Ragnarok DS, known in Japan as Ragnarok Online DS (ラグナロクオンラインDS, Ragunaroku Onrain Dī Esu), is a Nintendo DS video game based on the MMORPG Ragnarok Online and was released in Japan on December 18, 2008. Xseed Games published the game in North America on February 16, 2010. The game was also released in South Korea in June 2009.[1]

Ragnarok DS
North American cover art
Developer(s)Tose
Publisher(s)
Designer(s)Masayuki Morimoto
SeriesRagnarok series
Platform(s)Nintendo DS
Release
  • JP: December 18, 2008
  • KR: June 25, 2009
  • NA: February 16, 2010
Genre(s)Role-playing
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer, online multiplayer

GungHo Online Entertainment, the company that hosts the Japanese server of Ragnarok Online, expanded its business for video game consoles; Ragnarok DS is the sixth of eight games for DS to be released by them, along with Love Revo!! DS, Indo Shiki Keisan Drill DS, Aqua Zone DS, 100 Kiri Golf DS, Hero's Saga Laevatein Tactics, Minna de Jibun no Setsumeisho: B-Kata, A-Kata, AB-Kata, O-Kata and Ecolis: Aoi Umi to Ugoku Shima.

Gameplay

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The massively multiplayer features of the original are not present in this version,[2] but it supports up to three players simultaneously in a variety of multi-player dungeons.[3]

Two new exclusive classes are released alongside this game: Dark Knight and Shaman.[4]

The game follows the plights of the main character Ales as he ventures out in the world to form a guild after the death of his mother. Ales' father, who was also an adventurer, has been missing for several years and Ales blames him for not being present to take care of her. Along his way to fame and fortune several characters are introduced and join Ales in completing specific tasks, usually resulting in permanent companionship. After completing the main storyline, the guild will be formed and access is gained to storage, where the new recruit characters and the option to edit the characters are in the player's party.

The mirage tower, a 50 floor dungeon consisting of a boss character every 5 levels is a single or multiplayer challenge and contains the most valuable items in the game. After beating a boss characters will be presented with a bidding screen to determine loot distribution and a base experience and job experience award will be doled out to each participant. Monsters inside the tower themselves do not offer any experience. Computer controlled allies are unable to enter the dungeon, so single player attempts will consist of just the player character. The main characters hair color and hair style as well as gender can be altered for play in the tower with each boss unlocking more hair styles and colors.

The game is designed to be almost entirely controlled by the DS stylus for simplicity and ease of use.[5] Additionally, the game is designed to follow a quest based story line with the options of side-quest to gain access to additional rewards. Only one side-quest can be accepted at a time despite the fact that multiple side-quests are available for each area. Players who want to accomplish more side-quests will have to visit the same areas multiple times.[5]

Reception

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The game received "mixed" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[6] In Japan, Famitsu gave it a score of all four sevens for a total of 28 out of 40.[7]

References

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  1. ^ Ashcraft, Brian (June 23, 2009). "Ragnarok Online DS Coming Home To South Korea". Kotaku. G/O Media. Archived from the original on September 22, 2020. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  2. ^ Razak, Matthew (January 30, 2010). "Ragnarok DS brings touch controls to MMO action". Destructoid. Gamurs. Archived from the original on November 27, 2021. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  3. ^ IGN staff (July 30, 2008). "Ragnarok Online DS Detailed". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on February 16, 2019. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  4. ^ Jetlogs (August 1, 2008). "Ragnarok Online DS: New Jobs Revealed". Jetlogs. Archived from the original on August 6, 2008. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  5. ^ a b c Kolan, Nick (March 29, 2010). "Ragnarok DS Review". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on February 7, 2023. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  6. ^ a b "Ragnarok DS for DS Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on August 13, 2020. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  7. ^ a b Valay, Brian (December 10, 2008). "Famitsu review scores". Nintendo Everything. Archived from the original on February 21, 2020. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  8. ^ Meunier, Nathan (February 18, 2010). "Ragnarok DS". GamePro. GamePro Media. Archived from the original on February 23, 2010. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  9. ^ Schaller, Kevin (March 10, 2010). "Ragnarok DS Review". GameRevolution. CraveOnline. Archived from the original on October 1, 2015. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  10. ^ Grabowski, Dakota (March 12, 2010). "Ragnarok DS - NDS - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on March 16, 2010. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  11. ^ "Review: Ragnarok DS". Nintendo Gamer. Future plc. April 2010. p. 65.
  12. ^ "Ragnarok DS". Nintendo Power. Vol. 252. Future US. March 2010. p. 91.
  13. ^ Moehnke, Mike (March 9, 2010). "Ragnarok DS - Staff Review". RPGamer. CraveOnline. Archived from the original on June 8, 2010. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  14. ^ Chandran, Neal (March 18, 2010). "Ragnarok DS". RPGFan. Emerald Shield Media LLC. Archived from the original on August 12, 2023. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  15. ^ Aber, Trace (March 29, 2010). "Ragnarok DS (DS) Review". 411Mania. Archived from the original on April 1, 2010. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
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