9Dragons

About

9Dragons is a multiplayer role playing game. It was developed by Joongwon Entertainment and was released on February 14, 2017. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"9Dragons is a free, 3D martial arts-based MMORPG set in ancient China, where players can join White or Black clans and engage in intense PvP combat. With a focus on grinding, the game allows players to devote themselves to becoming a true martial artist and uncover the truth behind the tragic War of Nine-Dragons that occurred many years ago."

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63%

Audience ScoreBased on 355 reviews

story14 positive mentions

grinding29 negative mentions

The game offers a nostalgic experience for long-time players, reminiscent of the early days of MMORPGs.
It features a unique martial arts theme with various clans and skills, providing depth to character progression.
The community is described as friendly and helpful, making it easier for new players to find their footing.

The game is heavily criticized for its pay-to-win mechanics, making it difficult for free-to-play players to compete.
Many players report technical issues, including crashes, login problems, and a confusing registration process.
The graphics and gameplay mechanics feel outdated, leading to a less enjoyable experience for new players.

story
49 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
65%
6%
The story in the game is generally regarded as having a solid foundation, with a rich narrative centered around the lore of the "nine dragons" and clan conflicts, but it suffers from a lack of progression and completion over the years. While some players appreciate the depth and aesthetics of the storyline, many criticize the repetitive fetch quests and poor quest navigation, which detracts from the overall experience. Overall, the narrative offers potential but is hampered by gameplay issues and an unfinished main quest line.
- “Great aesthetics and storyline.”
- “Amazing game with in-depth story for those who like a good tale, good game progression, and lots of depth in character development, gear diversity, and skilling.”
- “It is quite fun to read the story behind each of the clans, why the game is actually called 'Nine Dragons' and how the conflicts between the clans were created.”
- “There's a reason why I have thousands of hours on MapleStory, and this game very quickly drops the ball.”
- “The main story is still unfinished after all these years, and I don't think they've made progress in the last decade, or at least not significant progress judging from the announcements blog.”
- “It didn't have much story to at least try to dress up the copious amount of fetch and gather quests.”
graphics
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
64%
15%
The graphics of the game are widely regarded as outdated, with many reviewers noting that they have not seen significant improvements since its initial release over a decade ago. While some players appreciate the nostalgic charm and unique aesthetics, the overall consensus is that the visuals fall short compared to modern standards, which may deter new players. Despite this, the game's enjoyable mechanics and engaging storyline help mitigate the impact of its dated graphics.
- “Great aesthetics and storyline.”
- “On the plus side, graphics are pretty, despite how dated the game is, and the water effects are especially beautiful; the music's fun, too.”
- “Although now dated, the graphics are pleasing.”
- “The graphics need quite a bit of updating in comparison to other games, and they definitely need a more beginner-friendly tutorial if they want to bring in new players.”
- “The game's graphics have not improved over the years, in my opinion.”
- “The downside is its graphics cannot be compared with new games (it's obvious because this game was made more than 12 years ago).”
grinding
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
97%
The grinding aspect of the game is heavily criticized for being excessively time-consuming and tedious, especially at higher levels where players report needing to kill thousands of enemies for minimal progress. While some players appreciate the nostalgic, old-school grind typical of Asian MMORPGs, many find the experience frustrating and outdated, particularly in comparison to modern games. Despite its grindy nature, the game can be enjoyable for those who embrace the challenge and community aspects, though it often feels tied to a pay-to-win model.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Now all combat is basic and boring with very long cooldowns, nukers are nerfed to the ground and are lame. Combat stances take stamina/chi now, and you only have very few skills at the lower levels. The game is far more grindy and far more confusing than before; I'm sorry, but this childhood game is now just a past dream.”
- “After level 150, the game is all about grinding for optimal gold/hour to buy cash shop items that other players have purchased with real money, which are used in enhancement.”
- “To be able to reach anything in this game, you will have to spend hours upon hours grinding, just as in most of the old-school Asian MMORPGs.”
gameplay
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
57%
25%
The gameplay of the game is characterized by interesting mechanics and a strong community, but it suffers from clunky controls and a heavy reliance on gear and RNG crafting, leading to a grind-heavy experience. While some players appreciate the martial arts elements and social aspects of the MMORPG, others find the mechanics confusing and the pay-to-win elements frustrating. Overall, the game offers a mix of fun and frustration, with significant room for improvement in functionality and clarity.
- “It had such an interesting mechanic to it that just kept sucking me back in since its original release.”
- “A pretty cool MMORPG with a nice and friendly helpful community in Discord that helped me a lot. I also love the martial arts gameplay in the game.”
- “I've always enjoyed the difference in the leveling system and gameplay.”
- “Another thing is how clunky the game is to play; combat-wise, you don't need too much knowledge in order to play the game (especially with this version). Most of the backing for your gameplay comes from the relics and costumes (decorations) that you will use, which will carry you pretty easily. People will argue that the nuker (the chi kung master, or mage) has it easy and you can farm the dungeons for gold to get better stuff, but even if that's the case, until you get to that point, you are either fed up with the combat or you are already annoyed or bored.”
- “As with most eastern MMOs, the game becomes a grind fest after a certain point, and without the aid of strong event items (I have multiple characters that were given enhanced gear from past events), you can hit a wall after only a few hours of gameplay.”
- “The mechanics in place are designed so that players are compelled to spend money in the item mall if they want to stand a chance against other players or even be strong enough to complete higher-level content.”
music
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
The music in the game is highly praised for its nostalgic and immersive qualities, effectively complementing the ancient Chinese atmosphere and martial arts theme. Players appreciate the diverse soundtracks that enhance the overall experience, despite the game's dated graphics. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a significant strength, contributing to the game's unique charm and cult following.
- “I still listen to some of the OST when I want to feel that nostalgia again.”
- “Dated graphics but still fun; the music and stories more than make up for the look.”
- “There are multiple different soundtracks that sound great in this ancient Asian tone, fitting the kung-fu style of the game while enhancing immersion as you travel the land.”
- “The game froze at least 5 times; if the game is opened, you cannot browse anything as it locks it down. While playing all day and deciding to be a beggar healer, the game froze again with music in the background and nothing can be done.”
- “There are multiple different soundtracks that still sound really good in this ancient Asian tone. The effects of the game fit the kung-fu style, and the immersion while traveling the land and your clan is great since clans are totally different from each other.”
- “9D is a martial arts-focused MMORPG with a decent soundtrack, but it feels like it could be better considering the overall aesthetic and storyline.”
monetization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
60%
The monetization strategy of the game has drawn significant criticism, with users noting that it has become overly aggressive, featuring intrusive banner ads and a heavy reliance on microtransactions. Many feel that the game has shifted towards a pay-to-win model, prioritizing profit over player experience by promoting unnecessary cosmetic purchases and excessive advertising.
- “While I appreciate that the new owners have kept this alive, the monetization feels a bit excessive for what it is, an aged, dated game that hasn't transitioned well to modern gaming.”
- “It's grown more and more into a 'microtransactions game', somewhat pay-to-win while also trying to entice you into buying a ton of costumes you don't need.”
- “Especially for those who used microtransactions to gain an advantage.”
- “Whilst I appreciate that the new owners have kept this alive, the monetization is a bit over the top for what it is, an aged, dated game that hasn't made the transition to modern gaming very well.”
- “This was a very good game a long time ago until they killed the game with horrendous blinking banner ads.”
- “It's grown more and more into a 'microtransactions game', somewhat pay-to-win while also just trying to entice you into buying a ton of costumes you don't need.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development in the game is praised for its depth and complexity, offering an engaging narrative and diverse gear options that enhance player progression. The character designs are also highlighted as impressive, contributing to the overall immersive experience.
- “Amazing game with in-depth story for those who like a good tale, good game progression, and lots of depth in character development, gear diversity, and skilling.”
- “Good character designs.”
- “Really cool character design.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game has been reported to suffer from numerous glitches and bugs, both longstanding and new, significantly impacting gameplay. Players have experienced persistent issues such as lags, disconnects, and general instability, leading to frustration and making the game difficult to play.
- “The game suffers from some glitches and bugs, some long-standing and some new.”
- “I played all day slowly to see what quests and changes were made to the game, and by the end of the day, I can say that the game is so buggy that it cannot be played.”
- “Upon launch, they closed the server, causing the community to experience lags, bugs, disconnects, and glitches in general with the connection.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate the humor in the game, noting that its comedic elements remain intact even after updates. The juxtaposition of their gaming experience with a friend's playthrough of a different title, like Cyberpunk, adds to the amusement. Overall, the humor contributes positively to the gaming experience.
- “To see that the 'refresh' of the game still had this made me laugh.”
- “Which is funny considering the fact that I tried playing it on a computer where my friend plays Cyberpunk. :)”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its unique and immersive ancient Chinese setting, complemented by traditional music that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the balance of challenge and beauty, contributing to a cult following that feels well-deserved.
- “If you want a challenge where you work for your skills a little (not too much) and enjoy a beautiful game with a wonderful atmosphere, this is it.”
- “It really is a cult following, but it feels deserved because the game itself has a unique feeling with its ancient Chinese atmosphere and traditional music.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
100%
The game's optimization is hindered by excessive and often useless loot that clutters the environment, potentially causing lag and performance issues, particularly in the Hefei area. While most locations run smoothly, the loot management could be improved to enhance overall gameplay experience, especially during timed events.
- “Firstly, there is too much different loot; specifically, useless loot clutters the ground if players don't pick up their trash and causes lag. It's either leave it to impact performance or run out of bag space. This isn't a huge deal, but it's easily fixed and is an annoyance when on a timed experience card or in a dungeon.”
- “Firstly, there is too much different loot; specifically, useless loot clutters the ground if players don't pick it up, causing lag. It's either leave it to impact performance or run out of bag space. This isn't a huge deal, but it's easily fixed and is an annoyance when on a timed experience card or in a dungeon.”
- “It has some performance issues in Hefei, but in other places, it runs without any hiccups for me.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
200%
300%
The game's replayability is primarily driven by the opportunity to explore various clans and their unique classes; however, players may find that each choice ultimately leads to a predetermined quest path, which could limit the overall replay experience.
- “Each playthrough offers a unique experience, thanks to the diverse character builds and story paths available.”
- “The game encourages multiple runs by allowing players to explore various strategies and outcomes, making every session feel fresh.”
- “The replay value comes from trying out the different clans and their classes, but in the end, each choice follows a well-defined quest list.”
- “Once you've completed the main storyline, there's little incentive to go back and replay the game.”
- “The game lacks meaningful choices that would encourage multiple playthroughs; it feels too linear.”