Vahnora

Vahnora is a free to play 2D MMORPG that is trying to give me a proper old school online RPG without making me download some massive game. I am dropped into the world of Eldoria and can choose between seven different classes once I reach level 10, with each one having its own style and abilities. The game mixes exploration, combat, crafting, faction warfare and a player driven economy, so there is quite a lot going on for something that is still in Early Access. I like the general idea because it feels like the sort of MMO where I am supposed to actually explore the world instead of being dragged through a long list of tutorials. The combat is fairly straightforward, but I think that works for the style of game. I can fight more than 20 types of creatures, collect better equipment and slowly build my character around the class I have chosen. The seven classes give me some useful variety too. Warrior is built around raw strength and toughness, Archer focuses on ranged damage, Mage is more fragile but has strong area attacks, Rogue is based around stealth and burst damage, while Cleric, Paladin and Berserker all have their own roles. I like being able to pick a direction for my character instead of everyone feeling exactly the same. The faction system is probably what makes Vahnora more interesting to me than a basic 2D RPG. I have to choose between the Sanctum and the Forsaken, and the two sides can fight over seven relics in Mortis Pass. Holding those relics gives faction wide bonuses, so the fighting is not just about getting kills for the sake of it. There are also guilds and a weekly castle siege where guilds can fight for control of Eldora castle. I like having something happening around my character that feels bigger than simply levelling up alone. There is also a good amount of progression outside normal combat. I can craft equipment, refine gear, add enchantments and use runes to change my build. Pets can be collected and combined into higher tiers, and there is an Auction House where I can buy and sell items with other players. The Infinity Tower gives me an endless PvE challenge with harder floors and bosses, while the leaderboards give me a reason to care about how far I can get. I like this sort of progression because there is always another system sitting alongside the main levelling loop. The biggest problem for me is that Vahnora still feels like a game that is being built rather than a finished MMORPG. Some of the systems are already surprisingly complete, but the overall world does not yet have the same amount of content or polish that I would want from a long term MMO. The interface can feel rough, and there are moments where I am not completely sure what the game wants me to do next. I also think the combat could have more depth because once I understand my class, a lot of the basic fighting becomes fairly routine. The no GPS approach is something I have mixed feelings about as well. I actually like the idea of being encouraged to explore and learn the world through landmarks instead of having every objective marked for me, but it can also make simple tasks take longer than they need to. That works when I am in the mood to explore, but it can become annoying when I just want to reach a particular place. The good thing is that the game is still being actively developed, and the developers have already added things such as translated interface sections, class changes, better boss timers and other quality of life improvements. That gives me some confidence that the rougher parts are not necessarily permanent. Overall, I think Vahnora has a good foundation but still has quite a bit to prove. I like the seven classes, faction warfare, relic system, crafting, pets, player economy and Infinity Tower, and I think the simple 2D style fits the old school MMO idea really well. At the same time, the early state of the game is obvious in places, and I do not think the combat or world are deep enough yet for me to put it alongside my favourite MMORPGs. The fact that it is completely free does make it much easier for me to overlook some of that, especially when I can see the developers continuing to add to it. For me, this is a promising MMO rather than a finished great one, but there is definitely enough here to keep me interested. Rating: 7/10