[Review] Atlantica Online: A JRPG Throwback

SBFord · August 2013

Atlantica Online has been out for a few years now and has seen its share of improvements, updates and expansions. We take another look at Atlantica Online to see how it's fared over the years. Read on and see if you agree!

Competitive PvP is also on offer in AO, allowing the player to participate in leagues and create challenges for opponents to test their skill, catering to the competitive gamer. Interestingly enough there's a fair amount of depth to the PvP system, with a variety of leagues to participate in and even server wide championships. Events are often implemented weekly to keep the game active and give players something to work towards.

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koogalar · August 2013

I've played this off and on since early beta in NA.

It's a great game. With people (the community) being the only real downfall

well that and a crazy expensive item mall :P

aromero · August 2013

Wish the item mall wasn't so horrible as I really loved this game...

TiamatRoar · August 2013

Awesome game brought down by a ridiculously expensive pay-to-win item mall. Sadly I don't think the reviewer got to the end game where the (overpriced) item mall becomes practically necessary against the strong monsters you'll be facing (and don't even get started on PvP...)

Ozmodan · August 2013

That is about the worst review I have read on this site in a while. Sounds like the marketing department put all the words right in your mouth.

Pretty hard to discuss pvp and omit the highly important fact the game is pay-to-win.

The game is pretty dated, while fun, the pay-to-win aspect engenders a lot of negative points. Don't mind item shops, but this one is obtrusive.

You also failed to mention what a huge grind the game is.

Calerxes · August 2013

Been playing Atlantica on and off for the past 3/4 years and thinks its a great game but what puzzles me is this pay2win attitude, I know you need some licenses (buying a 90 days pack will set you back about £9 a month) and an item mall Merc to be competitive but just because you need to spend at higher levels doesn't make it pay2win as skill in setting up your mercs and understanding the games mechanics is needed most. You get an awful lot of game for free with Atlantica so its well worth a punt for those interested.

Khebeln · August 2013

I just want someone to make Atlantica 2 with subscription and ill be happy lol

Burntvet · August 2013

Originally posted by Ozmodan
That is about the worst review I have read on this site in a while. Sounds like the marketing department put all the words right in your mouth.

Pretty hard to discuss pvp and omit the highly important fact the game is pay-to-win.

The game is pretty dated, while fun, the pay-to-win aspect engenders a lot of negative points. Don't mind item shops, but this one is obtrusive.

You also failed to mention what a huge grind the game is.

This. ^^

Another company supplied "review" from MMORPG.com that massively over emphasized the positive aspects, and minimized or did not mention the glaring, obvious flaws. From (you guessed it) a paid advertiser.

This is "gaming journalism"?

Yeah, it is.

ego13 · August 2013

Originally posted by Calerxes
Been playing Atlantica on and off for the past 3/4 years and thinks its a great game but what puzzles me is this pay2win attitude, I know you need some licenses (buying a 90 days pack will set you back about £9 a month) and an item mall Merc to be competitive but just because you need to spend at higher levels doesn't make it pay2win as skill in setting up your mercs and understanding the games mechanics is needed most. You get an awful lot of game for free with Atlantica so its well worth a punt for those interested.

Freeloaders will always be upset when there is a company that wants to make a profit off of them, ESPECIALLY if there are things they want and they can't afford them. Paying players should always, ALWAYS, be above the non-paying players and if you don't like competing against those that are willing to actually support the game then don't PvP.

Gravarg · August 2013

Originally posted by koogalar
I've played this off and on since early beta in NA.

It's a great game. With people (the community) being the only real downfall

well that and a crazy expensive item mall :P

QFT. I used to play this alot, but I couldn't get over how the item mall works. They should set a price for and item, not for a box that has a chance to give you and item. My number one and only real problem with this game.

Calerxes · August 2013

Originally posted by Gravarg

Originally posted by koogalar

I've played this off and on since early beta in NA.

It's a great game. With people (the community) being the only real downfall

well that and a crazy expensive item mall :P

QFT. I used to play this alot, but I couldn't get over how the item mall works. They should set a price for and item, not for a box that has a chance to give you and item. My number one and only real problem with this game.

Yeah those gamble boxes are the real downside to Atlantica but it seems they work so companies will keep on implementing them. They should at least have the odds on them like real gambling has to have.

Dreamo84 · August 2013

Originally posted by Burntvet

Originally posted by Ozmodan
That is about the worst review I have read on this site in a while. Sounds like the marketing department put all the words right in your mouth.

Pretty hard to discuss pvp and omit the highly important fact the game is pay-to-win.

The game is pretty dated, while fun, the pay-to-win aspect engenders a lot of negative points. Don't mind item shops, but this one is obtrusive.

You also failed to mention what a huge grind the game is.

This. ^^

Another company supplied "review" from MMORPG.com that massively over emphasized the positive aspects, and minimized or did not mention the glaring, obvious flaws. From (you guessed it) a paid advertiser.

This is "gaming journalism"?

Yeah, it is.

lol ya companies pay for a 7.2 all the time. Grow up.

DarkProfeta · August 2013

Best mmo i've ever played.(playing since 2008)

Worst IM i've ever seen!

Nexon has a Ferrari in their hands,but dont know how to drive...

Burntvet · August 2013

Originally posted by Fendel84M

Originally posted by Burntvet

Originally posted by Ozmodan

That is about the worst review I have read on this site in a while. Sounds like the marketing department put all the words right in your mouth.

Pretty hard to discuss pvp and omit the highly important fact the game is pay-to-win.

The game is pretty dated, while fun, the pay-to-win aspect engenders a lot of negative points. Don't mind item shops, but this one is obtrusive.

You also failed to mention what a huge grind the game is.

This. ^^

Another company supplied "review" from MMORPG.com that massively over emphasized the positive aspects, and minimized or did not mention the glaring, obvious flaws. From (you guessed it) a paid advertiser.

This is "gaming journalism"?

Yeah, it is.

lol ya companies pay for a 7.2 all the time. Grow up.

Yeah? If sites/writers want to be taken seriously, they need to develop some "journalistic ethics" if they want to be considered "journalists". As opposed to paid shills.

But then, only an "adult" would consider such things. It is not me that needs to "grow up".

Strayfe · August 2013

A formerly incredible game that was utterly annihilated when Ne$on acquired it and implemented their game destroying cash shop. RIP Atlantica. Everyone should stay far away.

Khebeln · August 2013

Originally posted by ego13
Originally posted by Calerxes
Been playing Atlantica on and off for the past 3/4 years and thinks its a great game but what puzzles me is this pay2win attitude, I know you need some licenses (buying a 90 days pack will set you back about £9 a month) and an item mall Merc to be competitive but just because you need to spend at higher levels doesn't make it pay2win as skill in setting up your mercs and understanding the games mechanics is needed most. You get an awful lot of game for free with Atlantica so its well worth a punt for those interested.

Freeloaders will always be upset when there is a company that wants to make a profit off of them, ESPECIALLY if there are things they want and they can't afford them. Paying players should always, ALWAYS, be above the non-paying players and if you don't like competing against those that are willing to actually support the game then don't PvP.

Bulshit. I spent 12.000$ on the game in half a year and i could have spent easily 10x more. thats how money intensive it is.

There are Pay to Win games, and there are Pay or you will never win games like Atlantica. Its one of the biggest flaws of the game, next to outdated engine and visuals and moving to much towards TBS and not sticking to original tactical combat.

PS: Dont get me wrong, i LOVE the game its one of the a kind. But those flaws i mentiond are massive in long term.

TiamatRoar · August 2013

Atlantica isn't just pay-to-win in the end-game. It's "pay-to-survive-monsters-of-your-level". It's not a matter of payers being above nonpayers. It's a matter of having to pay if you want to get anywhere at all at the endgame, and not just competitively.

Alucard-Vzla · August 2013

Another reviewer who dont know how bad the item mall is at end game.. thats the onlye reason why i dont play this game anymore. IF you are rich, play it.

Skuz · August 2013

Originally posted by Ozmodan
That is about the worst review I have read on this site in a while. Sounds like the marketing department put all the words right in your mouth.

Pretty hard to discuss pvp and omit the highly important fact the game is pay-to-win.

The game is pretty dated, while fun, the pay-to-win aspect engenders a lot of negative points. Don't mind item shops, but this one is obtrusive.

You also failed to mention what a huge grind the game is.

You summed it up really very well, I too found this to be a vastly lopsided review, so lopsided in fact it was either written by an all-out fanboy or an NDoors employee.

I played AO for around 6 months & I found the story to be far too thinly spread out over the huge number of player character levels, stretched so thin it becomes like a watered down soup with barely any flavour at all to it.

The strategic combat was the game's saving grace in PvE at least but it starts to wear on you through the 150 odd levels, every single fight even vs trivial creatures is a strategic one & that's pretty overkill in my book. it needed some "easy kill" targets mixed in. The PVP suffered massively from "Pay to Win" and the endurance system, mercenary slots & other "rented" bonuses were just nickel & diming taken to a pisstaking extreme.

The costs of items in the store were also substantially higher than in other games.

I'd give the game 6 out of 10, & list a lot more cons.

LeGrosGamer · August 2013

LOL! Haven't played this for about 3-4 years, it's a sweet battle concept, but like any good looking F2P, all good fun eventually comes to an end. The game is playable to the max without need of the cash shop until 90-95, passed that, around the Ottoman Empire quests, excessive need of the cash shop will be needed, if you're planning on going through without cash shop, be ready to rage quite a bit. Atlantica Online is probably one of the most expensive "F2P" titles out there, and is living proof of what I've been saying about F2P being money traps, if you're not careful. But if you're a millionaire, then sure give it a shot. People on that game have wasted over 30K $, BUT they cry about monthly fee MMO's, c'mon man.

Sagonator · September 2013

Been playing for 2.5 years. 0 cash put in this game and still I yet manage to complete with best pvpers in the grand championship, weekly championships. The thing about that "pay2win" thing is that atlantica is not noob friendly. Even an average player would find it hard, but for a hardcore player like me that has studied the game for months its too easy to make enough money ingame with my char. What I love is that there is something for every1. And the only time when you need items is if you are at final match at championship, cuz with blank armors i've reached grand championship semi finals As I said... its not noob friendly at all like any old school mmporpg which requires alot of attention and dedication .

JasonJ · September 2013

Originally posted by koogalar
I've played this off and on since early beta in NA.

It's a great game. With people (the community) being the only real downfall

well that and a crazy expensive item mall :P

Why anyone would play an Asian F2P game with a western client is beyond me...

Play on the Asian servers with an Asian client and get access to the item mall that is far cheaper like I did. I do the same with PWI games and get what I need for about half price.

Smashix · December 2013

To the guy that spent $12k in 6 months: I don't even know what I would spend that kind of money on. Even the top IM mercs cost $70 including all skill books and upgrades. You can buy 1000 Atlas Ore for $70 if you wait for a sale, $100 if you don't. Add 3 months of all licenses in Warrior Pack for $38 on sale, $48 normal price. Ok, you could buy a few mount boxes, but beyond that, WTH did you buy?

You know, at some point, you have to actually play the game, level your characters and learn a few things, not JUST buy stuff from the IM, to "win", right?

There is certainly a Pay 2 Win aspect to the game. If you want to be one of the the top PvP players across all servers, might matters.

However, if you just want to play a fun game that will keep you interested for months, AO is a good choice. If you PvE only, you have to spend ZERO on the IM. If you don't think you can kill monsters your level without spending money, join a guild and make some friends, they will give you tips on how to do it.

I have played numerous IM games in the past, and in many of them you HAVE to spend real life money to be able to do all the PvE content and progress your character. In this game, you do not. Will you level as fast as someone who spend money? No! Will you have the best mount and prettiest wings in the game? No! Can you level to the top level and complete almost all, if not all PvE content? Yes!

I love all the content updates and new mercs they have added. I have also quit the games at times when I got bored, and then came back, just as I did in other MMOs.

As for the community, sure there are jerks. I know people that were insulted and people that were scammed out of gold (I did when I first started playing). However, I have played games that are far worse. The WoW community, on average, is horribly abusive and impatient, especially towards n00bs. The AO community is far more helpful. There are exceptions, of course.

Is the game perfect? No. But neither is any other game.

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