The highly anticipated MMORPG Lost Ark has now received a release window in Europe in the fall of 2021 and has passed its first alpha test. This game made many fans of games such as Diablo sit up because, at first glance, the gameplay is very similar to A-RPG. However, before Diablo 4, will MMORPG provide an alternative or at least a bridge for Diablo fans? In this article, we have summarized the similarities and differences between the Lost Ark and Diablo games so that you can understand them.
Similarities and similarities
Although Lost Ark belongs to the MMORPG genre, it has several game elements that attract fans of A-RPGs, such as Diablo or Road of Exile. In this section, you will find the most significant and most crucial part of it.
Perspective and control
The first and most apparent commonality between Lost Ark and Diablo games is, of course, the camera angle. MMORPG is played from an isometric perspective, and you can look down at your character from above. You can rotate the camera freely, but the incident angle will only change when using the zoom function to observe your nature.
In addition, the control method of Lost Ark is very similar to Diablo. Characters are not moved with WASD like most modern MMORPGs but with mouse buttons. You click on the desired location, and your character will move there.
The control of the attack is similar. Ordinary attacks are also carried out by clicking the mouse. By default, functions are on the QWER and ASDF keys, and items can be used with keys 1 to 4. Therefore, compared with Diablo, it offsets one line.
Combat system
The core gameplay of the Lost Ark combat system is almost the same as Diablo and other isometric A-RPGs. However, this is an action-oriented combat system in which there is no automatic lock. Instead, you must use your skills to specifically target and position yourself appropriately to hit opponents around you.
Similar to Diablo 3, each class has its resources. It collects or manages these resources in the battle to use skills or use powerful Ult abilities. WoW or FFXIV does not have a global cooldown, but each skill has its cooldown.
Lost Ark will also throw many opponents at you in battle, usually in Hack’n’Slay games. Enemies in groups are enormous, especially in raids, dungeons, and rifts. Dozens of monsters will often appear on your screen at the same time. This makes them more satisfied to use their excellent skills for mass destruction.
Skill system
Another similarity can be found in the lost ark tripod skill system. Its core is a skill level reminiscent of Diablo III. In D3, one of the six runes can personalize personal skills further and adapt to their game style or construction.
The basic system where you can adjust and personalize active skills is also provided in Lost Ark-but more extensively.
There, players will get skill points when they level up, and they can assign these points to individual active skills in their class. These points can be spent on a tripod system to personalize crafts. But compared to the runes of Diablo 3, you can choose more effects.
Each ordinary active skill has eight passive effects, which are distributed in three levels in the tripod. You can choose additional products for each level of skill. For example, a fully expanded skill in The Lost Ark will have three different effects at the end.
Similar to Diablo 3, this can be a pure attack or a duration increase or completely change the skill. Additionally, a single attack can be turned into three episodes, or the craft will gain the life deprivation effect of the vampire. So there are many options for different builds.
Loot Spiral and Gear System
One of the essential features of Diablo games loved by many gamers is the cool loot spiral. Just like Pinata, when monsters and bosses are slaughtered, colorful items will fly to the ground. Then, your search for armor pieces that are stronger or more suitable for the current construction, among many useless things.
This loot spiral works similarly in Lost Ark. You upgrade your character, and at the same time, you get weapons and armor from your opponents. Later, you can obtain armor from raids and dungeons at higher levels, or you can cultivate materials in the endgame to forge armor or upgrade it to higher levels.
There are fewer colorful loot fireworks in MMORPG than Diablo, but fans of giant loot piñatas will still be worth their money here. In addition, there are big world bosses that really rain and extraordinary treasure caves.
In addition, in the Lost Ark, similar to Diablo 3, there are many different ways to make your clothes better:
You can make the NPC recalculate the secondary statistics, similar to Diablo 3
Build or move elemental resistance by inserting runes
The carvings on the rings give them special effects, etc.
So you end up in a spiral that aims to improve your equipment and become stronger and stronger continuously. So the potential of minmaxen is enormous.
Difference
Since Lost Ark is not a one-on-one Diablo replica, some differences may delay one or another Diablo fan of MMORPG. This is the most significant and most serious of them.
Setting and story
The first and one of the most significant differences in the MMORPG settings. Unlike Diablo, in The Lost Ark, we are not in a dark, cruel medieval environment, where blood flows in rivers, and people are mutilated. Instead, the Lost Ark tends to use several different settings and mix them into a colorful pile.
Depending on the category you start the game, you will eventually enter the magical kingdom of elves, destroyed steampunk cities, Asian martial arts environments, or other environments. These starting areas represent different continents in The Lost Ark, you can prepare these continents, and each continent has its theme.
A Korean development studio also produced Lost Ark. Therefore, it has a unique Asian appearance and continues to appear as characters and armor. However, these garments partially expose or exaggerate the size, such as weapons from Berserker or Destroyer.
The story also revolves around demons. There are dark and sinister places, but it does not come close to the brutality of Diablo. There are many colorful and happy elements such as dances, facial expressions, and fancy cosmetics in the stories and games.
MMORPG elements
Another difference is, of course, the MMORPG element in Lost Ark. Compared to Diablo games, you will never be completely alone here. You will meet other players in the open area. There are also classic MMORPG elements:
A detailed role creator
Need team raids and dungeons
housing
Life skills such as collecting resources
Excellent navigation system where you can sail by boat
An auction house where you can trade with other players (Diablo 3 used to have it. But… we better not talk about it)
World bosses and world events, such as Chaos Rift, where a large number of players gather
Open PvP in certain regions
End Game
Unlike Diablo, the MMORPG element in Lost Ark is particularly evident in the endgame. In Diablo 3, players will usually cultivate essential secrets to get better equipment for their construction. This can be done in small groups or individually.
Diablo has three other seasons that have their themes and bring special effects and game mechanics, such as the ethereal weapons for the upcoming 24th season. Although each season will start a new role, they must also start from 0 to upgrade and equipment.
To get the best equipment in The Lost Ark, you must go to raids and chaos dungeons and get items, armor, and upgrades on the farm. Only by traveling with a team can you succeed there.
The content is instantiated and usually has its mechanism. In the guardian raid against the boss Nekrasena, a giant scorpion, you must chop off the tip of the tail with a particular item to prevent him from making powerful attacks.
In addition, endgame content (such as raids or dungeons) has daily or weekly caps. This means that you can’t send them endlessly to get the best items as quickly as possible because you can only enter them in a limited range or get a certain amount of loot from them.
