First Expansion For 'Runescape' Opens The Door To Menaphos

The long-running massively multiplayer online (MMO) game Runescape is still active, and its many users can try out some new content today. The developers at Jagex released the game’s first-ever expansion, titled Menaphos: The Golden City, for free. The city was visible in the game before, but with today’s update, fans can finally roam its streets and take on new challenges.

When you enter the city, you'll have four new story-based quests to complete. Once that's done, there are also procedurally generated city quests to keep you going. There's also a new Slayer dungeon and a mini-game called "Shifting Tombs" that incorporates some maze mechanics. All of these activities will help you increase the powerful Slayer skill, which now has a new level cap of 120.

These activities were initially made for veterans​ of the MMO game, but it also works as an introductory area for newcomers. Once you finish a three-part story quest that leads you from the desert to the city gates, you can take part in city quests and explore the area for collectible items. When you're done in Menaphos, you can then travel to other parts of the Runescape world and take part in additional activities that would otherwise be closed for those who aren't paying a subscription to the game. You'll also get a 5% buff on skill training exercises so that you can catch up with higher-level players.

Aside from new content, the game's desert area and its animal inhabitants also received a graphical update. The game now also includes additional visual features such as volumetric lighting and caustic water, but you'll need to turn the water detail option to "Ultra" in order to check out the latter feature.

If you're keen to try out the game, you can join the open access weekend, which will run from June 9-12, when you can explore the base game and expansion for free. You can read the patch notes for today's update on game's forum site.

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NameRunescapeMenaphos: The Golden City
TypeMassively Multiplayer Online, Action/AdventureMassively Multiplayer Online, Action/Adventure
DeveloperJagexJagex
PublisherJagexJagex
PlatformsPCPC
Where To BuyRunescapeRunescape
Release DateJanuary 4, 2001June 5, 2017
  • patrick47018
    Runescape used to be the game everyone played when I was in high school
    Reply
  • VR dev
    ""The company didn't take a baby step into VR; it sprinted to catch up to all the progress Windows PCs have made in recent years.".... ???????? As someone who prefers osx, but makes his living developing VR and AR for brands, I disagree! Price points for comparable GPU implementation, as well as a lack of a top line GPU availability on their new iMac, or any other Mac internally... Makes this a ruse. Mobile VR on iOS? Not on their low Rez screens. There will be no daydream or gear VR competition until they get some real mobile resolution on their gear. Oculus support? Nope. They have the cash, they're just sitting around waiting. Apple fanboys can't wait to write the story that Apple invented VR the second they even react to the market. That isn't helpful. They have had so many miscues with the Mac lately, they've lost the pro user market, which they could have absolutely owned, but stagnated with the flattening of the CPU curve, missing the linear improvement of the GPU, and losing three years of graphics innovation. Tim cook is no Steve Jobs. The same thing is happening in slow motion between iOS and Android, as well.
    Reply
  • Kenneth Barker
    VR DEV wrong article?

    Also, since just today Apple in fact corrected all those complaints of yours. Did you miss the new iMac pro announcement?

    It's expensive of course. But, 18 core Xeon's and 16GB HBM2 Vega GPUs sort of... make you sound like yesterdays news. Keep up with tech, as a dev you need to
    Reply
  • alextheblue
    19779593 said:
    Runescape used to be the game everyone played when I was in high school

    I played it in high school for a few weeks before going back to other games.

    On a related note, is Runescape still terrible and boring, just with less ugly graphics?
    Reply