The game balances the nostalgic elements that many long-time players cherish with modern complaints about Nexon's aggressive monetization practices and outdated systems. The art and music remain highlights, reminding players why they fell in love with Maplestory to begin with, but technical issues such as frequent bugs, crashes, and poor customer service sour the experience. For new players, the introduction and tutorial are confusing and overwhelming, often driven by poor guidance and necessary outside resources like video tutorials and guides. Despite its flaws, many continue to find joy in the progression and social aspects of the game, with a time investment leading to a sense of accomplishment. However, the game's pay-to-win elements and gating of content through time-consuming grind have left many players disillusioned, yearning for a version more akin to the past.