[HD 1080p] The Pride Of Taern - Browser Game (Trailer+Gameplay)

The Pride Of Taern (aka POT) is a free to play 2D browser based retro fantasy MMORPG. It was developed by Whitemoon and published by the same company.

Taern is about 15 years behind the times. The graphics ooze a charm reminiscent of the classic RPG Infinity Engine, as well as the later Ultima games. Characters move slow and bulky, scenery is largely painted on; and any kind of effect or visual sparkle is relegated to your own imagination.

The Pride of Taern allows you to create and control a hero to become the dominant force in the land of Taern. The game is open-ended in style, allowing you to do quests in a non-linear fashion, at your leisure. You also have the option to create a guild, and expand the structures to incredible levels. PvP players will also find large scale battles between guilds, as well as arena tournaments to participate in.

There are seven classes where player can choose his favorite:
1.Barbarian
2.Knight
3.Sheed
4.Archer
5.Fire Mage
6.Voodoo
7.Healer

The combat of Taern takes place in a turn-based Heroes of Might and Magic style. You queue up your actions, either melee, ranged, and magic, choose how many action points to dedicate to it, and also delegate AP to your defence. It's a simple arrangement that for the most part works, but it lacks some of the excitement that you crave. With presentation so close to 90's RPG's, you might expect combat would follow suit, so taking a different direction in influence jars slightly. Entering battle drags you out of the atmosphere, and brings you into something more approaching a Square Enix game - which isn't a bad thing, but I have to question just how much pastiche was on the game's development drawing board.

Taern has traditional point allocation with categories for strength, dexterity and the like, but there is nothing of a DIY class-creator here. The game offers 8 jobs in total, which will give you some variation in play-style, but perhaps more customization is an oversight from the developers. Develop your guild and its buildings, and declare war on your enemies to claim control of the land. Or engage in fierce tournaments, all to prove your skill.

Pride of Taern will shine ultimately in how engrossing the plotlines can be. Weaving an intricate tale is hard within MMOs and developer's regularly battle with left-click happy punters, but Whitemoon do appear to be wielding a sword of +2 storytelling, so there is hope yet. Opening quests' engross the player, bringing them on a journey more akin to older RPG series - there are choices of whether to kill or not, and even moments of persuasion, intimidation, and guile. It's not all sword-swinging and grind, and that's what will bring Taern its kudos and loyal following.

This epic storyline runs from the very start of the experience. You begin your adventure in your house with your mom - yeah, alright it's not exactly Commando - and after dispatching an intruder, you are informed that your home city is under attack, and you must find your brother who is somewhere within the war-torn location. Cue more action, and finally a touching moment with a pockmarked, bleeding sibling. He dies. You're sad. You go tell the bad news to your mom and get ready to leave the town with ship. Mom says that she is right behind you and tells you to run to the bay. You have to save one guy from flaming house and when you are trying to get in the ship some guy kills you and you are in heaven for a moment. After that you wake up in a ship and you are told that you were sleeping three days and your mom didn't make it to the ship. You start working in the ship and battles ensue.