Worth a Try?

creative404

I have always like to start playing Anarchy Online but every time I go to start playing another mmo takes its place and I can never seem to start playing. Now the game seemed to be outdated until the future release of a new engine. Now that I have the time and I am bored of other mmo's is AO still good to play or is it just outdated and dull to play?

burmese

Depends on what you want in a game.  The graphics are (currently) dated but functional.  The content is deeper than just about any MMO, certainly much deeper than anything introduced since (and including) WoW.

Doomcow

Anarchy Online changed my life ^^

 

that just about sums it up

Darkholme

The only thing "outdated" in AO is the graphics engine and art, but that's not to say that it's bad... and of course there's the fact that that aspect is getting a large update. I am sure that much of the game play will seem familiar to other MMOGs, but AO has many years and what, four expansions worth of content over newer MMOG?. There's certainly not a lack of fun things to do in AO. No matter what else I play I always end up back at AO because there's just nothing like it... Yes, I think it's worth playing, definitely.

Mazrak

Originally posted by Darkholme


The only thing "outdated" in AO is the graphics engine and art, but that's not to say that it's bad... and of course there's the fact that that aspect is getting a large update. I am sure that much of the game play will seem familiar to other MMOGs, but AO has many years and what, four expansions worth of content over newer MMOG?. There's certainly not a lack of fun things to do in AO. No matter what else I play I always end up back at AO because there's just nothing like it... Yes, I think it's worth playing, definitely.

I echo what Dark said.I left AO to play WoW about a year and a half ago,boy what a mistake.AO was my first MMO and with my experience in AO really showed me how shallow WoW's game play is.Graphics are a issue though,they are very dated but if you value game play over graphics you can deal with them.

The new graphics engine looks wonderful.I'm really impressed Funcom is giving so much support to AO after all this time.The new graphics engine will assure AO will be around for some time.Another thing is when I left the community was A+.

 

::blank::

I actually just started playing AO yesterday. Im level 11 and  im having a good time with it. I have mostly been letting the game choose my stats..because it can be overwhelming at first.. There are not a ton of people where im at currently (west athens) but, its not hard to find someone to play with..i just chat in the clan ooc chat. The game is worth a chance though..there is a lot to learn and play around with. I just needed to find a game i could play until AoC comes out..and it will probably be this.

burmese

Did you notice if the game placed you on the Atlantean or Rimor server?  If Rimor (RK2), I might be able to help you out.

Darkholme

Originally posted by ::blank::


I have mostly been letting the game choose my stats..because it can be overwhelming at first..

Oh gods, don't do that... The games default skill choices are mostly crapola. This is a game where you really want to pay attention to where you invest your IPs (skill points). Once you start hitting areas in character progression that IPs become really tight you'll wish you had just those  few more that you "wasted" on X skill back at level 20.

crunchyblack

i wonder how the new engin will make the game look, ill for sure re-download and give the game a try again after they update the engin

dalevi1

Originally posted by creative404


I have always like to start playing Anarchy Online but every time I go to start playing another mmo takes its place and I can never seem to start playing. Now the game seemed to be outdated until the future release of a new engine. Now that I have the time and I am bored of other mmo's is AO still good to play or is it just outdated and dull to play?

AO is a very good game at it's core. If graphics is something that prevents immersion for you, waiting for the update is in your best interest.

edmonal

It's worth trying. The game play can be grindy at times, but it's not that bad and you can always run missions for fun. The community is pretty good, lots of old timers prowling around the newbie island and for the most part they're pretty patient with questions. As for IP distribution, just go to the official forums there's a guide for each profession and it will definitely help you with that. I just started a new character after a couple of years on RK2, and stayed up way too late last night playing the game It really sucked me into it's nefarious grip.

patrikd23

Originally posted by edmonal


It's worth trying. The game play can be grindy at times, but it's not that bad and you can always run missions for fun. The community is pretty good, lots of old timers prowling around the newbie island and for the most part they're pretty patient with questions. As for IP distribution, just go to the official forums there's a guide for each profession and it will definitely help you with that. I just started a new character after a couple of years on RK2, and stayed up way too late last night playing the game It really sucked me into it's nefarious grip.

Well said !

To add a little something there are some elements in the game that can be complicated but jsut ask around , most helpful players are on Rubi-ka 2 Rimor. Press the " i " at the chat to change channel .

deugemiet

If u think graphics make the game then stay away but if u think the gameplay has ur priority then give it a try.

This will keep especial spoiled teenagers away and saves room for adults and a descent society ...

Kilmar

Watch the AO Intro! It makes you want to play AO so much!

Trollstar

Well, if all the big games tank this year, I might give AO a trial after they complete their graphics update.

Arawon

I thought so...now I don't.

 

- CRAFTING........ difficult at best

-PVP............ only for the elites who have been in the game forever and have top end everything(twinked characters too).   Way too long for a noob to get into what I hear is a fun part of the game...if you can ever get to it.  The game would ROCK if they had clan/omni warfare opportunitys  especially set up for lower level players( ala DAOC battle grounds) plus the high level warfare as well.

-HOUSING................  is minimal , at best ( small instanced apartmrent....limited capacity etc etc)

 

the game has extraordinay depth and complexity.....a loyal subscriber base....so so graphice atm but enhanced graphics in the works

 

so for me...its just another level up mmog...so you canreequipp and  kill a bigger badder foozle...... rinse and repeat

burmese

PvP happens at all levels, including a lot as low as lvl 10.  As well, ppl who aren't massively twinked do well at low lvl PvP as long as they know what they are doing and do recognize the more 'uber' twinks when they are around.

nariusseldon

I would suggest wait for the engine update, it may give a much better experience.

I tried it couple of weeks ago and I really cannot get pass the really bad graphics. However, I fully intend to try it again after the graphics engine (and hopefully interface) is updated.

Evelknievel

Well I got back into the game not to long ago either. I got a level 103 Enforcer on the Atlantean Server (I think, I believe it was called Dimension server back in the days) and decided I better reroll because the game does have a learning curve to it. It took me a few hours just to understand all the commands and UI options.

I rerolled a soldier for now till I get the hang of the game once again, then I will go back to my enforcer. When I loaded AO back into my system and started to play, it brought some good ole times before even my SWG days. Looks like I will be hanging around AO for some time now despite the graphics the game is still fun at best. And simply put, the core of the game is excellent still!

valun

It's shame,but looks like AO is only decent game here..darn,I thinking about a shot too..

TenshiNoYume

If you hate bad graphics dont join anarchy online just yet, but they will be having a graphical update , so once that happends maybe you could check it out, thats if graphics are everything to you .

ArmorDillian

hope they release a new server soon

 

Then I start too,  but not now

burmese

They've been on 2 serves (plus the German one) for 6+ years, unlikely they will any any now.  At startup they briefly had 4x the current player base and that was handled by those servers so it would need far more ppl to cause them to think about an additional server.

vader999

Originally posted by Arawon

I thought so...now I don't.
 
- CRAFTING........ difficult at best
-PVP............ only for the elites who have been in the game forever and have top end everything(twinked characters too).   Way too long for a noob to get into what I hear is a fun part of the game...if you can ever get to it.  The game would ROCK if they had clan/omni warfare opportunitys  especially set up for lower level players( ala DAOC battle grounds) plus the high level warfare as well.
-HOUSING................  is minimal , at best ( small instanced apartmrent....limited capacity etc etc)
 
the game has extraordinay depth and complexity.....a loyal subscriber base....so so graphice atm but enhanced graphics in the works
 
so for me...its just another level up mmog...so you canreequipp and  kill a bigger badder foozle...... rinse and repeat

Just for info, started about 2 years ago and:

- In under 6 months I had a crafter that was raking it in. Now I couldn't build items someone 180+ would neccessarily use but that wasn't a problem. There is a pretty even spread of the population due to many systems that require a character to be within a certain level range (so even the 220s will spend a good amount of time on their lower toons). Crafting items can be a little convoluted for some items but due to the range of locations you obtain the components its fun if you like that sort of thing. And theres still a few low supply / high demand items in the market you have an opporunity to corner.

- pvp takes a little longer unless you have a great build or overpowered class for the level but you can still be competitive within a reasonable amount of time as long as you aren't aiming for 220 PvP. I believe it was at the 6-9 month mark that I made a second Tier Level 5 (150-174? cant remember now) PvP toon and despite not having the absolute best gear in the game I believe I was in the top 10-20% beating people completely decked out in the best (largely due to my build but it is possible). BS (think WoW BG) is always active at 150-174 and you can take towers (open world locations) at any level but you will need about a 3month+ appreciation of the game (and cash) before you stand half a chance.

- Agree that it is yet another level up and collect gear MMO and for the first month or two the max level (220) will look like an absolute joke until you decide (or not) that there are many things you enjoy about the game to just look at other goals instead. I made 4 150-174 toons for PvP and AI raids before I decided I should really hit 220 on one of them which I did 1.5 years after first playing).

But his game is like no other, there is always something different to do, maybe too much and for the casual player it may take absolutely forevr to feel like you've got anywhere between the main cycle (1.making cash, 2.twinking 3. levelling 10-20 levels before repeating) and the plethora of lengthy quests for utility rewards. If you agree that GW = best arena PvP, EvE = best social/FFA PvP, then this is my game that wins the best PvE award.

Ampallang

I left AO and came back to it.  Why?  Because so many other MMO's lacked the attention to detail that AO has.

Gilgameesh

Consider this:

AO is the first successful sci-fi MMO reloeased.

Apart EVE there r no sci-fi MMOs that are worth a try.

AO is almost 6 years old, while so many MMOs lasts few months if ever they see the 'light' of a release.

AO has a HUGE content, diversified as never seen: instanced dungeouns, open dungeons in the world, free encounters, instanced solo and team missions, raids...

A database of zillions of items, weapons, social cloths, a vast variety of armors.

With Shadowlands you get another HUGE world in the sky of Rubi Ka (the 'style' is a bit more fantasy than Rubi-Ka, tho, the game remains absolutely sci-fi).

The lore, the factions and the world changes during time, make the environment very deep.

With just the free account (Classic+Notum Wars) you get so much content that u could play for years.

The weak points of AO are a difficult learning curve for the newbies (but that can be considered a strong point as well), the really outdated graphics (and animations as well) and the UI not so friendly considered the modern standards.

So, as a f2p, this is absolutely the best to play, not comparable with any other crappy f2p around (except the pvp where froobs (free accounts) suffer some weak due the inaccessibilty of the better gear of the expansions, still they can get some fun if properly played).

To go p2p, i think it will be worth it, when the new engine will go live, and being it derived from AoC, it will be sure at the best.

Finally, consider that dev team never stopped improving the game, that means something.

 

Edit: don't judge the game from the starting island, as it's really small and don't give the real 'feel' you'll get when you go in the real game world (that's MASSIVE).