Of course, eliminating an entire planet isn't an easy task, so players will have a number of weapons at their disposal in order to free their world from Fusion's tyranny. Combat comes in both melee and ranged flavors, with the Tab key switching between one of each equipped weapon type. Rather than the semi passive combat mechanics found in most MMOs, FusionFall incorporates a more active, action-RPG approach. Instead of clicking a monster and pressing skill keys every few seconds, players will target enemies when in close proximity, but must continually aim in order for their attacks to hit.

Attacking is also an active action. Clicking the left mouse button attacks an enemy when the player is in the appropriate range, and for baddies who refuse to go down with one solid thump, simply hold the button to continue firing or swinging away.

Combat rewards players with currency, loot, and experience. A translucent ring that borders the minimap acts as a level-up gauge. As players bound bad guys, the ring will fill. Once full, attributes will increase.


One early mission involved hunting down the green slimes that are able to assume the properties of beings they corrupt. As mentioned, the sludge balls are responsible for creating evil versions of respected Cartoon Network characters such as Dexter. These diabolical clones will eventually be fought, and once defeated, will become Nanos, pets that bestow abilities upon their masters.

Nanos can also be used to deal direct damage in combat, though each have certain properties that give them greater or lesser odds against certain enemies. Nanos are composed of one of three different materials, known as A, B, and C for short. The material types follow a rock-paper-scissors pattern in combat: A covers B, B breaks C, and C cuts A.

To demonstrate the functionality of Nanos, Chris Waldron called forth one of his three pets, a tiny version of Buttercup, one of the famous Powerpuff Girls and a B-level Nano. Waldron approached a monster, also a B level, and clicked the right mouse button, prompting Buttercup to zoom forward and smack the enemy, stunning it. The stun lasted for almost five seconds, which was more than enough time for Waldron's character to get in some solid hits.


Though Grigon Entertainment hopes kids will spend lots of time playing FusionFall, its age audience dictates that many safety concerns not typically advocated in the adult gaming world be applied. Time limits will be enforced to ensure that children receive adequate game time, but also don't ignore reality such as homework, friends, and family. Similar to World of WarCraft, FusionFall's experience gain will slowly taper off once players have been logged in for a certain amount of time. Eventually, rewards such as experience and loot will disappear completely until players have logged out for awhile.

FusionFall seems poised to offer a deep, rich MMO experience for a younger audience. With a familiar and beloved character pool to draw from, frolicking in FusionFall should be fervently embraced when it releases this fall.