Conquer Online Classic Server Review

Compared to most single-player video games, online games, especially MMOs, have a much longer life expectancy. The interaction and competition among the community can provide MMO players with sustainable pleasures. Thus, many MMOs remain popular for years, even under today's competitive game market where new games are popping up daily.

However, players always go bored after repeating the same thing for some time, even for the most successful MMO. So it is conventional for developers to add new content regularly, so as to prevent their players from burning out. Conquer Online, the most successful Chinese style MMO, is a good example. Released in 2003, this free MMO has renowned success with 7 language versions and millions of players in the worldwide market. As six years have passed, many different features and sources have been added to update Conquer Online into the more modern version, Conquer Online 2.0. However, the side effects of those updates have become more and more clear. Many veterans have been complaining the game has become too different from their cherished "good old days", and they started to appeal to TQ Digital to bring back the original version of Conquer Online. This idea spread fast, and had taken root among more of the mainstream CO players. After some railing from the community, TQ decided to release what they called "Classic CO", which is a combination of the current 2.0 client and earlier gameplay.

Conquer Online - 2009 Review Trailer

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The first Classic CO server was released in Nov. 2009, and the players' response proved the developer had made a wise move, as the server was just chock full of players. Inspired by the success of the 1st Classic CO server, TQ has opened the 2nd server after 10 days, and the 3rd one is set to open on Jan 21, 2010. So what exactly is Classic CO? Does it live up to the mantle of the Good Old Days? In this review, you may find out the answer.

The Shopping Mall is gone!

The foremost change of Classic CO is the removal of the Shopping Mall. For a free MMO, the cash shop is a common, but critical feature, as it is the only way that the game developer can earn money from the game. And it is the same in Conquer Online. Now in CO 2.0's Shopping Mall, one can easily find everything necessary to make a newbie into a superman if you would like to pay the cash. And many fevered players would like to spend tons of money on this PvP-oriented MMO, just for the pleasure of slaughtering their opponents on the battleground. However, the flaw is also very apparent, as big spenders can purchase uber gear and become some crazy powerhouse overnight, destroying game balance with their bottomless wallets.

In the Classic servers, the Shopping Mall was removed, and with it the ability to just buy your way to the top. Meanwhile, Classic CO only preserves a few quests in which pay users can consume their cash in-game, such as Lottery and Gear Quality Upgrades. But this type of quest is well controlled, which makes sure pay users cannot gain excessive advantages in Classic CO. This forces players to get back into the game. It is quite difficult for players to get good gear without hunting. Not everybody can obtain insane super +12 gear now.

Thus, without the buyable gear, here come the classic and balanced classes. You can work more as a team with your friends or guild mates to take out the stronger enemies you'll come across. Each class has his own distinct purpose in the fight, and you'll do well to learn your role on the battlefield! There is no critical weapon that makes a poor strategy to win!