Paliagameplay first look shows off fishing, hunting, gardening, and more
The term “social MMO” is always a scary one for me. Don’t get me wrong, I love the idea. But in practicality, many games have tried but none have quite succeeded in creating a fun social MMO. I’ve been followingPaliasince it gotannounced a couple of years ago. The developer, Singularity 6, is made up of industry veterans from companies like Blizzard, Riot, Zynga, and Sony. With that sort of track record, it seems like this team is well-set to pull off their goal.
Earlier today Singularity 6 gave the world anofficial first look at the gameplay inPalia.And while I certainly still have some questions, I can at least say I’m excited to move into Kilima Village and explore the world ofPalia.
Did you say fishing?
There’s an old saying, that an MMO is only as good as its fishing system. Not really, but there’s clearly something really fun about a well-done fishing mechanic in an MMO. EvenDestiny 2recently added fishingwith their Season of the Deep. The fishing inPalialooks very chill and relaxing, especially when you add the social component.
You see, fishing with friends isn’t just for the camaraderie inPalia. Fishing near friends causes you both to receive a buff to angling over time. Furthermore, if you spot someone struggling to reel in a tough catch, you can literally cheer them on, helping them successfully bag the fish. Apparently, more than one person can offer encouragement. I can’t wait to have a crowd around me cheering me on as I wipe the sweat from my brow and hoist a small sunfish over my head.
It’s not all about the fish
As excited as I am to get the friends together and go fishing, that’s not allPaliashowed off in its first gameplay reveal.Paliaisn’t your traditional MMO where you slay monsters for experience while leveling up and acquiring loot. Instead, you will enhance a variety of life skills like fishing, hunting, gardening, cooking, crafting, and more. All of this, while in a social setting where you can play in a world of up to 25 total players.
The gameplay reminds me a lot of games likeAnimal Crossingand evenStardew Valley, with the player tackling mini-games to successfully complete tasks like cooking up a new recipe or crafting a new piece of furniture. As you continue to practice your craft you will level up and unlock new things to do as well as more efficient methods of completing such tasks.
Look, I knowPaliaisn’t going to be everyone’s cup of tea. It’s certainly not the nextWorld of WarcraftorFinal Fantasy XIV. But is that really such a bad thing? IfWorld of Warcraft ClassicorFF14has taught me anything, it’s that the social aspects of an MMO are often what makes the experience so great. And in a game focused on that exact thing? All I can say is sign me up. I’ll meet you on the pier with a rod in hand.
If you’re interested in checking outPalia,to join their closed beta test on August 2. An open beta takes place on August 10.
