GT Impressions: Warrior Epic Beta Test

Next week, True Games Interactive will be releasing its free MMO-action title, Warrior Epic. In an effort to bring you a behind-the-scenes look at the upcoming title, I took some time to participate in the recent closed beta test.

I have to admit, it isn’t what I expected going in. Warrior Epic isn’t your typical MMO. You won’t spend hours running around obtaining quests and crafting. Instead, it follows in the footsteps of games like Diablo and Dungeon Siege. Players can play for free, with the option of purchasing things like double XP potions, exclusive clothes, and other things. However, True Games says that only convenience items will be available for purchase, and that, “anything along the lines of “broadsword of one-hit kills” would never be available for purchase through micro-transactions.”

You’ll start with control of one warrior, who has a few abilities. Obviously, those powers vary depending on the type of hero you select. After you finish the tutorial level, you gain access to your warrior hall. From this central hub, you can recruit new types of heroes, browse and equip new items, and find new quests to take on. You can also see the spirits of fallen warriors, who can be called back to life under certain circumstances.

The spirit system is actually one of the highlights of Warrior Epic. Not only can warriors be resurrected, their spirits can be used to infuse items with greater power. They can also be called to assist in battle, where they attack your enemies. Their effectiveness is directly tied to their abilities when they died. Also, players can acquire monster spirits during battle and use their powers to infuse their weaponry.

There are a number of different heroes available for recruitment, from the Pit Fighter to the Assassin. Some specialize in healing, some in melee combat, and some in ranged combat. Each hero obviously has its strengths and weaknesses, and each player can have multiple heroes available in their warrior hall.

Now, forming parties is slightly different other MMO titles as well. Similar to the ‘town’ system employed in Guild Wars, players use a lobby to build their party, and then they head to face challenges. These challenges take the form of quests, group dungeons, and even PvP encounters. Players and guilds will be ranked based on their performance, giving you the opportunity to see your name at the top of the charts.

All in all, I had a pretty good time with Warrior Epic. It’s a different type of MMO, but it’s one that seems to be more favorable to casual players, or players with busy real life schedules. We’ll see how it does at retail, but it’s definitely worth at least a look. After all, the price is just right.

Warrior Epic is slated to be released Tuesday, May 19 at 5 PM PST (8 PM EST) on its website. You can head over there now and try to get in on the beta goodness if you want a sneak peek.