Inspired by, but does not stay true, to its roots. Perhaps a good thing.
Let me start by saying that I came to this with the impression that I would not like it; the thoughts of having to level up JUST to Job Level 50 was almost insane to me at the time, and I didn't understand the concept of Job Trees. This, I have to say, is my first MMORPG, and I came away from it with a good taste.
Gameplay: 9
When you first arrive in the magical land of Rune-Midgard, you feel engrossed. The riverside is as splendid as the castle you first start infront of. Immediately I had the feeling of grandeur, since the possibilities are endless.
The guy inside the Beginner's Castle allows you to choose two options: Get into the game, or take the tutorial. I was tempted to skip right into Rune-Midgard, but I knew I had to take the tutorial.
The Tutorial is a long, albeit fun process. Learning about the features from the teachers in the room to the right was fun, though, as I understand it, they have altered the tutorial to make it more user-friendly, and less time consuming. I also liked the fact that you could job level right until Level 7 in the tutorial just by reading, as it provided an alternative to the hack-and-slash you may encounter later.
When I first stepped into Islude, I had my heart set on Swordsman. After bashing a few pink blobs, appropriately called Porings, I made the mistake of trying to kill a pink Butterfly. That butterfly, which I would soon know to be called Creamy, is much too hard for a beginning, or even a first-classer, to take down, so I have issues with the balancing in each area. At least post a warning sign.
As time went on, I met the community. It is a diverse one, filled with drama, roleplaying, and fun. The gameplay in Ragnarok Online appeals to everyone, including those who wished to find alternative enjoyment besides the usually level-attack-level-attack.
Graphics: 8
The Graphics in Ragnarok Online are just right, and allows it to be played on virtually any computer. (For example, I once played it on a Pentium 3, 555 MHZ, 128, with low graphics, and it played superb.)
The sprites against the rendered-3D background are a nice touch, and it creates the feeling of scale. The buildings are huge whilst the Sprites are considerable smaller.
The only quirk I have with the graphics is the set sprites. Everyone seems to look the same, and it becomes repetative. Seperating factors include Hairstyles, classes, and headgears. Armours are not shown, as with other MMORPGs.
Sound: 10
The Sound composed for Ragnarok Online is very catchy. Adding to the mood of any dungeon, city, or field, the music has been produced to appeal to the emotions that should be present when involved in the area.
For example, in the Glast Heim Churchyard, an eerie theme plays, complete with techno and organ elements. It causes a heightened sense of fear, albeit small, and it is an effective way in using the music to the game's advantage.
I often find myself listening the OST during periods of not playing.
Value: 7
While I did rank this a 7, I wished to put 7.5. The value for this game various with the payment options. 11.99$ per month is a little steep for someone who does not intend on playing everyday of that month. On the other hand, the hourly-based payment plan is just right for me, as I often spend only 30 mins on Ragnarok Online. It stretches out my payments, and allows me to play two months for the price of one.
Value could have been better.
Overall, I believe Ragnarok Online is a very fun game, and although based on Norse-Mythology, it doesn't necessarily stay true to that. And that is a good thing, since it may confuse, or even turn some people off. The fact that you may make up whatever you so wish to in Ragnarok Online is a feature not often offered in MMORPGs. Therefore, I am giving Ragnarok Online
8.4 out of 10 with a Reviewer's Tilt of 8.