Having spent a significant portion of my life immersed in MMORPGs, particularly a decade devoted to Final Fantasy XIV, I find myself drawn to new titles that promise fresh experiences. This curiosity led me to explore Throne and Liberty, a free-to-play MMORPG developed by the seasoned team at NCSoft and published by Amazon Games, available on platforms such as Steam, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. My journey began with the pre-launch test build and continued with the post-launch version on Steam, revealing a game that occupies a precarious position in the realm of in-game monetization.
Throne and Liberty: Graphics
Visually, Throne and Liberty stands out as a stunning creation. When played on higher graphics settings, such as High or Epic, the game truly shines. Utilizing a Razer Blade 14 (2024) equipped with an AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS processor and Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU, I experienced seamless and breathtaking visuals during both pre-rendered and in-engine cutscenes. The game’s graphical fidelity extends into active gameplay, showcasing impressive use of light, shadow, and rich textures that create a vibrant and immersive fantasy world. It may well be the most visually appealing MMORPG I have encountered in recent times.
The character creator offers a wealth of customization options, allowing players to craft unique avatars. For those who prefer a quicker start, preset faces and hairstyles are available, or players can opt for a randomized appearance. The character creation process is efficient, ensuring that players can dive into the action without excessive delay. Additionally, a photo mode allows for capturing in-game moments, although the current lack of equipment variety in endgame content may limit the appeal of character curation, which many veteran players consider the true endgame of MMORPGs.
Throne and Liberty: Story
Unfortunately, the narrative aspect of Throne and Liberty leaves much to be desired. The game follows a rather conventional “chosen one” arc, where the player, known as the Star Born, confronts the malevolent Kazar and his witch companion, Calanthia. As a member of the Resistance, players engage in battles to shape the fate of the world of Solisium. While the world itself is beautifully crafted and rich in lore, the storyline feels underdeveloped and lacks memorable characters or emotional depth. It serves merely as a vehicle to propel players toward the endgame content, which is disappointing given the potential for a more engaging narrative.
Throne and Liberty: Should you play?
For those seeking a grind-heavy, guild-based PvP experience to fill the void left by Guild Wars 2, Throne and Liberty may be a suitable option. However, if you desire a more captivating MMORPG experience, you might want to explore alternatives that offer smoother mechanics, richer storytelling, and more fulfilling endgame content. While Throne and Liberty is not without merit, its longevity in a competitive market remains uncertain, especially when compared to other titles that provide a more satisfying gaming experience.
Amazon Games: A troubled history
Amazon’s foray into game publishing began in 2011 with the launch of the Amazon Appstore, initially focusing on social mobile games. In 2014, the company shifted its strategy to develop flagship PC titles. The release of New World in September 2021 marked a significant milestone, though the game struggled to maintain its player base after a promising start. While it peaked at over 913,000 players on Steam, its themes of colonization faced backlash, leading to a decline in engagement. The upcoming console release may offer a chance for revival, but its current status is far from triumphant.
Following New World, Amazon Games published Lost Ark, which saw considerable success with an all-time peak of over 1.3 million players. Despite a decline, it maintains a steady player base. The subsequent release of Blue Protocol faced challenges, with the game only reaching technical tests in Western markets. The recent launch of Throne and Liberty on October 1, 2024, achieved a peak of over 333,000 players, indicating a positive reception, though its sustainability in the crowded MMO landscape remains to be seen.
Where does Amazon Games go from here?
With only four flagship PC games released thus far, Amazon Games faces a challenging path ahead. While Lost Ark stands as a notable success, the free-to-play MMO market is notoriously difficult to navigate. Although freemium models can yield commercial success, they often fall short in delivering a compelling gaming experience compared to subscription-based models like World of Warcraft and Final Fantasy XIV.
Collaborations with external developers have yielded mixed results, and the future of Amazon Games may hinge on its ability to produce polished titles, including an untitled Tomb Raider project and an upcoming The Lord of the Rings MMORPG. As Amazon continues to invest in its gaming division, the potential for growth remains, supported by its substantial resources. For now, Throne and Liberty appears to be faring well, but only time will tell if it can carve out a lasting presence in the competitive MMO arena.
Laptop Mag’s hardware recommendations
The hardware requirements for Throne and Liberty are surprisingly modest, especially considering its impressive visuals. The game can run on lower settings with an Intel Core i5-7700, Nvidia GeForce GTX960, 16GB of RAM, and 63GB of available storage. For optimal performance, Amazon suggests a system with an Intel Core i5-11600K, Nvidia GeForce GTX1660, and the same RAM and storage requirements. Interestingly, console players require even less, needing only 40GB of available storage.
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