Lost Saga is a 3D MMO Beat ‘em Up that features a variety of game modes where players can battle against each other in a variety of PVP maps, or work together in cooperative PVE dungeons.

Experience fast-paced, adrenaline-pumping, beat ‘em up combat in Lost Saga. Choose from a huge roster of over 60 iconic Heroes, from the comical Don Quixote, to the legendary King Arthur. Have up to 12 Heroes ready to switch in mid-combat to combine different skills and create unique and devastating combos. The brawler combat is similar to games like Elsword Online and Dungeon Fighter Online, but Lost Saga isn't an MMORPG, it's an online brawler with numerous game modes. Choose from a variety of game modes. Whether you’re into 1vs1 Arena Battles or Cooperative dungeon-running, Lost Saga has something for everybody.

Full Review

Lost Saga Review

By, Marc Marasigan

Lost Saga is a fantasy-themed 3D MMO beat ‘em up developed by IO Entertainment and published by Z8Games. The game was initially launched in North America on November 17, 2009 under OGPlanet before being taken-over by Z8Games on December 18, 2013. The game client can be downloaded from the official website or through Steam.

In Lost Saga, players take on the role of time-travelling mercenaries stuck in time-space after jumping through a faulty Time-Gate. While stuck in time-space players, have the ability to jump to different time regions and time periods and step into the shoes of well-known Heroes from every age, from the infamous Robin Hood and the legendary King Arthur, to the beautiful but deadly Mai Shiranui of SNK game, King of Fighters, and a host of other iconic characters. The game’s graphics are typical of 3D beat ‘em ups and, while not awe-inspiring, gets the job done. The audio is fun and upbeat and, again, typical of games in the genre.

Stuck in Time

Players start the game with a quick, and unfortunately unskippable, tutorial given by an NPC named Developer K. The tutorial teaches players how to move, attack, and cast skills. After completing the short tutorial, Developer K will constantly popup to assign players quests that will help familiarize them with the game’s features and game modes. Completing these quests usually rewards players with GP, the game’s main currency, and beginner hero scrolls which players can use to temporarily gain access to other Heroes. Players initially start off with one temporary hero and are given a permanent Hero after completing the tutorial. I would recommend using the beginner hero scrolls to try out other heroes before choosing a permanent one since they require different playing styles.

Let’s Get Ready to Rumble

Like most MMO beat ‘em ups such as Grand Chase, GetAmped 2, and Rumble Fighter, Lost Saga is almost entirely focused on PVP. Players can choose from a variety of PVP game modes including 1vs1, Free-for-all Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, and even a soccer game. The game also features unique PVP Battleground-like maps which require players to complete team objectives, such as capturing other players and keeping their team from rescuing them in Prisoner Mode, or being the first team to destroy the opposing team’s Power Stone in Power Stone Mode. Players can also join one of two Factions and create guilds to join Faction and Guild Wars. For players who need a break from PVP, the game also features cooperative PVE modes in the form of monster dungeons and boss raids. Players can also go fishing for rare items in between matches.

Back to Basics

Lost Saga features simple controls that makes combat a fast-paced and very fluid experience. Characters move using the arrow keys and use the A key to jump, S to defend, and D to attack. Although using the A key to jump does take a while to get used to, especially if you’re used to using the WASD keys to move around. Specific combinations of the ASD keys (AS, AD, ASD, SD) are used to launch skills. It might just be me, but this key setup had my inadequately-dexterous fingers kept locking up or pushing the wrong keys during combat. Once you get used to it, however, the control setup actually works well with the fast-paced combat. The number keys, including – and =, are used to select the hero to swap-in. The ability to swap heroes in the middle of the match is one of the unique features of the game and opens up a virtually unlimited combination of skills and combos. Keep in mind though that swapping a hero in doesn’t affect the HP bar since all heroes share the same HP pool.

Moving Up the Ranks

Character progression in the game is a pretty straightforward affair. Players gain 2 upgrade points every time they level up. These upgrade points can be freely distributed among stats that affect the characters attack, defense, skill cooldowns, and more. Upgrading character stats, however, requires the player to pay GP along with the upgrade points to instantly upgrade their chosen stat. Players can also choose the Free Upgrade option, but will have to wait for the upgrade to complete, much like upgrading buildings in strategy games. Aside from leveling up, players also gain military ranks by playing the game. Some game features are only unlocked by reaching certain ranks.

Gear Up

Unlike similar games, battles in Lost Saga don’t end when the player’s HP bar reaches 0. Instead, players with 0 HP drop one item of their gear every time they’re hit. The battle ends when the player is hit again after dropping all his gear, namely, their helmet, armor, weapon, and trinket. Dropped gear can still be picked up by moving to it and pressing A. This, however, is easier said than done when the opposing player is determined to finally put you out of your misery. Another unique aspect of the game is the ability to mix and match gear. Unlike typical games, a hero’s skill is determined by their gear and not the hero themselves. A melee hero, for example, can gain access to magical attacks, by picking up mage gear. Don’t worry though, dropped gear is automatically returned to the owner at the end of the match.

Skill vs Money

Like most free-to-play games, Lost Saga offers microtransactions to give paying players advantages over F2P ones. Unfortunately, Lost Saga seems to be a little too heavy-handed with its cash shop. For one, almost all the cool-looking heroes can only be obtained by purchasing them from the cash shop. Better gear can also be purchased from the cash shop. That being said, the game still requires a bit of skill to be truly effective in combat which, in my opinion, dramatically lessens the advantage cash players get, unless they’re pro players themselves that is. The pay to win aspect of the game can also be overcome with a little bit of patience and hard work, along with a whole lot of grinding.

Final Verdict - Good

Lost Saga is a fun, addictive game, and a great way to pass the time. While the game can be quite laggy at times, and the community a bit snobbish, it still has qualities that make it worth playing. The variety of available game modes alone can keep a player occupied for hours. The unique gear system, as well as the fast-paced combat, are also some of its better qualities. Overall, a great game to play on a Friday night with your buddies, or when you have a little extra time on your hands. Just don’t expect to own everyone unless you’re willing to spend time, or money, on the game.