Sword of the New World Preview

By Mike Griffin

Western publishers large and small missed a prime opportunity to port Granado Espada last year, shortly after its Q2 boom across Asian territories. This game is Hakkyu Kim’s baby, the creator of the ridiculously successful Ragnarok Online. When he left Ragnarok to form IMC Games and start Granado Espada, a legion of fans followed him. GE earned several game of the month awards when it was released in Korea last spring, then it went on to shock viewers at the 2006 Korean Game Awards in December by taking the ceremony’s top prize, game of the year. GE will at last see a U.S. release this summer. Re-branded as Sword of the New World: Granado Espada, Southern California-based K2 Network will handle the U.S. localization and service of this multi-million user online RPG.

As we’ve previously reported, Sword of the New World is IMC’s re-imagining of the colonial-period 17th century, loosely adhering to the historical events of new world settlers while incorporating the high fantasy of magic and monsters. The character and costume designs by acclaimed concept artist Limha Lekan have a distinguished cosmopolitan flair, while the game’s Multi-Character Control system allows control of three characters simultaneously. You will tactically employ stances and abilities, sort of like AI modes for the two characters you aren’t currently controlling, and maximize your trio’s potential. Instead of leveling up different characters in order to try-out other classes, players will be able to experience three jobs every time they play. You’ll be able to name and customize your little family, and complete characters can be traded between players in the same way that items can. Traded characters will retain certain aspects imparted to them by their original owner, like their last name.

K2 Network’s US version will include the same unique award-nominated soundtrack by soundTeMP, DJ Tiesto and Osamu Kubota, hundreds of new quests, a western-friendly control scheme with proper key binding, and an expanded tutorial that takes players through the process of managing their trio of characters under the MCC system. They’ve also incorporated the localized English voice over, performed by 17 actors over the course of two weeks, for SotNW’s key characters.

A trial edition of Sword of the New World will be offered for free in early summer and a premium boxed version with extra goods and useful in-game items will follow shortly after. While huge success in Korea is no guarantee that a game will fly in western gamer culture, Hakkyu Kim may have a worldwide hit on his hands if K2 Network can brandish his Sword with a smooth and stable online service.