Mabinogi offers a robust, online universe where people can experience all facets of fantasy life from fighting to harvesting. The game’s radiant 3-D graphics are infused with an art style based in Celtic and Welsh mythology, which also gives Mabinogi its name and foundation. Mabinogi provides a new experience with its variety of gameplay, unique combat system, and orderly time element and age component, to provide additional depth to Nexon’s latest free-to-play offering. In addition to traditional MMO features—challenging adventures, exciting group quests and a plethora of fearsome monsters—Mabinogi offers a much fuller “life” for its players. Players can increase experience by taking jobs, such as cooking, shearing sheep or other farming duties. The game’s unique music program allows users to write and share music in MIDI formatted files. Players even have the option of getting married, so don’t be surprised if married life leads to some cooking and dungeon raiding whenever the urge strikes the two of you!

“Playing Mabinogi is about more than just fighting and normal MMO fare,” said John H. Chi, president and CEO of North America. “This is a chance for gamers to live a fantasy life in a place where communities build mutual beliefs of family, friendship and hard work.”

The upcoming closed beta test will allow users to tap into a world that has already birthed a civilization of fans in Asia. It will offer players an opportunity to discover enthralling characters in a beautiful 3-D, cell-shaded art style, featuring anime-type characters and gruesome monsters.

Mabinogi’s traditional mouse and keyboard functions unite with its distinctive combat, and anthology of game-play styles, that should excite the most hardcore gamers. Players will also quickly discover Mabinogi requires more finesse and strategy during combat than just pushing a few buttons and haphazardly attacking everything in sight. The unique fighting system adds another degree of complexity. Characters develop skills in three categories—Life, Combat and Magic—so users can not only gain experience by fighting a giant spider but also by cooking dinner and learning a new spell. Players acquire Ability Points as they gain experience in the game to help show progression. This gives players more freedom to play Mabinogi however they choose.

Additionally, Mabinogi’s time is standardized and as users play longer they are awarded different “daily” bonuses as incentives to play on a regular basis. Plus, avatars age on a weekly basis and get taller as they get older (up to 21). Avatars gain ability points up to the age of 25 as well. Plus, players will see their avatars’ diet affect appearance. Mabinogi also features a long-term storyline that is revealed over a series of generations and weaves its way throughout the game. Using these unique features, as well as the heavy socialization aspect present in all of Nexon’s games, gives Mabinogi a unique placement in the world of MMOs. And like Nexon’s previous offerings, the game is free to play.

The closed beta will last just a short time, Mabinogi is scheduled for release later this summer.