Silkroad, MMORPG, Oriental style.

[ik911]

Today, I came across a new MMORPG called Silkroad.

I signed up and downloaded and installed the client.

This immediately introduced me to the greatest advantage of this 13-in-a-dozen RPG, namely the fact that it is still free of charge. It's in second beta test right now.

There are three servers you can choose upon startup, all of which are 'overburdened'. Luckily, joining a server is allowed.

Character creation. You can modify your starting armor and weapon and the character that you'll be playing, each of which have a story...

And that brings me to the writing. It needs improving. Structured bad sentences or strangerly words can be found here and there.

The gameplay is like most other RPGs. You have your experience bar for leveling up to increase your HP or MP bars (health and mana) and there's another bar for your skillpoints, which you can obviously spend on unlocking new skills or upgrading your unlocked skills.

There's a nifty trade system, an easy combat system, but collecting quests is not really easy. I had quite a bit of trouble finding my first contact (some general who, according to the first objective, should be near the south gate, while he was at the east gate). I guess that still needs some improvement.

The map seems to be quite huge and the graphics are certainly up to standard.

I have to add, that I haven't played it a lot yet, because I don't have a lot of time, so I'll go to the verdict:

If you like oriental orientated games, this could very well be your game. If you like free games: grab your chance while it's free. However, if you like a refreshing, new, innovating game: look elsewhere.

You can join and download the client right here: www.silkroadonline.net

(There are other sites for Japanese, Chinese and Taiwanese(?) IPs
[China] http://www.srocn.com

[Taiwan] http://www.sro.com.tw

[Japan] http://www.silkonline.jp)

[arno_v]

I'll check this game out. Even though I haven't got much time on my hands, but hey it's free and I'm Dutch...

[ik911]

Originally Posted by arno_v

I'll check this game out. Even though I haven't got much time on my hands, but hey it's free and I'm Dutch...

Exactly. We like free.

I didn't have the time to play the game either, let alone write a little review.

[BinaryBandit]

A friend of mine played Silk Road for a while. He said it was hard to get on the server, though. Too many people trying to play and hammering the Log In server @ the same time. I've been playing Flyff, myself. I'm hoping i'm chosen for the RF beta next month. That game looks siiiick. So does HolyBeast Online. I'm trying to get in on the Chinese beta.

[fable]

Originally Posted by ik911

Exactly. We like free.

But it sounds as though it's free only because, as you noted, it's in beta. That doesn't bode well for your wallet when it hits gold.