Welcome additions to gameplay include a Jackpot system,Martial Empires a Rage bar, the not-so-uncommon Tradeskills, and PvP modes. The jackpot system is simple. Gain jackpot points as you grind your way through quests and monster hunting. Once the jackpot bar is full, click the jackpot button, choose the reward you want to receive (item, gold, buffs or points) and wait for good luck to come. There are no apparent uses for the jackpot points, so it's wise to use them whenever the opportunity comes. The rage bar, on the other hand, is similar to Sieg's berserker mode in Grand Chase, or War's Chaos Form in Darksiders. Activate your full rage bar and temporarily turn into a demon with a significant boost on your battle prowess.
Your stay in Martial Empires Gold won't be worthwhile until you've experienced admiring the scenery. CR Space made a gratuitous effort into the graphical detail of the game. Consider the graphics at par, if not better, than what Perfect World offers. Graphics options can easily be adjusted in the options menu to optimize your visual needs. However, if your system suffers from hardware lag or difficulty, the game's environment and character models may load up way longer than usual, to the point of seeing nothing but a black area for the field and a floating head for your character. Sounds and background music are pretty average, but the NPC's constant grunting, moaning or humming could be a little frustrating in the long run. And please...don't get me started with that annoying dancing Surricat monster.
The stingy rewards and the limited character classes may be a letdown for most players. But if you're willing to look past that miserly treatment and possible graphical difficulties (if you're coming from an older video card), then Martial Empires Gold can be your "number 2" game. All the MMO conventions are present in this one, and there's still plenty of room for potential. There’s not much to expect, but there's little room for disappointment either. Maybe this time, be a little more considerate. Lower your expectations a bit from the Aion or World of Warcraft standards. Martial Empires is worth a try.
