Wemade unveiled its new game “Legend of Ymir” at G-STAR 2023, which opened at BEXCO in Busan.
The game is due out next year, so a large hands-on booth was introduced on-site. In my hands-on experience, I can tell you that “Legends of Ymir” is a game with a clear direction. It boasts of high-quality graphics and storytelling using Unreal Engine 5. The button-action (QTE) combat is reminiscent of cinematic games or story-driven console games.
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I would rate the graphics as excellent. Details like the character skin, textures, light sources, and the dilapidated yet mysterious architecture are very well done. The shadows and gradients that change depending on the direction of the light seem very natural. Games on PC and mobile devices can sometimes lack graphical polish, but I didn't notice any such issues with this game. Instead, the game's concept and art style blend together seamlessly, making it a lot of fun to play.
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What's unique about it is the realization of an authentic, medieval European world. The bushes and conifers have a strong Nordic feel to them - even the clothing is reminiscent of medieval Vikings. The cold polar regions and the near-apocalyptic setting provide strong visual cues. Comparisons are being made to fantasy RPGs, which feature ornate armor and modern cities.
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The story is based on Norse mythology. It's all about stopping Ragnarok, or the end of the world. The trial version starts at the beginning of the tale, when you receive a mission. After a tutorial battle of sorts, you'll meet Thor, the God of Thunder.
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Hunting is a hack-and-slash affair. It's fun to take out a lot of enemies with flashy skills. There are eight skills in total to learn, which can be set to auto-use. However, the special move in the eighth slot only responded when I controlled it manually.
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It's a powerful skill, so likely they have limited its use so that players can pick and choose. Or maybe it's just a way to give you an extra advantage in manual combat. Players will need to use dash and dodge appropriately when dealing with powerful enemies. This is something to look forward to, in challenging instance dungeons or field boss battles.
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The first half of the trial flows smoothly. I enjoy the colorful graphics, skill effects, and the story-based cutscenes. The character movement is very natural, thanks to the use of motion facial capture technology. There are plenty of ways to jump and move around - you can do a two-stage jump using your summoner, or perform a mid-air dash called the Rifta. This is a feature that made me look forward to the exploration and obstacles you'll have to overcome.
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The final battle with Loki also provides pretty interesting content. It's a story-driven console game with button-action (QTE) combat. It's evident that the development team aimed to effectively convey an intriguing world. Furthermore, the full Korean dub is a treat for the ears, with beautiful music and synergized sound effects.
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Legends of Ymir is a next-gen MMORPG with top-notch graphics. In particular, it uses various ways to show the story. Another positive aspect of this game is the QTE action, which allows you to enjoy exciting battles with simple controls.
김태만 기자 ktman21c@gamevu.co.kr
