Almost a decade after MapleStory was released in North America, I’m feeling more than a little nostalgic. Just saying “MapleStory Nostalgia” brings up a slew of emotions in the old-time players. I don’t know what you remember about the game, but for me, the first thing that comes to mind is the login song. Da da da da, da da! Logging in brought the promise of entering into another world—slaying an endless amount of mobs that looked more cute than dangerous, teaming up with people across the world, and chatting with very “interesting” people in Maya’s House.
In MapleStory, you could be anyone. Starting with your unique name. But it continued with stats, the equipment you chose to wear, the way you chatted with people, and the maps that you hung out on. MapleStory nostalgia brings up so many emotions, perhaps because being yourself online was a true escape and joy for people who were just trying to find their identities in the world.
Will you join me through MapleStory as we talk about its legacy?
Classes: Your Personality!
The four main classes were cornerstones in old-school Maple. I feel like you could tell a lot from a person by the class that they chose. In my experience, mages were shyer. Warriors were bold. Rogues were rebels, while archers were cool. Sure, there were very different personalities in each class, but a mage’s humor was different from a warrior’s humor, for example.
Choosing a class was like choosing a tribe. At such a young age, choosing something that was permanent felt like trying to decide on a future career. And it came so early on in the game when you turned level eight or ten. Mages could fire off long-range attacks, but they sacrificed health and durability. Rogues were fast and boasted flashy attacks, but they were also quite fragile. Warriors were strong yet slow, while archers could stay at a distance from monsters but had to be specific about positioning.
Classes complimented each other. Probably the most coveted after class was the cleric, who could heal the whole party by spamming the “heal” ability. But other classes had their uses. For instance, warriors could increase the health of their allies, while rogues increased speed. Archers in the fourth job (an advancement that came later on in the game’s life) could give their party an increased chance to make critical hits.
At level thirty, players were given another choice to decide their fate in the game. I remember the rush of excitement as I decided between the cleric, the ice lightning mage, or the fire poison mage. Ice and lightning seemed right up my alley. As a mage, I wanted nothing more than to freeze enemies and dash them apart after.
For other players, they craved the brute force and the hardiness of the warrior, the preciseness of the archer, or the fluidness of the rogue. Perhaps MapleStory offered up the first popular personality test. Ultimately, this choice in classes offered an endless source of debate and conversation. I still remember my intense arguments with my older brother about what class I should pick!
Iconic Locations
Every old-time MapleStory player remembers Maple Island. The cheerfulness, the bright colors, and the possibilities that opened up through dying snails and little items—shells, screws, and galore.
After leaving that cozy island, a whole slew of maps opened up. The mystical Elinia. The dry and hot Perion. The dingey yet charming Kerning City, and the iconic green Henesys. Players gathered in Henesys Hunting Grounds and bantered and fought together, forging friendships on the screen—for many, it was the first time having deep conversations with strangers.
The collective wonder at the game carried on through the levels. At Pig Beach, players feared the fierce Iron Hog. At the ship that traveled to the new continent, Orbis, players chose between hiding from the monstrous Balrog or tackling it without knowing just how quickly they would die.
On the ship, high-level players were treated like celebrities, using skills that players only dreamed of possessing one day.
The magic of Orbis and the quirkiness of Ludibrium encouraged the player to level up. To get stronger, to one day face bosses that they could only see on YouTube. And when facing the mighty Zakum for the first time, an old-school MapleStory player might be able to tell you about their racing heart and their determination to obtain one of the most coveted items at the time—a Zakum helmet.
As the player base grew older and new maps came out, there was a focus on exploring new continents and cities. At Leafre, players found a home once they reached the levels that they once only dreamed of. Fighting Skeles or Newts with a party was a badge of finally, finally, reaching the levels of the legendary players.
Iconic Players and Moments
Perhaps every old-school MapleStory player remembers Tiger, the warrior with the iconic tiger hat who seemed to be destined to be the first to reach level 200.
But everyone had their own favorite. For me, it was the magician HYDRANGE. I remember trying to convince myself that she was an ice lightning mage, just because I wanted to be similar. For others, they might love Suuushi or the legendary FangBlade.
There were many worlds to choose from, and there were famous players in each world. In Bera, people loved to try to find FangBlade and cheer him on in his leveling journey. Other famous players in Bera include Starlightzz and the lovely Y05hi (whom my brother actually knew). There were players known for ks-ing (kill stealing) and players who ran elite guilds that only accepted the strongest of players.
MapleStory players escaped to YouTube whenever the game was down, finding new MMVs (MapleStory Music Videos) that used their favorite songs. Characters dressed as high schoolers were captured typing out the lyrics, sometimes with misspellings that made the fan-made videos even more charming.
For those not attuned to the MMVs, there were dramas that MapleStory players created. Some of these dramas included heartbreak, lost love, and scenes that made even the youngest of hopeless romantics shed a tear or two.
After every server check, players rushed back on. Many headed straight for the Free Market, the area where people were scammed and billions of mesos were exchanged. At the Free Market, the fast players set up shop at channel one, room one. It was almost impossible to get a spot here! People at these spots often charged exorbitant prices.
Leveling was sometimes a race, but it was a collective journey to get stronger and more attuned to using your abilities with ease. Although there was jealousy or rivalries, people generally celebrated these high-level players. Guildmates and buddies felt like a part of their team, and they sent out paid messages throughout all channels on milestones like level 100, 120, and of course 200.
Updates Galore?
Updates brought excitement and new life to the game. Perhaps one of the most iconic updates was the Pirate update. A new class? This was as rare as could be, especially since the four main classes were the backbone of MapleStory for so long.
Pirates brought flashy skills, a nautical map in Victoria Island, and new unique combinations for hunting and bossing parties. Perhaps this was the first big shift in the new era of Maple. Afterward, the Cygnus Knights classes were introduced. Players rushed to make “alts” or alternate characters, testing out a whole new line of classes.
Simple skills were traded for fancier ones. Slowly, the game turned into who could do the most damage the fastest. Sure, the social aspect was still there, but the focus turned toward stats and acquiring rare items.
When the Big Bang update hit, it marked the end of the golden era of MapleStory. With Big Bang, many old players left—frustrated with updates like the random chances to upgrade weapons/armor through expensive cubes. Sure, the potential system allowed for endless combinations and ways to achieve a higher attack score, but the focus changed from a big chat room to a true grindy RPG. (Don’t get me wrong, there was always a grind to level up! But there was simply less pressure to. The focus was on questing together and getting to know how to collaborate.)
Soon, gone was the party quest era. This era included solving puzzles and balancing roles so that you could eventually face the boss together. (Kerning PQ and Ludi PQ were fan favorites.) An endless potential for funny moments awakened during PQs. For instance—dying from the massive Ludi golems or failing to cooperate when standing on the barrels at Kerning. But PQs turned to leeching and solo grinding, and players left for new console and mobile games.
The Glory of MapleStory Nostalgia: Socializing in a Different Time
Of course, MapleStory existed on the Internet at a very, very different time.
Interaction with others on the web was treated very differently. It was treasured. Jokes with a stranger felt natural, and there was an understanding of togetherness. Figuring out the web was a journey to take together.
Sure, there was a dark side to the Internet. But there was a pureness there, especially with games like MapleStory.
For the first time, shy kids were able to express themselves through chats. Messages became an art form, and so was exploring forums. MapleStory had its own special fanmade forum, BasilMarket. It was the place to gather. To discuss, barter, and talk about life topics outside of the game world.
It was a magical time.
In Maya’s House, a Maple player could meet the “rich” class of the game, who lingered online just to gossip and talk about the in-game social climate. Maya’s House was filled with players decked out in cash shop items—the trendiest pets, the limited items available for special events. To join their ranks was a choice and one that many players gave you “looks” for. (Do you remember the various emotes? An F3 with text was much different than an F4 with the same message. And there were special emotes from the cash shop, too!)
No matter where you were in the Maple World, you could strike up a conversation. There were silent players who said nothing else besides “cc plz”, but there were also people willing to learn about you. Where you lived, what kind of food you liked, and how you decided to wear a sauna overalls coupled with a bandana that you should’ve gotten rid of twenty levels ago.
What’s Next for MapleStory?
I can’t get the images of early Maple out of my head.
Running up to an unexpecting snail, hitting the keys and watching your little character swing their sword or wooden club.
Learning the very first attack skill of your class. Then, figuring out how to join a party. Wondering why a “party” can only have six members.
I’ve returned to MapleStory several times, especially to try new classes—like the Evan with an extremely cute and endearing storyline. Or the alluring Kanna, who brought new utilities to the party. I played for a few months every time, enjoying myself but not to the level of old Maple. Perhaps the only thing that was driving me was MapleStory Nostalgia.
With MapleStory Worlds released, players are diving into a new server called Artale. Made to replicate the old Maple, it has achieved great popularity. People are finding their gaming side again, teaming up to complete party quests and figuring out their place in a new economy. Perhaps people are tired of the typical modern game. They want that classic MapleStory grind with a focus on calling out your party member every so often.
Even a decade later, the MapleStory Nostalgia has never truly flickered out.
Share Your Own MapleStory Nostalgia Story!
Did this post revive some memories for you? Remind you of simpler times? I know that you have your own MapleStory story! If you only played for a day or two, there is still something that you found through the game. And if you’re like me, you perhaps have an essay or two waiting to be written—on what you learned and the people you met.
Maybe you remember your online best friend. Maybe you remember dying just when you were about to level up.
The pain and the joy and the wonder are still there. Share your MapleStory story with me! Comment below. Or email me: justinhowriter@gmail.com. I will make sure to reply with what your story brought to my mind. Visit me on my blog again for more posts like this one!
Let’s revive the MapleStory nostalgia!