Elyon, formally known as Ascent: infinite realm, is an indie fantasy massive multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) that has become increasingly popular since its name change last year. The game was developed by Bluehole Studio and published by Kakao Games. The game is available on PC and Mac. In March 2017, developer Bluehole announced that they had changed its name from Ascent: Infinite Realm to Elyon due to trademark issues with Ubisoft’s ‘The Division.’

A World Where Anything is Possible

Elyon is the kind of game that takes time to master, but once you’ve understood it, you’ll have a hard time forgetting it. Players are transported into an eerie world where anything can happen—and does. Players begin by creating their characters before embarking on various quests through forests, caves, swamps, and more, facing beasts and other foes as they proceed toward their goal.

The game is set in a fictional medieval world called Harth. The game’s graphics look so realistic that I sometimes feel like I’ve been thrown into a whole new world. The game focuses on dynamic combat/rivalry between two realms, Vulpin and Ontario, with players using diverse skill combinations based on the non-targeting system. Elyon is quite similar to Landmark in terms of its gameplay and mechanics.

Little Features that Make Elyon Exciting and Unique

Elyon’s biggest draw, unlike other popular MMORPGs such as World of Warcraft and Final Fantasy XIV, is that it’s completely free to play without any mandatory purchases or subscriptions. The only in-game purchases available are some micro-transactions such as cosmetic items and convenience features that are purely cosmetic and do not impact gameplay.

One of my favorite things about Elyon is that there are mini-games within the game itself! Some examples include fishing, racing pigs, and hunting monsters. These mini-games allow you to earn gold and experience without questing. It’s nice to have a break sometimes, right?

The graphics and sound were stunning while still somewhat simplistic. The vibrant and colorful nature of the game is welcoming and eases you into the game. The storyline is an intriguing one that kept me hooked throughout my entire playthrough. The ability to choose your character from various options and classes also makes the storyline more exciting. You get to choose sides and decide who will be allies or enemies.

Seems Boring? Just Keep Playing! 

Elyon has fairly easy and fast-paced gameplay, making it fun for most gamers. At first, players will only have access to a few features. However, as they play through more levels, they’ll start earning new abilities that open up entirely new parts of a level or even a new level altogether. The first few levels seemed strange, complex, and kind of boring. Things had an epic turnaround when I reached level 40. Combat became more exciting, I unlocked new game features, and I started accessing different online arenas. 

There is more to Elyon than what you’ll see when you begin the game. Once you play for a longer period, more features will unlock. Players often have to return and replay older levels to find these hidden routes. It can be frustrating at times, but it never feels like you’re being punished by having to go back. Rather, you feel rewarded because you get to revisit your favorite places with brand new powers! 

Getting to Understand the Level Design

Once players complete enough levels and earn enough experience points, they’ll eventually reach level 40. This is when things take off in Elyon; here, I found that everything just seemed easier than before (perhaps because I had gotten so used to playing previous levels over and over again). 

It was great not having to worry about making the best judgment on whether or not I could tackle a new challenge; instead, I felt confident that any obstacle thrown my way would eventually work itself out if I just kept playing. That’s what makes Elyon one of my favorite games this year. 

It takes time to complete the levels in Elyon. During your first playthrough, it may take even longer since you’ll be learning how to play, and there will likely be a lot of difficulties. However, once you understand everything more clearly, subsequent games should take less time since you’ll know what to expect and will be able to play much faster.

You Can Choose to be Anything

One thing I liked about Elyon was that it had a ton of options for different types of players. There are different jobs you could take on, like Warrior, Acolyte, and Mage. When creating your character, you could choose from any of the six character classes, including warlord, elementals, mystic, assassin, gunner, or slayer. 

You have different gameplay options like playing a solo game, creating a guild, or even working with friends to battle bosses and defeat them. The game has four different races: Human, Elf, Ein, and Giant/Orc, each having their bonuses while leveling up. 

Control May Seem Difficult for Beginners

As a beginner, It may be really difficult to control your character. You could easily fall off a cliff when trying to jump over a ledge or even get stuck while climbing a wall. Some combats are difficult to master despite the tutorials. If you find yourself facing these issues, you shouldn’t get discouraged as you just need a little more practice. Once you have mastered the control, you will be happy that you didn’t give up. You will find out soon enough that the concept behind Elyon is simple, fun, and quite addicting. 

Conclusion

Elyon is a multiplayer game that will capture your interest for hours. It’s also a game that almost anyone can play and enjoy. Elyon is a great game, but it is not for everyone. You either love it or hate it, and that’s okay because, with a game like it, you will expect very high levels of difficulty and large amounts of time to complete your objective. If you can’t take up such challenges, it’s best to check out other games.