Fight Night: Dragonica versus Rusty Hearts

It's the battle of action MMORPGs! We're in a year filled with an increasing number of hybrid MMOGs, such as a combination of RPG plus RTS or sidescrolling action ala-Double Dragon. Whatever your fancy, the MMO market has gone and made itself particularly saturated already.We have our own standardsor criteria for playing one game over the other. This year, the heavyweight newcomer Rusty Hearts goes toe-to-toe against the more veteran Dragonica in a fight for the better action sidescrolling MMORPG. To be fair, the two games will be rated on four criterias: Graphics, Controls, and Customizations. None of the two games' unique elements will be touched. Who will emerge victorious in this showdown?

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Graphics: Visual Appreciation

Both games have stunning and highly-detailed visuals. Rusty Hearts preferred the cel-shaded approach, while Dragonica has a more "chibi" presentation. Environments are both highly-detailed, but Dragonica's background and foreground has more interactive material than Rusty Hearts. The former's maps and dungeons are also large and complex compared to the more straightforward / linear style of the latter's dungeons. Rusty Hearts' visuals also pose a darker undertone than Dragonica's casual style. Both differing styles are actually commendable and even up the score for this criteria except for one thing. Rusty Hearts' dungeons rarely have anything to interact with, due to its "Streets of Rage"nature. Dragonica, however, adds a tad extra effort in making the dungeons more complex and interactive. It's not just about looking at the environment. It's not just feeling everthing around the character is a mere wall or intangible object. It's also a matter of having some ounce of realism to the in-game surroundings. Still, despite these shortcomings, Rusty Hearts and Dragonica each earn a point.