I got a look at WAKFU last weekend at the Anime Expo in Los Angeles. The anime community seemed excited for what was a great showing for the bright anime art direction of WAKFU.
WAKFU is based on a popular anime series that is currently running in Japan, but will be making its North American debut soon. The game, however, is in full swing with a closed beta, and an open beta is scheduled to be available soon in the Fall on Mac, PC, and Linux.
The game features turn-based tactical combat, which goes against the grain of the more popular real-time combat in most MMO’s today. Players have a chance to fight in six man parties and will have a choice between 14 classes, which are fully customizable, allowing players to tailor their own experience in WAKFU. Some of the classes include warriors, magicians, and summoners that can call on plants or animals.
WAKFU offers other gameplay features that can spruce up the MMO experience. Ankama, the developer behind WAKFU, is using an Eco System that allows players to manage different resources to craft anything available in the game world. From plants and animals, players can use those resources to change the world around them, but be warned, resources can diminish, so players must balance out how they use the resources.
Politics will play a role in Wakfu. Players will have a choice between three nations to join when they start the game. Ambitious players can run for governor of the nation they pick, but of course they need to campaign and come up with a campaign slogan to get other players to vote for them. Governors can decide on the laws in that nation, ensure tax collection, and more. Hopefully the political system will offer a unique experience for players, and not be bogged down by abusive players of this gameplay feature.
Fans of WAKFU can take note that the game takes place before the series picks up, so expect to see elements and references to the anime series.
