beat up monsters and do quests.

Literacy Level: Must be a reader to play

Difficulty: Safely incremental

Aesthetic: Retro-pixel meets cartoony SD-manga cuteness. Large heads abound.

Irritations: They try to get you to buy bonus items at every single turn!

Bonuses: No bonuses given during gameplay

Maplestory is a side-scrolling MMORPG with its essence on the fighting rather than the role-playing part of "RPG". As with most MMORPGs these days, the game makers/parent company makes all its money from selling bonus items for real cash. It's possible to play without the bonus items, but after a while, it becomes a bit of a drag.

Pets are the most game-useful paid bonus item, as you can also purchase accessories that allow the pet to fetch coins and items for you, or help you use your mana/health pots when needed.

I am a straight-up sucker for the old jump-and-die style videogame, so Maplestory appealed to me on a nostalgic level long before I realised it was out to suck every last cent from my wallet. Those with constrained budgets - beware!

As far as gameplay is concerned, there is the violence of beating monsters up, but there is a distinct lack of gore that will appeal to the sensitive. Defeated monsters vanish from view and leave behind loot. That said, it IS a MMORPG. Other players will be the influence to watch out for.