ROSE Online, The game gravity published between RO1 and RO2, captured it much better, I think (note that Gravity didn't create this, they were just the publisher).
When Gravity made RO2 they were too eager to run behind the rest of the MMO industry and forgot to folllow the patterns which made RO1 unique. Both in graphic and in gameplay.
I loved RO1 for its creative design. A enourmous palette of originial monsters and maps which were full of small and large creative details which were fun to explore. You can tell that RO1 was a game designed with love...
...now I feel like creating a new Novice and start beating up Porings, Fabres and Lunatics around Prontera.