I loved LOTRO. Like almost all reviewers. It is difficult to understand if you erred, and I did. LOTRO did a lot of things good. Its the most beautiful landscape, the way they tell stories in instanced dungeons, many of the quests have really good stories, the great way in which the regions and quest-lines (chapters) tell one big, interesting story... its all great and good. I feel a litle bit like a traitor saying that... but in a way LOTRO looks shiny from the outside, but its somewhat rotten in the inside.
To be honest Elikal , you are one of the big Vanguard fans. That like many other (VG fans) moved to LOTRO after you seen the "vision" failing.
By this I am not saying you didnt like LOTRO. But for you it was always a replacement game , glass of milk to after a hot chilly.
I really doubt LOTRO holds what you are really looking for , it is in no way comparable with what Vanguard should have been.
LOTRO is small , confined apsolutely story oriented.
To tell the truth LOTRO is not for everyone. Some people will enjoy it and love it (especially casual players and roleplayers) and Hardcore players will find it not so good... simple as that
Big VG fans?? I liked a lot of things, but I stopped playing it for many reasons. I am no VG fan. Curious, THEY told me, I am a hater and VG is not for everyone. Seems thats the justification against any critique nowadays. *shrug*
I just feel the time for really big games as in the old days are gone. LOTRO is nice, but not the 95% rating game it is made. VG and LOTRO represent 2 extremes, which both went way too far into their extreme. VG was too unguided, to cold and spread out; Lotro is full of story, but too small, too guided and with too little differences in classes and races. Strange, LOTRO & VG are like mirrors; what the one had the other lacks and vice versa. The story & atmosphere of LOTRO and the gameplay and size of VG: that would have been my perfect game.
Call me picky, but I dont like to play 2nd best, when I have a clear idea of what I really want.
People don't ask questions to get answers - they ask questions to show how smart they are. - Dogbert
Well let me say i am still glad to get the 6 months sub but the game does grow old pretty fast.
I hope updates sort this out.
I agree that the classes/races are extremely limiting.While i can understand that really its hard to include more then 4 races in lotro they could have done a much better job with the classes.
I have to say I agree with most of Elikal has to say. I do agree that to each his/her own but LOTRO and EQ2, and for that matter many mmo's right now, are suffering from the grind syndrome. I hate to grind to lev whatever to get whatever so I can go to or kill whatever. Back in the good old days of SWG at least there was a purpose...Rebel scum or Imperial facists. Clear lines. And Tuskens and others would raid the big cities. In Wow, EQ2 (which I love) and this game there really is no reason for me to fight...no pricess to save (love the Zelda/SW thing) no King to save...damn Daggerfall was long BUT THERE WAS A REASON to level and get gear. I dont need to pwn a Hobbit named Bstamuve I dont...thats what counterstrike and BF???? are for. I dont need to get gear for gears sake. I, and I am speaking for me, need a real toon with real problems and real solutions and throw in some damn differences between me and the rest of the toons...SWG had, I repeat, had it right. Now its gone, I am totally unsatisfied with LOTRO and EQ2 has no way for me to make a difference in the world. I think I am off to play lawn darts...
Everyone is not the same. Everyone has different tastes and a different playstyle. I can see why some people will not like this game, or will not enjoy it long term. You can say that about any other game as well.
For what the game aims to do, it does it extremely well. Anyone who calls it a bad game, because they don't like it, is being dishonest to themselves and others.
Want to know something? Although I continue to enjoy to play this game and play daily, I don't feel compelled to put in the same hours I did with WoW. I enjoy the game when I play it, but it doesn't have the same level of "addiction" for me that WoW had. I have to ask though, is this a bad thing? Could it be that some people who otherwise like the game are a little confused by it, because it just doesn't drive them to addictively play it to the degree that other titles have in the past?
I'm also a former WoW power leveler. Alt after alt, the race to 60 (or 70) and how fast it could be done was the game for me. In LotRO, I don't care how fast I level. I read the quests and enjoy the story. I don't care if my play session is sacrificing leveling efficiency. I used to live by my XP/hour/minute addons in WoW. Here, I just enjoy the game.
I've always scoffed at people touting the addictive quality of MMORPGs, addiction support groups, "Evercrack", etc... However, there is something akin to addiction in the way most MMOs are designed and played.
LotRO hooks me enough to play every day. I enjoy it when I play. However, it is not as "addictive" as some other MMORPGs I've played. I think that is the "something missing" that so many seem not to be able to put their finger on. If you can learn to take your time and just enjoy the game, with out obsessing over leveling as fast as possible, it's a great game. However, it may not feed your "addiction".
Comments
By this I am not saying you didnt like LOTRO. But for you it was always a replacement game , glass of milk to after a hot chilly.
I really doubt LOTRO holds what you are really looking for , it is in no way comparable with what Vanguard should have been.
LOTRO is small , confined apsolutely story oriented.
To tell the truth LOTRO is not for everyone. Some people will enjoy it and love it (especially casual players and roleplayers) and Hardcore players will find it not so good... simple as that
Big VG fans?? I liked a lot of things, but I stopped playing it for many reasons. I am no VG fan. Curious, THEY told me, I am a hater and VG is not for everyone. Seems thats the justification against any critique nowadays. *shrug*
I just feel the time for really big games as in the old days are gone. LOTRO is nice, but not the 95% rating game it is made. VG and LOTRO represent 2 extremes, which both went way too far into their extreme. VG was too unguided, to cold and spread out; Lotro is full of story, but too small, too guided and with too little differences in classes and races. Strange, LOTRO & VG are like mirrors; what the one had the other lacks and vice versa. The story & atmosphere of LOTRO and the gameplay and size of VG: that would have been my perfect game.
Call me picky, but I dont like to play 2nd best, when I have a clear idea of what I really want.
People don't ask questions to get answers - they ask questions to show how smart they are. - Dogbert
Well let me say i am still glad to get the 6 months sub but the game does grow old pretty fast.
I hope updates sort this out.
I agree that the classes/races are extremely limiting.While i can understand that really its hard to include more then 4 races in lotro they could have done a much better job with the classes.
For what the game aims to do, it does it extremely well. Anyone who calls it a bad game, because they don't like it, is being dishonest to themselves and others.
Want to know something? Although I continue to enjoy to play this game and play daily, I don't feel compelled to put in the same hours I did with WoW. I enjoy the game when I play it, but it doesn't have the same level of "addiction" for me that WoW had. I have to ask though, is this a bad thing? Could it be that some people who otherwise like the game are a little confused by it, because it just doesn't drive them to addictively play it to the degree that other titles have in the past?
I'm also a former WoW power leveler. Alt after alt, the race to 60 (or 70) and how fast it could be done was the game for me. In LotRO, I don't care how fast I level. I read the quests and enjoy the story. I don't care if my play session is sacrificing leveling efficiency. I used to live by my XP/hour/minute addons in WoW. Here, I just enjoy the game.
I've always scoffed at people touting the addictive quality of MMORPGs, addiction support groups, "Evercrack", etc... However, there is something akin to addiction in the way most MMOs are designed and played.
LotRO hooks me enough to play every day. I enjoy it when I play. However, it is not as "addictive" as some other MMORPGs I've played. I think that is the "something missing" that so many seem not to be able to put their finger on. If you can learn to take your time and just enjoy the game, with out obsessing over leveling as fast as possible, it's a great game. However, it may not feed your "addiction".
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