Vindictus

A month ago Vindictus fans learned of the new cross gun being introduced to Kai's arsenal. It's a rapid-firing weapon that merges the look of the traditional crossbow with the firepower of the gun. Now, Nexon Europe has released two new videos that highlight the gameplay of Kai with his new armament. Watch the cross gun in action as teams take on various foes amid ruins, in the jungle, and across the desert dunes in the two trailers after the break.

[Source: Nexon press release]

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It's a little amazing, when you think about it, that all of these magic-users who prance around in extremely flammable robes don't suffer from third-degree burns more than we see. Or maybe the game is hiding the awful, scarred truth from us. In any case, our opening screenshot this week should have resulted in a quick trip to the ER for both parties.

"This is a simple yet fun battle in Vindictus' early levels," reader Carolina says. "I love the detail of the damaged shoe on my spellcaster character."

Forget the human element; now the shoes are the ones suffering for our casual disregard of fiery magic! If you can get past the misery of the moment, we've got plenty of other great one shots this week for you to admire.

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She slices, she dices, she eviscerates, and she's the newest character in Vindictus. Ladies and gentlemen, meet Vella and her dual blades. She's the star of the newest video from the game's team at Nexon, which shows off her penchant for quick maneuvers and swinging arcs of destruction.

In the game's lore, Vella is a mariner renowned for her skill with blades and her agility. In play, she more than lives up to the reputation, possessing a variety of attacks that either help her close the range with her opponent (such as Typhoon Slash) or help her get out of range as necessary (such as the spinning attack Slipaway). While she's obviously a melee character, her ability to dart in and out of range and vent around larger opponents should help keep her versatile on the battlefield. But don't take our word for it -- check her out in action just past the break.

[Source: Nexon press release]

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This past week, the Money Gnomes at Turbine tested the waters with the idea of selling a $50 horse in Lord of the Rings Online. Oh, not just any horse, mind you: It's a toy hobby horse. For $50.

The representative who asked for feedback on the item and price-point probably caused herself internal hemorrhaging by stating, "This is not a joke." The fans responded, "Of course, and the sky is made out of blue cheese." At the very least, it allowed the more creative players to come up with humorous expressions of incredulity. The fun finally came to an end when the studio announced that the "experimental" price point was a failure.

Of course, this is by far not the first time a game studio's attempted to sell a ridiculous item, an item with a ridiculous price point, or both combined. If you sell it, after all, the rubes will come.

So in the spirit of a $50 hobby horse that costs something like $20 in real life to acquire, here are 10 completely ridiculous items that we've seen in MMO cash shops.

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Pirates and cannibals. You just can't have a Season 2 party without them, and the party has started in Vindictus! The next chapter of the free-to-play game is live and brings new zones, new cities, hordes of undead pirates, tribes of cannibals, and a Kraken. This update also features changes in the depth-of field renderings, a tweaked leveling curve, and a level cap increase boosting the maximum level up to 80.

Although some of the footage may seem familiar from Massively's exclusive new zone preview, this trailer shows off even more bosses, including the Kraken and a massive snake, along with plenty of battle scenes. Check it out after the break.

[Source: Nexus Europe press release]

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Last week, we brought you an exclusive detailing the new Season 2 content hitting Vindictus, including a boss that can swallow players whole. Today, we have a new video so you can see that content in action!

Have you ever wanted to grapple with a gigantic anthropomorphic octopus with spiked tentacles, or a towering undead pirate captain? If so, Vindictus' two new bosses will be right up your alley. But a couple new bosses isn't all Season 2 has to offer; the trailer also tours through the new zones that these foes inhabit. Get an up close personal look at the the bugs and spear-wielding Jungle Trolls of Crescent Moon Island and the rain-soaked planks of the Ship Graveyard in the clip past the cut.

[Source: Nexon press release]

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While a previous combat trailer gave players a peek at a variety of fighting styles in the upcoming Mabinogi 2 Arena, the newest release focuses on just the use of the sword and shield combination. Throughout the clip, developer DevCat showcases stabs, cuts, kicks, and rolls against a room full of foes. The video also demonstrates a certain level of gore, as every slice and dice leaves a swath of blood on the floor. Want to get a better look at the action for yourself? Check out the demo after the break!

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After the recent release of various videos demonstrating the upcoming Mabinogi 2 Arena, players have voiced questions about how the gameplay works and which predecessor it will more closely resemble, Mabinogi or Vindictus. In answer, Steparu has put together an initial explanation of the combat mechanics and gameplay.

The guide maps out the keyboard controls for both attacks and counter moves; fighting is controlled by only seven keys (X, Z, C, and 1-4), with one more (Q) bound to consuming potions. It also highlights one of Mabinogi 2 Arena's unique features -- the fact that attack animations change depending on where an enemy is situated and what condition it is in (such as stunned). Once in battle, Mabinogi veterans will recognize that mobs glowing different colors signifies which skill or action the mobs are using.

New content is hitting Vindictus later this month in the form of a serpent boss with a few tricks up its sleeve -- if snakes had sleeves, that is.

Lakoria is described as the "grand-daddy of all serpents," complete with purple venom, shedding skin, and the ability to swallow your character in one big gulp.

In this special exclusive reveal, we've teamed up with Nexon to bring you new screenshots of the boss and a brief developer diary with more details. You can check it all out right after the cut below.

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Mabinogi 2 Arena, Nexon's recently revealed companion to Mabinogi and Vindictus (AKA Mabinogi Heroes in the east), takes a good fight and makes it the centerpiece of the game. Slated to launch later this year, the action MMO allows players to fight in arena combat as well as spectate others' matches. While a previous video showed off some character models and environments for the upcoming game, Nexon's latest official trailer gives folks a taste of the actual combat moves players can expect.

The video shows off both 1v1 and one vs. many scenarios; various kicks, throws, slaps, and slices are exchanged between characters as well as inflicted upon nondescript practice dummies. Footage also demonstrates battle atop dinosaur-like and mechanical mounts, with the pet/mount dealing its own damage. Check out the action after the break.

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If you're a big fan of the inventive sandbox Mabinogi and action RPG Mabinogi Heroes (known as Vindictus in the west), we have to ask you: Is there room in your heart for more Mabinogi? Nexon's betting on "yes" because the publisher is hard at work on Mabinogi 2 Arena.

Revealed at GStar 2012, Mabinogi 2 takes the franchise in a new direction in a genre that Nexon is calling "MMO Arena." The game's built on an in-house engine and rewards both spectators and players alike. In fact, being a spectator is a major part of Mabinogi 2 as it provides players another way to be entertained by the game. Spectators can aid participants and be given rewards from them in return.

Mabinogi 2 Arena has five classes, combat styles, and body types. It's decidedly an action MMO that involves a wide range of actions such as throwing counters, grabbing opponents, and even slapping. It's slated to launch later this year, and you can watch the shaky-cam trailer after the jump.

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I've noticed a curious trend among the Massively staff when it comes to the Why I Play column: The writers here tend to choose games you wouldn't necessarily expect them to choose. MJ Guthrie, who is the wind beneath our Wings Over Atreia, wrote about why she plays the Secret World. Patrick Mackey, our former Champions Online caped crusader and lately our League of Legends legend, wrote about why he plays Global Agenda. Shawn Schuster, our boss-in-chief, wrote about the little MMO that could, WURM Online. Jef Reahard, our stalwart sandbox supporter, wrote about Lord of the Rings Online. And Larry Everett, our Jedi master, wrote about, well, Star Wars The Old Republic, but my point is that the Why I Play column seems to be a place for us to write about the games we play when we're not "gaming."

That brings me to my choice for this week: Vindictus. Each week, I express my fondness for RIFT, EverQuest II, and various kid-friendly MMOs, but about a year ago, I began to do an MMO walkabout and sampled a bunch of games, many of which I livestreamed with Massively's Jeremy Stratton. I really enjoyed most of the MMOs we played, but one that stood out for me was Vindictus. There's something about the game that makes it my favorite game away from gaming, and I'll attempt to explain why in this week's Why I Play.

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What's better than forging into battle against demons and dragons in Vindictus? How about forging in with your very own death-dealing pet fighting right by your side? The latest addition to the free-to-play fantasy MMORPG is the Gremlin pet: a ferocious companion that aids in battle and helps loot the spoils afterwards.

So what fearsome visage to do these fierce fighters have? Nexon's video reveals Gremlins as furry little floppy-eared bunny/birds (or is it a bird/bunnies?). But don't let the cuteness fool you; they are killers! And every player can have one, regardless of class. Gremlins come in three types, each with its own attitude: Tiny Gremlin, Punk Gremlin, and Armor Gremlin.

Check out the new cuddly, kiester-kicking companions in the video after the break.

[Source: Nexon press release]

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Between now and August 1st, Vindictus EU will be holding a jumping event. No, this isn't a late Easter event but a chance for any player to jump a new character straight to level 50.

Special armor and weapon sets will be provided to get your new character on the path to glory. Nexon Europe apparently thinks you need even more incentive to skip 50 levels of grinding. Plus, jumped characters will grant their entire party double experience and see a chance for extra evil cores to drop.

[Source: Nexon Europe press release]