Indie MMO eschews fantasy, grinding — embraces gardening and 2D platforming combat

Lila Dreams is a damned interesting-looking independent massively multiplayer online roleplaying game. The manifesto is inspiring: no extruded fantasy product (ogres, dwarves, elves, etc); no grinding (repetitive tasks are boring) but:

No level grind, but there is combat: juicy, 2d platforming combat with RPG-like mechanics! This wasn't always the idea, though. I originally wanted the game to not have combat at all, but in the end I decided that combat is something that a lot of people want. And we aim to please! So, then I decided that if there must be combat, I will find a way to avoid level grinding. I'll talk more about the combat systems in later posts. It's very early in the development cycle to be giving out details.

Plant diagram There is a kind of crafting, and it's a central part of the gameplay. All I can say for now is that you don't craft items–you grow them. Yes, gardening. :) But in a surrealistic game world where plants are not just plants. But I must not give away too much! (It's very hard for me not to spill the beans! Oh how I fight!)

Link

(via Wonderland)