(52 votes, average: 2.62 / 5)
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Legend of Ares
Legend of Ares is a re-released 3D fantasy MMORPG focused on PvP between the Alliance and Empire factions. Play as one of four classes and a faction to take part in the game's PvP modes that include solo and guild-wide battles to determine turf ownership.
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Publisher: Reforgix (Previously RedFox Games/MGame) Playerbase: Low Type: Fantasy MMORPG Release Date: May 12, 2006 Shut Down Date: September 30, 2018 Relaunched: May 2, 2024 Pros: +Four playable classes. +Action-oriented combat. +Randomized loot. Cons: -Pay-to-win elements. -Outdated graphics and gameplay. -Slow progression. |
Legend of Ares Overview
Legend of Ares is a 3D free-to-play fantasy MMORPG developed by MGame and re-published by Reforgix / RedFox Games, originally available through the MMORPGs with automated combat. The game offers a variety of PvP-oriented content that is catered to solo players and groups, including guild-wide battles that determine turf ownership.
Legend of Ares Key Features:
- PvP-Oriented Gameplay – enter a game world where two factions divide the land, ed by solo and group PvP content in the fight for dominance.
- Action-Based Combat – click to attack your enemies and unleash abilities, unlike many modern MMORPG's automated battle systems.
- Four Playable Classes – play as four classes that include Gladiator, Paladin, Archer, and Sorcerer, each with their own equipment types and trainable abilities.
- Legend of Ares Reborn – relive the nostalgic game shut down in 2009 with new translations and features.
- Player-Owned Shops – peddle your wares to other players at the prices you choose by opening up a shop, allowing for a player-driven economy.
Legend of Ares Screenshots
Legend of Ares Featured Video
Legend of Ares Review
By Aeigh Igh
Legend of Ares is a relic of the mid-2000s MMORPG era, resurrected in 2024 by Reforgix after its original 2006–2018 run. This free-to-play title stakes its identity on faction-based PvP, action-oriented combat, and a player-driven economy, but its revival highlights both nostalgic charm and the pitfalls of aging design. While it carves a niche for PvP purists, its dated mechanics and monetization model struggle to align with modern expectations.
A Relic Reborn
Developed by MGame and initially published by RedFox Games, Legend of Ares is a 3D fantasy MMORPG that pits two factions—the Holy Empire and the Religious Alliance—in a perpetual war for territorial dominance. The game’s 2024 relaunch promises updated translations and minor quality-of-life tweaks but retains the core experience from its 2006 debut. Players choose from four classes (Gladiator, Paladin, Archer, Sorcerer) and engage in faction warfare, guild sieges, and open-world skirmishes.
Comparisons to Guild Wars 2.
Factions and Classes: Simplicity Over Depth
The Holy Empire and Religious Alliance serve as the game’s ideological poles, though their differences are purely cosmetic. Neither faction offers unique abilities or narrative incentives, reducing the choice to a matter of aesthetics or guild affiliation. This lack of faction identity feels jarring in an era where games like The Elder Scrolls Online weave faction loyalty into quests, zones, and story arcs.
Class design follows a similarly minimalist approach:
- Gladiator: Melee DPS with high burst damage but limited survivability.
- Paladin: Tank/ hybrid, excelling in crowd control and defense.
- Archer: Ranged physical DPS, reliant on kiting and positioning.
- Sorcerer: Glass-cannon mage with area-of-effect spells.
While classes fulfill traditional roles, customization is shallow. Skill trees are linear, with few meaningful build choices. Combat rotations feel repetitive, relying on spamming a handful of abilities rather than strategic synergy.
Combat and PvP: Clunky But Committed
Legend of Ares employs a click-to-attack system reminiscent of early-2000s MMORPGs like New World. Animations are stiff, and hit registration often lags, undermining the precision required for PvP.
The PvP systems, however, remain the game’s strongest draw. Key modes include:
- Open-World Faction Battles: Spontaneous skirmishes in contested zones, though low server populations often render these barren.
- Guild Sieges: Scheduled turf wars where guilds fight to control castles, granting access to lucrative resources. These evoke Lineage II’s siege mechanics but lack scale due to the dwindling player base.
- Arena Duels: Instanced 1v1 or 3v3 matches, appealing to competitive players.
PvP balance is marred by pay-to-win elements (discussed later), as gear often trumps skill. Yet, for a dedicated few, the adrenaline of narrowly won guild sieges or outplay potential in duels justifies the grind.
Progression and Economy: A Grind Shackled by Time
Leveling in Legend of Ares is a slow, monotonous crawl. Players grind identical mobs for hours, with quests offering negligible XP rewards—a design choice at odds with contemporary games that prioritize narrative-driven progression. The randomized loot system, while initially thrilling, quickly reveals its flaws: low drop rates for high-tier gear incentivize endless farming or cash shop shortcuts.
The player-driven economy, once a standout feature, suffers from the game’s low population. Player-owned shops allow s to sell items directly, but with few active buyers, the market stagnates. Compare this to robust economies in Albion Online, where supply and demand dynamically shift; here, trading feels archaic and underutilized.
Monetization: Pay-to-Win Shadows
Legend of Ares adopts a free-to-play model with a cash shop selling convenience items, cosmetics, and—most controversially—stat-boosting gear and enchantment scrolls. This creates a stark power imbalance in PvP, where wallet warriors dominate regardless of skill. For example, a Sorcerer with cash-shop gear can one-shot opponents who’ve grinded for weeks, eroding competitive integrity.
The inclusion of “Time Tokens,” purchasable with real money and tradable for in-game currency, mirrors systems in World of Warcraft or EVE. However, without safeguards, this exacerbates inflation, pricing casual players out of the economy.
Relaunch and Modern Relevance
The 2024 reboot offers updated translations and slight UI improvements but fails to address core issues: outdated graphics (muddy textures, stiff animations), clunky controls, and server instability. While nostalgia may lure back veterans, the lack of meaningful modernization—such as engine upgrades or cross-server PvP to bolster populations—limits its appeal.
Conclusion: A Niche for the Nostalgic
Legend of Ares is a time capsule of MMORPG design, warts and all. Its unapologetic focus on PvP and faction rivalry will resonate with players yearning for early-2000s simplicity, while its flaws—dated mechanics, pay-to-win monetization, and glacial progression—highlight why the genre has evolved. For those seeking a polished, balanced experience, look elsewhere. But for a handful of diehards, Legend of Ares remains a battlefield where old grudges—and older gameplay—die hard.
Final Verdict - Fair
Legend of Ares delivers a functional, if fossilized, PvP experience. Its revival is less a renaissance and more a museum exhibit—a curiosity best appreciated by those who its heyday.
Legend of Ares Screenshots
Legend of Ares Videos
Legend of Ares System Requirements
Minimum Requirements:
Operating System: Windows 98/ME/2000/XP
U: 700 MHz Pentium 3
Video Card: GeForce 2 MX
RAM: 128 MB
Hard Disk Space: 1.5 GB
Minimum Requirements:
Operating System: Windows 98/ME/2000/XP
U: 1.4 GHz Pentium 4
Video Card: GeForce 3
RAM: 256 MB
Hard Disk Space: 1.5 GB
Legend of Ares Music & Soundtrack
Coming Soon...
Legend of Ares Additional Information
Developer: MGame
Publisher: RedFox Games, NetGame
Original Global Launch: May 12, 2006
Closure Date: May 2009
Re-Launch Open Beta Date: July 25, 2016
Shut Down Date: September 30, 2018
Development History / Background:
Legend of Ares is developed by MGame and published initially by NetGame for the West in 2006, shutting down in 2009 due to a declining playerbase. Its Korean version remained active, and an international re-launch by RedFox Games was announced in 2016. RedFox Games is known for publishing games such as RF Online. The re-launched game was released on July 25, 2016 in an open beta. A full release with no downtime is planned if the game's open beta moves smoothly.
Legend of Ares officially shut down through Play RedFox Games on September 30, 2018.
The game has been relaunched by Reforgix.