Ragnarok Origin: What to expect from the popular fan-favourite MMORPG
Players who have ever hung out in the middle of Prontera while Porings and Lunatics wandered around outside the gates are all part of the generation that Ragnarok Online defined over the years. The hit franchise has helped gamers all around the world forge bonds in guild battles and even helped them make lasting memories as they fought to take down Baphomet or got married in the square. Now, a fresh generation can experience the popular MMORPG in a new way with Ragnarok Origin, set to launch officially on April 6th for both PC and mobile gamers across the globe.
With a whopping 9 million pre-registrations and rising, the game brings back all the nostalgia of the beloved IP along with a few new surprises up its sleeve - and here's everything you can expect when diving into Midgard.
Bringing back memories the OG way
At the official Ragnarok Origin press conference held yesterday at The Fifth at Rockwell in Manila, Philippines, GRAVITY Chairman, COO, and Gravity Game Hub CEO Yoshinori Kitamura along with Gravity Game Hub President Harry Choi shared a behind-the-scenes peek at the development process of the game, as well as what players can look forward to once the cross-platform title is out.
Ragnarok Origin will feature the same unique classes players of the OG game have come to know and love, as well as AFK levelling and that old-school thrill of challenging MVPs in the field. Given that the franchise is all about crafting cherished memories with friends and loved ones, Gravity Game Hub COO Robin Ng also highlighted the nostalgic appeal of the game, particularly for the feeling of first love.
Authentic yet new
The developers of the game prioritised the evocative memories that the franchise brings, which is why environments and artworks have all been preserved to bring back that old-school feeling. Of course, Ragnarok Origin boasts enhanced visuals with revamped 3D sprites, all while staying true to the look and feel of the original title.
Players can also expect to express their personalities with hundreds of different costumes at their disposal, from the classic eggshell headgear to more modern iterations of themed outfits. The pet and mount system has also undergone a fresh overhaul - ranged players can use their pets as a tank in combat, for instance, or they can even ride on top of a shark on land (because why the heck not).
New guild system and four epic events
With the new title comes four new events where players can put their Poring-smashing prowess to the test. The cross-server guild league encourages competitive esports gameplay across the "Odin Cup", "Thor Cup", "Loki Cup", and "Valkyrie Cup".
In particular, the Odin Cup is a massive 150 vs. 150 tournament between two guilds. The Thor Cup is a 5v5 tournament, while the Loki Cup is a 10-man battle where players teleport onto a battleground littered with MVPs as they attempt to take down these epic bosses in the shortest time possible. And finally, the Valkyrie Cup is another 5v5 match - but the catch is that it's a fair fight, so teams can't take all their souped-up gear into battle. Items can only be acquired from the NPCs, which is why having the right strategy will determine the outcome of the match.
On the Ragnarok Origin demo and presscon
I personally had the privilege of trying out the game during the press conference, and - being an avid fan of the OG title - I was immediately overwhelmed with the rush of nostalgia as soon as I held the game in my hands. Even the main theme from Prontera brought back all the feels in waves - everything from the tiny squeaking of a Lunatic when killed (sorry, buddy) to the fanfare you get when you level up pays homage to the original game, and it's exhilarating.
I played enough to actually level up and finish the Job Change quest, and picking my class was a no-brainer - I went with the Thief without a second thought. It was the first class I ever tried in the game, and heading into Morroc to finish my job quest still feels satisfying even after all these years.
The event had plenty of raffle draws and giveaways from Razer and Huawei AppGallery, with the demo phones at the event provided by Huawei as well. Pre-registering on the official website can still offer you the chance to score in-game goodies, Razer keyboards and mice, and even a HUAWEI Mate 50 PRO, so honestly, there's no reason not to sign up ahead of the launch on April 6th (which won't be long now).
For now, if you're keen on learning more about the game, you can join the community of followers on Facebook to stay updated on all the latest developments as well!
