Lost Ark: Ganz anders als Diablo 3?

A producer leans far out of the window and explains what makes the action RPG Lost Ark so different from, for example, Diablo 3.

Lost Ark and Diablo 3 – Similar yet Different

Those who enjoy action RPGs and like to take a look beyond the Western horizon have surely heard of the Korean Lost Ark. Anyone who casts an eye on the first images and screenshots inevitably comes up with the thought “That looks like Diablo 3”.

We have also drawn comparisons: Lost Ark Special: Diablo 3 in Pretty and Better?

The head of Smilegate, Ji Won-gil, answered some questions in an interview with 17173.com and explained how the game would differ from Blizzard’s competitor.

All a Matter of Perspective

Won-gil addresses some differences between the two games. “Due to the similar camera angle, it is only natural that players compare Lost Ark to Diablo 3. However, once they have played a round of Lost Ark, they will realize that the games have major differences. Lost Ark is based on a target-less combat system where players can knock enemies down and push them back. They can also launch opponents into the air to unleash further combos.” Whether this aspect of gameplay really differs significantly from Diablo 3 remains to be seen.

“Aside from that, the camera is not static but dynamic, allowing players to experience the combat from multiple perspectives.”

How this dynamic camera looks in the game and how the environment is firmly integrated into the cinematic narrative is shown in the 8-minute trailer.

“Last but not least, Lost Ark is not a dungeon game. It clearly emphasizes open-world adventure.” According to Won-gil, the game world will truly be “gigantic”.

“Combat is only a part of the game”

But Lost Ark wants to show even more differences. The combat system is only one part of the player experience, and it also aims to highlight a classic “adventure” feel. Here, the dynamic camera is particularly useful, as it whirls players through a collapsing dungeon where a dragon is systematically destroying the environment.

A final similarity does emerge. The classes and the game as a whole are supposed to “offer a lot of depth while remaining easy to understand”. This is essentially just a variation of the popular “Easy to learn, hard to master”. For this, they want to “redefine familiarity” – Lost Ark aims to feel fresh, which is also reflected in the game world that spans multiple cultures and eras – featuring dragons, as well as robots and battle machines, sometimes in an Asian, sometimes in a Nordic setting.

Currently, Lost Ark is not yet planned for the West, while Korea is first gearing up for the beta – let’s hope the game eventually makes its way to us.