With Legends of Aria, an interesting MMORPG is about to launch, with its early access phase expected to start in March. But who is the game aimed at and what are its chances in the market?
What is Legends of Aria? The MMORPG by Citadel Studios was announced under the title Shards Online and successfully funded through a Kickstarter campaign in 2014. Since then, the concept of the game has changed somewhat.
Instead of focusing on player-created worlds, there is now an official and large game world called Celador, where everyone can act. However, it will still be possible to create your own worlds.
- Celador is a huge sandbox where you can go your own way.
- Legends of Aria is not a theme park MMORPG. There are no quests guiding you through a story. Instead, you live in the fantasy world and do what you want.
- You explore the open world and hunt monsters and explore dungeons to gather resources and loot. You can also search for treasures.
- It is possible to build a house and furnish it freely.
- You can become a craftsman or blacksmith and supply players with equipment.
- You can create an empire with your guild.
- PvP plays a significant role, but there are areas where you are protected.
- The economy is supposed to be driven by the players.
- You develop your hero based on skills as you wish.
When will Legends of Aria be released? The MMORPG is already playable in a very early version for founders. The early access version is currently planned for March 21, after some delays.
Who is the MMORPG aimed at? Legends of Aria is primarily aimed at those who have enjoyed playing the classic Ultima Online. The game mechanics of LoA are very similar to those of UO.
In both games, you are in a sandbox and can write your own story. Legends of Aria aims to give everyone a lot of freedom to go about their way as they wish, even if it’s just being a fisherman selling their catch at the market. That was also possible in Ultima Online and added to the charm and fun of the game.
LoA is thus aimed at players who want to build a kind of second life in a virtual fantasy world. There is no overarching story and no quests that tell exciting tales. It thus addresses a very specific target audience.
Sandbox players are excited, but still point out technical issues
How is LoA currently received? Fans of sandbox games feel right at home in the MMORPG. Especially if you come from Ultima Online, you find in Celador a new home that is a bit more modern, but relies on the old virtues.
Players praise the freedoms they have, the many possibilities the game offers, and the group play.
However, Legends of Aria is still struggling with technical issues at the moment.
- The performance is not great yet; the game does not run smoothly.
- There are network issues and lags.
- The game systems are still plagued by bugs.
- Currently, there is relatively little content.
- Griefers and player killers make life difficult for newcomers.
These are currently the main reasons why the MMORPG has had to be postponed repeatedly. The developers want to launch LoA in a state as an early access game where players can truly enjoy it and not be too often frustrated by technical issues.
The current testers, as hardcore fans, tend to overlook these issues more than a broader base of players, where the first impression of a game is crucial. Also in terms of griefing, a lot needs to improve so that newcomers are not immediately put off.
Recently, there was some criticism when the developers wanted to introduce Pay2Win items into the cash shop and justified this decision by stating that no Pay2Win was the wrong approach for LoA. However, a dialogue has been conducted together with the players and it was recognized that Pay2Win is not well received in the community. The team thus backtracked, which reassured the fans.
What does this mean for the release date? It is uncertain whether March 21 can be upheld as the date for the early access phase. The developers themselves stated that they only mentioned this date because they had to specify a date on Steam. LoA should only launch when the developers are truly satisfied with the state of the game. Therefore, it is quite possible that there could be another delay.
Updates about updates
How did the latest updates go? The developers regularly release updates and patches that address issues or implement suggestions from the community. These patches are generally well received.
The big dungeon update from February 1 finally brought some of what many testers have wished for into the MMORPG – more content. The dungeons have become larger, offer more challenges, and look more varied. This is well received in the community.
What comes next? The team is currently working not only on patches but also on a major update that will introduce an ice landscape as a new biome. There you will find new hunting zones and further challenges. Additionally, the early access start is planned. How it will continue then, the developers still have to announce.
What are the chances for the MMORPG? Legends of Aria will likely serve a niche. It does not have outstanding graphics and is played from an isometric perspective. Additionally, it only appeals to sandbox fans and offers open PvP. These alone are aspects that might make LoA less attractive for the broader audience. Nevertheless, there are players who are excited about the game mechanics. How many that will ultimately be could be revealed during the early access phase. However, one should not expect the next AAA MMORPG.
