On January 4, 2001, the MMORPG RuneScape was released. Over the years, it has undergone several graphic updates, but still seems outdated compared to modern games. The artist Zant has recreated part of the game in Unreal Engine 5, which has thrilled many RuneScape fans.
RuneScape is one of the absolute classics among MMORPGs. Especially in the early 2000s, it was easy to access because it was even playable in the browser. With its many freedoms and the grind, it has built a community over the years that hardly plays anything else but RuneScape – even though there has been recent criticism of a subscription increase.
What can be seen in the video? The artist Zant has now taken on the area “The Legend’s Guild” and recreated it in detail in Unreal Engine 5.
- He needed about 8 months for this project, which he worked on as a hobby alongside his regular job.
- He wanted to surprise his friends from his RuneScape community with it.
- Zant used finished assets that he specified on his Artstation page.
- He found the environment around the guild particularly challenging in order to create a realistic world while maintaining the identity of the area.
You can view the finished work here:
“A difference like day and night”
How is the video received? In the comments on YouTube and on reddit, the video is viewed very positively. Many hope that RuneScape could someday be as beautiful as in Zant’s video:
- Blabidy writes: “I’ve been playing RuneScape since I was 11 years old. The beauty has evoked so many emotions in me. Thank you for doing this.”
- PiccoloCapable not only finds the graphics successful: “Wow, everything looks fantastic, but damn, the cinematography is the real winner! That was simply beautiful, the many details, great work on the model, on the surfaces, the music, the feel, and the entire animation.”
- Inspector can’t help but rave: “Imagine if there was ever a RuneScape 4 from Jagex that looked like this…”
The e-sports journalist Jake Lucky also shared the video on his Twitter account. In one image, he contrasts the original with the prettier version:
What kind of place is this? The Legend’s Guild is the most exclusive guild you can join in RuneScape. You must complete a long quest line to visit its headquarters. Additionally, this was the first Master Quest in RuneScape, meaning it is classified as rather difficult.
Even outside of Unreal Engine 5, the area is considered one of the more elaborate and impressive in the game. However, with Zant’s video, it takes on quite different dimensions.
What do you think of the video? Would this graphics encourage you to visit RuneScape again? Or are you satisfied with the current look of RuneScape?
Only in 2021 was Old School RuneScape released on Steam. And it was immediately well received there:
An Old School MMORPG is the best-rated free-to-play MMO on Steam – what is the reason?
