"RAN Online" -- Kuno's First Impressions

I've been working on my master list of MMOs, which has introduced me to the metric assload of small- and medium-sized online games out there in the world. Most are Japanese or Korean, but a whole lot of them come out of Malaysia.

One that particularly caught my eye is "RAN Online," from MIN Communications in South Korea (the English-language international version is run by e-Games of Malaysia, the people who bring you "Knight Online" and "Battle Position," amongst others). This is a high-school-based martial arts game, after the fashion of a thousand different anime series, "Volcano High School," and "Battle Royale." They even have a one-player version based on "Battle Royale."

Well, "Battle Royale" and "Volcano High School" (the Korean version, NOT the execrable American "hip-hop" dub) are two of my favorite movies. And as my online handle might reveal, I'm something of a fan of "Ranma Nibunnoichi," the ultimate high school martial arts anime and manga. So I had to try it.

This is not a review of "RAN Online," as I've only played it for one evening. These are just first impressions.

1.) The graphics are acceptable. I'd include a screenshot, but I couldn't get one -- so here's a link to someone else's screenshots. The characters look good (once they've been personalized with costumes you have to pay for with real cash), and the settings are nice. Everything takes place in one of four high schools, which are well laid-out and look interesting.

2.) Combat is just a lot of clicking, unfortunately. Gamers complain that MMOs like "World of Warcraft" require no skill -- but even WoW combat involves real-time tactical decisions. Not, as far as I can tell, "RAN Online." Just click repeatedly on an enemy, and your weapons & skills are applied. Boring, especially for a fighting game.

3.) There are certainly worse English translations out there. I could generally understand what the characters were trying to tell me. Here's a sample:

Prior to the dispatch of all items to the various society, the items must be validated and approved to ensure quality, proper pricing and product type. The education that society members learned from there can finally be used now.

Well, maybe I couldn't always understand.

I greatly enjoyed the "OK" and "Cancel" buttons, which say "Affirm" and "Abolish."

4.) Does anyone know anything about this rootkit that "RAN Online" installed on my machine? It's called GameGuard, and supposedly it opens up your system to exploits.

5.) The international server is called "Harajuku."

6.) "RAN Online" is "forever free," but you can buy premium items from a online mall. To buy costumes and items, you have to download a form, print it out, fill in your credit card info, and fax it Malaysia. I'm not joking. Yeah, I'm not gonna do that.

I plan to play some more, see what it's like when you get to higher levels. I'll let you know.