The developers of the upcoming MMORPG Shards Online hosted a live stream that simply states: “This is Ultima Online 2”.
In the approximately 1 1/2 hour video, the developers showcase some new features of the current alpha of the MMO. Among them are merchants that players can hire to offer their self-crafted goods to other players. However, it’s also important to pay attention to the presentation. Hardly any other player will just talk to a standing NPC. So, you set up a market stall that attracts customers.
This looks like UO…
Additionally, battles are shown that take place both in the wilderness and in dungeons. Everything feels like you are looking at Ultima Online – but in 3D and with some modern elements. No wonder that developers who worked on Ultima Online are working on Shards Online. Right from the beginning of the project, it was stated that Shards Online is heavily inspired by UO, and you can see that in every corner.
The freedoms that players enjoy – which can even extend to open PvP with full loot, the roles that anyone can take, and simply the fights in the dungeons and wilderness – all of this looks like a modern Ultima Online.
Bosses, Quests, PvP, Sandbox… Whatever you want!
Furthermore, a boss fight against Death himself is shown, explaining that you need specific tactics for each boss in order to defeat them. Shards Online is currently in an alpha phase. A highlight of the game is that players can create their own shards, meaning their own worlds, and not only design them themselves but also set the rules. Do you want to tell a story and create quests? That’s just as possible as simply creating a sandbox focused on PvP. Players then travel back and forth between these shards.
Anyone who misses the times of Ultima Online but also finds some new features interesting might find Shards Online worth a look.
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