Master X Master

Gameplay

MXM is a MOBA with third-person shooter characteristics. Each player controls two playable characters known as "Masters". There are 30 Masters as of January 2016. Each has a unique ability and different styles of play. The Masters are characters from previous NCSOFT-published games, as well as new characters. The player can switch between two Masters throughout the game, where the unused Master can regenerate its health. There is a cooldown associated with switching, as well as death. The player in MXM uses the WASD keys to control its character. Each Master has four special abilities, with one ability a more-powerful move, and each of these abilities have a cooldown. Also uncharacteristically, the game allows player characters to jump and dodge enemy attacks. Using the mouse to aim, many of the game's abilities are based on projectiles and skill shots.

The game provides player versus environment (PvE) missions, uncharacteristic to the genre, as well as the characteristic player versus player game mode. There are other game modes, such as team deathmatch and point control. Siliconera states there are co-op options for both PvE and PvP, while PCGamer says the game's co-op mode is the PvE mode, offering up to four players an action role-playing game experience. Rock, Paper, Shotgun reported the PvE would be co-op only with five players. NCSOFT planned to restrict gameplay on the large maps to the genre-standard two teams of five players, while smaller teams would have smaller maps, which would force player interaction. Both large and small maps will have three lanes with which to attack the opposing team's base. It is played in matches between two teams who each occupy their own base on the map. Defeating multiple enemies allows a team to summon a temporary super-creature called a Titan to their side. To end a game, the team must either have the most points at the end of the timed match, or must reach a point threshold.

The game has a science fiction setting.

Development

NCSOFT was beta testing the game in South Korea in October 2014, and is NCSOFT's first internally-developed MOBA. Engadget did not know of a release or localization date at that time, but also reported a month later that NCSOFT planned to release a mobile version of the game.

The game is developed for cloud technology.

In mid-2015, NCSOFT planned to release the game in a beta version globally in early 2016, with a later full-release of the game the same year. The game was still only in beta test in South Korea at the time.

In January 2016, NCSOFT announced the game, to launch for personal computer in the second half of 2016. NCSOFT planned the launch for Europe and North America. NCSOFT did not announce a pay model.

In June 2016, NCSOFT provided free game keys for a brief alpha playtest on personal computer, which focused on PvP interactions and some PvE content. Both Polygon and VideoGamer cooperated with NCSOFT to provide keys to their readers.

The game's design philosophy is based on team work. NCSOFT said that the reason for the "long" deaths is to ensure players keep their teams in mind. The PvE in the game is designed to teach players their heroes. The matches are designed to last approximately ten minutes.

The game is free-to-play.

Pre-release

GameZone praised the aesthetics, saying that the palette adds to the game's setting. The game was compared to Heroes of the Storm and Smite, as well as Diablo and Van Helsing. GameZone was surprised at the length of the time the player needed to wait before respawning. GameZone called the two-Master aspect the most unique aspect of the game; the previewer thought the swapping "overwhelming" prior to playing but quickly adjusted, finding that the game was "surprisingly easier to grasp than other MOBA's". He praised the level design, was overall "impressed", and thought the game provided a good learning curve.

IGN thought some of the characters were generic, but was impressed with the detail of the character design, and was expectant for future releases. IGN also commented on the crowd of MOBAs with which MXM would need to compete.

Engadget suggested "it might be different enough from its contemporaries to pique your interest."