Throne And Liberty At Gamescom: Final Impressions

After experiencing the revised Amazon Games version of Throne and Liberty, MEINMMO editor Alexander Leitsch penned a follow-up article, delving into the details of the test. While we already have a general idea from the previous article, let's explore a more comprehensive breakdown of the latest Throne and Liberty gameplay.

A More Dynamic Combat: During the tutorial, players receive a box containing all available weapons, allowing for a quick assessment of changes in the combat system. The "Staff" skill immobilizes your character for approximately 2 seconds, which is quite reasonable for a magical ability. With the crossbow, players can evade attacks, creating a much more dynamic experience. Alexander compared his own experience to a Steparu video, affirming that the gameplay was consistently dynamic. In general, the animations and skill transitions felt notably smoother.

Auto Attack: The auto-attack feature is present. If your targeted enemy is within range, your character will automatically attack. For melee characters, moving toward the enemy is necessary to activate auto-attack when they are within range. Alexander does not consider this a significant issue, as these attacks do not hinder the use of other abilities.

Autoplay: There isn't much to say about autoplay; this feature was already deactivated. Alexander expresses his disapproval, noting that it's poor game design when an MMORPG can complete tasks that are deemed too unchallenging and tedious.

Graphics: The overall impression of Throne and Liberty's graphics is excellent. According to Alexander, it may not reach the level of Red Dead Redemption 2, but it surpasses what most MMORPGs offer. The game's environments are breathtaking, though Alexander suggests that more detail could be added to the grass and trees.

Transformations: From the beginning of the game, you have the ability to transform into a wolf (w+shift). While in wolf form, you can run faster, and attacks won't interrupt your movement. However, remaining still for even a brief moment will return you to your original form. The eagle transformation allows you to glide, but it doesn't offer the ability to ascend. You continuously descend and have some control over your speed, direction, and descent.

Overall Assessment: Even after the initial adjustments to the combat system, Throne and Liberty doesn't fit the mold of an action MMORPG. Target selection is done with the tab key, and your character executes normal attacks entirely automatically, eliminating the need for manual key presses. However, smoother animations and increased usability during movement have piqued interest. Previously, the game seemed more like fan service for the Lineage 2 community, but now it holds potential for a broader audience. This aligns with the objectives of both NCSoft and Amazon, particularly in light of the console release. Whether these changes are sufficient overall remains uncertain after the limited time of testing. Much can evolve before the 2024 release.