The South Korean video game developer, NEXON may not be among the most renowned names in the industry, but they have started bringing in games every now and then which is great. While they made a name for themselves with the iOS title Blue Archive, even though free-to-play, THE FINALS did a fairly good job for them on Steam after the 2023 release, and DAVE THE DIVER in 2022. But they are mostly known for their yet another free-to-play MMORPG title, Vindictus, developed by devCAT, one of their internal studios. And after long thirteen years, NEXON has finally decided to bring out its highly anticipated sequel.

Vindictus: Defying Fate is the upcoming action RPG game by NEXON, and it has the potential to have a significant impact on the action role-playing genre. Expanding upon the immense universe of its 2010 predecessor Vindictus, this installment is being developed using state-of-the-art Unreal Engine 5, ensuring an immersive and graphically stunning experience.

Considering that the game is still in the process of being developed, there is a great deal of expectation among fans of both the original and newcomers to this genre. During the first pre-alpha test, which took place from the 13th to the 18th of March, NEXON provided us with a sneak peek. During this test, I tested various early game aspects such as combat styles, character apparel, and roaming the new environment of the game.

Obviously, in contrast to the original game, this sequel is developed with the intention of providing something fresh and unique. According to the developers' statements, players can anticipate discovering newly discovered parts of the game's universe, interacting with fresh characters, and going through an entirely new plot. We participated in the first pre-alpha and it turns out to be an action RPG that deftly incorporates hack-and-slash elements into its battles, which is part of the game's primary attraction.

Just like any game of this nature, you'll be thrust into a journey that is both dark and dramatic, where you will face powerful enemies and explore a world that is filled with a great deal of secrets and challenges. In Vindictus: Defying Fate, the action is fast-paced and intense in every way, but notably in its combat mechanics.

Battles will test your reflexes, strategy, and talent, and the game is meant to inspire tension. The developers have injected a bit of Souls-like mechanism like Stellar Blade in the combat, as it goes beyond simple hacking and slashing and calls for strategic thinking to overcome particular enemies, and defeating them feeds a level of difficulty.

An experience that blends the excitement of battle with the depth and customization of role-playing games is something that you can look forward to in Vindictus: Defying Fate.  You will have the option to create your own characters, choosing from an extensive range of different appearances, weaponry, and styles of combat while doing so. There is a deep narrative overlay that features enemies that have been influenced by legends from Celtic mythology. Furthermore, characters like Lann and Fiona are equipped with distinct skills and combos.

Vindictus: Defying Fate mixes the depth and customization of role-playing games with the adrenaline-fueled combat of a traditional role-playing game. You will control a huge cast of distinctive characters, each of whom has their own set of skills and combinations, including Lann and Fiona, two of the most popular characters in the series. Fiona's go-to weapon is a long sword and shield, although she can switch things up as needed.

Those who like a more defensive playstyle will find Fiona to be an ideal character. She uses her shield from incoming attacks, while at the same time leaving her opponents vulnerable to counterattacks. With her hefty standard special talent and the shield, she can temporarily block all incoming attacks, regardless of source.

Lann, on the other hand, wields two swords and has reflexes that let him sidestep assaults and retaliate with ease. Back by popular demand from Vindictus 2010, Lann is all about attacking skills and will most likely be the one to choose if you want to go all out with an attacking play style. Once Lann reaches a certain level of rage, he can unleash his fury—a special ability that lets him dash past enemies while delivering a powerful slash strike.

Vindictus: Defying Fate, developed by NEXON, is presently in the pre-alpha stage of production while the development started in April 2023. Prior to really beginning work on the game, they spent three months simply experimenting with various concepts in order to make sure that it was as enjoyable as it could be.  Unveiling all the specifics just yet, NEXON is also planning to port this game to PlayStation or Xbox.

They aim for an engaging tale and compelling gameplay. An early build of the game was made available to everyone so that NEXON could gauge player sentiment and incorporate their suggestions into the final product. This game will be available on PC via Steam, with announcements for consoles to follow.
 

Asura Kagawa (@AsuraKagawa)
Editor, NoobFeed