Vindictus fans, the wait is finally over. After weeks of teasing with its flashy banners and exciting gameplay trailers, NEXON America has finally released its fourth character, Karok, to its hungry sharks in the western world. This beefy juggernaut is live and playable right now, and he is changing the face of Vindictus forever.

No, that last statement isn't just hype. Karok's release IS going to change the face of Vindictus forever, because Karok is going to bring with him a new set of physics and mechanics that will alter the game entirely -- and not all of these changes will apply only to him. With Karok comes new in-game physics dealing with object weight, force, and force in motion, all of which will enrich a game with a physics engine that has already won awards.

Karok's a big guy, right? I mean, just look at his picture! He's not some willowy, frail thing like Evie, or even one of those lithe, streamlined things like Fiona or Lann. No, no -- Karok is big business. He deserves to be able to toss kobolds around like they were little dolls, or even to have the strength to grapple with the big Gnoll Chieftain. Well, NEXON and devCat Studios felt the same way. Karok will be coming with a new grapple system that will allow him to interrupt boss attacks, with the possibility to being able to grab end-instance monsters the way that Lann or Fiona might grapple with lesser monsters. And speaking of lesser monsters, Karok is poised to be able to handle them like they were nothing. His appearance will also be redefining object interactivity within the many expansive and danger-laden dungeons players find themselves traversing.

But intrepid heroes aren't the only ones tossing rocks and loosing arrows and the like. Up until now Vindictus hasn't had any characters to throw off the general physique balance, so universal mechanics have been at least somewhat believable. But should a little rock, or even a smaller monster, be enough to stagger the mighty Karok? I don't think so...but that's ok, because they're not going to be able to. The game will now take into effect the weight and size of objects as well as their velocity as they go airborne towards a wall, a pillar, or somebody's face. But guess what else? The game's physics have also been updated to take into account the size and strength of whatever is about to be hit by a flying anything, and the end result will be both a reaction and damage potential that will be appropriate both to what's being tossed and what's being hit. Perhaps there might even be potential to catch objects and stop damage all together?

I can't begin to tell you how happy this makes me. From the first moment I ever played Vindictus (which was crossing into New Year's Day of this year, where I was joined by the GameGeex head honchos -- and thank you again for that), I had been dying to play Karok. He's been out in Korea for some time now, and the more research I did on the big guy, the less I wanted to wait to be able to get him in my hands. You'd better believe that I intend to drop everything and give the Vindictus bruiser a shot through the Kobold caves. Ain't no monsters gonna like me now.

For any European fans of the game, worry not. Vindictus is bound for Europe very soon.