ARGO Online Review
By Ange Perdu
ARGO Online is a 3D fantasy themed MMORPG set on Earth in the distant future. After a devastating war only two races are left the Noblians and the Floresslahs. The Noblians are humans of noble blood descendants that have been hiding underground but now emerging. They believe that technology is the key to reconstructing a better planet and will destroy anyone or thing that gets in their way. The Floresslahs are a mystical tribe connected with nature. They believe the Noblians are evil seeking to destroy the beauty of the land. Their mission is to protect the Earth by all costs and try to keep the precious resource Earthdium out of the Noblians’ hands. In the game players choose their faction and begin their test to become a true warrior. Complete an endless assortment of challenging quests, go on adventures, explore, kill monsters, enemies, and battle other players to prove your worthiness as a hero. Acquire a pet to assist in brawls or participate in large-scale faction based resource wars.
Path of Technology or Nature, the Gameplay
In ARGO Online players must choose their path. Whether it’s the way of the high-tech Noblians or the nature loving Floresslahs the journey is relatively the same. Most of the gameplay involves completing quests. Young heroes start out with an assortment of missions divided into a series of tests to determine their ability to become a warrior. Kill wild beasts roaming the plains. Sneak into enemy camps to steal supply boxes and fight suspicious imposters. Once completed players continue tackling missions as an official soldier dedicated to their faction. There are literally thousands of tasks for warriors to accomplish. Users accept quests by clicking on various NPCs stationed throughout the villages. Some of the tasks can be quite challenging. Missions like collecting Boahkure’s leather in the Gentlebreeze Plains or eradicating the big wolf terrorizing a farm consist of traditional RPG monster killing. In ARGO Online players also have more complex tasks like fixing a broken generator or an adventure quest such as finding missing journal fragments. Although the game features an interactive map complete with monster radar there is no auto movement. Walking miles to get from one area to another can be time consuming and frustrating. If a player dies they have to start back from their original point. One of the coolest features in the game is the innovative beast and mechanical mounts that players can use to travel through the world. Unfortunately, they are not available until much later in the game. It takes a lot of grinding and questing to progress enough to access the fun stuff.
Skills of a Warrior
Players have to battle a wide variety of monsters from wild apes to aggressive trees. The game is somewhat similar toAllods Online where characters are allowed to fight using magical skills and firearms. As players level up new skills are added to the character’s skill tree. Once prompted users can simply click to master various techniques. Moves like Disease Saturation, Chi Protection, Burstfire Missiles, Brain Damage, and Rapid Fire can be executed while fighting. Depending on a warrior’s level and class the moves will vary. During skirmishes with beasts or human foes players simply press the designated keys for attacking or a particular skill. Most battles are fast paced. Sometimes multiple enemies will ambush heroes. Players have to shoot and use every magical trick in their skill book to take them down.
Loyal Companions & War
To participate in PvP battles heroes must reach level 10 and to enter the resource wars level 20 or higher. Rewards for defeating a monster or foe can include XP, gold, or rare item. Resource wars are faction based much like RF Online. Players only fight against their opposing faction with main objective of accumulating the most valuable item on the planet Earthdium. Large groups of players are able to ride in the same vehicle on battlegrounds. Another feature implemented into ARGO is the ability to possess pets. To acquire a pet similar to most items in the game is done through questing. Completing the pet quest will enable a loyal companion to accompany heroes on their adventure. Pets can learn fighting skills and assist in skirmishes.
Shopping in the Auction House
There are a variety of NPC shops scattered through the villages. The item selection in the shops is limited. Many of them only provide supplies, potions, food, and skill books. Players with pets have to frequently stock up on various pet attacks and magical techniques along with food. Slaying monsters, enemies, or completing certain quests often reward players with armor or artillery. Warriors have to depend on luck to snag high powered guns or swords. Items can also be traded with other heroes in the Auction House. There’s no charge to bid on items in the auction but to sell things it requires a fee.
The game features great character customization. Players have control of every small detail about their warrior’s appearance from the chin size to the contour of the face.
Final Verdict: Good
ARGO Online has massive potential to be a great game. Fight an assortment of monsters, complete challenging quests, face off in PvP combat, and go on an adventure in a futuristic world with your friends. There are still a few kinks that need to be worked out but players will still find it to be thoroughly entertaining. It features a cool mixture of sci-fi fantasy and steampunk. Comparable to games like Allods Online and RF O
nline it’s definitely worth playing.
