TOS review is here!
Gomen nasai!
Today, I will be personally sharing some of my experience in Tree of Saviors for past weeks. I got into the game via the early access package and I got to admit, it was pretty good albeit some flaws and bugs.
There are so many things I would like to express regarding this game.
Let's start with
Pros
Classes
This game has the most number of classes I have ever played in any MMORPG. 80 over classes and newer classes beyond rank 7 are being introduced right now. Good job to IMC for bringing a wide variety of classes for diversification.
Here's a full list that I made with info taken from http://www.tosbase.com/game/classes
I like the way IMC expanded based on Ragnarok and improves everything Ragnarok Online 1 (RO1) excels in. After all, you adapted based on the winning strategy and added extra features in which RO1 lacks back then.
Unlike Ragnarok, you can unlocks up to 3 circles for each class which then unlocks better skills and attributes for the specific class. Choose wisely as so far, there is NO Class Reset Scroll.
I use the following website to build my desired class.
http://www.tosbase.com/tools/skill-simulator/
Overall, I am impressed with the classes. More classes are being designed and will be added in future patches. Stay tune!
Open World Concept
Although there are a lot of invisible barries at the end of the map, most players who played RO1 understand the concept and this pose not much issue to the community.
As you progress through different maps and locations, you unlock the area in World Map. There are teleporting goddess in most starting maps. As you progress further to lv100 and above, city Goddess will not be able to teleport you to certain areas without goddesses. You have to travel back from the nearest map to your questing area.
In my opinion, this is not much of an issue although I have not played other classes, traveling seems to be a little of a hassle for non-dash classes like clerics, archers and mages.
*Swordsman class gets to dash through the map by consuming stamina. To replenish stamina, hit the crystals in the area or use stamina pills bought from Item NPC and you can continue dashing.
Pets
Pet feature in TOS is pretty good. Your pet helps in attacking and pets gain experiences and levels from hitting mobs. Your pet will level up along the way as you progress. Not an issue. The good part about pets is that they help leveling new classes easier for your alternate characters.
Some classes allow you to ride on your pet such as Cataphract from Swordsman Tree.
Background Music (BGM)
Any good MMORPGs will come along with good BGMs. This is to build immersive effects for players. TOS wins in this section as the composer for the BGM is by SoundTeMP
SoundTeMP is a Korean team composer for Ragnarok Online which made them famous. I am a fan of their work. Try some of SoundTeMP's work in youtube and you will understand what I am trying to imply.
This is especially great during Boss Fights, the bgm hypes you up for good challenge. Well Done TOS!
Area Designs and Effects
I have to admit, it calms my mind and gives me a sense of peacefulness when I explore different non-dungeon areas.
Cool Effects
You can even go to the top of certain areas with elevators
Some Maps, you have to travel by lifts or elevators to explore further. It gives a sense of dynamic feature.
Elevators
Dungeon Lifts
Questing
Most MMOs designed questing features in a very half-boiled work. Most of them are very linear and boring. However, TOS excels in this area as well. There are side stories from various NPCs, puzzle quests, and teleporting to different maps to clear bosses.
This removes the boring feature of questing.
Also to add, you can pretty much level all the way via questing and playing daily dungeons which unlock different dungeons at different level.
Save the world from its demise, fellow Hero. YOU ARE THE SAVIOR!
Puzzle Quest. (This is one of the tougher puzzle quest)
Grinding?
Most players with RO1 experience will understand the pain of grinding to max level. However, TOS removes such issue. During close open beta period (CBT1), the grind is so bad that major comaplaints from players pushed developers to rethink TOS gameplay.
After 3 CBTs, we finally get to enjoy TOS with almost 0% grind fest.
You still grind in dungeons at some leveling point.
However, the leveling curve in TOS is different. You will hit an easy point break after every certain levels. The experience needed will reset to lower threshold.
Check out the leveling exp needed HERE.
Yet another plus point for TOS being in the MMORPG genre.
Well done.
Other features
Attributes
Attributes is a thing in TOS as I mentioned earlier. Attributes boost certain skills, give additional sustain or effects on skills. You level up attributes by spending silvers (currency in TOS).
Some attributes are capped at lv100 while others are lower at lv1, lv5 etc.
Collections
You get this from chest in some of the maps. Make sure to explore every part of the map to check if there are chests. Chests are hidden among trees or at one corner of the map.
This is the NPC to deposit your collection piece. She is located in most major cities.
Collections allow you to boost certain stats for your character permanently. You have to drag the specific items needed into the collection to register it. Collect all needed items to unlock the stat boost.
Gameplay
TOS allows players to discover on their own. There is a main quests to guide you throughout the storyline. However, most side quests are obtained from various NPCs. There wont be notification to let you know there are side quests. Make sure to talk to every single NPCs you encounter. Some NPCs will not give quests until you have talked to the right NPC to unlock all NPCs too.
A sense of mysterious and adventure style for immersion effect for players.
Some may not like the style but this removes the babysitting feature of linear questing.
Most side quests have interesting side stories too.
Trading House
This feature is to balance out the economy in TOS by removing trading player to player directly. Premium Token Users however get to trade 1:1 without the limitation. Good feature to avoid crashing economy.
Tokens can be obtained by putting in real money from the Cash Shop NPC located in major towns. You can getby the game without Tokens too but there are various benefits for Tokens such as extra dungeon entry, 30% bonus exp from hunting mobs etc.
This is not a PAY-TO-WIN game. No worries guys. Hardwork in this game will bring you somewhere far in TOS. Casual players will eventually reach the same end point as well, just later.
Best Part about TOS
Boss Fights one after another.
Most quests will put a boss for you to fight. Use your wits to dodge attacks and kill the boss! You can solo most bosses by playing logically.
Early Game boss
This boss drops a very rare costume helm. 1% chance. I got it. Lucky!
Epic Lizards
Mermaids :3
It is not a boss fight without encountering Cerberus! BRING IT ON!
More Screenshots
Some class skill master located at random places. Explore more to find out their whereabouts and to advance to higher classes.
Yes, Cleric classes can use Kame Hame Ha! I am not too sure which class.
It ain't an MMO if you can't climb up to rooftop buildings.
The emoticons are pretty cute and better than RO1.
Yay! (P.S. that is the rare helm I got, Cool ain't it)
Cons
Various minor bugs still persist since CBTs period.
Rollback point bug.
As some servers located far from your region, you experience rollback to your previous location. It gets annoying at times especially for Swordsman who dashes all the way and resets back a little.
Try servers nearer to your region.
Dungeon Queues
It is a problem for me. Long waiting time and you definitely need healers to clear most of the dungeons unless with good pure DPS rush all the way. Healers are a MUST in dungeons. Otherwise, you die and respawn in starting point of the dungeon.
Going into the dungeon is not easy either. You get Disconnected Bug when you try to enter the dungeons. I was informed that this is due to most dungeons are full at the moment which causes such bug.
Developers have taken this into consideration and looking for solution. Fortunately, the developers and tech guys are quite okay in TOS.
All in all, do a little of research prior to starting Tree of Saviors so that you know what classes and how to solve some of the quests. That is all for now, I will be posting more of TOS if you guys are intetested, let me know in the chatbox beside the blog.
Cheers and Happy Gaming!
