Can A Change In Faction Aesthetics Keep You From Playing A MMORPG’s Sequel?

With the impending release of Aion 2, NCSoft has been discussing the game more. In a stream we wrote about recently, they discussed some of the changes coming to the MMORPG – one of which is a change in how one of the game’s main factions appears. This isn’t new news; they’ve discussed the fact that the Asmodian appearance is different in Aion 2 before. Back in May, it was stated that they’re trying to avoid the “good vs. evil” scenario.

I believe this means doing away with, or at least cutting back on, the “monster” traits of the Asmodian race – things like the claws and perhaps the bluish-grey skin tones. What’s interesting to me is that I never took the appearance to mean that Asmodians are inherently evil or Elyos good. In fact, if you pay enough attention to lore, the Elyos were kind of self-righteous jerks.</P.

What I did take from the differences in the two groups’ appearances was the obvious. One group was able to live in the light, while the other had to survive in the dark, thanks to the way the world is physically divided and the fact that the two factions just can’t get along long enough for the Asmodians to go get some sun.

Neither group was “good” or “bad”, they’re just people doing people things. And those “evil” appearance traits of the Asmodians aren’t evil. They’re just indicators of how that group managed to survive in the world they were given.

It’s not a bad world, by the way. Some of the Asmodian areas in the original game were incredibly pretty.

So, I’m a bit disappointed at the idea of the Asmodians being made to look more like their Elyos counterparts. As I noted in an earlier piece, I’m not going to stress about it until I see what happens. After all, it’s a game. That said, there is the chance it could be enough to make me not want to play.

I’m not sure what all went into this decision. I’m guessing that they surveyed their target audience. I also understand that there are differences in aesthetics between regions. But I was partial to the Asmodians in part because of their appearance. It’s a thing. While you won’t find me playing something like an orc, I do have a habit of choosing races with some less human traits. In Final Fantasy XIV, I've played an Au’ra for the longest time, and a Xaela at that. (That’s the ones with dark horns and scales and a tendency to show up as grey or blue, sometimes red or other dark colors.) I often take on a draconic race, something with scales and tails, or inhuman eyes.

So, now, when I think about not being able to make what I think of as a proper Asmodian, I’m not sure I’ll be spending a lot of time with Aion 2.

What I do find interesting is that the team is still promising a very robust character creation system similar to that of the original Aion. So, if you were a big fan of making the chibi characters, or what have you. That’s still on the table. According to statements I’ve read, character creation will have somewhere around 200 different things players can customize.

Honestly, that’s fantastic. And perhaps with that many options, players might just be able to make a character with the OG Aion Asmodian aesthetics. It’d make those of us who don’t mind looking “evil” able to do so. Though it might make it difficult to tell who is Elyos and who is Asmodian in PvP without indicators.

That aside, I am left wondering how many players of the original game might give this one a pass based on such a change. All game sequels feature all kinds of changes. But they’re typically things like mechanics (which can easily be a turnoff too), optimization, or just generally updating the appearance of the game to take advantage of the most recent tech. Changing an entire aesthetic around a defined faction feels different. That said, there is always the possibility that whatever losses may occur will be offset by the attraction of those who might have otherwise stayed away because of the original aesthetic. Who knows?