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

Multiplayer

87Very GoodI’m still astounded by this community. People are helpful, interested in teaching others, throwing equipment out and teaching newbies things that were glossed over or not explained yet. Not just in the newbie area mind you, even out in the world itself, I kept running across people lending a hand to those in need and those who could look like they could use their hand-me-down gear. So, well done Wakfu—I would give you the Community of the Year Award if I could at the moment. The actual gameplay between multiple party members works out well, and the system is designed to get people to take their turns quickly and efficiently, which makes this multiplayer turn-based game actually not a pain in the ass to play.

Value

82Good

While it might be free to play, there is a subscription system in place for those who stick with it. Only your first two major zones will supply you with quests and achievements, and you’ll be limited in a variety of other ways.  The subscription is cheap and the content is solid though, and eventually you’ll need the ability to work with money.  That’s right, unless you subscribe, you can’t make money—at all.

Sorry pal.  Even exploring ruins at night won't get you any coin without a subscription.

But if you enjoy playing, at $6 USD a month, paying a subscription fee is much easier to stomach than most games, all without forcing you to do anything at the cash shop.

 

Lasting Appeal

77Pretty GoodWith a unique art style and unique combat system for an MMORPG, Wakfu definitely has a niche carved out for itself in the genre. It even has a stellar community that I haven’t seen since the glory days of Ragnarok Online.; But just like that game, it does have a legendary grind at the end of the day, and your ability to tolerate that, more than anything else, will ultimately influence how long you’ll play this game.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Gorgeous art style
• Interesting take on gathering tradeskills
• Lots of cool classes and abilities

Cons

• Horrible grind
• Needs more documentation in-game
• Very little direction – at one point I wandered into a level 25+ zone while trying to find new and different 10+ mobs.  I don’t need my hand held, but I would like a nudge from time to time.

Conclusion

Wakfu isn’t for everyone, but it is right up your alley if you love a grid-based strategy RPG with the MMO elements we’re all familiar with. It has enough charm to keep you in awe for days, and enough depth to keep you playing for weeks. But after those weeks are done, longevity really depends on your ability to stomach the grind. Fortunately, the community is of high enough quality that it actually makes your life easier and more pleasant; it’s a real stunner for a primarily F2P game. So whether you choose to be a warrior or mage, green thumb or eco-terrorist, you’ll have a long road ahead of you—but an enjoyable journey.