[IMG align=left]http://media.gamedaily.com/games/sword-of-the-new-world-granado-espada/pc/20.jpg[/IMG]The game's lengthy tutorial tries to teach everything there is to know about combat, but it comes up short. Luckily, players can figure things out on their own. For the most part, SNW is a massively-multiplayer hack'n-slash role-playing game, except fighting styles get broken down categorically into different stances. Each stance has its own special moves, determined by what weapons the character is equipped with. For instance, having no weapons puts a fighter character into a "Bare Fist" stance, and he must rely on fisticuffs for melee damage. Arming a sword and shield enables a different set of stances. SNW has a broad collection of these, which lend to a variety of different combinations. Some stances rely on each other, so players work on two different leveling systems. The first is the actual character level, and the second is the level of each stance. However, much of the time, none of it really matters. Problems quickly arise with the fast-paced gameplay.

Sword of the New World has very few instanced areas. The majority of the game takes place in open areas and public dungeons. Since every player has a party of three, the game compensates with an extremely fast creature respawn rate. Players barely have any time to pick up dropped loot before the next wave of creatures reappear to replace the ones that have just been killed. All characters (including the one the player has direct control over) auto attacks and won't stop until the monsters die or the player issues a different command. With everything taken into account, this game can literally play itself with minimal human intervention. Players can park their group in an open area, then step away to do something else. The computer responds as quickly as creatures spawn in. In about fifteen minutes, the party will gain about three levels without a player at the keyboard. Things become more interesting in enclosed spaces where parties get overwhelmed, or when boss creatures appear, but much of the game can be played using the Assault command (which causes the party to attack anything they encounter while walking) and sitting back while things take care of themselves.

Fortunately, the game is free to play up to level 20, except free account users can't trade with other players. Purchasing the game at the low cost of $19.99 removes all restrictions and drops 10,000 vis (the game's currency) into the family account. The subscription fee comes out to $8.95 per month, significantly less than many other MMO's. So, it is hard to fault the game too much, considering its low cost.

Sword of the New World is an eclectic game that allows players to enter in and experience a stylized world without having to put a ton of effort into playing. Players can log in for short periods of time and make significant progress. People looking for a challenge can dedicate themselves to mastering different stances, setting up different team combinations, and going out to battle giant monsters for rare items. Those who appreciate high originality will definitely find it here. But players who demand more interaction should look elsewhere.