Throne and Liberty is NCSoft’s (Lineage, Aion) new MMORPG and looked really good in the first trailers. However, the latest information from interviews and leaks does not sound promising at all. MeinMMO editor Alexander Leitsch is still looking forward to it for a certain reason.
Throne and Liberty initially sounded like the perfect MMORPG for me. Open world, focus on story, grappling hooks, and the ability to turn into mounts, an exciting weather system that influences areas, monsters, and abilities, as well as gigantic world bosses that can only be defeated in a large group. The strong graphics in the first trailers also contributed to my excitement.
However, with every new detail, my confidence decreases. It has already been confirmed that there will be open PvP at night without a karma system. While you can’t lose items, other players can kill you in the open world without penalties.
Alleged testers also report a rigid tab-targeting system in the combat system. For about 80% of the abilities, you cannot move while casting them. You just stand still. Some animations are said to last so long that enemies can simply run away from you in close combat. That sounds pretty boring.
Recently, information regarding autoplay and pay-to-win for skins has also emerged.
Still, I am extremely excited for the release of Throne and Liberty. And it’s not because I believe in the success of the MMORPG, but because it is a brand new game about which we know almost nothing. My explorer’s curiosity has been awakened.
This trailer has made me incredibly excited for the game:
New world, no idea
When a new, big MMORPG is released, it always feels like Easter and Christmas on the same day for me. Like a child, I sit excitedly waiting for all the secrets I can discover, just like when unwrapping presents as a child.
I explore a completely new world, know no quests, and learn an entirely new playstyle. In the first hours, I don’t even care how bad the game might be. Every new MMORPG is a new adventure that I enjoy.
With Throne and Liberty, the fact that I couldn’t play a beta and know hardly any details adds to my anticipation. While we know that there will be different weapons instead of classes, we don’t know the exact weapons and their skills. So far, we could only gather some info from the trailer, like at least 7 weapon types that will exist.
Additionally, the MMORPG is supposed to be released simultaneously worldwide. So even Korean players will not have an information advantage.
My hype for the game’s release is therefore undiminished, despite all the bad news and the unclear release date. Because so far, it still says that Throne and Liberty should be released in the first half of 2023. But the developers have only about two months left. Currently, many – including myself – expect a delay.
Do I believe that Throne and Liberty will have lasting success? Probably not, at least if it turns out the same way the alleged leakers describe. But I know that on release, tens or even hundreds of thousands will flock to it, and I will be one of them.
If the game then fails, I have plenty of alternatives to choose from: The 10 best MMORPGs 2023 – Which one is right for me?
Furthermore, Throne and Liberty was not my MMORPG of the year from the beginning. That will be Blue Protocol, which attracts me much more with its combat system and focus on dungeons and raids. What first testers have to say about it, you can read here:
What do you think about the releases of new MMORPGs? Are you as enthusiastic as I am, or do you prefer to wait for the first tests and videos and rather avoid playing a flop?
