Conquer distinguishes itself from the MMORPG pack in some old-school ways that, because of their retro feeling, make the game seem fresh--if not innovative. Instead of going for detailed 3D rendering, Conquer's anime style is more cartoony and rounded, and very well-suited to the pseudo-mystical ancient Chinese milieu in which it's set. You can play one of several characters: Warrior, Archer, magically-inclined Taoist, or a Trojan. The anachronistically-named Trojan is the strongest character, whereas the Archer is the fastest, the Warrior the most versatile, and the Taoist the most magically inclined. Advanced Taoists, whom we mistakenly thought were meant to be the peaceful, contemplative sort, can become Water or Fire Taoists. As in other MMORPGs, when you complete quests, kill creatures, and pick up coins, you level up and become stronger. Conquer has a more unique backstory, if only because it's not lifted from European medieval fantasy; hobbit-hunters should look elsewhere. The install file is smaller than most free MMORPGs, and the smaller footprint doesn't eat up quite as much of your system resources. Online documentation is better, too, and most newbie questions can be answered by perusing their site. All in all, Conquer is a fun game with a distinctive style, and is absolutely worth checking out.

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