Continent of the Ninth Seal, or C9, is an action oriented MMORPG from developer and publisher, Webzen. The game has been out in Korea since 2009 and Webzen is preparing the global launch with a VIP Test. Boasting a free-to-play model, a rich combat system, and awe-inducing graphics, C9 is poised to take the gaming world by storm. Will this test convert the lucky few who got into the VIP test, and more importantly, is it the strong first step that any “new” MMO needs?
Continent of the Ninth Seal is a dungeon crawler/instanced game. Currently, the game world is broken up into three continents. Each continent contains a hub city. It is within these cities that players can pick up quests, interact with other players, buy and sell gear, train, and do all of the essential tasks that comes with an MMO when not actively laying waste to monsters with one of the most robust combat systems I’ve seen. There are multiple entrances to the dungeon selection screen and most are located at either end of the map. Players can have up to 20 active missions, so bouncing from dungeon to dungeon is to be expected. Each dungeon has a set level range, so there’s never any worry about taking on something outside of a player’s abilities. When selecting a dungeon, there are a number of factors that come into play. Players can select the difficulty level of the dungeon for a greater challenge and subsequent rewards after progressively completing the lower difficulty levels. There is also the option to adjust how loot is obtained before getting in and whether or not parties are allowed. Again, it is often that players will find themselves in the same dungeon due to the various quests, so having these options in place helps break up what could be an otherwise monotonous experience.
There is an additional factor that keeps monotony at bay. In each instance, players are graded on their performance. This is dependent on the player’s ability to chain together combos. Combos can be improved by learning new Command Skills from the trainer. With better performance in dungeons come better rewards at the end when players can open a variety of chests. Achieving a higher rank will award more keys to open the chests which can contain weapons, armor, or gold.
Monotonous is not a word that will ever come to mind when talking about C9’s combat. Getting into the thick of it with the many creatures that inhabit the world is easily the highlight of the game. Combat is fast, fluid, and brutal. Normally, I find myself playing the tanking role and as such I usually favor warrior classes. With C9, I was instantly attracted to the Shaman. My character was so graceful and beautiful as she danced around her enemies and unleashed devastating magic attacks interspersed with crushing blows from her staff. She was a ballerina consumed with death and destruction. As I flipped around and sent forth some of the most devastating spells I’ve ever seen, I realized that this is the most fun I’ve had while fighting in an MMO. Players have primary melee attacks, unique secondary attacks, and a slew of skills that only further their murderous potential.
The tight and deeply satisfying combat is only amplified by the gorgeous environments. With such a wide variety of terrain, there’s virtually no end to the possible tactics that players can employ. When things get too hairy, and they will, it’s easy to institute a tactical retreat and subsequent ambush as the monsters give chase. Beyond using the natural terrain, there are environmental hazards in nearly every dungeon. These can range from spikes that erupt from the ground to totems that shoot fireballs and colossal columns that crash down to the earth. If a player takes the time and plans out an attack, the world itself can be crafted into yet another deadly tool.
When choosing your beautiful instrument of justice, there are three initial choices. There is a fourth class, but it was not available during this test. Each class will branch into other specialized roles as the player increases in level. At level 10, players begin their upgrade and can obtain the elite version of their class. This will unlock additional skills to be used. This process is called the 1st Transfer. The Transfer is initiated through a quest line and players must complete a crucible at the end. This test pushed me harder than I anticipated. It took a few tries to complete, but at the end, I was left with a feeling of satisfaction that was equivalent to downing my first raid boss. The 2nd Transfer takes place at level 20. It is at this point that class can be split into one of three subclasses. The 2nd Transfer will determine the player’s role for the remainder of the game whose level cap is currently set to level 50.
The Fighter wields a sword and shield and functions as the melee powerhouse. The 1st Transfer will convert the Fighter into the Elite Fighter. The 2nd Transfer allows Elite Fighters to become a Guardian, Warrior, or Blade Master.
The Hunter uses lightning quick dagger and bow attacks. The 1st Transfer sees the Hunter upgraded to the Elite Hunter. The 2nd Transfer branches from that Elite Hunter into the Assassin, Ranger, or Scout.
The Shaman is the third and final class of the VIP test. At level 10, a Shaman can undergo the 1st Transfer and become an Elite Shaman. The 2nd Transfer only bolsters their incredible magical abilities further as they can become an Elementalist, Taoist, or Illusionist.
After selecting a character, players are thrust into a war torn world. Various monsters and creatures have forced humanity into tight knit communities that must remain on constant vigil. Progressing through Continent of the Ninth Seal is made profoundly enjoyable by the well told narrative. From the very start, players are guided along by cut scenes, NPC conversations, and quest dialogue boxes. The story carries over into missions and instances as the NPCs will join you on quests and provide further cut scenes and interaction, thus advancing the overarching story. At no point did I feel lost or question why something was happening. It was sublime to play an MMO and not once experience bewilderment.
However, since the game was originally released in Korea, there are some translation errors and the text is not properly formatted to most fields. There are plenty of words that are split or completely omitted because of this. Since the game is still in the process of being converted for its global release, I hope that these small issues will be rectified before finally launching.
I may not have experienced bewilderment, but I frequently experienced awe. Continent of the Ninth Seal is a breath taking game. It seemed that each time I logged on, I would find myself stopped and spinning the camera around to take in the lush environments and amazingly intricate and detailed player models. The graphics in C9 are astounding, even for a game that saw release three years ago. Attacks are fast, animations are fluid, and the colors are vibrant. The game bleeds life and it was a visual delight to wander around and take it all in. Looking at the game and zooming in on my characters floored me because of how beautifully they were rendered.
However, the beauty does have a price. There’s frequent pop-in, especially with other player models. It’s generally not an issue in dungeons, but is very noticeable when wandering cities or watching cut scenes. There were numerous times where I could only see names for a second or two until the models loaded.
Of course, beauty isn’t only in the eye of the beholder. There’s audible bliss to be found in Continent of the Ninth Seal. The background music is soothing and lively at the same time while in a city and ramps up appropriately while in the heat of battle. The voice acting isn’t the best out there, but is still good. It was just believable enough to get me involved. Sound effects are spot on and my fireball sounded perfect as I charged it up and unleashed it with a deafening roar on the foolish horde of imps that stood in my way.
As with any good MMO, Continent of the Ninth Seal has fantastic customization options. There are plenty of sliders and choices available when initially designing a character. Once in-game, gear can be equipped for statistical purposes and a secondary set worn for aesthetic appeal. Weapons and armor can also be tailored by the player, allowing for even more customization. It’s not all physical appearance when customizing, though. Players can refine, combine, or dismantle gear to serve their needs.
PvP also plays a strong part in C9, as it should. With a combat system so robust and deeply gratifying, it would be a crime if there was no special focus on PvP. Players can be matched in either one on one matches or party versus party. Die hard PvP fans need look no further than C9, thanks once again to the impeccably crafted gameplay.
Continent of the Ninth Seal has a lot going for it. There are drop dead gorgeous graphics, a strong soundtrack that backs a well-told story, and an immensely enjoyable take on action-based combat. There were some features missing in this VIP test that can be found in the full Korean version, but what is already in place promises a very strong start. Combine all of that with a free-to-play model and I see C9 being very successful once it launches. This is definitely a title to keep an eye on.
GamingClimax.com Writer and Author of ZeroAnd09 Blog
