Some folks say the best things in life are free, but after playing MU, it's clear that free stuff can be awful, too.
User Rating: 2.6 | MU Online PC
A pair of socks. A fruity sweater with "Save the Whales" on the front. A pencil with your name on it. All of these are examples of things you'd get for free, as gifts, but really really show very little thought or effort put forth. MU Online is much like a pair of socks. MU Online is an example of a game that, even though it's free, doesn't show very much effort put forth, and isn't even worth playing, despite the fact you aren't even paying anything for it. Much like other free games such as Runescape, thought not quite as bad, MU Online features really uninspired gameplay, awful graphics, and a community of young people who just can't seem to spell correctly. MU Online thrusts you forth into a land with no backstory or anything to make you excited to play, and, to top off the great fun of being a new player, Person-versus-Person is forced once you reach a certain level. This means that if someone is within about 5 levels of you, they can, and probably will, start throttling you to death and then snort and chuckle about how much of a "n00b" you are. Battle consists of a very Diablo-esque system of clicking until your fingers hurt, and you really don't have to use any strategy or skill. In fact, if you're old enough to use a computer at all, you can probably play this game. From the time spent playing MU, it was obvious that you can actually play the entire game using no keyboard, if it wasn't for the fact that you have to put in your account name and password to log in. Also like Runescape, you'll find that everyone already in-game is either of a godly level with riches abound and the best armor available, or just starting out and rightfully criticizing the game's awful "production values" (As if there were any). The interface is a very pixelated, disgusting mess, but for the most part is just a direct copy of the Diablo 2 interface. It features a belt where you can use potions, a map, an experience bar, etc. The game is very difficult, but never because of the enemies you face, always because of the people who will be hunting you and killing you just because they can. Basically, it's the whole Diablo 2 disaster all over again. Money is practically worthless because people will only trade for gems, forced PvP makes it impossible for a non-PvP player to enjoy the game, and every single "world" you visit is just a copy of the last world, just with exponentially tougher monsters and different models and graphics used. A very half-assed attempt is made at trying to convey some sort of roleplaying experience by letting players emote and lean against walls and sit at tables, but the crowd that plays MU obviously doesn't care for any sort of roleplaying, and anyone caught sitting down at a pub is just away from their keyboards anyways. MU is a horrible sounding game as well, with very repetitious sounds playing for the strike sound effects, and while the music is well rounded, all the music tracks are short and looped infinitely, making for a very nauseating experience. Overall, nothing makes the game feel at all atmospherical. Also subtracting from any atmosphere is just how straightforward and devoid of any intellect the entire game world is. Sadly, everyone playing the game is obviously very, very easily amused with watching their stats rising slowly and boringly as they slice relentlessly into the same enemies over, and over, and over, and over. The game presents you with no challenges whatsoever in the PvE respect, and as far as PvP is concerned, you never stand a chance because everyone who is a high enough level to know they can beat you without being too high to be out of your forced PvP level range, they WILL beat you down, which is nothing short of frustrating, since there's nothing you can do about it except watch it happen. Overall if you're someone with a low I.Q. and a love for games that you can play while blindfolded (And you'll want to be blindfolded so you don't have to look at the disgusting graphics), then by all means, download and enjoy. Otherwise, go play a game that takes some sort of intelligence or strategy to play, and I'll meet you there.
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