MapleStory Universe

MapleStory Universe stands out in the web3 MMORPG space, backed by the powerhouse game developer NEXON and nearly two decades of established IP, beginning with the original MapleStory game. As MapleStory dipped its toes into web3, it seems they decided to dive right in with their first game in the MapleStory Universe ecosystem – MapleStory N. This game brings in the nostalgia, with its classic MapleStory features such as its iconic 2D graphics, endless and creative monster hunting, job classes, and, of course, the social aspect of forming parties and guilds. Now, let’s dive deeper into the game and try to review it.

Gameplay

A detailed gameplay guide can be found in a previous article, but to summarize: MapleStory N delivers the classic MapleStory gameplay and familiar game loop. As you start your journey, you’ll be welcomed into the expansive world of MapleStory by several NPCs who introduce you to the game's lore. The story revolves around finding the Maple hero and exploring the vast regions of MapleStory.

The game starts by teaching you the basic controls, questing systems, skills, and abilities. Completing quests, defeating monsters, and advancing through the story will allow your character to level up. Eventually, you’ll face an important choice: picking your job class. Whether you prefer a tank-like melee warrior, a quick and efficient magician, or an agile archer, each class brings its own playstyle. As you progress, these classes can further branch out into specialized paths. For example, a mage can choose between Fire/Poison or Ice/Lightning specializations. Beyond job classes, players can also equip weapons, items, and skins, adding the customization and collecting aspect. Many of these items can be converted into NFTs, allowing them to be traded on the MSU marketplace.

The core gameplay loop revolves around story-driven quests and NPC interactions, often leading you to explore new regions. Each continent/region introduces fresh NPCs and questlines. However, the adventure doesn’t stop there. Once your daily dose of quests and exploration is complete, you can socialize by joining guilds, form parties to clear out boss dungeons, or grind endless mob farming for a chance to drop rare loot and complete your item sets.

Review

The graphics of MapleStory N are subjective and depend on personal preference. The 2D style might feel nostalgic and charming to some players, while others might find it outdated. From my experience playing various MMORPGs, the graphics strike a balance, simple yet smooth, especially during fast-paced combat where multiple abilities are being cast. That said, I did need some time to adjust to the 2D perspective, especially when navigating the 2D minimap.

Gameplay-wise, what can I say? MapleStory N has all the classic MMORPG elements we know and love, from choosing job classes to upgrading them over time. The available job classes are well-designed and resonate with various playstyles. The thrill of progressing your character, completing item sets, and learning new abilities to deal with those once-difficult mobs is incredibly satisfying. But what truly stands out is the story and lore behind the game. While some gamers might skip NPC dialogues, I personally enjoy the world-building and attention to detail. Every NPC quest reveals small bits and pieces of lore about their respective region, and as someone who loves these details, it’s a big win for me.

Regarding controls, I had to adjust for a while since I’m not used to 2D MMORPG games. Coming from other web3 MMOs like Lumiterra and Night Crows, my instincts would often tell me to rotate the camera with the mouse, but MapleStory N keeps it simple with its 2D layout. However, simplicity doesn’t mean a lack of depth—the game introduces a surprising number of hotkeys as you unlock more abilities, adding complexity to combat and gameplay.

Let’s talk about the web3 integration. I’d say MapleStory N has an excellent gasless minting system for NFT assets. The MSU marketplace is also seamless and intuitive for experienced web3 gamers. However, for broader adoption, email or social log-in options might make onboarding easier, as currently, you still need a crypto wallet to log in. In-game currency farming (Nesolet and NESO) can be quite a grind, especially if you only have the basic pet, which collects loot only when you’re nearby. This sometimes causes players to miss valuable drops during intense combat.

One of the strongest aspects of MapleStory N is its replayability. The world feels endlessly explorable, and currently, there’s no energy system to limit gameplay. This has its pros and cons: on one hand, you can grind endlessly and catch up with higher-level friends; on the other hand, it opens the door to bot farming abuse, a problem that also plagued the original MapleStory.