With Gran Saga (PC, Mobile), a very interesting new MMORPG is coming that breaks the known loot spiral and where you remain loyal to your weapon. The release in South Korea will take place in just a few days.
What is Gran Saga? The MMORPG is being developed by the South Korean studio NPIXEL, which is currently also working on the exciting MMORPG Chono Odyssey. The developers are using a budget of around 25 million U.S. dollars.
You explore a large anime world together with many other players, which is divided into zones. You travel around a map similar to classic JRPGs and can then enter areas and explore them in third-person view.
In these zones, you can expect battles against monsters and quests that you receive from NPCs. These areas can be very large, which is why you are allowed to ride mounts like horses. PvP also plays a role in arenas.
The weapon system is the focus of the MMORPG
What is special about the game? Gran Saga offers an interesting weapon system, the Gran-Weapons system. Depending on which weapon your hero wields, his playstyle changes and the MMORPG is supposed to feel different. It is possible to upgrade the weapons and thus develop your hero through these items.
There are over 20 weapons in the game, which fundamentally determine how you can approach quests and battles. Each weapon offers special attacks and defenses as well as its own skills and a unique appearance – which can also be adjusted over time.
The system is designed so that you choose one of the weapons and thus find your personal playstyle. Then you remain loyal to this weapon, which you continue to improve and develop your hero. Weapons are meant to become a kind of companion that is connected to you.
Gran Saga is therefore not designed to constantly find new loot and thus better weapons. You should stick with your weapon and improve it. However, switching is also possible, but then you essentially have to start over and upgrade the weapon again.
What else is interesting? The developers also want to create an anime for playing and watching. The MMORPG looks like a cartoon thanks to Unreal Engine 4, not unlike the successful Genshin Impact. Additionally, NPCs have voice acting and the story is told through cutscenes.
The game is designed so that even viewers, for example on Twitch, can have fun, allowing them to experience a kind of episode of an anime series while watching a streamer.
When is the MMORPG coming out? NPIXEL has now announced that the release in South Korea will take place on January 26. This will be for PC and mobile devices. Crossplay between the platforms is even possible.
Gran Saga is also set to be released internationally. A release in Europe and the USA is firmly planned. However, there is still no date for when we will be able to start. It is conceivable that the developers will talk about the international version after the launch in South Korea.
If you want to look at other anime MMORPGs, then check out the MeinMMO list “The 7 best anime MMORPGs in 2021“.
