SCORE:
Graphics: 8
Gameplay: 8
Sound:8
Overall: 8
Pros: Pretty deep and interesting combat system, gorgeous 2D graphics.
Cons: Can sometimes feel a bit grindy, the turn-based combat may not please everyone.
We recently decided it was high time to try out Ankama’s pretty popular massively multiplayer online role-playing game Wakfu. The MMO, which accompanies an animation series with the same title, was already launched in 2011 and only lately changed its business model from a subscription-based system with only limited F2P option to a more classic free-to-play formula.
This MMORPG is set in a fantasy realm 1,000 years after Dofus, its predecessor (that is still active), and presents a really marvellous 2D world with unique environments and rich lore. Its turn-based combat is somehow reminiscent of Final Fantasy Tactics.
After logging in to the game, players may opt for playing the tutorial or skipping it in order to head into the actual game world straightaway. We thought it was a good idea to go through the tutorial zone which we were provided for with a neutral and absolutely basic class/ race, a pretty simple human. Thanks to the tutorial, we got to grips with the basic of Wakfu, e.g. its point and click system to move your character and the mechanics of its comprehensive turn-based combat system that involves skills, elements and so on. We additionally were able to discover a concealed treasure chest containing an emoticon animation for our character and were pretty satisfied with the fact that even this initial tutorial zone rewards the player’s will for exploration in such a nice way.
Once the tutorial is completed, Wakfu allows players to pick their race/ class from a wide selection of 15 options, which, in spite of this large number, are able to allow for completely different styles of play that can even be further customised with equipment and builds. Each of the classes provides players with its own unique mechanics, enabling them, for instance, to make use of random skill effects based on luck, to summon combat pets or to become even more powerful as their HP decreases. Classes are moreover defined by three of the following elements: earth, air, water and fire, and also offer five skills to unlock for each element. Using skills will level them up and additionally unlock additional ones belonging to the same element branch.
Our preferred class chosen, we were finally off with the first story-driven quest chain revolving around the wicked so-called Cult of Ogrest, which was designed in a way to also introduce players to several of the more complex features Wakfu incorporates, including dungeons mechanics and the haven Bag, a portable player housing that can be completely customised and placed at nearly any location in the game world to be used as personal home or store to sell items.
The quests we followed made us come across many NPCs whose dialogues and stories were indeed funnier more interesting than usual, due to the fact that the entire MMO breathes a hilarious style that perfectly matches and adds to its cartoonish visuals. We were never bored by repetitive “kill x enemies” tasks again and again, but rather made use of the turn-based combat system to also solve puzzles and to kill plants with pesticides in mini-games or produce a pretty unique sort of pizza. Upon successfully completing battles and quests, we were rewarded with decorations for our Haven bag as well as pieces of equipment to kit out our character.
Wakfu moreover offers public events that occasionally start for a limited period of time, asking participants to discover a set amount of items, kill a set number of monsters or perform any other action. Upon completing the initial introductory quest chain, players may freely explore the game world to make their way up to level 18 by looking for new quests and zones and fighting monsters. At this stage, they will be finally able to join one of the four available nations, each of which has its own territory, allies, enemies and laws, as Wakfu features a pretty interesting political system which allows players to elect a governor for their nation as well as a PvP system involving nation wars.
COMBAT & GAMEPLAY
Nowadays, when games usually compete with each other to be the most action-packed and fast-paced possible, Wakfu takes a different approach in order to stand out from the crowd in its genre: Its rather strategic and tactical turn-based combat system requires players to carefully think about their actions and plan each move in advance – and it’s simply great.
The sheer number of pretty vital factors, e.g. unique mechanics, skills, effects and element interaction, results in the fact that combat quickly grows quite interesting and complex after the initial levels. Players will barely get bored or find themselves just trading blows with their enemies, but rather enjoy trying to create their combos, exploiting their position and skill effects and adjusting their strategy to specific situations. Things even start to get more complex and interesting when grouping up with others for combat, for this involves more classes and their unique mechanics and thus results in even more multifarious and complex strategies.
It’s moreover a pleasure to roam the game’s well-designed maps to discover concealed treasure boxes, resources or whatever you could need. The MMO also incorporates a pretty unique ecosystem in which plants and monsters aren’t fixed and therefore won’t continually appear in the same spot. It’s up to the players instead to find the right balance between being destructive (by only harvesting plants/ trees and killing monsters) and beneficial (by re-sowing harvested seeds and bringing out monster essences to have them spawn again and grow to be harvested and killed again by others) in order to keep the ecosystem alive and healthy.
GRAPHICS
Wakfu’s visuals are where the game really shines. It's nearly impossible to not be charmed by the game’s extraordinary and funny graphics and artistic style. Each element, from characters to maps and items, is masterfully drawn and brought to life by beautiful and smooth animations. Maps and environments are always rich and brimming with items and animated elements that really help with immersion and the feel the game world is alive. Ankama has done a pretty good job, as Wakfu most likely presents some of the best 2D graphics we've ever see around.
CONCLUSION
Wakfu was already a very good MMORPG throughout its pay-to-play period, now confirming itself as a true AAA F2P title. Although it may not be adequate for everybody due to its 2D visuals and turn-based combat, we can only highly suggest to give it a shot.
Good review but you put the wrong images, they are from island of wakfu, a different game.
All the screenshots in this article are from Islands of Wakfu, a non-MMO spinoff for the Xbox 360….