One of the primary reasons for the buzz surrounding Com2uS' new MMORPG, 'The Starlight', is, frankly, the pedigree of its creators. Having art director Jung Joon-ho—the visionary behind the aesthetics of Lineage 2 and AION—and sound director Nam Goo-min, who composed for TalesWeaver and Yogurting, on board would naturally raise expectations. Given that the core demographic for mobile MMORPGs consists of those who grew up playing these very titles, this seems like a calculated, albeit logical, move.

Having put the game through its paces, I found that 'The Starlight' effectively captures the nostalgic soundscapes and world-building of 2000s MMORPGs, while simultaneously smoothing out the rough edges with modern systems, making the onboarding process surprisingly painless.

What immediately caught my eye was the game’s multiverse-driven setting. This concept of colliding dimensions is a rare bit of freshness in an otherwise stagnant mobile MMORPG market, allowing for a variety of races and regions with distinct atmospheres that keep players immersed. While the journey begins in 'Myosotis', a region that screams 'generic medieval fantasy', the environment is littered with modern and futuristic artifacts that serve as a constant reminder of the instability between these dimensions.

It is clear that the developers put in some legwork during the tutorial phase to weave these disparate environments into the narrative. For instance, when the human assassin 'Silkira' lands on the continent of Myosotis, one is met with desolate shrines and mysterious figures in robes; meanwhile, the Minotaur warrior 'Deckard Rombel' arrives on a strange beach populated by unknown futuristic soldiers. Seeing these heroes from different timelines tossed into such jarringly different locations makes me hopeful that we will eventually see these paths converge.

The anachronistic fusion in The Starlight extends far beyond just the setting and characters. It is deeply ingrained in the 'Avatars, Spirits, Mounts, and Weapon Souls' you pull via the gacha system. The Avatars range from humble medieval garb to outfits you would expect to see on an idol or a fashion model. The mounts are equally eclectic, shifting from war bears and werewolves to bikes and hoverboards. Consequently, seeing an elf riding a hoverboard while a human character sits atop a giant bear is just the kind of visual chaos you should expect here.

The combat system features a 'Dual Class' structure, allowing a single character to switch between two distinct roles. You can strategically select skills and use presets to drastically alter your playstyle. During my session, I played as the human assassin 'Silkira', whose modern aesthetic felt strangely out of place in the medieval fantasy setting.

Because Silkira possesses both the 'Assassin' class, which utilizes dual blades, and the 'Hunter' class, which wields dual pistols, I could flip between melee and ranged combat depending on whether I was tackling PvE or PvP content—provided I had the right gear equipped.

Field combat is largely an automated affair. HP recovery potions are tied to your mount's tier, and MP regenerates automatically, meaning you rarely need to worry about manual upkeep. You simply set your preferred skills to auto-cast and optimize your mana efficiency. Currency acquisition is generous enough that you can easily stock up on stat-boosting food from the store without breaking a sweat.

Dungeons are split into time-limited and party-based varieties. The time-limited dungeons are quite convenient; you use an entry ticket to get a set amount of time to farm for experience, gold, and high-tier equipment. Party dungeons, on the other hand, are where you go for equipment crafting recipes, offering a glimmer of hope that your gear grade might actually improve.

Item crafting is also worth a mention. You use materials gathered from farming to craft gear, which can then be used to fill out your collection or upgrade your equipment. If you are lucky enough to craft a 'great success' item, you can even sell it on the exchange. This provides a clear path for players who might be lower in combat power but are diligent in their farming to accumulate 'Diamonds, the in-game currency.

The 'Mana Village', where the early main quests take place, is a quaint medieval-style village with peaceful meadows and grasslands. It is visually pleasing, featuring a variety of natural environments like fields, mountains, and caves. By contrast, the 'Musa Village', which becomes the central stage around level 30, blends East Asian thematic elements with rocky terrain and nomadic vibes, offering a refreshing change of pace.

The story follows the classic, 'hero saves the world from a grand crisis' trajectory. The developers have hinted at showing more dimensions in future updates, and I for one am curious to see if the character-specific backstories will be revisited. The current narrative focus on the unique origins of the characters feels relegated to the early game, with the main plot flattening out shortly thereafter. Whether this initial promise of dimensional diversity manifests in the mid-to-late game remains to be seen.

The Starlight is a 'new-tro' fantasy MMORPG that relies on its eclectic world-building, sound design, and twisted dimensional narrative to win you over. In a sea of generic medieval and dark fantasy titles, this multiverse approach serves as a decent differentiator. The real test will be how consistently the developer can weave these dimensional tales together and flesh them out with meaningful content.