THRONE AND LIBERTY
- October 1, 2024
- NCSOFT
- 14h median play time
"Throne and Liberty" is a MMORPG set in the conflict-ridden world of Solisium, where players join factions, engage in large-scale battles, and control territories. The game features a sensational story, masterful gameplay, stunning graphics, and music, but be prepared for grinding. Your actions and choices shape the living, reactive world and determine the fate of kingdoms, with the ancient beast Kazarak threatening to terrorize all.
Reviews
- story1,432 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The story in "Throne and Liberty" has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it engaging yet somewhat generic and predictable. While some appreciate the emotional depth and immersive cutscenes, others criticize it for being shallow and filled with typical MMO tropes, leading to a lack of memorable characters and plotlines. Overall, the narrative is seen as a decent backdrop to the gameplay, but it may not hold the attention of players seeking a more profound storytelling experience.
“The story is really engaging, the cut scenes are cool.”
“Every corner of the map feels like it has a story to tell, and the attention to detail is impeccable.”
“The story is absolutely captivating, and I’m still savoring every twist and turn, even with the side quests.”
“The story lacks depth and intrigue, making it difficult to stay invested in the world or its characters.”
“The storyline follows familiar fantasy themes, with vampires and monsters, making it feel like a repetition of narratives we’ve seen in other genres without any unique twist to set it apart.”
“The story is some typical Korean MMO cringe that will burn 10-15 hours of your time as you skip through the dumb cut scenes and boring characters.”
- gameplay1,281 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Throne and Liberty" is characterized by a mix of engaging mechanics and frustrating elements, with many players noting the need for teamwork in dungeons that feature unique boss mechanics. While the game offers a visually stunning world and a variety of activities, it suffers from issues such as clunky combat, a steep learning curve, and a reliance on pay-to-win mechanics that can detract from the overall experience. Players generally find the gameplay enjoyable, especially when played with friends, but the community's toxicity and the game's repetitive nature at higher levels can diminish the fun.
“The game is designed to be experienced with others, and being part of a good guild can significantly enhance your gameplay.”
“Game mechanics are fresh and have a proper RPG trifecta.”
“The world dungeons and guild system are not new, but they are implemented in an immersive way that enhances gameplay.”
“Really boring gameplay.”
“The gameplay loop is trash, you get to do 2 dungeons a day at max level.”
“The gameplay quickly becomes monotonous, especially the grind to reach level 50, which feels like a chore rather than an engaging experience.”
- graphics1,145 mentions
- 72 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Throne & Liberty" are widely praised as one of the game's standout features, with many reviewers highlighting their stunning quality and attention to detail. Players appreciate the vibrant environments, seamless world transitions, and impressive visual effects, often comparing them favorably to other leading MMORPGs. However, some users note that the game's high graphical demands can lead to performance issues on lower-end PCs, suggesting a need for better optimization.
“The visuals are breathtaking, with detailed environments that truly bring the fantasy world to life.”
“The graphics are stunning, it really is a good looking game, and the seamless transition between fast traveling and morphing is insane, like low key revolutionary as far as game design goes.”
“Throne and liberty excels in creating a richly detailed fantasy world with immersive graphics and engaging combat mechanics.”
“Love the game but it needs to be made better for lower-end PCs for everyone; otherwise, your player population is going to slowly decrease over time due to the requirements of what it takes to handle this game and play smoothly. It's very teary and choppy for my PC, and I had to alter the in-game graphic settings through Steam's launcher settings before it would actually load the game itself. To handle it, I had to downgrade the game to DX11.”
“What was the thought process behind making the game look super pretty but then also have potentially hundreds of people on screen in PvP? It's a great idea on paper but executed horribly. It lags the hell out of anyone, and I'm running a 4090 with 64GB of RAM. Why didn't they just dial back the graphics just a tad?”
“It started with several lags, crashes, and graphic errors, not only for me but for my friends who also tried to start the game.”
- grinding425 mentions
- 2 % positive mentions
- 3 % neutral mentions
- 96 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting it as a significant part of the experience. While some find the grind rewarding and enjoyable, especially in terms of gear progression and crafting, others criticize it as tedious and overly time-consuming, often leading to feelings of frustration. The game is described as having a typical Korean MMO grind, with a heavy emphasis on farming for materials and gear, which can feel punishing, particularly for free-to-play players.
“The upgrade system is all guaranteed and not too grindy.”
“Upgrading is simple and is not tedious like Lost Ark or BDO.”
“There's a lot of fun to experience here; it isn't grindy like other Korean MMOs, and not as pay-to-win either.”
“The gearing system is mediocre and cumbersome, meaning you will be farming materials for days for one piece, only to get rid of it days later.”
“Progression feels slow and grind-heavy, with the farming aspect playing a huge role in advancing your character.”
“It’s beautiful, it’s addictive, and it’s soul-crushingly grindy.”
- optimization336 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players praising its performance during large-scale battles and in populated areas, often highlighting the lack of lag and stuttering. However, some users report performance issues, particularly in cities and during critical moments, suggesting that while the game is generally well-optimized, there are still areas needing improvement. Overall, it appears that the game runs smoothly on high-end hardware, but players with older systems may experience inconsistent performance.
“The game is optimized to the teeth and is gorgeous to behold, and most of the game is masterfully designed, engaging, and limit-pushing for a genre I feared to have entered permanent creative stagnation.”
“Crazy good optimization allows hundreds of players to be in the same spot fighting with little issue, though it still requires fairly recent hardware, so be careful.”
“The game runs smoothly and without lag, allowing for a seamless gaming experience.”
“These performance issues, especially during critical moments, can break immersion.”
“Needs a lot of optimization.”
“This game is unoptimized garbage.”
- monetization154 mentions
- 7 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 29 % negative mentions
The monetization of "Throne and Liberty" has drawn mixed reactions, with many players labeling it a cash grab that heavily relies on microtransactions, particularly for progression and cosmetic items. While some users appreciate that the game allows for a fair experience without mandatory spending, others criticize its complex economy and the potential for pay-to-win elements, suggesting that the monetization undermines the overall gameplay experience. Overall, opinions vary, with some finding the monetization manageable and others deeming it predatory and detrimental to the game's potential.
“In reality, the game offers a fair experience for those who put in the time, without pushing microtransactions down your throat.”
“For the most part, this is a solid MMO that has fair monetization (which is a surprise considering it's a Korean MMO).”
“I'd say one of the fairest monetization strategies coming from Korean developers.”
“At its most stripped down, 'Throne and Liberty' is a very brazen cash grab that only pays lip service to the idea of being an MMORPG.”
“What I found instead was a shallow, uninspired, and ultimately frustrating game that seems designed more for monetization than meaningful player experiences.”
“Their monetization scheme is going to strangle this game, exactly like every other NCSoft game.”
- music138 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 26 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many players praising its quality and ability to enhance the immersive experience. While some reviews noted that the soundtrack occasionally doesn't fit the theme or is merely decent, the overall consensus highlights the music as a standout feature, often compared to high-quality soundtracks from major titles. Players appreciate the combination of beautiful visuals and a captivating score, making it a significant aspect of the game's appeal.
“The world is beyond beautiful, the music is just *chef's kiss* epic.”
“The music complements the world perfectly, adding depth and enhancing immersion.”
“Whoever composed or created this playlist deserves all the awards for just the music alone.”
“Awful music.”
“Music: 5/10”
“So far so good, graphically it is very pretty, it is not too cluttered even with many players (even if I wish we could hide some more players during bossing), music is not too amazing... it does the job.”
- stability110 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 2 % neutral mentions
- 66 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has received mixed feedback from users. While many players report that the game runs well with good visuals and performance, others experience frequent crashes, freezes, and various bugs, particularly in early access. Overall, players acknowledge the presence of glitches and server issues but express hope for improvements as the game develops.
“Game looks and runs great on ultra settings.”
“No server queues, no glitches or game-breaking bugs.”
“Great game, so far the best MMO I've played in years, had no server issues, game runs great, combat is amazing, it all is just amazing.”
“Constant server issues, including frequent lag and freezes, have made the game nearly unplayable.”
“I experience 5-second lag spikes where the game freezes and then fast-forwards, often happening several times per minute, which is unacceptable.”
“Far too many freezes and crashes; I can't even play the game.”
- humor56 mentions
- 96 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is often described as a mix of unintentional comedy stemming from poor translations, absurd game mechanics, and the community's reactions to various issues, such as server problems and pay-to-win elements. Players find amusement in the game's glitches, the antics of other players, and the lighthearted, campy nature of the story, which contrasts with the frustrations of gameplay. Overall, the humor serves as a coping mechanism for the game's shortcomings, creating a shared experience among players.
“The fans understand this stuff; they have the intellectual capacity to truly appreciate the depths of these jokes, to realize that they’re not just funny—they say something deep about life.”
“My favorite part has been morphing into funny animals and running in circles while waiting for a boss to spawn in.”
“Overall the main story struck me as shallow and lighthearted with some campy humor.”
“Falling is the most glitchy, death-filled, sometimes hilariously not funny thing that could happen in a game.”
- atmosphere30 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its dynamic weather patterns, day-night cycle, and stunning graphics, creating an immersive and captivating experience. Players appreciate the combination of engaging music, skill animations, and interactive environments, which contribute to a cozy yet active MMORPG setting. However, some frustration over challenging content and a lack of guides has led to a slightly sour atmosphere in community discussions.
“The game is breathtaking so far, the atmosphere as well as the story has completely captivated me.”
“The game runs pretty smooth on server 'conquest', the in-game atmosphere that T&L creates is great and gives me an immersive and cozy feeling as a casual, yet very active MMORPG player.”
“Dynamic weather patterns and a day-night cycle that adds to the atmosphere.”
“The frustration from players over more challenging content, combined with the lack of easily accessible guides, has led to a somewhat sour atmosphere in public forums and in-game chats.”
“The music and atmosphere are just unforgettable, there is enough content for people who are used to enjoying it, not all this server domination nonsense.”
“Graphics and atmosphere: Throne and Liberty delivers an impressive visual experience.”
- emotional14 mentions
- 86 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, particularly highlighting heartfelt moments and character ties, despite criticisms of gameplay mechanics and storytelling. One reviewer notably mentioned crying over a character's departure, indicating the game's ability to evoke genuine feelings. Overall, while some aspects may be lacking, the emotional depth and community engagement resonate positively with many players.
“No one will read this review... so I'm just going to confess that I cried when 'Helpie' left me.”
“Who knows where this game will be one year from now, but people are playing, guilds are recruiting, and the story of the game feels quite heartfelt.”
“The graphics are amazing and the story ties you emotionally to the characters.”
- character development14 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is generally viewed as lacking depth, with many reviewers noting that the storytelling is average and reminiscent of typical MMO narratives. However, the character design is frequently praised for its visual appeal, with some describing it as "awesome" and others noting a mix of generic and safe choices. Overall, while the character design captivates players, the development of characters and their stories leaves much to be desired.
“The character design stands out, and the game's dynamic environment keeps players hooked.”
“The storyline is pretty good (but run of the mill for MMOs) and the character design is great.”
“The game world and character design are also graphically eye-catching, and you can lose yourself in photo mode or pause for a moment and take it all in.”
“Main story: 7/10 - mid-budget Korean level storytelling with little cut scenes and character development.”
“Character design is alright; they went with a safe and kind of generic design for most characters, which isn't bad.”
“Main story: 7/10 - mid-budget Korean level storytelling with little cut scenes and character development.”
- replayability8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability through its multiplayer modes, which enhance the overall experience. However, occasional bugs can detract from gameplay, though recent updates based on community feedback have improved playability. The switch to action combat has also contributed positively to the game's replay value.
“Multiplayer modes add replay value, but occasional bugs can hinder the experience.”
“It seems they really took the community feedback to heart and implemented things to make the game more playable.”
“Switching to action combat did make it more playable for me.”