Pokemon Planet vs Record of Lodoss War Online
Pokemon Planet
Pokemon Planet is a Pokemon-themed, MMO adventure-RPG where you'll not only get to strive to "become the very best like no one ever was"; you'll also be able to assemble a team of Pokemon from various generations/regions (except the ones from Alola). It even features graphics that will definitely twinge that sense of nostalgia in your heart, especially for those who have loved Pokemon ever since their childhood days.The game plays out pretty much like the usual handheld Pokemon games of old, except that this time around, the game is an MMO and hence, you can actually interact with other players in the game. This does make trading Pokemon or dueling a lot easier. However, since the game is not Nintendo-affiliated, the developers are restricted from using certain assets of the franchise, which apparently includes animation and sound effects, but oddly enough, that exclude all the Pokemon designs and every other game element in the game like Gyms and Pokemon Centers.
Although Pokemon Planet is not a Nintendo-created game, it is the sort of Pokemon game that fans of the franchise have always dreamed of. It has the entire package, from the nostalgic graphics to all the Pokemon you can possibly catch (and then to duel other players with). Personally, I believe Pokemon has always been a game that's just primed for an MMO game, and Pokemon Planet simply one-up Nintendo by turning that into a reality (first).
Record of Lodoss War Online
Record of Lodoss War Online is a somewhat old-school, anime-themed MMORPG that has a unique top-down-like view (much like in Drakensang Online), a straightforward hack-and-slash combat, and a storyline that’s intriguing enough to make you stick around. Set in a world on the verge of being plunged into yet again another war, you play a promising adventurer who has uncovered a plot by the evil sorcerer, Bagnard - he is hellbent on bringing back the evil gods and their armies of doom. Naturally, you can't let his plans come to fruition.In addition to its unique Reaction skills that works in a combo-like manner, this dungeon-crawling game also features a myriad of dungeons to challenge with friends, a merc system where you can recruit NPCs to aid you in your adventures, and also a dual-leveling system where you level up both your character and your character’s ranking in the Adventurer’s Association. There are plenty of other features in this game as well, including the mercenary system where you can recruit up to 2 other NPCs to join you in your adventures; fun stat-boosting titles to earn, free teleports to town, and an account-wide vault where you can use to transfer gear or other items between characters. Players can also set up their own stalls, a.k.a. “Sales Agency”, to sell items they don’t need.
Record of Lodoss War Online may be grindy, like most MMORPGs are, but it's a pretty decent dungeon-crawling game overall. The beautiful and adorable anime graphics, the incredible title theme as well as its simple-to-grasp gameplay made it a fun game to play even in this day and age.