Poll of the Day > Why hasn't there ever been a really good 2d platform MMO?

(+) Yeah! (+)

Like Zelda II but an MMO version with deep class systems etc?

I know there are maple stories etc (a bunch of different 2d MMO's), but they are all very simple in character progression etc, nothing that really lets you build a character at all (stats, equipment etc).

There is a ton of potential for someone to make a very popular MMO using classes/races etc like many other MMO's have, but allowing players to battle in a 2d world.

Dungeons and Dragons online for instance is a good example of a MMO with plenty of different characters you can build and play. It's a fun game, but you could remake that whole game in a 2d world easily, with way less work then the original, and it would probably be extremely popular.

Nobody has come close to doing that though. So much potential:(
---

*Cough**Cough*Terraria*Cough*
---

Yeah Maplestory was the best MMO for a few years until they murdered it with pay2win.
---

Blue_Thunder posted...

*Cough**Cough*Terraria*Cough*

Can't only like 8 people be in a Terraria server? MMO would imply hundreds of people on a server at the same time.
---

Blue_Thunder posted...

*Cough**Cough*Terraria*Cough*

Haven't played it in many years, so they probably added alot, but, it wasn't even close to an MMO when I played it last. There was no classes at all, no leveling even, and the weapon choices where pretty limited. Don't even think there was armor like in Minecraft, but I might have forgotten it. It was a fun 2d version of minecraft basically when I played it last, and that was about it.

I'm talking about having rogues, fighters, clerics, wizards, rangers etc. Tons of different types of characters you can build, and hopefully even mix the classes a bit (say you end up with 50 character levels total, you can go with a barbarian 10/fighter 8/Cleric 32 for instance, getting bonuses from each class to end up with a character that can heal quite well (and buff as well), but has very good melee combat abilities as well.

The concept is to have a 2d game with deep character customization so you have motivation to play through the game over and over with different class builds. Then you add in tons of quests/areas to play and bosses to beat, so you have a huge world to explore and challenges to test your builds against.

Such a game (in 2d) would be WAY easier to make then many 3d games, but would be fun to play solo or in a party (allowing casuals to play it easily), and could easily involve alot of player skill (as 2d games often do).

Basically a Castlevania Symphony of the night, with deaper character generation/leveling and in MMO format.

Such a game would sell like hotcakes......and last for a very long time.

Maplestory DFO etc, all started down that road, but didn't ever really flush it out at all.

Not sure why nobody has really got on this, but game developers should because honestly you see a million new MMO's coming out every year, all very similar with just different graphics etc, and none really offering something that will draw people in and keep them playing.

Make 1 game like this though, and you'll grab a huge audience. Make it free to play with in game purchases for more character slots, certain classes being playable, more bank slots etc, and you'll make a fortune as well.

Basically make a 2d versison of Path of exile.....which while great, is not in a format everyone likes. A 2d version of path of exile would rock.
---

Sounds like you would love Salt and Sanctuary.

Raganork10 posted...

Sounds like you would love Salt and Sanctuary.

Yep, I did, I'm going to replay it again soon in fact as I never finished my magic run.

I also have a ton of other games like it, but they are single player, and fairly short, and don't have deep character building/leveling etc.

But those are my jam:)
---

I made the mistake of going pure mage for my first run in S&S, and the game kicked my ass until I said "f this, I'm gonna delve into the strength tree." Got a 2H sword that scaled with magic and just destroyed the rest of the game.

I would enjoy 2D games that have deep RPG mechanics, but they need to be balanced properly. And the problem in that something like that would be more niche than you think. This isn't the 90s anymore, unfortunately. I love 2D games, but they're a hard sell these days.

Raganork10 posted...

I made the mistake of going pure mage for my first run in S&S, and the game kicked my ass until I said "f this, I'm gonna delve into the strength tree." Got a 2H sword that scaled with magic and just destroyed the rest of the game.

I would enjoy 2D games that have deep RPG mechanics, but they need to be balanced properly. And the problem in that something like that would be more niche than you think. This isn't the 90s anymore, unfortunately. I love 2D games, but they're a hard sell these days.

The idea is that you are supposed to have a party that supports each other, for example if you are pure magic you want a fighter in your group to balance it out. Just like every D&D party should have a healer of some kind, even if your character is a solitary rogue.
---

Dikitain posted...

Raganork10 posted...

I made the mistake of going pure mage for my first run in S&S, and the game kicked my ass until I said "f this, I'm gonna delve into the strength tree." Got a 2H sword that scaled with magic and just destroyed the rest of the game.

I would enjoy 2D games that have deep RPG mechanics, but they need to be balanced properly. And the problem in that something like that would be more niche than you think. This isn't the 90s anymore, unfortunately. I love 2D games, but they're a hard sell these days.

The idea is that you are supposed to have a party that supports each other, for example if you are pure magic you want a fighter in your group to balance it out. Just like every D&D party should have a healer of some kind, even if your character is a solitary rogue.

See, I'd get away from traditional methods of making people group up, and instead have it so different characters bring something to the table for everyone else, making a party better then 4 individuals (saying you have 4 characters max in a party).

Clerics/healers would bring healing for the group and some buffs.

Wizards/spellcasters would bring CC abilities (stuns/holds etc), and different buffs (haste etc).

Fighters/barbarians etc would bring defensive methods and high constant dps.

Rogues/Rangers etc, would bring ranged attacks, skills (lock picking, trap disabling etc), and sometimes things like pets etc.

Each class would have some form of buff they can provide as well, to the entire group.

Soloing though, should in my opinion ALWAYS be an option in any MMO, just not the best option. Some content may be almost impossible solo though, but it should be optional (but quite likely offer the best equipment/rewards). Fighting in a party should give a boost to everyone and more exp in general per time spent etc.

Then you have the actual fighting mechanics, you can do alot with 2d, such as creating a wall (2 shield users on top of each other blocking an enemy from hitting the cleric/mage behind them), or reaching higher places by jumping on each other etc.

You also have the ability to grab the attention of an enemy, so a rogue or someone with bonuses from attacking from behind can position themselves etc.

Tons of tactics that could be used.

I think 2d fighters are not popular because nothing has really been done to move them forward. Nothing that really lets you sink your teeth into one game over a long time that uses that style of combat.

There is a ton of potential though, because honestly you can make new content SO much faster for that type of game. It's easy (cake really), to create the code, rules etc for unlimited advancement for characters. I used to do it on text based muds, and honestly a 2d fighter is not much harder to code for.

People played muds for decades of real time (with 95% of it in combat), and that was a TEXT game lol. Imagine how addictive and fun a 2d MMO could be?
---

What about Dungeon Fighter Online?
---

Blue_Thunder posted...

*Cough**Cough*Terraria*Cough*

You dont know what an MMO is at all do you?
---

wolfy42 posted...

Maplestory DFO etc, all started down that road, but didn't ever really flush it out at all.

I mentioned DFO, but yeah, it doesn't really fill that nitch. I'm talking a CSOTN/Metroid type game (2d), or for a more rpg like version Zelda II, but with full character customization building.

Salt and Sanctuary is kinda like that, a few other single player games touch on it, but nothing that really gives you full character customization in a 2d setting, and there is really no reason why.

You could even make a single player game like that, basically a metroidian game but with a deep character generation building, you wouldn't even need to make it huge or anything, just go the Diablo II route with higher difficulty levels etc.

Oh well, it doesn't exist yet, no clue why. If I was still coding at all, I would consider making one myself, but it would be a ton of work and I really don't feel like taking on such a big project.

Wish I had done it 15 years ago or so....instead of working on muds etc.
---