Unique, but needs improvement.
Mabinogi one of its less popular games. It basically is "your fantasy life:" you have a character, run around and perform various quests, while leveling up both your combat and domestic skills. You can also own pets and a house which other players can visit.
There are three races and four classes. Each race can choose any class, but of course, some are better suited for others. Each race starts out in a unique area, though the elves and giants are on the same continent, and the humans seem to have nothing to do with anything.
However, when you start to play the game, you're basically plopped down in the middle of nowhere without any instruction on how to play the game. Sure, they tell yyou how to move and battle, but it doesn't really instruct you on the leveling system or anything else which is part of the core of the game. Quests and other instructions in general can be vague like this, and events aren't really explained at all. It's hard to start off, and it's very hard to figure everything out.
Leveling your character is a bit different from your average, run-of-the-mill RPG. There is a skill menu which tells you specific ways to improve the skill, and after a certain point it allows you to "advance" the skill to the next level, using the AP points which you can earn in various ways. This will let you gain experience towards your overall level. There is no grinding in this game; the game itself says that "hunting" is inefficient.
The combat involves quite a bit of strategy. There are different skills which one can use in different ways to fight one's enemies, and theoretically, as the site says, "even the lowest level character can face off against the fiercest boss."
The quests are none of Maplestory's "kill 200 monsters." However, getting to the quest location is often tedious, as is the navigation in general. Characters are controlled by the mouse, although the WASD keys can also be used. To go long distances, one can use the minimap, but the character will often get snagged on an obstacle and won't be able to move. Walking--that is, traveling without a pet or mount--is incredibly slow and boring, especially because all the scenery tends to be the same. The music isn't particularly captivating or interesting, but isn't too bad either.
The game is satisfactory, but not very fun or involving, especially if you don't want to pay. If you don't have much time on your hands or room on your hard drive, I don't suggest downloading or playing this game.