Combat, combat, combat – that’s what Vindictus is all about. The best part of this high-intensity MMORPG is that combat is in real-time, with monstrous bosses ready to give you a hard time. I’ve played this fantasy-themed game innumerable times, and gameplay seems to offer something new every single time. The environment is the most immersive I’ve seen in recent times, with several items you can interact with. You have the option of getting through play alone or with a group of friends. Either way, the missions and tasks are unbelievably enthralling. 

This action-packed free-to-play game might be over a decade old; its combat systems still have an unmatched shine. It features nine classes with varied skills. 

An Outstanding Combat System

Vindictus stands out for its real-time offensive and defensive system. Players don’t have to depend on special class characters to provide support during gameplay. They can take on a mission or raid from start to finish, already equipped with everything they need to succeed. Many a time, it comes down to just the skills of the player. Each player has an HP bar that determines how much hit a player can take. There’s also an SP bar that gives players the ability to execute special moves. In addition to that, there’s a Stamina bar that shows how much a player can attack and how well they can defend.

When dealing with bosses, players have the option of breaking them piece by piece. Every hit depletes their stamina bar until they’re finally sent kissing the ground. The major methods of the offense are light normals and smashes. Normals are typically light attacks that do minimal damage to the opponent but powerful, nevertheless. On the other hand, smashes are more powerful attacks that deal great damage to the foe. Players will usually have to employ a mix of both types of attacks during combat.

Players can employ incredible block moves that prevent them from taking a hit from the opponents. They can also make use of hitboxes that repels attacks. What’s even more intriguing when it comes to defense methods is the ability to go invulnerable at an instant. These are basic capabilities available to all players. However, each class has its own set of skills that makes combat even more fascinating. Some players, because of their classes, can buff their opponents. Some can execute cooldowns and other powerful manas.

A variety of weapons at your disposal

In Vindictus, combat is by far the brightest feature. But the combat won’t exude much light without a large selection of weaponry and armory. Thankfully, players get a lot of weapons and armor to work with. What’s even more amazing about this is that players can tweak these equipment pieces to suit their needs. I don’t think there are many games out there that allow that.  Besides weapons and armors, the game also features several accessories on its item list.

The game does a fair job of categorizing these items so players can easily choose what they need according to a purpose. For example, armors are grouped by their weight, and you have a plate, heavy, light, and cloth. For tougher battles and missions, you’ll need armor that offers the best defensive cover. The best option in that regard is the plate armor. On the contrary, cloth armor will be appropriate for a task that is hardly dangerous.

However, choosing armor isn’t that straightforward. A heavy armor might give you better defensive capabilities, but it’s going to take a dip at your offense. In the first few levels of the game, this won’t be so significant. But as you move on, you’re going to discover you need a lighter armor to execute your offense better. That means that you have to depend more on your skills to evade the enemy’s attack while putting out all your offense machinery to bring the opponent down.

When it comes to weapons, they are designed for the characters. So, each character has a unique weapon that no other character can use. That’s in contrast with armors that several characters can share. Therefore, as expected, expertise becomes indispensable if a player must make the best out of their weapons. Weapons provide virtually all the offensive power a player needs and easily ranks as the most crucial piece of equipable item. For accessories, they boost players’ stat and help them execute special skills. 

The Cash Shop

The cash shop features various items players can buy with the in-game currency. These items include cosmetics to improve character appearance, pets to help you raid in items that litter the map, and boosts for your XP. If you’re very keen on how your character looks, then you can customize it with outfitters that provide a covering from your regular armor design. You can also buy a clothing set that stays under your armor and reveals when your armor is destroyed.

You can have a successful playthrough without patronizing the cash shop. However, the fact that you can buy XP boosts to aid gameplay makes it very enticing. 

Verdict

What makes Vindictus a very interesting game to play is its unique combat mechanics. It’s an interesting fantasy-themed MMORPG that gives you many reasons to come back. However, the game would play better with more diverse tasks that go beyond combats.