So, I never thought I would be writing a post like that in my lifetime. But… it’s happening. MapleStory is coming out with a classic server! After many longtime fans had lost hope in MapleStory Classic, we were treated to this massive surprise in the 20th-anniversary video for GMS. Inkwell hit us on the head with the drop, bringing on Nemi who was responsible for the early development of the game. So, what can we expect from MapleStory Classic? There are players wondering whether it will be true to the old-school experience.
20th Anniversary Surprise
Clicking on this video for GMS, I never expected that the first comment I saw would be about MapleStory Classic. I had to check the date again. Is it April 1st, and I somehow forgot it was April Fools Day? But it’s already well into April, and many comments were echoing our collective unbelief.
Sure enough, Inkwell announced the Classic World. Some important dates to keep in mind are the second half of 2025 when more details will be released. Also, the end of October is when the official server announcement will take place. Although it does feel like a long wait, old Maple players have been waiting for over a decade for something like this, so the fact that it’s in the relatively near timeline is already exciting.
Nemi stated that she understands what made MapleStory special back then. Having her leading the server, along with a dedicated dev team, makes me confident in the server being more than just a one-time thing that people will test and drop. Since the Classic World is not an event server, it will have a permanent place in the tabs with the different worlds. I’m very much looking forward to the type of updates that Nemi and the team choose to implement! It won’t be a static world, so it will be interesting to see what classes are added and what QOL changes are made.
MapleStory Classic — What to Expect?
After several fan speculations and digging into the little previews that were shown in the official announcement, I can confidently say that MapleStory Classic looks very promising and true to the original game that we know and love. There are some changes to the UI, since the bottom of the screen doesn’t look quite identical to the old school Maple. But it looks very, very similar to when I started playing the game around 2006.
I loved this video from coppersan talking about the details he caught in the Classic World announcement. So, we have QOL changes that were added, such as the life-saving down jump. But some changes to HP might be made too (which will please many players who are worried about whether HP washing might be a thing, one of the greatest examples of P2W in early MapleStory). There also might be additional options for customizing characters early on, along with changes to accuracy and close-up attacking for assassins. From what we saw with the clips, only the four original classes look to be available—magician, thief, warrior, and archer.
As the announcement was just made, these changes might not be within the official version that will be released. And it’s a beautiful thing that the dev team will take player feedback into account. Hopefully, we can continue to see QOL changes that will be appreciated by old time players.
Some fans are doubtful of the game’s success—saying that people don’t have time to grind anymore. I saw a lovely comment saying that people on GMS are doing a ton of grinding to this day. It’s been interesting to see the mix of positive and negative reactions. However, most comments that I’ve read are just proclaiming their disbelief in MapleStory Classic actually happening.
As someone who played MapleStory in elementary school, I cannot wait to dive into the game and remember my early years—discovering a fantasy world that felt so open, where there was endless possibility to create your own story. I cannot wait to connect with old players and to see who is willing to join and experience MapleStory for the first time.
Relaxing in Henesys Hunting Ground, climbing up the ladders and joining in some strangers’ banter. Recovering in the Sleepywood sauna, a respite from the long and arduous days as an adventurer. Or even taking a trip to Amoria and trying to cop an invitation to a wedding…
There was so much magic in the early game. So many memories that were created. And turns out, we’re not done creating more memories with MapleStory. Sure, the players who will jump on will probably be older now, but we carry the nostalgia of what the Internet used to be. A place to be yourself, to have fun chatting with people who are strangers but are actually not too different from ourselves. Emoting to the sound of screeching Slimes and Snails? What’s not to love about early Maple?
What are you most excited about with MapleStory Classic? I’m most excited about traveling through the maps and enjoying the nostalgic soundtracks. I am also looking forward to customizing my character. With all the new games coming out with fancy graphics, I miss the retro pixel style that exuded tons of charm. Also, which class do you think you will play? I am very partial to magicians, and I never fulfilled my dream of becoming an Arch Mage on my Ice, Lightning character, using the iconic Blizzard attack.
Did you enjoy reminiscing about MapleStory? I cannot wait for MapleStory Classic—I don’t remember ever being so excited about a game announcement. Follow me on my blog for more things fandom! I am very much considering writing more gaming-related pieces. After all, it was one of my first loves as a fan and influenced much of my storytelling.