An incredibly fun hack and slash game. Even more so with a controller!

This game has lost it's vibrance, quality, and community since its first revamp a couple of years ago.

I can't say that the Big Bang update did the game any good. It made it more playable for the casual side of the gaming community, but for players like me, who enjoy the serious and competitive nature of games, has either become apathetic or not able to find motivation to play the game.

To tell you how great the game was before any of this, because it was a really good one, whenever I watch a video that anyone has uploaded about the old versions of Maplestory I will start feeling noglastic. It's not like the more you see the more it reminds you of the good times, it hits me straight on. I remember how I first reach level 30, 70, and 120. I remember how I made friends with people who I am still in contact with today. I remember my first boss run or training party that I was in with a guild who was so kind and had a growing community. Those feelings were shot straight into my heart as soon as I watched a video that was posted by my guild.

What Nexon got rid of that made many veteran and senior players quit or leave the game was it's challenges. The difficulity of leveling up brought many players together, forcing us to make party and guilds to better fare against the monsters that we faced. Making these connections with other players also allowed us to make friends, a bond that both players can feel even through distances. I know it sounds silly but that's one of the things MapleStory taught me, friendship.

I won't say that MapleStory is bad game now, mostly because I still play it. People can still enjoy the game the way it is now. However, players who played the game for longer than a month before the Big Bang updates will understand me on this: MapleStory will never be able to give us that same exceptional feeling when playing. It's time has passed and so have most of us.

Anyone interested in this game can very well try it. It has become more suitible for the casual audience now. I will warn you already that many of the game's feature will force you either to spend tons of time on it, or spend money to at least losen up that time. Yes, MapleStory is what people calls "Pay 2 Win." However it wasn't always like that, it use to be just for extra clothing. You didn't need anything to make you progress through the game with real money.

tl;dr I recommend you to try it if you have never tried it before. If you don't like it then uninstall it. If you're a returning player then I'm warning you, everything is not the same anymore.

Awesome game. 'Nuff said.