On Thursday, June 18, MapleStory’s summer update, 'OVERDRIVE,' went live. To be honest, I felt more anxious than excited leading up to the showcase. Expectations were high because last summer's update was so well-received, and the preceding winter update had received mixed reviews.

However, after the showcase, that anxiety turned into anticipation. With the first part of MapleStory’s summer update now underway, how have players actually reacted? In this review, I’ll share my hands-on experience and examine from various angles whether this season is a good starting point for new and returning users.

The star of this summer is undoubtedly the new character, 'Lethe.' In truth, not many fans expected a new character in this update. The test server period was short, and since last summer’s 'Ren' was so popular, many users assumed there wouldn't be a new class this season. In that atmosphere, the arrival of 'Lethe'—backed by an attractive character design—was more than enough to draw cheers from the community.

Lethe is a completely new style of character, rarely seen in MapleStory before. While there are minor differences between classes, most rely on a combat style that involves spamming a main attack skill while managing cooldown skills. Lethe is different. Its main attack skill deals no damage. Instead, it provides buffs to its summons. This makes Lethe a very unique character, relatively free from the pressure of constantly spamming a main attack. However, because it is a 'summon-focused' combat style, it may be a matter of personal preference.

So far, the consensus is that this concept is quite successful. First off, the character is very easy to play. Even beginners can adapt without much trouble. Since it’s a class that utilizes 'skill reuse,' it also offers a satisfying tactile feel. Furthermore, the main stage for this Challengers server has shifted to Grandis. Lethe has great synergy with bosses like Seren and Kalos, and combined with its easy operation, it significantly reduces the stress of bossing for beginners.

Existing users also have positive things to say about Lethe. While raising Lethe in this Challengers World, I also felt that it was 'truly stress-free.' Many existing users aim to raise sub-characters for what is commonly called 'bossing.' Lethe has great stats and is easy to operate, leading some to call it an essential sub-character, following in the footsteps of 'Bowmaster' and 'Ren.'

Another advantage is that raising the new character isn't mandatory. Last summer’s 'Ren' was certainly an attractive character, but because the additional bonuses for playing Ren were so significant, there was a sense that raising it was practically required. This time, however, there are no rewards tied to Lethe that directly impact your specs, so players can choose other characters without feeling pressured.

Do you remember last winter’s Challengers World? While many parts were improved and benefits were strengthened compared to the summer season, many users didn't rate the winter season highly. There were several reasons, but the biggest issue was that it took far too long to reach level 260. You had to spend too much time in hunting grounds that had become obsolete, without even getting materials for 6th job skill enhancements. I still remember the expressions on the faces of streamers at the time.

But this season is different. By providing 5k% bonus EXP up to level 260, I was able to clear that section in under an hour. While it’s not a huge portion of the total playtime, the fact that such a particularly frustrating section was alleviated made a big difference in how it felt.

The season boss, 'Maylin,' cannot be left out. The term 'all-time great' is no exaggeration. With an attractive character design and lore, intuitive and fun combat that utilizes other classes' skills, and powerful rewards, it is the core content that elevates the quality of Challengers World.

The existence of the Genesis Pass also accelerated growth. This pass didn't exist in last winter's season. Beyond the issue of speed, I personally didn't even feel motivated to proceed with Genesis liberation at the time. Playing this season, I realized why so many users definitely wanted the Genesis Pass.

Combined with the 1+1 level-up benefit up to level 280 and various growth support elements mentioned later, this season is showing a faster growth rate than any other.

For users looking to start MapleStory, the biggest barrier to entry is undoubtedly the 'hunting' content. For long-time players, it’s a natural process, but for others... it’s content that really requires a lot of resolve.

Last winter season, we could use a dog-shaped hunting installation. Personally, I hoped this system would return. This season, the benefits are much stronger, allowing us to use Sol Janus level 30. Thanks to this, the burden of hunting has been greatly reduced. Additionally, a level 20 Sol Janus ticket is provided upon reaching the Challenger grade, which can be used afterward, somewhat resolving the 'reverse-feeling' (loss of power) that could occur after the event ends.

The rewards are also noteworthy. The well-received Challengers Season 2 had the major merit of allowing players to roll many cubes. In Season 3, free cubes were greatly reduced, but players could obtain many Sol Erda Fragments. This season combines the strengths of both. By providing 'Memento Cubes,' players can roll more cubes, and the fragment bonus has also been significantly increased. Most importantly, because Sol Janus level 30 is provided, you can save the fragments you would have otherwise spent on hunting skills early on, making progression much more comfortable.

There were so many changes this season. Personally, I feel the biggest change is the introduction of the integrated auction house between Challengers World and regular worlds.

Actually, when the integrated auction house was first revealed, there wasn't just positive sentiment. There were concerns that the fun of starting from zero and building things up one by one might disappear. Also, due to the nature of a new server, there was a fear that the fun of 'getting a lucky drop' would diminish, such as 'Dawn' accessories—which lost value in regular servers—selling for prices that could change your 'Maple life.'

In reality, the fun mentioned above has diminished somewhat. However, it has become much better for playing the game efficiently and solidly. The most representative example is the emblem. In the previous Challengers World, you had to invest in the basic emblem even though you knew it was inefficient. This time, through the integrated auction house, you can start right away with 'Mitra's Rage.' Also, it was a burden to invest heavily in items that could only be used in Challengers World, as their value would drop significantly once you moved to a regular server. This patch allowed for investment without that burden, making for a much more pleasant experience.

The side effects are also significant. With the introduction of the integrated auction house, the prices of equipment, including 'Black Boss Accessories,' have risen sharply, creating motivation for boss raids in regular servers. While it's a bit of a shame that the fun of starting from zero has decreased, it seems like a good patch where the pros far outweigh the cons.

Challengers World Season 4 is receiving good reviews for its near-innovative changes. However, there are some points that could be better.

The first is growth content tied to time. The most representative example is Item Burning. This Item Burning also follows a structure where it is enhanced at set time intervals, just like in Season 3. I understand why this structure was introduced, but many expressed the opinion that the tempo should be a bit faster. In fact, there were sections that were only enhanced once every two weeks.

There were also many opinions that the mission unlock timing for the Genesis Pass+ should have been moved up. It would have been better if the 'Blueberry Farm Entry Ticket,' a EXP reward from the Challengers Pass, had been placed more heavily in the early stages.

Many believe the difficulty adjustment for the minigame was a failure. While the EXP provided is substantial, the pressure from forced party play, the non-intuitive combat style that requires learning gimmicks, and the long playtime all seem to need improvement.

There were also regrets regarding operations. There were moments when the flow was interrupted by frequent server maintenance and delays in auction house updates early in the season. Given the high quality of the season, it would have been even better if these parts had been smoothed out.

With an attractive and newbie-friendly new character, the radical hunting support of Sol Janus level 30, plus the Genesis Pass and integrated auction house, Challengers World Season 4 is a high-quality season that has resolved much of the frustration accumulated over the past three seasons. As MapleStory shifts toward a more seasonal flow, I think this season has become a server worth recommending to new and returning users.

It’s already been about three weeks since Challengers World opened. But it’s not too late to start now. If anything, since the bubble in item prices has deflated compared to the beginning, it could be seen as an even better time to start.

There is plenty to look forward to. Only the first update has been applied so far, and two more major updates are prepared, including new skills, new bosses, and new elements. It’s hard to predict how the content to be added will be rated, but the flow itself feels quite good!