Atlantica Online: the turn-based mercenary MMORPG, then and now

Atlantica Online does not play like most MMORPGs of its day. RPGFan, in a 2009 news item, described it as having a turn-based strategy style combat system. You issue orders, your side acts, then the enemy answers.

You do not fight alone. A Ten Ton Hammer developer diary of 20 July 2008 explains the mercenary system: you can take a maximum of eight mercenaries into a fight alongside your main character, and the group stands on a 3x3 grid. Mercenaries carry different weapons, and the diary names seven weapon types: sword, spear, axe, gun, bow, cannon and staff.

How many mercenary types exist

The diary gives the party limit and the weapon list but no count of mercenary types, so this page leaves that number out.

GamingNexus reported on 3 September 2008 that the game had gone commercial in Korea in January 2008 under its developer-publisher NDOORS, and that Nexon Japan would publish a Japanese version under an agreement with NDOORS. On 21 October 2008 the same site reported that NDOORS had signed a publishing deal with Taiwan's Gamania.

RPGFan wrote that the game had its North American servers up and running since 30 October 2008.

Engadget's Massively section reported on 9 March 2011 that Nexon had decided to take over the publishing and servicing duties directly as of 22 March. Ten Ton Hammer, covering Nexon's announcement, called NDOORS Nexon's wholly owned studio. NDOORS accounts remained usable for login until 19 April, per the Engadget report.

By 2012 Ignited Games published five titles, and Atlantica Online was one of them. It ran two versions, Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese. No other version appears under the Ignited name.

That matters because the English game was Nexon's. Nothing places Ignited Games in North America or Europe for this title.

Mein-MMO reported on 16 July 2016 that Nexon Europe would hand the game to the publisher Valofe after seven years in Germany. The transfer was announced for autumn 2016, and the report gives no exact closure date for the old service.

Gaming Nexus described the 2008 beta on 18 August 2008: the overworld uses real-time movement, while combat is turn-based and instanced. You typically have to defeat the creature in the front row before you can attack the one behind it, with exceptions for magic and arrows. Ten Ton Hammer's 2010 review adds that guilds band together into Nations that battle for control of the lands, and that an Auto Move button walks your avatar to a chosen spot.

The number of mercenaries differs by source and year. Gaming Nexus says the hero can hire up to seven in the 2008 beta, Ten Ton Hammer's 2010 review says you control three NPCs besides your character, and its 2008 developer diary gives eight in a fight. This page reports each as stated and does not pick one.