Tera Rising Review

The MMORPG genre is often criticized for being itself. “This is exactly like World of Warcraft,” it’s said, before anyone has time to think exactly the same reasoning that could be applied to – say – the action genre. In the case of Tera, the basic concept is back from other MMORPG’s but at the same time the battles and design reveals that this is something beyond the ordinary.

The world that Bluehole Studio created using the Unreal Engine is a dazzling beautiful one. As a beginner in the game, I was introduced what the beautiful fantasy online game could offer, feature for feature. If I jump forward a bunch of hours, I’ve reached lvl 20 and I’ve beaten my way through hordes of enemies and find myself at the end of a mission chain where you have to defeat a massive boss.

Up until this point in the adventure, I had no idea what my actual role to the other players will be, but here I have to decide if I want to tank, heal, throw spells or stab enemies through life.

The quest system in Tera is very similar to Star Wars: The Old Republic where I get to choose what I want to do and don’t need to focus on the main story. The side quests will help me in the form of extra experience points and equipment, and also offers a complimentary experience that takes the edge off the drama a little – a critical aspect of a MMO who must feel alive and dynamic.

The side quests are for the most part to gather something or kill a certain number of enemies. To make this easier, you are shown exactly where the objects or enemies are on your map. In addition to this arch-classic type of quests design, I’m also offered in much more interesting variants where I can be pressured by the time or in an ambush where you have to hold out when the waves of enemies flooding towards you.

Initially, I only travel by either running from town to town or teleport me from places I have already discovered. Later, at level 11, I can purchase a mount that makes the traveling far more comfortable. Besides, it’s awesome with lions and horses. On top of that, I can start to save up for a flying pegasus when I reach the game’s capital.

Tera has been marketed as an action-oriented MMO, and this shows itself in the fact that I have to aim my attacks on my own (or healing spells) to succeed. A classic, Japanese MMO feature that have not yet established itself in the western world. By lining up my attacks I can perform combos and generally the fighting feels much deeper and more entertaining than many other MMO titles.

In Tera it feels natural to slaughter everything you see. But firstly, my items are breaking after a while and I need material to repair my stuff. Secondly, I can earn incredible buffs (positive impact) with everything I gather. It will be interesting to see what role these buffs will play in the real challenges later in the game, but right now it is simply too early to say anything.

If you do not have a sufficient number of comrades to clear a particular instance, you can use the game’s built-in matchmaking system, and caves and instances is something that will require some weaning from the classic online role players side. For example, you can not pass through allies or monsters, but must run around to get where you want.

Add to that the fact that you have to aim to hit your target and you have a whole new kind of challenge ahead of you. Aiming and coordination skills suddenly become at least as critical as the items you have managed to accumulate, and it is not certain that the players that have played TERA the longest will be the strongest.

After many hours, I start to get used to the battle system, but I still have to say that I really do not recommend roles like tank or healer for someone other than someone used to MMORPG’s. Other players tend to move which complicates the critical heals when it is needed most, and the one to blame will be you. Instead, choose a class with a focus to injure the enemies and learn yours and your comrades movement patterns is, in different situations.This will help you if you later choose to play as a healer.

It doesn’t matter how you look at it. TERA is a strong newcomer in the role-playing genre. During the beta period, it looked quite bad sometimes, but now that the game is finished and released, it is clear that Bluehole Studio managed to get the game back on track in the end. It has infinite potential, thanks to a unique combat system and inviting, warm graphics that refuses to let go.

Even though the crafting system might be a little complicated and some side quests are really unnecessary and boring, the unique combat system, the adorable graphics, heavy sound, great story and almost an endless of things to do makes the game worth your time. You definitely don’t want to miss this game.

The skill based combat system is extremely exciting, and will hopefully revolutionize the way that MMO fights actually work. Hopefully this change will leave the old button mashing tactics behind.