A Look at Vindictus: A Fantastic, Free Multiplayer Online Action RPG

Vindictus is a free to play multiplayer online action RPG that is similar in a lot of ways to Monster Hunter. It is much faster paced and action packed than a typical MMORPG, with the player being rewarded for their timing and skill in dodging enemy attacks. Like any game it has its flaws, but many of those flaws will be addressed once more content is added to the game.

The Good

The best thing about Vindictus is that it nails the one thing missing from way too many games these days: it's really fun to play. The simple yet deep control scheme is easy to learn, and you'll be slicing and smashing your way through hordes of gnolls in no time. The game was built with Valve's Source engine, which adds a layer of interactivity with the environment not normally seen in online RPGs. You are able to pick up many different environmental objects and use them as weapons, and most things in the environment are destructible as well. One of the many memorable moments I have had while playing was throwing an enemy kobold into a big swinging spiked log, and then picking up one of the large pieces of the broken log and smashing some more kobolds with it.

One really cool feature is the ability to grab enemies in a grapple, from which you can deliver the pain in several different visceral ways. The basic grapple attack lifts the enemy up in the air and then delivers a bone crunching backbreaker move. Other grapple moves include smashing the enemy into a nearby wall and finishing them off with a boot to the gut, throwing the enemy into nearby environmental objects, and booting the enemy off a cliff. For the most part, the combat in Vindictus is brutal, full of impact, and very satisfying.

Two other good things Vindictus has going for it are its great graphics, and its cost: free to download and free to play. There will be a cash shop added in the future, so it remains to be seen how much of an effect cash shop items will have on the game.

The Bad

There are a few issues apparent in the current version of Vindictus, but it looks like they will be addressed in the future. Perhaps the biggest issue is the lack of different classes. At this point there are only two choices of playable characters: Lann, a male dual wielding damage dealer, and Fiona, a female sword and shield user. The classes are gender locked, so someone that wants to play a male tank-like character or a female dual wielder is out of luck. A third playable class, a female magician named Evie, is due to be released soon.

Another issue some people have with the game is the token system. After the first set of mission areas, it requires 2-4 tokens per successful mission run. You can only currently hold 50 tokens at a time, and they are refilled every Monday and Friday. I personally have never run out, but the more hardcore people will find themselves running out quickly. It is possible that the developers will raise the limit in the future, although they do intend to sell tokens in the item shop when it is released.

The other big issue is not enough content. Many people in the Early Access Open Beta have already run through all of the missions and done pretty much everything that can be done in the game in only a couple of weeks. This will hopefully be rectified when Full Open Beta starts on October 6.

The Bottom Line

Overall, Vindictus is a really fun game that costs nothing to try except the time it takes to sign up, download, and install the game. I'd recommend the game to anyone that is looking for a fun, free, and action packed online RPG.