Ten Ton Hammer - Taking MMO Gamers to the Next Level!

By Danny "Ralsu" Gourley

Graphics
Deco Online has decent graphics. The colors are tad bright (normal overuse of

The Rain faction starter area

bloom in a free game), and the models I've seen are a little cartoony. Combat animations are fluid, and spell effects get the job done. One thing to note is that the spells I saw involved a body movement followed by the magic effect appearing instantly on top of the monster. In other words, the magic seemed to be invoked from somewhere else and brought into the world.  I also tested a martial arts skill that caused my character to hurl a fireball that welled up from with him. This skill clearly showed the magic issuing from within my character.

Buildings displayed sufficient details to create a mood and a sense of architecture, but they were nothing write Jack Thompson about. The newbie training area for combat seemed to be an ethereal other-realm type place with a mostly bland sky and flat, monotone landscape.

The monsters I faced were two different models with two color variations each. This was only in the training grounds, but I will be expecting more variety as I play more. Another thing to note about the monsters is that they were cuddly looking. One, an Eggvill, was a giant egg with a toothy grin and bat wings propelled on duck feet.

Game Play
If everything I have said about Deco Online gives you the impression that it is merely an average title, make note that game play is where the game shined in my experience with the tutorial. Unlike many other free-to-play games, Deco did not assault me with Engrish (slang for the garbled translations found in so many other games).

Some of the flashier effects in Deco Online

The tutorial taught me what I needed to know to play the game and got me to level 10, which allowed me to pick my path as a elemental damage-dealing Magician or a spiritual-based Shaman. In addition to the description of what the two classes do, I was actually given the chance to test their powers. I could try out the spells in the training ground before making my decision. That was pretty cool. Finally, I settled on Magician and was dropped in the real town of Rain, ready to adventure.

Parting Thoughts
My first experience with Deco Online left me wanting more, a very good sign for a free-to-play game. The tutorial for the Rain faction was clear enough to teach me to use my skills, and I felt ready to play the game for real.

Deco Online was impressive enough to crack the Top Ten Free-to-Play Games based on the tutorial. In order to keep its place on the list, the translation will have to be solid, and the real game play will need to be as smooth and fun as the tutorial.