Mortal Online 2 is considered a brutal PvP MMORPG and was available for free testing on Steam in September. MeinMMO editor Alexander Leitsch tried it out and surprisingly died often, not just from other players. Nevertheless, he had a lot of fun testing it.
What kind of game is this? Mortal Online 2 is a sandbox MMORPG with a clear focus on PvP. The core features are:
- An action-packed combat system with blocking and targeted strikes
- A lack of classic levels – instead, there are over 600 skills that you can learn
- A deep crafting system
- Free trade between players
- An open game world that you can explore and build in.
Mortal Online 2 relies on open PvP with full loot, meaning you can lose your equipped gear. This makes it unsuitable for every MMO fan, but it clearly targets a specific audience.
Exactly this audience can have a lot of fun. I immediately felt this during my own test. Although I am a huge theme park fan, when an MMORPG advertises open PvP, players know what they’re in for and can fully immerse themselves.
And I would definitely agree with the statement that Mortal Online 2 is probably one of the best PvP MMORPGs out there.
The first deaths in the first minutes of gameplay
What makes the game so interesting? Mortal Online 2 is difficult to compare to games like WoW or FFXIV, but also to PvP MMORPGs like Albion Online. It resembles New World the most in terms of the general speed and duration of the animations:
- Combat is fundamentally conducted from a first-person perspective
- By pressing the left mouse button, I execute an attack.
- However, by moving the mouse in a certain direction, I change the type of strike. I can stab from above, from the side, or head-on.
- The enemy can block such an attack with the right mouse button. Again, the mouse determines the direction of the block. If you block in the wrong direction, the attack will still go through.
I struggled with this mechanic of attacking and blocking in the first minutes and hours.
How do I fare in combat? Soon after starting, I receive a quest in a graveyard where I have to block attacks from zombies and execute a counterattack. But that’s not so easy.
After all, I have to determine from the animation from which direction the zombie is attacking – left, right, head-on, from above. If I choose incorrectly, I take damage and the quest does not progress.
These first zombies actually manage to kill me twice because I handle blocking and later running away very clumsily. This is a bit embarrassing for me! And I can’t remember any other MMORPG where low-level mobs practically killed me in the tutorial.
However, dying continues during my further playtime.
The first fights in PvP are an absolute horror
What happened next? After completing several crafting quests, a tutorial for archery, and other small tasks, I found myself in PvP after a few hours. In the starting zone and in cities, you are safe from any PvP activities. That’s nice!
But outside, in the vast wilderness, it looks different. There is open PvP there. And brazen as I am, I first attacked other players. After all, the one who lands the first hit has a slight advantage in health points.
In the first fight, I used the bow and showered my opponent with a barrage of arrows. However, he was rather unimpressed, also because only about every third arrow hit. At some point, he then charged at me. In close combat, I had no chance, and with a few hits, I lay in the dirt for the first time.
And it continued just like that.
All 6 players I dueled were clearly better than I was. So I got beaten badly in all fights. I couldn’t finish any of them successfully; I repeatedly returned as a dead character to the world of the living at the priest.
The disgrace of having already died to PvE zombies couldn’t be rectified. On the contrary.
This was a frustrating moment, but somehow Mortal Online 2 sparked my ambition. I want to get better and want to beat the other players next time. Unfortunately, there wasn’t enough time for that on the weekend – such is life as a father.
What I would have liked to try is combat on horseback. This is possible in the MMORPG, but unfortunately, I didn’t have time to tame a mount.
A steep learning curve that requires a lot of time
How do I generally feel about the MMORPG? Fundamentally, I must say that Mortal Online 2 does not showcase any graphical masterpieces. The world looks good but not outstanding, and the animations are rather choppy.
I am disappointed with the landscapes, which all looked like typical wastelands in the first 5 hours and offered little variety. It is possible that this looks different in the mid- and end-game. However, the graphics reflect that an indie studio is behind the MMORPG.
However, the character creation is cool, where I can choose from several races and also have a uniquely tailored family tree. This way, I can mix the races a bit.
In character creation, you can also distribute attributes that influence your combat skills. What’s also special is the character’s weight:
- The lighter you are, the more points you can distribute in dexterity.
- Heavy characters, on the other hand, have more health points and can hit harder.
These nuances make character creation a small science.
Otherwise, Mortal Online 2 requires a lot of thinking and planning from the players. Getting into the crafting system takes time; unlocking skills does too. You should definitely work with a guild, as the MMORPG, based on my current experience, is not very suitable for solo players.
Mortal Online 2, like ESO and New World, relies on a compass at the top of the screen. Plus, there is free trade between players, a feature that many modern MMORPGs are increasingly forgoing.
In the endgame, housing and battles for fortresses are supposed to await, but I haven’t reached that point yet.
The community as a plus: During my research around the game, I came across many interesting videos, including organized PvP battles, chivalrous tournaments, and roleplay.
So anyone looking to dive deep into the game and engage in the community can surely experience some great events.
An example of what these PvP tournaments look like can be found on the YouTube channel Wolfszeit. He has also uploaded some guides and further gameplay on his channel:
Payment system presents a major hurdle for interested players
How is the MMORPG financed? Apart from the fact that Mortal Online 2 occupies a clear niche with its PvP focus, I personally find the pricing model difficult. Because as much as I look forward to the PvP MMORPG, the Buy2Play model along with a subscription gives me pause.
To gain access to the MMORPG, I first have to spend between 40 and 150 euros for the game version. After that, I need a subscription that costs monthly. That is a significant entry barrier for players who would like to try the game without committing to it long-term.
On the other hand, Mortal Online 2 forgoes a cash shop and the possibility of exchanging real money for in-game currency. Pay2Win and other costs outside the subscription are completely excluded. That is, on the other hand, a plus point.
When does the game release? Mortal Online 2 launches in Early Access on Steam on October 26th. To access it, you will already have to pay the subscription. The full release is set for 2022.
Conclusion after 5 hours: Not an MMORPG for everyone, but definitely an exciting game
5 hours is not a giant playtime in an MMORPG, but it was enough to gain a first impression. And that impression is surprisingly positive and led me to want to spend more time in the game.
Although I have never died as often and as quickly in any MMORPG as I did in the first hours of Mortal Online 2, I completely understand the appeal of the game. The idea that player skill is more important than equipment, the interesting combat system, the constant danger, and especially the organized community leave a positive impression.
But Mortal Online 2 is only suitable for a specific type of player. Those who cling to their gear, enjoy chasing a story, or prefer to play casually rather than delving deeply into the game systems should simply ignore Mortal Online 2. There are simply better alternatives like WoW, Guild Wars 2, or ESO.
However, those who immerse themselves in the MMORPG, enjoy PvP and theorycrafting, and engage in a guild can definitely have a great time in this sandbox game. Together with Albion Online, Mortal Online 2 is already one of my favorites when it comes to MMORPGs with open-world PvP.
Alexander Leitsch
MMORPG expert at MeinMMO
