So you wanna be a hero, eh? How about a kung-fu fighter who's as fast as lighting (thank you Carl Douglass for those funky fresh lyrics)? Well, now's your chance with Hero Online, the upcoming martial arts MMORPG from Korean game makers, Mgame. I spent last weekend cruising through a feudal, medieval China looking to become just that.

If there's one untapped setting for an MMO, pure Asian mythology wrapped up in a martial arts environment is it! The game's storyline has been created and written by three generations of famous martial art novelists, including Kum Kang, who weaves an intricate amalgamation of plot twists to bring players a new experience free from prearranged paths.

There are four types of "heroes" to choose from. The Ruthless Blade, is a contract killer, proficient in both long and short ranged weapons such as the bow and sword. While this character has average combat abilities, he can develop into a force by hunting and taming animals or mining minerals. The Overseer of the Sky is the most powerful of the characters. His life revolves around martial arts, and as such excels in using the spear, rod and axe. Once built up, this character can increase individual and group combat ratings. The Piercing Eye is a legendary master from the Bo-Ta Mountains. She can use cloaked attacks with devastating results. The Elegant Mystic is a healer, with abilities to cure her self as well as others. Additionally, she shines in close combat and is skillful with the spear, rod and claws. She can even use poison as a weapon.

Each character has four professions available to them, but only two can be chosen: Warrior, Hunter, Physician, and Assassin. When you chose a profession, which can't be done until you reach level 1 Dan 0 Kyu (more on the odd levels later), you'll receive an attack skill and a passive skill. Skills are based on books, with players having access to 10 book slots. Each skill book usually has up to 3 skills, but on rare occassions can have up to 6 skills. Thus, it's possible to have an entire arsenal at your disposal. Skill books can be found from talking to NPCs (like the book clerk), fighting monsters, undergoing quests, or trading with other players.

Levels are far different than in any game I've played, and I like it! Hero makes use of the real world martial arts ranks of Dan and Kyu. In the game, 1 Dan equals 10 Kyu. So a player ranked 2nd Dan 5th Kyu is at level 25, and one at 5th Dan 3rd Kyu is equivalent to level 53. In my short time in the closed beta - following the path of The Ruthless Blade, I managed to make it to 1 Dan 0 Kyu (level 10) and chose Warrior as my first profession.

Once you hit 1 Dan 0 Kyu, the game opens up a bit and lets you pick your first profession. I wanted to be a warrior, so I visited the Warrior Trainer and received an attack skill called "Prayer of Warriors" (increases attack and defensive power), and a passive skill called "Vigor of Bear Skill" (enhances stamina). Each profession has a specific trainer that does the same. For instance, the Physician Trainer gives out an attack skill called "Common Priest Skill" and the passive skill "Wisdom of Owl Skill" (enhances skill defense and maximizes Chi).

Players must complete certain class specific quests in order to level up. These missions will reward you with skill books, items (armor, weapons, etc.), experience, and money. For instance, once you choose to be an Assassin, you can become a Slayer and then a Shinobi, but only after completing all the required quests. When you level up you'll receive Skill Points that can be used to master a Skill and learn new Forms within the Skill. There are 12 levels of mastery in a Skill, and anywhere from three to five different Forms. Stat Points are awarded as well, which can be distributed between your character's Strength, Dexterity, and Intelligence - standard attributes that mean the same thing in Hero as they do anywhere else.

I found quest availability to be very limited and hard to procure. I spent a lot of time randomly searching for - and slaying - wolves, apes, thieves and bandits when I would have preferred partaking in more quests. Granted, this was closed beta so this dilemma will hopefully be fixed by the time the game goes gold.