Review: RF Online
RF Online may not really compare to World of Warcraft or Final Fantasy XI, but it offers its own dose of unique gameplay.
With the onslaught of MMORPGs that are available, the average MMO fan might be lost in a daze. RF Online's release might not ease the pains of a purchasing decision, but it definitely stands out as an MMO.
Not Just Another MMORPG...
RF Online seems like just another MMORPG, but it should be more aptly labeled as a Massively Multiplayer Online PvP game, similar to Guild Wars, except instead of individually attacking each other, RF Online promotes unity within your race of choice and attacks against other races for victory. There are three races available for your satisfaction, and each race fulfills a different aspect of power.
The Accretia is the robot race, made for melee. At level 30, Accretia henchmen will have the ability to transform into siege tanks and blast other players away, reminiscent of Starcraft's siege tanks. The Cora is the mystical, elf-like race, probably best for spellcasting and ranged classes. The Bellatio is the kid-like race, full of intelligence and engineering skills. They are best suited for those who really want to use mechs at level 30.
Grinding Is For Coffee Machines
In the beginning, players are faced with relatively easy leveling; with some knowledge and ease, getting to level 10 could easily consume your first night playing. The speed at which players kill low-level monsters and level up is based on how many health potions they can manage to afford. Healing is substituted as potions in RF online; subsequently, support classes are not available in this game, such as healers and buffers.
Nonetheless, grinding seems to be the dismal reality for the beginning stages of RF Online. For those who are used to the interface of World of Warcraft, where leveling is smooth and quick in the early stages, RF Online will seem like a disappointment. Other players, however, might find that grinding is a necessity; it reflects the true dynamics of the game. A character's general level is, in the classical sense, only reflective of one part of how powerful he or she is. A refreshing aspect of RF online is a built-in system to stop players from "Power leveling.... In addition to the overall level, there other aspects of your character to level; for example, if a character was in a melee class, he or she would have levels for defense, close combat ability, ranged combat ability, shield ability, special weapon skill ability and force ability. It's possible to level with higher-level friends, but your other levels won't be leveled up quite as quickly.
Chip Wars FTW!
One of the main reasons anyone would play RF Online (besides to gawk at the pretty elf girls) is to participate in the Chip Wars. Chip Wars occur every eight hours and last for three hours. The good thing is that there is a set schedule for when these Chip Wars occur, so players can schedule them in, much like a sought-after television show. Chip Wars work similarly to Defense of the Ancient from Warcraft III or Battlegrounds from World of Warcraft. There are chips for two opposing sides, and the goal is for your race to hack away at that chip and destroy it before the other team destroys yours. These chips are incredibly resilient and have an obnoxiously high amount of HP, so it would take a group of level 25 players about three hours to destroy the chip. The reward is access to the rich mine, as well as more money and materials to upgrade weapons until the next Chip War.
Mo' Money Mo' Problems
One stunning feature of RF Online that seems to set this apart from other games is its elaborate in-game economy. There are two ways for players to gain money: through ores and through gold, both tradable for your race's currency. Mining will yield ores that are either traded for currency or processed for materials that upgrade your equipment. Gold is the universal currency, upon which the economy is based. To exchange your gold for a race-specific currency, players must pay a tax. The tax is based on the ratio between currency in circulation and the amount of gold in circulation. The more gold players hold, the higher the tax will be. It's a balanced economy that prevents one race from becoming too powerful. Such a system seems to work really well in this world. We can also say that no other MMORPG has quite the same kind of complex economy that RF Online does.
In the End, It Doesn't Even Matter
RF Online's graphic engine is lustful; it doesn't compare to the more graphically intense game like F.E.A.R., but it serves its eye-candy purposes for a server-wide game. The art is also in the style of anime; very caricature-like but stunning at the same time. The music for RF Online is an interesting mix of electronic pop and ambient melodies, depending on what your character is doing. The controls are responsive. Players get a choice between mouse character control and keyboard character control. The keyboard is better suited for PvP battles, while the mouse-based control scheme is better for leveling/grinding. There is no jumping over objects, at times there are pathing issues, but overall the controls feel solid once players get used to them.
All in all, RF Online delivers an MMO that focuses more on battles and less on stories and quests. For those who lust after solid plots and definitive quests, they can stick to their World of Warcraft and Final Fantasy XI. For those who just want to log on and kick butt, RF Online is the prescription for you.
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