Strategy MMORPG Wakfu is a breath of fresh air for Asia

Yesterday I was eating a salad and commented it could use more Wakfu dressing. It was a slip of my tongue and that isn’t really a salad dressing (though wafu dressing is legit). I guess I just have games on the brain. Wakfu is actually a strategic turn-based MMORPG from Europe that is coming to Asia, and its closed beta test is starting next week, on November 26.

Now, is some 2D, boring, turn-based MMO from Europe really such a big deal when we’ve got tons of cool stuff coming straight out of Asia? The answer is yes.

We’ve long suffered the insufferable: an unending stream of hack-and-slash MMORPGs practically dribbling out of the gaping mouths that are Korea and China. Wakfu is a breath of fresh air with its turn-based strategic combat combined with cutesy, manga-esque art styles.

More than that, it’s got a lot more depth than any hack and slash MMO out there on the market. I personally have never seen a game that allows you to run for governor, and requires the support of real-life players to get voted in. Here are some of the features from Wakfu that I’m most impressed with.

Governance

You can vote people in and out of government, and rely on them to rule your country. Of course, they have to be model citizens to run for government, first. Wakfu has four countries, and these can war or be at peace with each other at any time…albeit on the whims of a player.

Ecosystems

Harvest too much wheat and your crops won’t grow back. Kill off all the frogs in the area and you’ll suffer the consequences of losing your in-game bonuses. Wakfu has an intricate, dependent network of ecosystems that you can either destroy or preserve. The green hippie in me is trembling.

Cosmetic additions