Wind Slayer Review--05-07-2008

	Game Title: Wind Slayer	MMOsite Resources:
	Genre: 2D, Sidescrolling, Anime		Official Site
	Developer: HAMELIN Inc.		Screenshots
	Publisher: Avocado Entertainment Inc and Hamelin Corporation
	Status: Closed Beta

This review is written by TobiasMasters from MMOsite Blog.

This is the most accurate way to describe the first ten hours most people will spend playing Wind Slayer; poo and peaches.

I am not joking, no matter how much I wish I was.

Wind Slayer is a free MMORPG (with premium content available) which just recently started it's closed beta. Players familiar with Maple Story will feel right at home in the 2D, side-perspective environment.The game itself is very enjoyable to begin with, but quickly makes some terrible mistakes. Where to begin?

Firstly the control scheme (and possibly my biggest gripe with the game): The arrow keys are used for movement and A, S, D, W are used for actions such as attacking and picking up items. Most gamers are well used to using their left hand (ASDW) for movement and this control is quite uncomfortable. I immediately went into my key settings to rearrange my keys to be a bit more bearable. I almost cried when I discovered that while most keys can be reconfigured very simply, the arrow keys were one of the few that could not be changed. This means that if you find this control layout uncomfortable, you're stuck with it. This doesn't make the game unplayable, as the combat is simple enough to manage, it simply takes some of the enjoyment out of the experience.

Click here for full image

Speaking of combat, Wind Slayer has a fantastic 'idea' for PvP: The Arena.
I say idea because at this early stage it doesn't quite work. The idea is that two teams of up to 9 players get together and duke it out, last team standing wins reputation and a PvP currency known as "Vicky". Naturally some of the best looking and strongest items are available only by using Vicky and, as I said, this is a great 'idea'...