Ember Sword

Ember Sword is a social sandbox MMORPG currently in its early access phase. Developed by Bright Star Studios, the game is expected to be of high quality, meeting the high standards set by their marketing and team members.

Fun fact: Joris, their Chief Development Officer, owns one of the largest Unity game asset store publishers. The game is set in Thanabus, a dynamic world full of wonder, mystery, and adventure. Players can gain titles such as Baron/Baroness or Duke by owning lands in this mythical world.

The game is designed to be accessible on any device and can be played for free directly through their website. The hardware specifications required are minimal due to the nature of the platform on which the game is played.

Gameplay

The game begin by customizing your character, including facial and body features, as well as the character's weight and strength. After customization, the player is loaded into a friendly camp that contains several objects useful for crafting. These objects become important once the player successfully completes their first combat encounter.

Currently, there are lot of missing pieces in the game which would make you confuse on how to start your adventure in the game. However, the game lacks a proper tutorial, leaving players unsure of how to begin their journey. While a quest system exists, quests are only accessible from a quest board, which players must locate themselves as there are no guides or markers to direct them. 

Players are tasked with progressing through three main areas:

First, leveling up the character. The player gains experience points from combat, gathering, and crafting. Each of these activities also levels up the associated skills.

Second, upgrading equipment. Players use materials like bones from initial monsters to craft tools such as pickaxes for harvesting. They also upgrade their sword and shield, using copper for levels 1-10, iron for levels 11-20, and so on. Upgrading gathering tools increases the chance of doubling the rewards from gathering.

Lastly, engaging in PvP in the battle arena. Several areas on the map allow for PvP actions, making it important to be of a high level. Since equipment is the same for every player, combat at higher levels is skill-based.

The game, while offering some engaging mechanics, has notable issues that can hinder the overall experience. The combat system, especially early on, feels unbalanced. Even low-level monsters are unexpectedly tough when fought directly, and high-level monsters are scattered in beginner areas, making it nearly impossible to farm experience without dying repeatedly. This can frustrate new players who are trying to level up their characters. The absence of an aim-lock feature adds a level of difficulty to combat, making it more challenging to hit enemies accurately. While this may be tricky for players still getting familiar with the controls, it encourages them to adapt and refine their combat skills, adding a layer of depth to the gameplay.

Exploration also has its challenges. The map is very basic, showing only enemy locations while missing key details like city names, settlement markers, or landmarks. This makes it hard to figure out where to go next, whether to deliver items or find the next quest. Without any clear guidance or navigation tools, players often feel lost. Additionally, moving around the map feels slow, and the dash ability has a cooldown that is far too long, making travel even more tedious.

On the positive side, the game’s polished visuals and well-executed battle effects enhance the gameplay experience. These elements make combat and exploration look and feel more immersive, showing that the developers have put effort into creating an appealing atmosphere. While these visual improvements are commendable, addressing the gameplay issues would make the overall experience much more enjoyable.

Review

Ember Sword shows potential as a sandbox MMORPG with its accessible design and clean, evolving graphics inspired by titles like Albion Online, Runescapes and Minecraft. The game’s crafting mechanics and polished combat visuals are highlights, offering a glimpse of what could be a rich and engaging experience. The sound design also performs well in certain areas, with satisfying attack effects adding clarity to battles. However, its calming background music lacks the excitement needed to fully immerse players in the game’s world.

Despite these positives, the game struggles with several shortcomings. The lack of a proper tutorial makes the initial experience confusing, especially for new players who are left to figure out the gameplay on their own. Combat feels unbalanced early on, with tough low-level monsters and high-level threats scattered across beginner areas. The absence of an aim-lock feature further complicates battles, making accurate targeting challenging. Exploration is similarly frustrating due to a barebones map system lacking critical navigational aids like city names or landmarks, leaving players feeling lost.

While Ember Sword is in its early access, these foundational issues hinder its ability to fully engage players. However, the game’s vision and ongoing development suggest that it has the potential to evolve into a stronger title. With updates focusing on gameplay balance, navigational improvements, and a more structured onboarding experience, Ember Sword could become a standout MMORPG. For now, it serves as a decent starting point for what could grow into a much better game.