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Vindictus

Vindictus Game Cover
68%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
grinding, optimization
67% User Score Based on 6,778 reviews
Critic Score 70%Based on 1 reviews

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Vindictus Game Cover

About

Vindictus is a single player and multiplayer hack and slash game with fantasy and historical themes. It was developed by devCAT and was released on June 22, 2012. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

Vindictus is an action MMORPG and a prequel to the popular MMORPG Mabinogi and is known as Mabinogi Heroes in Asia. Vindictus takes place in the same setting used in Mabinogi, but is placed chronologically several hundred years prior to the first game during a period of war and strife. Vindictus follows Nexon's traditional free-to-play model. The game itself is free to download and play and charge…

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67%
Audience ScoreBased on 6,778 reviews
story374 positive mentions
grinding369 negative mentions
  • The combat system is fast-paced and engaging, providing a unique hack-and-slash experience.
  • The game offers a variety of characters with distinct playstyles, allowing for diverse gameplay.
  • The graphics, while dated, still hold up well and the character designs are appealing.
  • The game has a heavy reliance on microtransactions and a pay-to-win model, making it frustrating for free-to-play players.
  • The early game is overly easy and lacks challenge, leading to a tedious leveling experience.
  • The fatigue system limits playtime and can be frustrating, as it restricts the number of missions players can complete in a day.
  • story
    1,524 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story in Vindictus is often described as a mixed bag, with some players appreciating its depth and character development, while others find it tedious and poorly executed. Many reviews highlight the engaging combat and graphics, but criticize the repetitive nature of missions and the overwhelming amount of dialogue that can detract from the gameplay experience. Overall, while the narrative has its moments, it tends to be overshadowed by grindy mechanics and a lack of player engagement in the story progression.

    • “The story is actually pretty great, which is rare for MMOs.”
    • “The storyline flows well, is rich, and surprisingly enjoyable.”
    • “The story is interesting and the characters are unique and have their own personalities.”
    • “The cutscenes and story are annoying, kind of hard to follow as the game blasts that darn trumpet sound every time.”
    • “The story is a massive time waste.”
    • “The writing is downright awful and so long-winded that I dreaded every time I finished a story mission because I knew what I would be subjecting myself to when returned to town.”
  • gameplay
    834 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of Vindictus is often praised for its fast-paced, action-oriented combat mechanics, which are considered some of the best in the MMO genre. However, many players express frustration with the repetitive dungeon design, excessive grind, and monetization strategies that detract from the overall experience. While the game offers a unique blend of hack-and-slash elements and character variety, the enjoyment can be hampered by outdated systems and a lack of engaging content in the later stages.

    • “The fast-paced, physics-based fighting mechanics make battles feel dynamic and satisfying, with a range of characters each having their unique playstyles.”
    • “The core gameplay is well designed and extremely tight, rewarding you for learning patterns and boss timings and carefully placing your dodges and attacks for maximum effect.”
    • “Vindictus is a fun, entertaining hack & slash with memorable bosses and great gameplay.”
    • “However, a year or two in they began changing some of the core mechanics which made the game lose its creative warm center which brought me and many others in.”
    • “The gameplay is okay, but if you're looking for better, I'd suggest playing Warframe over this... even if Tencent bought them out, and that is saying a lot about the gameplay considering how much I hate Tencent.”
    • “It's a damn shame that at some point they decided to trivialize all leveling content, thus turning the game into a mindless slog until max level and wasting the balance they had already designed for the first 20 hours of gameplay or so.”
  • graphics
    748 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of Vindictus receive mixed reviews, with many players noting that while the character models and some environments are visually appealing, the overall graphics feel dated and poorly optimized for modern hardware. Despite its age, the game still showcases impressive visuals, particularly in character design and combat animations, but frequent performance issues such as stuttering and lag detract from the experience. Overall, while the graphics can be stunning at times, they often fall short of contemporary standards, leading to a frustrating experience for players with high-end systems.

    • “Very fun game with stunning graphics, lifelike audio and voice acting as well as some of the most intuitive combat I have ever seen.”
    • “The graphics are amazing for a game that came out 12 years ago.”
    • “The graphics are beautiful, with some minor flaws.”
    • “The engine is also not optimized even on 2020+ top hardware and you get hitches despite being on an SSD or graphical settings.”
    • “While it is acceptable for the graphics to not be on par with today's standards, issues such as constant stutters, freezes, audio glitches, and unresponsive actions are not tolerable.”
    • “The graphics are definitely dated; even with maxed graphics, it looks like it is as old of a game as it is.”
  • grinding
    380 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of Vindictus is a significant point of contention among players, with many describing it as excessively tedious and time-consuming, particularly in the late game. While some appreciate the grind as a core element of the MMO experience, others criticize the reliance on RNG for drops and the high costs associated with gear enhancement, leading to a frustrating cycle of repetitive gameplay. Overall, players suggest that enjoyment of the game heavily depends on one's tolerance for grinding and willingness to invest time or money to progress.

    • “Super cool game, very nice graphics, nice feel and speed, not too grindy but you still can if you want to have the best gear for your level.”
    • “Levelling is easy especially if you follow the storyline, not too grindy.”
    • “The gameplay is a little repetitive but fun nonetheless, there's also next to no grinding needed until you hit the 30-40 level range and in all honesty it still isn't much.”
    • “It's impossible to make money in-game as the market just sucks; players went from focusing on profit-making to now 'let's bid these rare drops as low as we can so we sell as fast as possible.' Mostly everything is RNG-based, and farming for materials can literally take weeks or even months since the RNG is so bad.”
    • “Endgame currently consists of: 15-ish daily raids (with an obnoxious energy system telling you how much you can play), oversexualized outfits for anywhere between 100 and 500 bucks, and of course months of grinding for the same items.”
    • “The game is fun early on, but very expensive and grindy later on.”
  • optimization
    218 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization is widely criticized, with players reporting significant performance issues such as stuttering, low frame rates, and lag, even on high-end hardware. Many reviews highlight that the outdated engine struggles to utilize modern multicore processors effectively, leading to a frustrating gameplay experience. Overall, the consensus is that the game requires urgent optimization improvements to enhance performance and stability.

    • “The graphics look great and are so well optimized that my dinky laptop with an integrated graphics card can play it.”
    • “From the astonishing graphics to the fairly good optimization, to the story itself, it is a great game.”
    • “Game performance is the most essential thing for a good game.”
    • “Optimization issues still plague this game like the ghost from 'The Ring' that the 64-bit client update has failed to fix.”
    • “The game is horribly optimized and I guess the devs don't care to improve it.”
    • “Poorly optimized, constant lag spikes and jitters.”
  • monetization
    116 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization in this game, published by Nexon, is widely criticized for being excessively aggressive and exploitative, with many players describing it as a cash grab filled with microtransactions that often require significant financial investment for cosmetic items and gameplay advantages. While some players note that the game can be enjoyed without spending money, the overwhelming presence of paywalls and the high costs associated with customization and upgrades detract from the overall experience, leading to frustration and disappointment among the community. Overall, the monetization practices are seen as a major flaw, overshadowing the game's potential and enjoyment.

    • “The foundation of the game is incredibly solid with a simple but fun gameplay loop, great combat, and decent character customization that was really good for its time. Monetization was about what you expected for a Korean MMO, with it mostly being cosmetic monetization with a bit of pay-to-power.”
    • “Filled with microtransactions at every corner, but you don't have to spend a cent to enjoy the game.”
    • “Game is free to play and makes money through microtransactions in a cash shop. The large majority of items are cosmetic items for your player character and a good number of convenience items. In-game credit can be earned rather than bought for a truly free-to-play experience with dedication.”
    • “The problem really starts with the fact that it's a Nexon game that has existed for more than 4 years, meaning the monetization becomes unbearable for both cosmetic and power, supposedly done to keep the game 'alive', if you can even call this shambling corpse alive.”
    • “Game has by far one of the greediest monetization strategies, where cosmetics require upwards of $200 for a guaranteed outfit while also requiring a significant amount of paid upgrade material to have a chance at half of the content at the endgame.”
    • “But the sheer amount of predatory monetization in this game is absolutely disgusting.”
  • stability
    107 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous players reporting frequent bugs, glitches, and performance issues such as stuttering and freezing, even on high-end PCs. Many users express frustration over the game's unpolished state, citing problems with audio, loading times, and unresponsive actions that detract from the overall experience. While some players find enjoyment in the gameplay despite these issues, the consensus is that the game suffers from significant stability problems that hinder its potential.

    • “This is an okay game; it looks good and is not buggy at all.”
    • “Runs great, combat is really fun and has a bit of weight to every combo. The pay-to-win aspect is literally just buying to do 1% more damage.”
    • “Customization is fantastic, quests are enjoyable, and you don't have to grind for a single thing.”
    • “While it is acceptable for the graphics to not be on par with today's standards, issues such as constant stutters, freezes, audio glitches, and unresponsive actions are not tolerable.”
    • “The game is very good despite a lot of game lag and sometimes glitches (which is sometimes common for older MMOs).”
    • “This game is so buggy.”
  • music
    102 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many players praising its epic and atmospheric qualities that enhance the gameplay experience, particularly during boss battles and raids. While some users noted issues with sound glitches and the occasional repetitiveness of tracks, the overall sentiment is that the soundtrack is one of the game's standout features, contributing significantly to its immersive environment. Many reviewers consider it among the best in the MMO genre, with specific tracks being highlighted as particularly memorable and engaging.

    • “The music is superb; just listening to the music is almost enough to make me want to play the game again.”
    • “The intense and epic soundtrack makes battles come to life.”
    • “The music makes a great atmosphere in the world of Vindictus and is, as well as the gameplay, one of its biggest advantages.”
    • “I disabled the music and put the SFX volume to ~15% volume, just to have the game bug out in the beginning and play the intro mission without any sound at all. But at some point, while there was a lot of dialogue, the music started again at full volume, and while there is dialogue, you can't access the options menu for some reason.”
    • “Poor optimization, awful animation, music does not fit well... everything seems uninspired except for the armor designs when you create your first character.”
    • “The individual levels are very samey, the music is forgettable.”
  • humor
    44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is often highlighted through its quirky animations, rag-doll physics, and absurd character interactions, which can lead to hilarious moments, especially when playing with friends. Players appreciate the blend of risqué humor and comedic dialogue, although some find the execution inconsistent, with certain elements being unintentionally funny due to poor voice acting or translation issues. Overall, the game successfully incorporates a lighthearted tone that enhances the enjoyment of its combat and character customization features.

    • “The game itself is entertaining, dialog is nice and funny if a little dodgy in the translations every once in a while.”
    • “Every game has its issues, but even the glitches or the weird finishing poses are funny to me more than they are bothersome.”
    • “Vindictus uses traditional real-time combat that is both fun and hilarious.”
    • “Not funny at all.”
    • “I wish that people would post useful reviews instead of unfunny one-liners that help no one.”
  • character development
    26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is marked by impressive character design and customization options, allowing players to create unique avatars that stand out. However, the narrative aspect suffers, with some players noting a lack of emotional depth and coherence in the prologue, which undermines the overall character development experience. While the visuals and combat mechanics are praised, the reliance on premium content for full customization can detract from the enjoyment.

    • “Plenty of attention to detail and flavor in animations and character design.”
    • “Amazing outfit and character design with more than enough options to stand out from the crowd, allowing interesting fashion choices throughout everyone's personalized characters.”
    • “Overall, the semi-realism character design and level design are beautiful, which show off in the latest updates.”
    • “It is uncomfortably borderline to anime with everything from the character design to the unapologetic obsession with sexualizing the female characters, to weird cartoon cats and even chibis.”
    • “Hilariously bad - the prologue made absolutely no sense and I was laughing like crazy throughout it - you can't have an emotional moment in a prologue without some character development!”
    • “Where character design is concerned, the game offers a detailed (and above average) character editor but remains restricted to a handful of pre-designed looks and combat abilities archetypes.”
  • emotional
    25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game elicits a mixed response from players, with some finding the storyline and character development deeply touching, leading to moments of genuine sadness and attachment. However, many criticize the repetitive content and lack of engaging cutscenes, which detracts from the emotional impact. Overall, while the game has the potential for emotional resonance, its grindy nature and storytelling flaws leave some players feeling disheartened.

    • “And it's so heartbreaking because when it's good, there's nothing like it.”
    • “The game is slowly dying, and it's heartbreaking to see the demise of a game that had serious potential to be one of the best MMORPGs of all time.”
    • “Although the English voice acting is nothing to be desired, the actual story of the game is amazing and heartbreaking.”
    • “Boring story, almost no cut scenes (might as well just read a choose-your-own-adventure book since my choices affect the story) or even voice acting. Missions are repetitive, combat isn't as great as people claim, took me roughly 2 hours to make the game work properly, tutorial doesn't help much most of the time, can only level up skills in town, graphics are not the greatest, and that's just a start.”
    • “Extremely boring story; it's all text-based, which you may enjoy, but it more or less got in the way for me.”
    • “Overly monetized, boring story, random enhancement.”
  • replayability
    19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, with many players noting the endless customization options, diverse character classes, and engaging mini-dungeon battles that encourage repeated play. While some users mention minor annoyances, such as limited character slots, the frequent updates and new content contribute to a strong replay value, making it appealing for both casual and dedicated players.

    • “☑️ infinitely replayable”
    • “I believe it will have high replay value and with so many classes to choose from, the customization is endless!”
    • “There's always new stuff and episodes coming, so the replayability is always there.”
    • “Replayability: I needed something better than your typical MMORPG with a failed plot and little replay value.”
    • “Replayability: if you like it, okay then, otherwise hell no!”
    • “Replay value: 4”
  • atmosphere
    11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere in Vindictus is widely praised for its engaging and immersive qualities, enhanced by a captivating soundtrack and visually appealing environments. Players appreciate the combination of satisfying combat and thematic elements that contribute to a charming overall experience, despite some concerns about potential pay-to-win mechanics in the endgame. The game successfully balances enjoyable PvE content with a polished aesthetic, making it a notable choice among MMORPGs.

    • “Overall the combat and atmosphere is amazing.”
    • “The music makes a great atmosphere in the world of Vindictus and is, as well as the gameplay, one of its biggest advantages.”
    • “Overall, the game is pretty polished for what it is, has a charming atmosphere and rewards time spent over money spent.”
    • “It manages to set the theme where the atmosphere, geometry, and visuals cannot.”
    • “Every boss battle and cutscene comes with some epic background music, as well as NPC towns that suit their atmosphere.”
    • “Overall, the game is pretty polished for what it is, has a charming atmosphere, and rewards time spent over money spent.”
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70%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews
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11h Median play time
168h Average play time
4-120h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 39 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Vindictus is a hack and slash game with fantasy and historical themes.

Vindictus is available on PC and Windows.

On average players spend around 168 hours playing Vindictus.

Vindictus was released on June 22, 2012.

Vindictus was developed by devCAT.

Vindictus has received mostly positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

Vindictus is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include Aura Kingdom, Riders of Icarus, Kritika:REBOOT, Closers, Tree of Savior and others.