Elsword Online Developer Interview

We recently had the opportunity to see down with the developers of Elsword Online to pitch them some questions about the current state and future of their highly popular, manga-inspired MMORPG title.

What is Elsword Online?

Elsword is a free-to-play, manga inspired, side-scrolling action MMO. The action is patterned after the kind of classic beat ‘em up you might find on a console, only it’s for your PC, so it also features all the depth of an MMO. We have over 50 unique areas to explore, skill-based PvP with numerous gameplay modes, and an almost unlimited number of ways to customize your character with special costumes and gear.

Did you take inspiration from any other games or features?

The inspiration for Elsword runs pretty far and wide. The core side-scrolling gameplay is inspired by classic consoles games but upgraded with much more depth and content as well as the rich community you’d expect out of an MMO. The cel-shaded graphics are also a way of transforming a classic beat ‘em up so it feels like you’re playing your favorite manga. We’ve also heard some players say the PvP reminds them of an online version of Super Smash Bros., so that’s something else to check out.

What are the defining features of the game?

Apart from the extensive co-op dungeons and the skill-based PvP modes, there are several other cool things players will find in Elsword. There are now six totally unique characters, each has his or her own story told through Manga-style panels so you can learn their particular reason for questing for the power of the El. All the characters have four different jobs they can change into, meaning you have a huge amount of customization available. For example, our newest character, Chung, wields a giant cannon and can follow a path that gives him even more mastery over firearms, even to the point where he can dual-wield pistols. But if you prefer, you can have him focus on melee attacks where he gets tougher and can wield the cannon like a giant club. In fact, every character gets to make choices like this as you level up.

What can you tell us about the recent and any upcoming updates?

We just launched a new “Rage” system for Raven, who’s also known the darkest playable character in the game. His rage system allows him to summon a wicked looking device called the Nasod Core that hovers behind him and mimics his actions. So if he defends, the core morphs into a shield and when he attacks, it morphs into a spear that lunges out at his opponents. We’re also announcing for the first time that next Wednesday, 11/21, the game’s namesake hero Elsword will also gain a new gameplay mode called “Way of the Sword” that makes him an even greater swordsman. We’ll have a lot more details to reveal on that soon.

What can players look forward to in the near future?

Well November is “Prelude” month for us, meaning we’re going back to some of the earlier characters and revealing brand new systems for them. That’s why Raven and Elsword are both getting brand new abilities. But it’s also a way of setting the stage for even bigger announcements that we’ll be making soon, so players should stay tuned for exciting news in the near future.
How far has the game come since the start of the year?

This past year has been fantastic for Elsword. It’s keeps growing and growing every month. We introduced our newest character, Chung, this summer at Anime Expo and got to meet our fans face to face in a nail-biting PvP tournament. We’ve now doubled the number of characters in the game and more than doubled the size of the world. But we still have lots of new content to reveal in the upcoming months.
If you had one statement for the players for the coming months, what would it be?

Well, the past year and a half has been an amazing time for Elsword. The game is twice as big as it was when it launched and everything we do is focused on giving our players a great experience. Plus we have one of the best communities out there. We’re always holding contests and playing with our fans in weekly livestreams and frequent PvP tournaments. So it’s a perfect time to check out Elsword and see what adventuring in Elrios has in store for you.

November seems like the perfect time to jump into the fantastic world of Elsword Online. We're also hosting an exclusive Elsword Online Giveaway but be quick, the keys will be gone fast.