The year was 2006. My family only had one computer, so I would always watch my older brother play his games while waiting for my turn. One day he found a new game online called Maplestory; a Korean 2D side-scrolling MMORPG with a charming chibi art style.
I'd be amazed watching him play this game. I thought it was so cool how you could party up and become friends with people from all across the world. I would beg him to let me play it, but he wouldn't let me because the website said you needed to be 13 or older to play, and I was only 11 at the time. Well, I ended up making an account anyway (✿◠‿◠)
When I first started playing, there were only 4 classes to choose from. Warrior, Bowman, Rogue, and Magician. My very first character was a Warrior, because they were the easiest to start out with if you were new and didn't have many Mesos (the in-game currency). I remember the IGN I gave him, but I am too embarrassed to repeat it today due to how cringey it was.
Maple was a very simple game back in the day. You only had one or two damage abilities and the rest were either passive skills or buffs you cast every few minutes. It was a casual grind game with no real mechanics. Kill monsters, level up, get new gear. To be honest, the game-play itself wasn't that fun. It was the friendships I made through socializing with other players that made it so entertaining.
I still remember the friends I made when I first joined, their in game and real life names. I remember all the maple gf's I had (haha) and all the money I spent on the Cash Shop. I remember being so excited finding rare drops from monsters and hitting 2nd and 3rd Job. I remember my first Party Quest and my first boat ride to Orbis.
Although I haven't played the official server since 2010, I've dabbled in old school private servers over the past few years for nostalgic purposes. I can't seem to get this game out of my system. I've played dozens of MMO's since Maple. Grand Chase, LaTale, WoW, DCUO, Blade & Soul, Black Desert Online... But no game has ever been able to recreate the special feelings this game gave me.
What was your first MMORPG? Do you share similar feelings for it? Leave a comment and let me know!
