Fantasy Tales Online

About

Fantasy Tales Online is a multiplayer role playing game. It was developed by Cold Tea Studio and was released on May 5, 2016. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

Fantasy Tales Online is a retro MMORPG where you must form parties, collect gear, fight through dungeons and defeat bosses. Featuring puzzles, a rich item system and complex encounters. This isn’t your run-of-the-mill grindfest MMO title!

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66%

Audience ScoreBased on 333 reviews

story14 positive mentions

grinding18 negative mentions

The game features a charming, cartoonish art style that creates a cozy atmosphere.
The character development system is deep, with multiple classes and subclasses allowing for unique hero creation.
The social aspect of the game is strong, making it easy to find groups for dungeons and interact with other players.

The game suffers from bugs and optimization issues, making it frustrating at times.
The grind can be excessive, which may deter some players from progressing.
The game has been abandoned by developers, with servers offline and no updates since 2016.

story
93 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
77%
8%
The game's story and quest system are generally viewed as lacking depth and coherence, with many players noting repetitive and simplistic quests that often feel like a grind. While some quests are described as enjoyable and well-written, the overall narrative is considered weak, with little lore or engaging storylines to motivate players. Additionally, technical issues and bugs further detract from the questing experience, leading to frustration among users.
- “The quests are pretty cool, and there is a lot to explore.”
- “Really worth your time, and mind you, reading the quest texts is really fun, and important to really complete them, so don't keep skipping; they are not long.”
- “The developers are also updating the game on a regular basis right now and hopefully it will continue so you can expect new quests every one to two weeks, and they are constantly changing dungeons and adding new ones to explore and fight.”
- “The combat is simplified to the point of absolute boredom, the enemies are as generic and repetitive as you could imagine, the world is not interesting, there is no story, no lore to make you want to continue.”
- “The quests already felt like a chore after the initial one or two.”
- “Ok this review has been updated 5 times now, sadly I'm done with this game. It gets so boring and repetitive right now; same quests, different locations, same dungeons, same monsters. It's a cute little game but it's just too boring and grindy. Do what you want, play it or don't play it, but at this moment I can't recommend you to play it. Just stay away from this game; you will get your hype up and after 4 hours or so, the true face of the game shows, and you will be sad.”
graphics
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
42%
10%
The graphics of the game are a polarizing aspect among players, with many appreciating the nostalgic charm of its pixel art style while others criticize it as outdated and lacking in quality. Some users find the graphics to be decent and fitting for a retro experience, emphasizing that gameplay takes precedence over visuals. Overall, the consensus suggests that while the graphics may not be cutting-edge, they can be enjoyable for those who appreciate classic 2D aesthetics.
- “I really enjoy this game with its gear gimmicks, classes offer decent choices on how you can build, and the graphics, although old school, are still very decent to my eye.”
- “I logged in with not that much expectation, lured by the gorgeous pixel graphics, and found an immense diversity from the very start of stuff that could happen to you.”
- “The art style is beautiful and classic, the world is interesting and immersive.”
- “This features really godawful pixel crap 'art' instead of real graphics.”
- “It's hard to say if this was because the developer didn't have the skill to create 3D visuals, or couldn't afford to hire someone who does, but it also doesn't matter.”
- “This is an easy to learn and play MMORPG that has the graphics of something out of the late 90s.”
gameplay
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
46%
8%
The gameplay of the game is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating its smooth mechanics and retro-inspired design, while others criticize it for being repetitive and lacking depth, especially after reaching higher levels. Many users enjoy the casual, non-pay-to-win nature and the variety of quests and interactions, but frustrations arise from issues like limited character options and server performance. Overall, while the gameplay has potential and some enjoyable elements, it may not stand out against other MMOs due to its simplicity and certain design flaws.
- “Great gameplay.”
- “I like the style it's in, and the gameplay is fun.”
- “Solid gameplay and good graphics.”
- “Full of rubber banding and repetitive gameplay.”
- “The one that made me quit just after a few hours of gameplay is the fact that you can deposit items in your bank just fine, but there is no way to withdraw them.”
- “Once I reached level 30, the game went downhill; crafting is awful, gameplay is decent, and there is almost nothing to do.”
grinding
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's grinding aspect has received mixed feedback, with many players finding it tedious and repetitive, especially when pursuing rare gear and experience points. While some enjoy the grind as a casual activity, others feel it detracts from the overall experience, leading to boredom after extended play. Overall, the game currently leans heavily on grinding, particularly in the mid-level range, which may not align with players seeking a more varied gameplay experience.
- “The game is still very grindy as I'm playing alone and there are no other players to do dungeons with.”
- “This game is a pure grindfest as it stands right now, which I do not think is the direction the devs want to go. However, because the 4 or 5 best pieces of equipment are extremely rare random drops in 1 or 2 raids, the only way to compete for DPS is to grind for those weapons, which can become very stamina-draining and boring.”
- “Ok, this review has been updated 5 times now. Sadly, I'm done with this game; it gets so boring and repetitive right now. Same quests, different locations, same dungeons, same monsters... it's just too boring and grindy.”
stability
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is currently plagued by numerous bugs and glitches, particularly affecting skills, movement, and area transitions, which can detract from the overall experience. While players acknowledge these issues as expected for a new title, many express hope for future improvements as the game develops.
- “Super, super buggy but has a lot of promise.”
- “A buggy 2D ARPG MMO that's been temporarily abandoned by the developer for quite a while.”
- “But in the 30 minutes I played, I figured this game is very buggy, which is expected from a new game.”
music
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
28%
27%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it charming and fitting for the fantasy setting, while others describe it as average and occasionally annoying. While there are highlights, such as an epic soundtrack and enjoyable sound effects, some users note issues like interaction delays and a lack of originality typical of MMORPGs. Overall, the music contributes positively to the gaming experience, despite some criticisms.
- “Relaxing music”
- “The game has charming music and very simple sound effects.”
- “+ great music epic fantasy soundtrack”
- “The music is annoying.”
- “Music could use some work; some sounds have interaction delays.”
- “The usual 2D MMO music style.”
monetization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
The monetization model of the game heavily relies on pervasive microtransactions, which many players feel detracts from the overall experience, making it feel less like a free game. While some microtransactions may seem justified by player effort, the game's early access status and lack of content raise concerns about its value. Overall, the focus on monetization, particularly for features like player housing, is a significant point of criticism.
- “This game is lacking in so many areas, is 'early access', and the part of it with the best functionality is the microtransactions.”
- “And oh boy do they love their microtransactions.”
- “On pricing and value for gamers, this isn't really free as the game is infested with mobile app store-like microtransactions.”
- “There are sneaky little microtransactions that you won't need, but will seem justified by your efforts and the desire for said items.”
- “And oh boy, do they love their microtransactions.”
humor
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features a wealth of humor through witty dialogue, amusing NPC interactions, and clever hidden elements that reward attentive players. Its lighthearted tone is complemented by funny quests and mini-games, making exploration enjoyable and engaging. Overall, the humor adds a charming layer to the gameplay experience.
- “It has funny dialogue, hidden items, customized characters, mini games, puzzles, an open world, and it's free.”
- “Even the NPC dialogue is interesting and humorous enough that I find myself talking to everyone I see just to hear what they have to say.”
- “+Some dialogues and quests are really funny lol.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
100%
The optimization system is straightforward, allowing for easy item and equipment comparison, which some users find appealing. While it may feel traditional in concept, it delivers a fresh performance experience, making it a recommended choice for players seeking a blend of familiarity and innovation.
- “The entire system is quite simple, which could be good, but either way, in the end, I would definitely recommend this to anyone willing to try something old in thought but new in performance.”
- “Item and equipment optimization is a key feature that enhances gameplay and strategy.”
- “The ability to compare equipment effectively allows for better decision-making and resource management.”
- “Item/equipment optimization or equipment comparison is lacking.”
- “The entire system is quite simple, which could be good, but it ultimately feels underdeveloped.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Character development is criticized for its limited scope, featuring only three classes and a lack of diverse character design, which restricts players' ability to create unique identities for their characters.
- “There are only three classes, and the lack of character design is disappointing.”
- “Character development feels shallow and uninspired.”
- “The limited options for character customization make it hard to feel connected to my character.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate the game's relaxed and pressure-free atmosphere, which enhances their overall gaming experience.
- “I'm really enjoying this pressure-free gaming atmosphere.”