It's hard to believe, but the classic free-to-play MMORPG “FlyFF” – aka “Fly for Fun” – has been out for over six years. Originally released in Korea in 2003, the MMORPG with an emphasis on flight hit US shores in 2005, shortly after the release of “World of Warcraft.” At the time, many blasted the idea of a “free-to-play” MMORPG, and disliked the general gameplay of Korean MMORPGs in general.
Now, though, free-to-play MMORPGs are far more prevalent, and, as some argue, are becoming the standard for the industry.
So how does one of the forefathers of the free-to-play revolution compare to the other games of today? Let's find out.
Take to the skies. It's there, right in its name: Fly. “FlyFF” has always been known as “that free MMORPG with flying,” and although other MMORPGs such as “Aion” and “Champions Online” now offer far better flying, there's no free title that allows the aerial freedom “FlyFF” does. Sure, after a dozen updates flying is a smaller part of the intrinsic game than it originally was, but it remains a fun feature, and flight as the main method of transportation is far more entertaining than riding a horse around areas you've already been walking.
Cheerful and bright visuals. “FlyFF” won't win any MMORPG awards for having the best graphics, but there's something about its visuals that just make you feel happy. Childish? Probably. Cutesy? You bet. But there's a nice refreshing change of pace in a game like “FlyFF,” where the emphasis isn't on how realistic it can look, or how many shadows and reflections it can offer, but the way the world fits together as a whole. Compared to the high number of medieval fantasy games out there with seemingly interchangeable graphics packages, it's a nice visual treat.
Regular events. Maybe it's because the playerbase has been around longer and is more dedicated, or maybe it's because the staff working on it is more involved in a game that's run this long, but something about “FlyFF” causes the development and GM teams to seemingly run more regular events. We're not talking huge, campaign-driven events a few times a year like Mythic does with “WAR” – we're talking smaller ones that you may not even know are going to happen until you log on. It's always fun to be surprised with events, and “FlyFF” does that well.
Spam, spam, spam. If you hate goldspammers or people spamming their gold selling website, then avert your eyes from “FlyFF's” chat window. No matter what steps the developers take, it seems like there's always a huge number of people spamming their penya for sale. A part of most MMORPGs these days, sadly; but in “FlyFF” it's more prominent than normal.
Lackluster quests. Believe it or not, the concept of quests is relatively new for “FlyFF.” Primarily a grind-based game, it's only recently that questing has been a viable form of progression in the MMORPG. This is unfortunate, as many casual and new MMORPG players are more used to “WoW's” quest-based progression than they are the free-form grinding progression of older MMORPGs like “Ultima Online.”
Plenty of post-version 9 issues. Version 9 of “FlyFF” is the update many consider to be the dagger in the game's heart. While recent versions have fixed some of the glaring issues caused by 9 – such as open world PVP which led to a surge in PKs (fixed by making only one server open-world PK) – the economy and cash shop item issue still remain, for the most part, upsetting. Inflation for in-game money is high due to gold sellers, and a new emphasis on cash shop items makes the later game harder for players who don't purchase gpotatos and instead play for free.
Back in 2005 and 2006, “FlyFF” was one of the top free-to-play MMORPGs available. While the game itself is still largely intact, more recent releases and “FlyFF's” current issues make it a hard sell for veteran MMORPG players. If you're new to the genre, or a young player, though, “FlyFF” remains a solid entry point, due to its variety of classes, pleasing art style, and accessibility. Just don't expect a super high quality game, because it's clear that the glory days of “FlyFF” are gone pending major changes.
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