The evolution of Mabinogi continues with the massive Generation 2: Paladin update, which features the new town of Emain Macha, as well as the opportunity to further discover the game’s mysterious world and history through new quests, dungeons and monsters. These fresh additions only augment Mabinogi’s current immense offering of game play choices.

Players will learn new skills, such as the fire ball spell, and acquire new weapons, including the mace and leather long bow, to use in the new dungeons. The update also extends the game’s overarching storyline, enabling players to obtain new Paladin abilities. This Paladin skill gives players enhanced power and come to fruition in the mainstream storyline, which requires players to emerge as Paladin, the Knight of Light, to battle an invading evil force.

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!

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.