As a seasoned MMORPG veteran, having journeyed through many realms since the days of Ultima Online in ’97, I was intrigued to dive into the early access game The Quinfall by Vawraek Technology Inc. I will give any new MMORPG my time to see if there are any new enhancements to the genre. My experience is that any F2P MMORPGs generally are clones of previous games whilst promising new mechanics. While The Quinfall does offer new lands and new monster types to slay, the gameplay loop doesn’t innovate the genre enough for me to regularly revisit it. It does some things well but there are many references to previous games and there are plenty of other games vying for my time.
From the outset, The Quinfall does carry a strong resemblance to Black Desert Online, particularly in its visual style and the overall feel of the world. The character models and environments have a similar aesthetic, and the combat system, while not a direct clone, shares that action-oriented approach that BDO fans will recognise. Credit to the environment and art developers as there are some genuinely awe-inspiring vistas that stopped me to take a screenshot. I also credit the sound design team as the ambient sounds that change as you move through towns and the wilderness is excellent.
The tutorial quests in The Quinfall are well-crafted and effectively guide new players through the game’s mechanics and systems. This does provide a solid foundation for understanding the various aspects of gameplay. This is a crucial element for any MMORPG, and The Quinfall excels in this area, making the initial learning curve less daunting which is a credit to the developers.
However, my initial experience with The Quinfall hit a snag at the harbor, during the first opportunity to sail a raft. I encountered a frustrating bug that prevented me from progressing, and unfortunately, a quick glance at the Steam forums revealed that I wasn’t alone in this predicament. However a couple of days later this was patched, but these roadblocks can significantly impact a player’s initial engagement and can be a deterrent for those looking for a smooth onboarding experience.
One of the more unique aspects that The Quinfall offers is its skill upgrade progression and the implementation of skill combos tied to weapon sets. This system provides a layer of depth to character development, allowing for customisation and a sense of progression beyond simply increasing stats each level. Discovering and mastering these combos adds a slight more satisfying layer of complexity to the combat, but only for those first few moments after gaining anew level, then it returns to a simple button-mashing affair. The fluidity of movement and the emphasis on chaining skills together does initially provide some excitement to combat. However, this quickly dissipates when you start to complete the stock-standard ‘kill X number of Y mobs’ quests and the grind creeps its way in.
I don’t ordinarily like automation mechanics in MMORPGs though the inclusion of auto-travel is a welcome quality-of-life feature, especially for someone who appreciates the convenience of a quick break without having to constantly steer their character. While it’s not a speed demon compared to manually navigating the world, it serves its purpose for those moments when you need to step away briefly. The fast travel system has an interesting twist where the cost of fast travel is tied to the items you’re carrying. While this isn’t a new feature to the genre, I do like that you have to consider whether it’s worth fast travelling versus the time to run back to town yourself.
On a more positive note, I appreciated the map system in The Quinfall. The ability to zoom out and get a broader view of the zone, highlighting major events and displaying level requirements, is a valuable tool for navigation and planning. This feature enhances the player’s awareness of the surrounding world and helps in making informed decisions about where to venture next.
Overall, The Quinfall offers a familiar yet distinct MMORPG experience with some interesting and unique mechanics. I did appreciate the skill progression and combo system, and the player onboarding and tutorial quests are well-designed. However, The Quinfall doesn’t quite reach the level of the top-tier MMORPGs currently available, nor does it necessarily carve out a unique enough niche to warrant a long-term commitment for a seasoned player like myself.
This review utilised a key provided by the developers and The Quinfall is available now on Steam early access.
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About the Author: Chris Inglis
Chris began gaming in the 80’s with Nintendo Gameboy and playing on his friend’s consoles such as NES/Famicom and Sega Master System. His first PC games were Dangerous Dave, Alley Cat and Secret of Monkey Island. An avid PC gamer through the 90’s and 00’s until finally joining the console crowd with the Xbox 360. A collector of all genres of games, his favourites are MMORPGs, space flight sims and good story-driven RPGs.
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