Corepunk: The Next Big MMO?

Corepunk was designed by the indie game development studio Artificial Core. The company has been developing this game for 5 years and is finally preparing to enter into its first projected closed beta testing in Spring 2021, even though no official date has been released. Corepunk promises to shake up the monotony of traditional MMORPGs by incorporating some of the better gameplay aspects of MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena) style games much like League of Legends, Dota2 & Heroes of the Storm.

Corepunk will feature many familiar mechanics like top-down aerial camera view & Fog-of-War. To further explain for those unfamiliar with the concept, fog-of-war is a staple feature in strategy games whether they be real-time or turn-based that simulates the various unknowns of the world usually by restricting player awareness. Corepunk will still hold on to it's MMO ideals by showcasing many familiar characteristics such as a detailed profession & crafting system, dungeons & raiding parties, world bosses, guilds, & storyline quest.

Players will have their choice of several customizable classes within the game that will function more like stepping stones because once the starting class is chosen (ex. Paladin), the player is then presented with 3 weapon masteries associated with the base class (ex. Cleric, Crusader & Hand of Light). Each of these archetypes will offer its own unique abilities, weapons, and playstyles. The customization is further enhanced by the usage of corepunk's talent system which utilizes a tree layout that can be upgraded as your hero levels. This is a familiar system layout when compared to other games like World of Warcraft or Diablo 3.

The talent tree system allows players various methods of gaining special statistical bonuses to craft a truly individual hero. An example of this would be wanting to create a hero who can take exuberant amounts of enemy damage while holding their attention so you'd choose the base class of Paladin w/ the Crusader mastery. After making that selection choosing the heroic masteries Defender, Support & Warrior to allow for additional attack power while also offering bonus survivability in terms of ability cooldown and damage reduction. Those modifications are just the baseline passives from each talent tree selection and based on how the player chooses to distribute their available points upon leveling they can strengthen certain areas of their hero.

Outside of Corepunk's character designs, they have also expressed an interest in creating very engaging lore and eye-catching visuals. The universe birthed by Artificial Core for the game has very few specifics provided for the fans as of this moment storyline-wise; however, the world-building aspects are showcased exceptionally through concept arts, exposition on lore, and 3D models. Corepunk features 4 distinct factions that all rule one part of the world. The forest-dwelling Elaniens, desert wasteland clans of the Faidens, Industrious Yorners & the neon socialites of the Quaddari

All four of the main factions have their own starting cities, unique cultures, and distinguishing visuals that shape the various landscapes of the world that make it feel captivatingly realistic. The world of Corepunk draws a lot of its inspiration elements from themes such as Dark Fantasy, Steampunk, and Dystopian Wasteland to create its landscapes, clothing, beasts, and other inhabitants of the world. The design of the world gives off very strong "Sci-fi" vibes that just pulls all the different elements of the game together to craft a unique experience.

Artificial Core has put a lot of hard work into their game, and it shows with the interesting mechanics, puzzles, and paths this game may take. We as fans and spectators of corepunk's development may not have many specifics concerning all the mysteries and intricacies of the game but with what they have shown in regards to the gameplay, world-building, and mechanics, They have presented something truly interesting and one of a kind. I personally can't wait to sample the game during the CBT in Spring 2021 (If I get in that is) and review the game once more.

I encourage others to sign up for the beta @ https://corepunk.com/en/