It’s been a bit since the Ragnarok X: Next Generation closed beta ended on 8 May 2021, as people from SEA clamoured to see a new Ragnarok game. Luckily for you fans who didn’t manage to get into this closed beta, the game will officially launch on 18 June 2021! This world is going to be both a familiar and new one, no matter how much you know about the RO-verse, as the story is following its own plotline that you’ll have to discover for yourself.
As its name suggests, Ragnarok X: Next Generation – also known as ROX – is a 3D mobile MMORPG as licensed by Gravity Co. (South Korea), intending to faithfully restore the classic play style and content of the original game while adding its own innovations and upgrades. This will bring a new era of Ragnarok to players, as the IP keeps up to modern players’ needs and expectations.
Utilizing the Unity 3D Engine, the world is brought to life in, well, 3D, giving a new depth and level of detail to the world of Ragnarok. You can play the game however you like, whether you want a casual time or a more hardcore, adventure-focused time. You can also go at it alone, or with friends; either the ones you already know, or the ones you find exploring the same world as you. Freedom and adventure: these are the core values of Ragnarok X: Next Generation!
In between your quest to discover the mysteries of the world, keep the peace by defeating rogue monsters. Later, take a break with several life simulation activities, such as fishing. All the while, continue improving yourself through your class and your gear.
ONCE UPON A NEW OLD MIDGARD
Set after the twilight of the gods, players begin their journey as a novice adventurer, unaware of the trials yet to come. You’ll be able to customize your avatar the way you like, and later on, choose one of six jobs – Swordsman, Thief, Archer, Mage, Acolyte and Merchant – to begin forging your own path forward.
You learn of Ymir’s Heart, and how it is now in fragments. Only those of Odin’s bloodline can piece them together again in order to purify the demonic aura that plagues the land. The story slowly eases you into this greater plot. You do, after all, start as a fresh novice yet to grasp the true scale of the fate that awaits you. Encounter characters who would guide you along the way, or even just the strange ones, like a certain slacker instructor. Presumably, there’s a reason why he’s got his job, right? Right…?
In any case, there I am, shaking my head at the antics of my supposed superior, going along with a typical training course that, all too soon, starts becoming just a touch sinister as nefarious plans get put into motion. By the time I’ve advanced into my first job class, this whole Normal Adventure Thing is not going to be just me anymore.
It’ll all unfold before you in a mix of both gameplay and rendered cutscenes to fully immerse you in the plot yet to come. Perhaps some of it might be familiar to you veterans, but ROX is not simply retelling the old story: there’s new threads you will have to discover for yourself.
AND THE ADVENTURE BEGINS!
Before you unpack everything the story is going to throw at you, you’ll need to be ready to face the challenges! Luckily for you, it’s really easy to build your character in ROX. Follow recommendations for your stat distributions and skill tree, if you’re new to the game, with suggestions labelled accordingly so you can pick the one that best fits your style. The various features also gradually open up to you so that you don’t get overwhelmed, which you can further explore through sub-quests that pop up now and again.
And boy, will there be quite a few of these non-main story quests so that you can familiarize yourself with the world and its inhabitants, offering you a breather from the story. These NPCs will have their own storylines and it doesn’t just stop at the end of a quest. You’ll be able to forge deeper friendships with your favourite NPCs, further deepening your involvement in Midgard. You don’t have to be alone!
In this open world, you’ll come across other players who are on the same adventure as you. With how much land you’ll need to cover over the course of the story, be sure to get a mount! Familiar monsters will let you ride on them throughout your journey. What monster will you pick as your loyal steed? Honestly, the ol’ classic Poring will suit me just fine. Can’t get more traditionally Ragnarok than that, can you?
Along the way, you’ll be interacting with items on the overworld and hunting regular monsters. For ease of play, should you be new to mobile MMORPGs, you can simply tap on any given quest, and it will automatically take you to the specified location, and battle as needed. If there’s anything you’re unsure about, you can always refer to your handy dandy handbook for an idea of what to do next. You’ll want to be a studious adventurer too, for there’s plenty of milestones to hit for additional rewards to boost you along your path of becoming a hero. Hurrah!
FOR TRIALS YET TO COME
As mentioned, Ragnarok X: Next Generation will be having its official launch on 18 June. You can also go ahead and pre-register for the game through the official website, or via the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, and join everyone else in this world you can discover at your own pace!
HANDY LINKS