Embers Adrift is set to release in 2022, the developers emphasized in a new video. Reason enough to take a closer look at the new MMORPG. That’s exactly what MeinMMO editor Alexander Leitsch has done, sharing his first experiences as well as his concerns with you.
Embers Adrift is not a classic MMORPG like World of Warcraft or Guild Wars 2. I notice this right from the first few minutes of the closed beta that is currently running. But as someone who is interested in all MMORPGs, it felt like a duty to buy a package and create my own first impression.
And that impression is mixed.
For the first quests and battles already signal to me that I will need time to make progress in this MMORPG. The whole game screams for adventure and exploration, but also for group searching and hard work. That’s not necessarily what I’m looking for, but it appeals to a specific niche of gamers.
And exactly for this niche, it could be extremely interesting.
Not a game for fans of easy starts, action-packed battles, and good graphics
Embers Adrift is a PvE sandbox MMORPG. The philosophy of the developers states that I do not follow a clear story or clear tasks, but instead experience an adventure in my own way. Relationships with other players must be built upon, as many contents are aimed at group players.
After about seven hours of gameplay and some watched videos, I can confirm that this MMORPG does many things differently – and not everything is immediately better.
Unusual are the quest texts. I really have to read these to understand and complete the tasks. There are no markers in the game, not even for the next NPC I should talk to. And there is also no popular minimap.
Also surprising are the first enemies I encounter. Every enemy has a marker that indicates whether I can defeat them alone, in pairs, or only in a group. And yes, group enemies are already in the starting area of the MMORPG and should not be attacked. Here, the first death can come swiftly.
Moreover, the start feels unfinished, and I somehow feel out of place. There is no real introduction, I am simply thrown into the world and attended to with initial tasks.
But before I even enter the game world, I choose from three specializations during character creation: Defenders are like tanks, Supporters are healers, and Strikers deal damage. Later, at level 6, I then choose a second specialization from the same three options. My final class is formed from the 9 possible combinations.
However, even though level 6 sounds quite close, it will take me several hours to get there. This is not necessarily due to the required experience points but rather due to the often long travel times and the very slow battles. Actions are executed only after two seconds, and there are global cooldowns that make everything even slower. Fans of action-packed battles might quickly get bored.
During the course of the game, however, the combat system develops its charm. I have to target enemies deliberately; otherwise, I will be overwhelmed, and I cannot just jump into everything, as is the case in many modern titles. Challenging battles often only come in the endgame. And even in groups, the fights are more fun because more tactics are needed and at least something happens around me… even if it’s just attacks from my teammates.
Regarding the speed of leveling, there is currently a lot of controversy in the community. The journey to level 20 is said to take many hours. After level 20, the curve is said to increase again, making it almost impossible for solo players to reach level 30 in the foreseeable future.
Embers Adrift is an indie MMORPG. Nowhere is this more evident than in the graphics. The attacks are quite static, the textures not particularly high-resolution, and overall, it feels like a game from the late 2000s. If you are hoping for a totally detailed character editor, you will also be disappointed.
However, I am excited about some ideas and features of the game. For instance, from the beginning, the journey is the goal. I can fight tough bosses in the open world early on or visit dungeons with other players. This is a really good approach, as often the leveling phases are something I want to skip quickly in modern games to get to the core content.
If you die in Embers Adrift, you can also be revived, similar to New World or Guild Wars 2. I have come to particularly appreciate this mechanic in recent years, and it fits perfectly into the social fabric of the new MMORPG.
I also view the in-depth crafting system positively, allowing players to create always relevant items for their progress. I must admit that I haven’t delved particularly deeply into this yet. However, relevant crafting is always something I see as very positive and important.
However, an old principle applies here: You can only master two professions simultaneously. If you switch a profession, you completely lose your progress in the old one.
On paper, Embers Adrift attracts many because it is a pure PvE game. There is a complete absence of PvP. This makes the open world safer and encourages cooperation among players.
It’s crazy that the nights are really dark. While this is atmospherically very cool, it also means that I could hardly play at the dead of night and had to periodically increase my monitor brightness significantly just to see anything. Although there is a torch on the F1 key, it only helps to a limited extent.
Embers Adrift is perfect for players with plenty of time, patience, and friends
Overall, Embers Adrift plays quite sluggishly, especially when comparing it to modern games like ESO or Guild Wars 2. But this is where the developers’ philosophy comes into play again.
Basically, you need group players for all the content and preferably an active guild that plays together every evening. This way, enemies are defeated faster, quests are easier to resolve, and you can spend the travel times joking around in voice chat.
If you can invest the time to constantly arrange meetings with others and experience adventures together, Embers Adrift might be the perfect game for you.
However, there is a danger that, with too few players or if friends leave the game, many core aspects of the MMORPG may be lost. I already felt this in the beta, as it was not so easy to find players at all. Due to the subscription model, Embers Adrift will also struggle to attract new players, so that they can take their first steps in the game.
In contrast, there is a game that completely does without a shop. This ensures that special skins must truly be earned. Much in Embers Adrift has thus a strong pro and con.
If you want to play Embers Adrift now, you need to purchase a Founder’s Pack for $50. It includes beta access, a special title, and one month of free playtime after the release. With the release, the MMORPG will then become a subscription game. However, the beta currently only takes place at certain times.
The full release of Embers Adrift is expected to take place in 2022. For the time afterward, the developers are planning regular updates with new quests, zones, and dungeons.
Embers Adrift has a special allure, but it’s not my game
Embers Adrift is the exact opposite of the MMORPGs I like to play. Anyone who regularly reads my articles will know that I am active in many games simultaneously and work towards clear goals. As a father, this is also the most effective way for me to prepare for tackling a larger challenge over the weekend.
In Embers Adrift, however, I need a fixed group, must seek my own challenges, and must plan for everything. This will not appeal to the large mass of players but a niche that has not been addressed in a long time – especially with the focus on PvE.
Overall, the MMORPG relies on many “old school” aspects, such as reading quest texts, the absence of markers on maps, or indeed, the subscription model that few new MMORPGs utilize.
If you and your entire guild are looking for a new game or are open to joining a new guild, you can experience adventures that are truly fun. This is the great appeal of Embers Adrift – the exploration, mastering challenges, and the experiences shared with others.
Alexander Leitsch
MMORPG expert at MeinMMO
Does the idea of Embers Adrift appeal to you? Or do aspects like the high time requirement or the weak graphics rather put you off? Feel free to write your opinion in the comments.
Embers Adrift is not the only MMORPG set to release this year. Here we have summarized everything for you:
