MapleStory 2

MapleStory 2
Logo of MapleStory 2
Developer(s)NSquare
Publisher(s)Nexon
EngineGamebryo[3]
Platform(s)Windows
Release
  • KOR: July 7, 2015
  • CHN: September 21, 2017[1]
  • WW: October 10, 2018[2]
Genre(s)MMORPG
Mode(s)Multiplayer

MapleStory 2 (Korean: 메이플스토리 2; RR: Meipeul Seutori 2) is a 2015 massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) developed by NSquare in association with Nexon and NCSoft. MapleStory 2 was released free-to-play first in Korea. The game takes many of the features of the original game, MapleStory, and applies them to a 3D voxel-based environment. Most enemies, NPCs, and locations made a return in this sequel, although with several changes.

Gameplay

A screenshot of gameplay from the now defunct global version of the game. The player character is in the centre of the screenshot, while the game chat panel is in the bottom left. To the bottom is the player's health, items and abilities, with a map and quest log to the top right.

Unlike its predecessor, MapleStory 2 features third-person movement, and a "blocky look, similar to Minecraft" according to Polygon's Julia Lee.[4] The game contains features commonly seen in MMORPGs, such as a leveling system and customizable weapons and armour, but also a "Battle Royale" mode,[5] PVP arena and interior decoration minigame.[6] There were also a number of premium in-game currencies, called the Blue Meret and Meso Token respectively, which allowed players to buy unique equipment for their characters in the global servers.[7] The premium currency in the Korean version of the game is simply called the Meret (메럿).[8]

Release

After two closed betas for the global version were conducted, the first one from May 9 to 16[9] and the second one on July 18,[10] the game was released globally on October 10, 2018 as a premier event.[2]

The Japanese and global services were closed permanently on May 27, 2020.[11] An official archive page was set up by Nexon, with illustrations and concept art available for download for free but got removed from the website after some time.[12] The game's servers for China closed on 2 November 2022.[13] The game still continues its service in Korea.

References

  1. ^ "《冒险岛2》不限号全面开放公告". Tencent Games. September 21, 2017. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
  2. ^ a b "[Update] Producer Blog - MapleStory 2 Premiere Event Recap | Official MapleStory 2 Website". Nexon. August 24, 2018. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
  3. ^ "Gamebryo Titles". Gamebryo. Archived from the original on 2020-11-11. Retrieved 2020-08-03.
  4. ^ Lee, Julia (2018-05-10). "MapleStory 2 is nothing like the original game, and that's good". Polygon. Retrieved 2021-03-04.
  5. ^ Wood, Austin (2018-06-28). "Dear lord, even MapleStory 2 has a battle royale mode". PC Gamer. Retrieved 2021-03-04.
  6. ^ Andrew Whalen On 1/3/19 at 6:05 PM EST (2019-01-03). "'MapleStory 2' Skybound Expansion includes massive new Chaos Raid, but you'll need a high Gear Score". Newsweek. Retrieved 2021-03-05.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ McAloon, Alissa (18 March 2020). "Nexon to close down MapleStory 2 global servers this spring". www.gamasutra.com. Retrieved 2021-03-04.
  8. ^ "파이널테스트에서 미리 경험해 본 '메이플스토리2'의 캐시 아이템". 게임포커스. 15 May 2015. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  9. ^ "Sign Up for Closed Beta | Official MapleStory 2 Website". MapleStory 2 | Official Website. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
  10. ^ "Announcing Closed Beta 2". MapleStory 2. June 8, 2018. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
  11. ^ Lee, Julia (2020-03-18). "MapleStory 2's global servers to close less than two years from launch". Polygon. Retrieved 2020-03-25.
  12. ^ "MapleStory 2 Archives | Official MapleStory Website". MapleStory 2 Archives | Official MapleStory Website. Retrieved 2021-03-04.
  13. ^ Chen, Robert (2022-08-31). "MapleStory 2 – Tencent announces closure of China server". MMOCulture. Retrieved 2022-09-12.