In March 1999, the MMORPG classic EverQuest was released, reshaping the entire genre. With Monsters & Memories, one of the lead designers of EverQuest aims to do it again and is bringing a new MMORPG to the market. We at MeinMMO summarize.
What kind of game is this? With Monsters & Memories, the developers want to conquer a niche they believe is no longer occupied. It aims to bring back the old-school MMORPG feel while incorporating exciting changes. However, the developers of the title are seasoned veterans who know what they are doing.
The role of the Creative Director of the MMORPG is taken by Shawn Lord. He has been a designer for EverQuest, lead designer for other EverQuest titles, and design supervisor for DC Universe Online. Shawn is therefore very knowledgeable about designing MMORPGs.
Also involved in Monsters & Memories are Twitch streamers, a former developer from Mortal Kombat 11, and a college teacher for game design. The team behind the MMORPG brings a wealth of expertise but is still at the beginning.
What are the highlights? Monsters & Memories focuses on the following aspects, promising to appeal to a very specific niche of players:
- 12 different races from humans to trolls, gnomes, and elves
- 18 different classes between melee and ranged combat
- Focus on group content in an open world; solo play is possible but not optimized
- A vast world with underworld, sky, hell, and more, divided into various zones
- A western medieval fantasy setting with the usual “elves, squirrels, and so on,” as the developers put it
- Monthly subscription, with no pay-to-win features or microtransactions
You can see very early gameplay from the MMORPG here:
When is Monsters & Memories coming?
Where does the game currently stand? Monsters & Memories is currently in the so-called “Proof of Concept” phase. This means they are completing a small cross-section of the game that is meant to show that the concept itself works. This is still a very early phase of development. This proof of concept could then be used to attract investors. Whether that is the exact plan remains unspecified by the developers at this time.
However, the progress of development can be traced very well. The studio shares monthly updates on their website and has been doing so reliably since September 2020. A roadmap covering the upcoming tasks for the next phases is also easily accessible and very transparent, allowing fans to stay fully informed.
When is the release? The experienced developers state that they simply cannot estimate that yet. After completing the proof of concept, they intend to analyze the data and draft a production plan as well as a new roadmap. It is currently difficult to estimate a release date. However, you probably shouldn’t expect the new MMORPG in 2022.
Where can you play? Monsters & Memories is initially only set to release on PC. There are currently no plans to roll out the MMORPG on other consoles. It is also not known at this stage whether the game will be available on Steam.
The community is excited
How are fans reacting? They are very excited about the new title. The comments gathered so far regarding the game are all very positive. However, the number of people engaging with the game is not very high.
Yet the developers themselves state on their website that that was not the plan at all. They know that the game hits a niche that might not be very large. But these players indeed want something to play, which is how the idea of Monsters & Memories came about.
The few negative comments found under various postings about the game merely express the fear that the game will never be released. While that concern is generally justified when looking at similar projects, the roadmap and the monthly updates provide little reason for worry so far.
What does the community say? We would like to show you some of the comments here:
- Benjamin Cladwell writes (via YouTube): “I enjoy this desert that is being shown here. I love this 1001-Nights aesthetic!”
- QPON writes (via YouTube): “This does indeed look like an MMO that a small team can pull off.”
- Shokadezz writes (via YouTube): “This looks amazing! I’ve heard about the game from EverQuest and will definitely keep an eye on it.”
- Teekay writes (via reddit): “This looks like a copy of EverQuest – and I love it.”
What do you think of Monsters & Memories? Will you keep an eye on the MMORPG and eventually play it, or are subscription models not for you? Did you like EverQuest and have you played the classic? Feel free to let us know in the comments here at MeinMMO.
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