Wakfu
| WAKFU | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Ankama Games |
| Publisher(s) | North America – Square Enix Europe – Ankama Games |
| Engine | JAVA |
| Platform(s) | Linux,[1] Mac OS X,[1] Windows[1] |
| Release date(s) | February 29, 2012 |
| Genre(s) | Fantasy MMORPG |
| Mode(s) | Multiplayer |
Wakfu is a tactical turn-based MMORPG developed by Ankama Games, which was released for Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux on February 29, 2012.[1][2] The game takes place 1,000 years after Ankama's previous game, Dofus.[3] A spin-off game, Islands of Wakfu, was released on Xbox Live Arcade on March 30, 2011. An animated television series based on the game began airing in France from October 30, 2008. The seires has also spawned various comics and a trading card game.
Story
In the time of Dofus, an ogre named Ogrest managed to get all six Dofus eggs for the sake of someone he loved. However, she was interested only in the eggs, and Ogrest killed her in a fit of rage. Later realizing what he'd done, he climbed atop Mount Zinit and cried for 1,000 years. This brings us to the time of WAKFU. Now the "goal" is to defeat Ogrest, but, like in Dofus, this is not necessary.[1]
Gameplay
- The fighting system is turn by turn like Dofus and Dofus Arena, inspired by tactical RPG which will also be present in WAKFU.
- In Wakfu, players walk around with the screen following them scrolling. (In Dofus characters walked onto a new screen to move around.)
- One of the changes in Wakfu is interaction with its environment. Players must maintain resource levels as they harvest crops and hunt wildlife.
- Players will be (at least partially) auto-managed: players will have to maintain the order, like militias and governors. Some ranks will be accessible thanks to elections.
- Each class has 25 spells: three elemental categories of 5 spells each, one category of 5 special actions specific to the class, and one category of 5 special spells that passively improve the character's other capabilities. Contrary to typical RPGs which present characters with new, more powerful abilities throughout the course of the game, Wakfu grants characters all their spells by the early stages and thereafter allows players to strengthen them.
Playable classes
Wakfu features the same classes as Dofus, although many have different appearances or roles.[4]
Professions
As in Dofus, Wakfu features professions which characters may learn. Harvesting professions let characters "collect resources or basic materials from the fauna and flora". Crafting professions "allow you to transform these basic ingredients into ... equipment, accessories or even potions."[5]
Bestiary
The most famous monsters from Dofus, such as Tofus, Moskitos and Gobballs are present in Wakfu, although they have been redesigned with the addition of subclasses. The graphic designers at Ankama Games have also developed new creatures, like Phorreurs and Grave-diggers; Smares (monsters that look like a samara (fruit)) have been included.[6]
Animated series
Ankama Animation has been producing a French-language cartoon series by the same name, based on the video game. The first season of 26 episodes began airing on 30 October 2008, and new episodes continued to air into June 2010 on France 3. The show is animated with Adobe Flash software; all the production is done in France except episode 22 "Rubilax" and the special episode "Noximilien", both produced in Japan. The series is directed by Anthony "Tot" Roux, and character design is directed by Xavier "Xa" Houssin and Kim "Tcho" Etinoff.[7] During the London MCM Expo, the first two episodes were shown for the first time in English, and a Kickstarter campaign has been launched to fund the complete first season in English.[8] A spin-off called Mini-Wakfu, which features humorous shorts with characters depicted in super deformed style, has aired since September 2009. The special episode "Noximilien l'Horloger", which tell the origins of the main antagonist, Nox, was produced in Japan, it features a radically different art style made by the same team of animators who worked on Kaiba and Kemonozume, it was directed by Eunyoung Choi with Masaaki Yuasa on character design.
The series is set 12 years after the game, and inside the latter can be found numerous citations about the cartoon.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Wakfu FAQ". Retrieved 2008-03-08.
- ↑ "WAKFU: Open Beta Has Begun". Ankama. 2012-01-04. Retrieved 2012-01-12.
- ↑ "GDC 2007: WAKFU Announced for PC". GamersMark. 2007-03-08. Retrieved 2008-03-08.
- ↑ "Wakfu Review: The Sequel of Dofus". Retrieved 2009-12-01.
- ↑ "Professions". Retrieved 2011-11-25.
- ↑ Official Site – Creatures
- ↑ "Making of" (in French). Ankama Animation. Retrieved December 20, 2009.
- ↑ "Kickstarter Campaign". Retrieved January 20, 2014.