#Awakening is pushing MMO character customization to the following degree, and I am right here for it
Most MMOs I’ve performed allow you to change your hair, decide a physique kind, perhaps throw on a cool scar—and that’s about it. It will get the job finished, however let’s be actual, it’s sort of forgettable. Dune: Awakening, however, redefines character creation. It’s exactly what MMO gamers like me have been ready for.
One of many first issues that caught my eye was the considerate consideration to element—options you don’t usually see in video games, resembling the colours of the attention’s sclera or perhaps a sunburned look. My favourite, although, needs to be the darkish circles slider. I’ve at all times had them, and whereas I don’t love them in actual life, it’s good to see them represented in a method that makes them really feel extra regular.
Out of all of the options, the tattoos had been significantly intriguing. Whereas the choice isn’t huge, there’s simply sufficient so as to add a private contact to each the physique and face. These designs should not solely visually hanging, whether or not it’s the space-inspired Photo voltaic Sleeve or the enigmatic eclipse facial overlaying, however every one is tied to Dune’s deep lore. The Chakobsa Sigil, for instance, comes from an historical searching language, and the Sapho mark on the lips is a well-recognized sight for followers of the movies. I’ll admit I’m not deeply versed within the Dune e-book sequence or motion pictures, however having that connection to its lore made me curious to discover the that means behind every tattoo.
The tattoos additionally add to the realism by providing a slider to regulate their age—a small element that would have simply been missed. In reality, each facet of Dune: Awakening is layered with depth, even within the extra normal options. There are sliders for each angle of your character’s eyes, mouth, and even eyebrows. The make-up choices are equally spectacular, matching the artistry of the tattoos. I’m hardly ever drawn to make-up designs in MMOs, as they have an inclination to lack intricacy. However these carry such a definite Dune aptitude that they really feel important reasonably than ornamental. It’s as if the character’s physique is a real murals, fastidiously crafted and formed by the world to which it belongs.
Character customization isn’t nearly seems to be; it’s additionally concerning the backstory that gives beginning expertise. I recognize that it doesn’t cease at a single background; it provides you three, overlaying your homeworld, caste, and mentor. The mentor, specifically, is one thing I’ve by no means seen in an MMO or another style. You get to determine who educated you, whether or not it was a legendary swordmaster, a grasp of bodily prowess and manipulation, a mentalist targeted on reconnaissance and technique, or a trooper specializing in offense and demolition. It’s a inventive strategy to affect your skills, however much more than that, it provides a significant dimension to the storytelling. I like having a personality that I do know reasonably than feeling indifferent and left with solely a shell of 1.
The Homeworld background will undoubtedly make any Dune fan pleased, particularly with the choice to decide on Caladan, the birthplace of the enduring Home Atreides. I do know I mentioned I’m no lore professional, however even I acknowledge Paul Atreides—it’s laborious to overlook the Timothée Chalamet phenomenon, it doesn’t matter what fandom you’re in. Every homeworld, together with Chusuk and Giedi Prime, comes with a novel dialogue trait and emote. An emote tied to a particular background is a refreshing contact, and I can already image MMO gamers utilizing it to point out off their origins to others within the sport. The final background pertains to your social class, starting from low to excessive standing. Outdoors of the dialogue trait, I’m curious to see how it will affect your journey, as everybody begins with the identical tools, no matter their social standing.
As soon as all the things’s set, you’ll see your character in motion throughout a high-stakes cutscene with the Reverend Mom. It’s thrilling to see your decisions come to life till all of it will get coated up with clothes and a masks. That appears to be the norm these days with gear, however the Dune: Awakening official web page does point out a transmog system, so your character received’t keep hidden for lengthy. Moreover, I perceive why characters are coated up, as it could be fairly unrealistic for them to be operating from sandworms and the solar with no safety.
Dune: Awakening is a breath of contemporary air that I didn’t even know I used to be craving in an MMO. From the second I began customizing my character, I used to be fully captivated. It’s not about altering up a couple of seems to be right here and there—it’s about creating somebody who feels actual. The extent of element, just like the tattoos with actual that means and the emotes tied to your homeworld, had me genuinely excited to dive deeper into the sport. As somebody who’s performed numerous MMOs, I’ve by no means felt so related to a personality earlier than, merely by way of customization. Whether or not you’re a Dune fan or somebody searching for one thing completely different, Dune: Awakening affords a degree of character creation that was sufficient to hook me, and I can’t wait to see the way it resonates with others when it lastly launches.
