Past Over Future: 3 Reasons Why You Might Prefer Old-School RuneScape
Do not dwell on the past–an all-too-common aphorism that is as practical as it is true. But sometimes, the yesteryears are just too good to move away from. Then again, there are those that are just blinded by nostalgia, thinking about how things were before are better than how they are now, or even in the future. They’re not usually right. OSRS players, however, are right about a couple of things when they say that their server, which is, for a lack of a better term,“stuck” in 2007 by choice, has a few pros over RuneScape 3. Here are the reasons why these adventurers would rather be ten years “behind”.
A Fairer Past
First and foremost would be the fact that OSRS doesn’t have as much microtransactions as RuneScape 3 does. It’s understandable that both RuneScape servers have to use a freemium model with microtransactions in order for Jagex to make a profit, or at the very least break even and get back the costs of running the game.
The problem with RuneScape 3’s microtransactions, however, is that a lot of players feel like it’s no longer an alternative or additional way for the game to make money out of players’ desire to look cool, or need for additional conveniences. Instead, according to them, microtransactions have made the game borderline pay-to-win. Thankfully, that has yet to happen in OSRS (we’re hoping it doesn’t), as it only has bonds, which can be sold for OSRS gold in-game can’t be used in a pay-to-win scheme. Hopefully, this lack of stuff being sold for superiority stays that way for a long, long time. But think about it: OSRS is ten years behind RuneScape 3. Will the same thing happen to 2007-Scape after a decade? It better not.
The More, the Bloodier
Another good reason why some people choose OSRS over RuneScape 3 is due to the fact that there are actually more people in OSRS than RS3. Let’s be honest: RuneScape is an old game, and old games are usually fueled by nostalgia, and nostalgia-fueled games aren’t supposed to have a lot of new things — if any at all. Thus, between the version of the game that changes a lot and the version that sticks to how it was during what is (arguably) its heyday, most fans — especially the old ones — would choose the latter. So if you’re to choose by virtue of player population because more players mean more things to do with other people, then the obvious choice would be to go with OSRS.
And speaking of nostalgia, there’s old-school RuneScape PVP. To a lot of players, this is quite a big deal, as it’s the PK that made RuneScape interesting and heaps fun during its early days. That is why even though players can duke it out among themselves in RuneScape 3, players who prioritize PVP have chosen to stick with OSRS. The latter has incentivized PK-ing (player killing) a lot more than the former, which in turn attracted or helped retain a good chunk of the player base whose focus is on fighting other players.
All About Taste
Last but definitely not the least would be the two servers’ varying focus and appeal. While RS3 is all about experiencing a very rich and engaging PVE content–especially the endgame, OSRS is all about simplicity and grinding. The latter could meana much longer–and tedious–but more rewarding experience compared to its more frequently updated counterpart. This is more about personal preference than objective superiority of one server over another, so if a long yet satisfying grind to the top is your thing, OSRS would be your best bet.
For Old School RuneScape, the past is in the present, and that’s a good thing. So if you want a glimpse of the good old days and that quintessential RuneScape experience, OSRS is just the right game for you.
