While most massively multiplayer online games take place in apocalyptic settings, fantasylands, or sci-fi galaxies, Funcom's modern day MMO, The Secret World, is refreshingly set in a twisted version of our own world, where X-Files-like scenarios are real. The Secret World has been struggling to gain more subscribers for a month now, and a celebration is set for next week. Meanwhile, Funcom has announced that the game will be free to play from Friday, Aug. 3 at 4 p.m. GMT until Monday, Aug. 6 at 7 a.m. GMT. Electronic Arts (EA) sells the game for PC at $49.99, with 30 days of game time.

With The Secret World, Funcom has created a mythical Earth marred with secret societies, haunted houses, vampire cults, and zombie invasions, offering a completely different experience than other titles in the genre, including the wildly popular World of Warcraft and Star Wars: The Old Republic.

Players begin their adventures in New York, London or South Korea, depending on what faction they choose to join: the Illuminati, Templar, or Dragon. The decision hardly matters in the end, however, as all players are quickly sent to a dark corner of New England where they all have to pursue the same quests, whether solo or together.

During the quests, players rely on weapons such as shotguns, assault rifles, swords, and magical books, and they can equip two at a time within a total of seven active and passive abilities. The developers have spiced the usual MMO variety of quests with spooky and entertaining storylines, as well as challenging investigation and puzzle-based missions, some of which require players to really put their brain into it and do things like deciphering Morse code or reading the Bible for clues.

Such innovations, however, are continually plagued by a number of glitches in the game, such as incomplete quest descriptions, disappearing objects and others such. The MMO went live more than three weeks ago, but these glitches seem to keep spoiling the fun. Such bugs may be more easily forgiven if it were all free, but the online shop stocked with virtual goodies requires real cash for purchase.

All in all, Funcom's The Secret World is an intriguing MMO if you are more interested in globe-trotting expeditions than gun-toting busts. There are little chances of bombarding dungeons, the player-vs-player zones offer minimal action, and some of the best chances to gain ability points or grab the best loot come from the less compelling diversions. On the other hand, the fascinating haunted landscapes, challenging plots and engaging quests that actually require players to put their mind to work prove that an MMO can be much more than just mindless fun.