The thing with Atlantica, is you really do need to start spending money. You don't really need to spend money until level 95 or so, but then you really, really, really need a blessing license (which improves your attacks and XP rate and defense).
And then later on, it takes forever to get to quests (as they are in North America, where there are two cities). So you need a teleport license. And at which point it becomes more than $15 a month.
And then at least me, I really hit a wall at 120. The same bump up in difficulty and experience needed to level that you hit at level 95. I just gave up, I simply couldn't even play the game any more it was so tough (without spending a lot on upgrading equipment).
That said, I came back a few months later and made a new character (Chainsaw main this time). Again, I made it to level 120 and hit the same wall.
And since the level cap is now 140, I don't think anyone starting now can ever catch up. From 120 to 130 it's crazy, and it's 130 to 140 it's even crazier. Western games don't seem to do this, but Asian ones seem to have a level where you can just forget about having a life if you want to keep playing a game.
Come on The idea of under appreciation is that a game does something or hits certain points that make it better and they go unrecognized or spoken of. Darkfall screwed itself with poor game play at the get go, "Wild West" pvp system which literaly forced people to travel in packs and constant hardware issues due to skimping. The game is under appreciated because it was crap for the 1st few months. In an industry where the 1st 30 days makes or breaks and the companies inability to recognize or READ THE FORUMS and work FOR their customer base is NO ONES fault, but their own. You just did what this thread is all about, small indie company releases game, has a flawed start. You never look at it or consider it again. Two years later the game is good but you still under value it because it had a bad start off...
I undervalue Darkfall, because two years ago they undervalued me as a motivated customer, particularly with the fiasco at launch and nonchalance displayed by Tsaos. We had a guild ready to go prior to launch moving from a game in a similar vein (Eve) when they basically flipped us the bird and over 3/4 of our guild were not able to subscribe to the game.
In this business, you dont get many (if any) chances to make a another impression.
“Earthrise is yet another independently developed sandbox MMO with a heavy science fiction slant”
We have very few SF MMO’s and very few sandbox MMO’s, the MMO format is staving for anything other than WoW fantasy clones.
Many of these titles have made the list in underappeaciated MMO’s before, the sad fact is they will keep making the list, nothing new is coming out to replace them.
" Every week we here at MMORPG.com focus weekly columns on some of the industry’s most anticipated upcoming games, because we try to offer content geared towards what we think you’d like to read. Whether it’s previews or opinion pieces or news items, we always try to cover as much ground as our small team can. But with four-hundred or so games on the docket, it’s no wonder we don’t get around to spreading the wealth as much as we’d like."
Darkfall has received more attention on this site than many AAA titles and every other indie title combined. It is far from underappreciated coverage wise. Stop trying to push this piece of gargage down our throats. If you want ratings post pictures of naked women. At least have some honesty about what you're doing and a shred of integrity.
It certainly had dis proportional coverage. When pushed Stradden admited that (in the spirit of the best tabloid journalism) it got page hits, mainly by the outraged and indignant if the number of fans is anything to go by.
I shall just preface this post by saying that; The article written is subjectively, it is one mans opinion and one which he is entitled to have. To attack the poor guy personally over opinions held is never on - regardless of whether one feels he is wrong or not.
I personally believe that there are a couple of games on that list which require more justification for being picked.
Atlantica Online: Under appreciated is hardly the term I'd use. If play base is anything to go by then there are certainly more than enough people currently 'appreciating' the game; I believe it was mentioned in previous posts that Atlantica is one of the most played F2P MMOs. If instead the author meant under-appreciated in the sense that it needs more credit than it currently gets I would have to whole heartedly disagree. The only merit I believe the game has is its relatively original concept in terms of it being a turn-based mmorpg.
Darkfall: Love it or hate it the game is, seemingly, unable to escape the limelight. Just about every regular viewer of this site knows about the game and has either tried it or will never try it. Those that love the game appreciate it with every fibre of their soul; at least it appears as though they do - the fans are incredibly hardcore in this respect. Again, I believe that the author needs to justify his views a bit more; just what aspect of Darkfall are people either unaware of, or unappreciable of?
As has already been posted; Fallen Earth, in many respects, deserves a spot on the list. The game does not seem to have the same level of exposure as the above 2 games and is definitely a diamond among the rough.
The real 5 underappreciated MMOs: 1. Final Fantasy XI. Deep endgame, pioneered a lot of innovative mechanics like the job and subjob system, and did story before bioware even thought of making tor. 2. Champions Online. People talk a lot of crap about it, but it's a nice casual MMO with a decent community, great customization, and good performance and stability. It's main problem is a lack of content. 3. Mabinogi. Has great concepts no other MMO has. You can compose your own music, put it on scrolls and sell it to other players, or make your own clothes. Great pet system with a ton of customizability. 4. Fallen Earth. Icarus is working their heart out to try and make the game as best as it can. 5. Maple Story. This one is underappreciated historically, and was the reason Nexon became such a tremendous developer powerhouse. It may be a bad thing or a good thing, but it sure was momentous.
I noticed very few people mention MapleStory in these types of threads but yes, it definitely deserved a spot on the list. I would assume many people shrug it off because of the way it looks, but deep down within the game mechanics and giant world it is one of the best MMORPGs I've ever played, and I still play it today. It's my main MMO at the moment, Big Bang is awesome. Horrible community, terrible customer service, and an awful economy though. I mean fucking terrible in those regards, but if you can get past those things (hard for many I know) you will find the finest 2D MMORPG on the market today.
Also, this is one of the only F2P games that you DO NOT have to spend money on to be powerful and have fun. In fact, it's the only major F2P game that I know of in existence that you don't have to spend much cash, if any at all. Dual Blades, one of the 15 or 16 classes, requires you to get skill books as you get higher level to raise certain skills up, and I think a few of the mage classes need a book or two but you can get these books in-game so you don't have to buy the books if you don't want.
Soon in a few months the Chaos patch will hit brining PvP and crafting. Hopefully this will hold me over until Guild Wars 2. Once that hits then pshhh. Fk other games. Give me GW2.
I actually appreciate that finally someone puts A Tale in the Desert on such a list. No question, it looks ugly and has no combat, but the love of every crafting, every knowledge, every building, ... can be felt. The community works together (has to) and it is one of the few MMOs that really resembles some kind of "Life". For me it is still a very interesting game that maybe should not become "more news" to keep it as clean as possible.
Damn, I remember the time when we founded the City of the Golden See (beautiful view when the Sun was on zenith), exchanged our materials, checked for the other ones crops... wonderful!
My list: EQ, UO, DAoC, AC1, AO. The reason I put the games that basically started everything is that no one seems to give a rats ass that these games after years and years are still up and running and keep getting bug & content updates. I feel the games that started it all are under appreciated. In that group of games we have one of the best and robust sandbox games in the genre(UO). Two of the most expansive game worlds and content rich games ever created(EQ &AC1). The game that took the sci-fi setting to new hieghts and introduced personal instances and other mechanics to the genre (AO). A game that perfected faction pvp and has yet to be equaled (DAoC). If it weren't for these games we wouldn't be in this genre... Fuck! There wouldn't be a genre! So I think they deserve some attention and respect.
Its Bill Murphy. Remember his dumb point of view on the DCUO Ending event? That should say enough not to take anything he says without a grain of salt. He is 100% biased in his reviews.
Well, that's a writer's prerogative. Most articles are supposed to be from the writer's own opinion and point of view. If this list is truly his opinion, then he has as much right to it as you do yours. Write a list that counters this one if you don't agree...or at least something constructive.
Darkfall: Love it or hate it the game is, seemingly, unable to escape the limelight. Just about every regular viewer of this site knows about the game and has either tried it or will never try it. Those that love the game appreciate it with every fibre of their soul; at least it appears as though they do - the fans are incredibly hardcore in this respect. Again, I believe that the author needs to justify his views a bit more; just what aspect of Darkfall are people either unaware of, or unappreciable of?
1. UO - Feel bad that people can't experience the original game, time, population. It is something that cannot be repeated, due to so many choices now...You couldn't get the same types of population as you had back then. Roleplayers, 'care bears', pks, both types, ect...A good amount of these people would be driven off in a modern mmo imo....But due to fewer games being out, people stuck through it, and found their nitch...My favorite game of all time.
2. EQ - Some of the same, sure the game could be reproduced, but it has a lot of the same problems as UO. Newer MMOs cater to the quick/casual, and unfortunatley it seems anyone with real money to make a great game has to do so, or the person holding the purse strings snatches the purse back for the most part. I know people don't get it, but I tire of quests, dungeon grinds for tokens/points, I miss the grind, hanging out in a public dungeon, claiming a spawn point, and actually bsing with people in the group, while wrecking things...I am not big on stories/quests. I have been MMOless for over a year, waiting and hoping, and it isn't happening, so I have no choice and am stuck with the compromise of playing a lot of things I dislike.
3. DAoC - What others have said, my favorite RvR game, just wish they could of stopped with the nerf bat, and figured things out earlier, they seemed to make massive changes, and were still doiing heavy balancing over a year after release...But it was great fun, even on the crappy computer (pentium 3, and a graphics card right before the supported model heh) I had that I would freeze massive fights.
4. Vanguard - Its early problems doomed it, it has turned into a very good MMO imo, it has great PvE/classes/play now. I so wish someone would buy it and devote time/money to it and maybe do a 'relaunch' with an expansion (also support PvP and open a server back up).
5. SWG - Loved the crafting/economy of this game, it was very fun, it needed some tweeking, and more content, not the CU/NGE, if they would of done some battlegrounds/scenarios, like a hoth invasion, where imps/rebels could man both sides and have a purpose, it would of been very cool.
For as far as I have played it, Age of Conan surely can be put on this list. The graphics (best I've seen so far) and the combat (Close combat: hitting multiple opponents based on your position) just make it, but then again, I can't talk about endgame, only leveling.
My list: EQ, UO, DAoC, AC1, AO. The reason I put the games that basically started everything is that no one seems to give a rats ass that these games after years and years are still up and running and keep getting bug & content updates. I feel the games that started it all are under appreciated. In that group of games we have one of the best and robust sandbox games in the genre(UO). Two of the most expansive game worlds and content rich games ever created(EQ &AC1). The game that took the sci-fi setting to new hieghts and introduced personal instances and other mechanics to the genre (AO). A game that perfected faction pvp and has yet to be equaled (DAoC). If it weren't for these games we wouldn't be in this genre... Fuck! There wouldn't be a genre! So I think they deserve some attention and respect.
Amen brotha!
My personal fave is still AC1. Even of the original 'Big Three' it was the underappreciated one of that lot. No zoning, huge world, emmense amount of quests, listening to their players (a bit too much actually if you ask me...) hardcore (relatively to 'modern' mmos) death penalties, a very in depth skill system that allows you to make the toon you want instead of being shoehorned into a few set classes.... AC1 has it all. They even still manage (mostly) monthly content updates, which is WAY more than can be said of most 'modern' MMOs.
I wish we could pretend AC 2 never happened and release an AC: Next Gen with new graphics but virtually the same design concepts and skill system etc... That's why AC2 failed is because it veered too far out from the original...what everyone wanted was a shinier version of the same game with it's rich lore.
Played: Asheron's Call(still the best fantasy MMO!), EQ1, EQ2, Vanguard, DAoC, Horizons, City of Heroes/Villians, WoW (crap), LOTORO, D&D Online, Eve, Anarchy Online, and still playing SWG daily.
1. UO - Feel bad that people can't experience the original game, time, population. It is something that cannot be repeated, due to so many choices now...You couldn't get the same types of population as you had back then. Roleplayers, 'care bears', pks, both types, ect...A good amount of these people would be driven off in a modern mmo imo....But due to fewer games being out, people stuck through it, and found their nitch...My favorite game of all time.
2. EQ - Some of the same, sure the game could be reproduced, but it has a lot of the same problems as UO. Newer MMOs cater to the quick/casual, and unfortunatley it seems anyone with real money to make a great game has to do so, or the person holding the purse strings snatches the purse back for the most part. I know people don't get it, but I tire of quests, dungeon grinds for tokens/points, I miss the grind, hanging out in a public dungeon, claiming a spawn point, and actually bsing with people in the group, while wrecking things...I am not big on stories/quests. I have been MMOless for over a year, waiting and hoping, and it isn't happening, so I have no choice and am stuck with the compromise of playing a lot of things I dislike.
3. DAoC - What others have said, my favorite RvR game, just wish they could of stopped with the nerf bat, and figured things out earlier, they seemed to make massive changes, and were still doiing heavy balancing over a year after release...But it was great fun, even on the crappy computer (pentium 3, and a graphics card right before the supported model heh) I had that I would freeze massive fights.
4. Vanguard - Its early problems doomed it, it has turned into a very good MMO imo, it has great PvE/classes/play now. I so wish someone would buy it and devote time/money to it and maybe do a 'relaunch' with an expansion (also support PvP and open a server back up).
5. SWG - Loved the crafting/economy of this game, it was very fun, it needed some tweeking, and more content, not the CU/NGE, if they would of done some battlegrounds/scenarios, like a hoth invasion, where imps/rebels could man both sides and have a purpose, it would of been very cool.
RE: SWG.... I know what you are saying and I agree to a point. We now have the content, even the Hoth instance that you speak of, but minus the awesome skills system of the original game. The downside is that the original version of the game was just a great skills system with nothing to do. I like sand box as much as the next guy (I totally get just wandering around checking things out, overland hunting and all that I really do) but original SWG didn't have that. A mixture of pre-cu classes with the depth of content that is in the current system is what would be most awesome, but undoable as SWG is in maintainence mode now...just waiting for someone to turn out the lights is the general concensus over there...even though us dedicated players don't want it to be like that.
Played: Asheron's Call(still the best fantasy MMO!), EQ1, EQ2, Vanguard, DAoC, Horizons, City of Heroes/Villians, WoW (crap), LOTORO, D&D Online, Eve, Anarchy Online, and still playing SWG daily.
Atlantica is a great concept and functions pretty well but ya the item mall makes it very IMBA in pvp but its still a great pve experience for any1 that likes a good strategy game and u dont have to drop a dime into it to enjoy it, but if u hope to b the best at pvp on ur server and win weekly and go on to win titan ur gonna either live on the game or drop some cash sooner or later... but i still play it and love it to death, its not always about being the best after all.
I haven't checked in quite a while, but the last time I looked (I still have it with my Station Pass and I did go buy it when it was new in hopes that it would be good) it was STILL an unplayable mess, even with an upgraded rig. Constantly flushing the graphics, jerky performance, a severe wall of difficulty when reaching the mid teens: going from soloable (challenging but do-able) to 'don't even think about attacking me without lots of backup' very early on...not for raids or anything, but the normal quests people in towns give you. I like complex and I like challenging, but I don't like feeling like I'm just running into a brick wall over and over. VG seemed to turn into that very quickly for me (since I rejected it when it was new mostly and now am a newb in a mature game...hard to get groupmates for lowbies in an old game...nature of the beast...besides...I like to roll solo, especially when I am still trying to learn the game.
This changed yet? Cause I want to like this game, but can't seem to make it thus far.
Played: Asheron's Call(still the best fantasy MMO!), EQ1, EQ2, Vanguard, DAoC, Horizons, City of Heroes/Villians, WoW (crap), LOTORO, D&D Online, Eve, Anarchy Online, and still playing SWG daily.
Final Fantasy XIV (i know i will get flamed a lot on this one, but tho it has a lot of faults which makes most people (incl. me) not wanting to play it, its CORE mechanics (crafting process, harvesting process, combat, character development etc.) are imho great.
Careful people I just got a warning for trolling for pointing out the lie's lack of fact checking and putting a none released game in the article.
Dear banshe13,
You have been issued a warning by one of our moderators.
Warning Category: Trolling
Reason: Posting excessive negative comments or baiting others to respond in a negative manner is considered trolling on the MMORPG.com forums.
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Thread: General: Five Underappreciated MMOs
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LOL fail 1 game is not out yet 1 game alantica is one on the top FTP games many users and then theres the dark fall speech shadowbane anyone? besides ship fighting
I don't think Darkfall is underappreciated at all. It's one of the most talked about MMOs on this site and probably the most talked about indie game (yes, even more so than EVE nowadays). It has several people who rave about it and a few who dislike it with a passion, but what popular game doesn't? I think most people who played Atlantica Online also enjoyed it up to point where the cash shop becomes needed to progress further at a decent rate, and it may not be the most popular free to play but it certainly gets a bit of recognition here especially last year when there wasn't more options like Vindictus. The others I agree on. I think Everquest II is a solid MMO that is generally underappreciated here too, and Asheron's Call definitely doesn't get as much recognition it deserves so I'd probably add those two to my list over Darkfall and Atlantica. Isatria (sp? - the game formerly known as Horizons) is another one that definitely doesn't get the credit it deserves.
I understand the basis of this article. Underappreciated in the media to be lack of articles by sites like MMORPG. HYPE by the players propping up games they think will be the one, while being guided by hpye themselves.
For me there should be a secondary class of OVERappreciated = GW2, and Tera is the underappriated.
GW2 - Any game that puts a mouseover aura everytime you point at a mob needs to be removed (destroyed the feel of the game play in one pic).
TERA - OMG, if the cambat is even half as dynamic as it appears, then anything else that is evolutionary in the game is just more icing on the cake. There does seem to be a lot of CAKE in TERA!
TERA developers need to open the CBT to the rest of us. I'm dying to try this game.
TERA developers need to release more information on how things work in game.
TERA DEVELOPERS NEED TO MAKE THEMSELVES KNOWN MORE!
I would like to see more classes in the game and more starting areas, but over all the game is just a box of hopes for me. If it doesn't turn out to be Pandora's box, then they own me.
X - WOW player who will never return. Bliz u r idiots! Why did you make the game so easy to play and so fast to level that you chase away your hardcore players? BAKA! BAKA! BAKA!
Comments
The thing with Atlantica, is you really do need to start spending money. You don't really need to spend money until level 95 or so, but then you really, really, really need a blessing license (which improves your attacks and XP rate and defense).
And then later on, it takes forever to get to quests (as they are in North America, where there are two cities). So you need a teleport license. And at which point it becomes more than $15 a month.
And then at least me, I really hit a wall at 120. The same bump up in difficulty and experience needed to level that you hit at level 95. I just gave up, I simply couldn't even play the game any more it was so tough (without spending a lot on upgrading equipment).
That said, I came back a few months later and made a new character (Chainsaw main this time). Again, I made it to level 120 and hit the same wall.
And since the level cap is now 140, I don't think anyone starting now can ever catch up. From 120 to 130 it's crazy, and it's 130 to 140 it's even crazier. Western games don't seem to do this, but Asian ones seem to have a level where you can just forget about having a life if you want to keep playing a game.
R.I.P. City of Heroes and my 17 characters there
In this business, you dont get many (if any) chances to make a another impression.
“Earthrise is yet another independently developed sandbox MMO with a heavy science fiction slant”
We have very few SF MMO’s and very few sandbox MMO’s, the MMO format is staving for anything other than WoW fantasy clones.
Many of these titles have made the list in underappeaciated MMO’s before, the sad fact is they will keep making the list, nothing new is coming out to replace them.
you can add Loong Online that will be officially launched today, that game can piss of any mmo from 2010 any given sunday.
And i will see it for myself what the quality level is instead of just reading rants.
It certainly had dis proportional coverage. When pushed Stradden admited that (in the spirit of the best tabloid journalism) it got page hits, mainly by the outraged and indignant if the number of fans is anything to go by.
I shall just preface this post by saying that; The article written is subjectively, it is one mans opinion and one which he is entitled to have. To attack the poor guy personally over opinions held is never on - regardless of whether one feels he is wrong or not.
I personally believe that there are a couple of games on that list which require more justification for being picked.
Atlantica Online: Under appreciated is hardly the term I'd use. If play base is anything to go by then there are certainly more than enough people currently 'appreciating' the game; I believe it was mentioned in previous posts that Atlantica is one of the most played F2P MMOs. If instead the author meant under-appreciated in the sense that it needs more credit than it currently gets I would have to whole heartedly disagree. The only merit I believe the game has is its relatively original concept in terms of it being a turn-based mmorpg.
Darkfall: Love it or hate it the game is, seemingly, unable to escape the limelight. Just about every regular viewer of this site knows about the game and has either tried it or will never try it. Those that love the game appreciate it with every fibre of their soul; at least it appears as though they do - the fans are incredibly hardcore in this respect. Again, I believe that the author needs to justify his views a bit more; just what aspect of Darkfall are people either unaware of, or unappreciable of?
As has already been posted; Fallen Earth, in many respects, deserves a spot on the list. The game does not seem to have the same level of exposure as the above 2 games and is definitely a diamond among the rough.
nice list, but you should have stuck to released games. Its hard to appreciate something thats not available to you.
I noticed very few people mention MapleStory in these types of threads but yes, it definitely deserved a spot on the list. I would assume many people shrug it off because of the way it looks, but deep down within the game mechanics and giant world it is one of the best MMORPGs I've ever played, and I still play it today. It's my main MMO at the moment, Big Bang is awesome. Horrible community, terrible customer service, and an awful economy though. I mean fucking terrible in those regards, but if you can get past those things (hard for many I know) you will find the finest 2D MMORPG on the market today.
Also, this is one of the only F2P games that you DO NOT have to spend money on to be powerful and have fun. In fact, it's the only major F2P game that I know of in existence that you don't have to spend much cash, if any at all. Dual Blades, one of the 15 or 16 classes, requires you to get skill books as you get higher level to raise certain skills up, and I think a few of the mage classes need a book or two but you can get these books in-game so you don't have to buy the books if you don't want.
Soon in a few months the Chaos patch will hit brining PvP and crafting. Hopefully this will hold me over until Guild Wars 2. Once that hits then pshhh. Fk other games. Give me GW2.
I actually appreciate that finally someone puts A Tale in the Desert on such a list. No question, it looks ugly and has no combat, but the love of every crafting, every knowledge, every building, ... can be felt. The community works together (has to) and it is one of the few MMOs that really resembles some kind of "Life". For me it is still a very interesting game that maybe should not become "more news" to keep it as clean as possible.
Damn, I remember the time when we founded the City of the Golden See (beautiful view when the Sun was on zenith), exchanged our materials, checked for the other ones crops... wonderful!
Playing: Rift, LotRO
Waiting on: GW2, BP
Well, that's a writer's prerogative. Most articles are supposed to be from the writer's own opinion and point of view. If this list is truly his opinion, then he has as much right to it as you do yours. Write a list that counters this one if you don't agree...or at least something constructive.
I'd have Vanguard on my list. There are some features of that game that I yet to find an equal or better in any other game.
I'd throw in AC2, even though it's long dead. I was one of the few who had a blast playing that game.
That it has improved and is a fantastic game.
1. UO - Feel bad that people can't experience the original game, time, population. It is something that cannot be repeated, due to so many choices now...You couldn't get the same types of population as you had back then. Roleplayers, 'care bears', pks, both types, ect...A good amount of these people would be driven off in a modern mmo imo....But due to fewer games being out, people stuck through it, and found their nitch...My favorite game of all time.
2. EQ - Some of the same, sure the game could be reproduced, but it has a lot of the same problems as UO. Newer MMOs cater to the quick/casual, and unfortunatley it seems anyone with real money to make a great game has to do so, or the person holding the purse strings snatches the purse back for the most part. I know people don't get it, but I tire of quests, dungeon grinds for tokens/points, I miss the grind, hanging out in a public dungeon, claiming a spawn point, and actually bsing with people in the group, while wrecking things...I am not big on stories/quests. I have been MMOless for over a year, waiting and hoping, and it isn't happening, so I have no choice and am stuck with the compromise of playing a lot of things I dislike.
3. DAoC - What others have said, my favorite RvR game, just wish they could of stopped with the nerf bat, and figured things out earlier, they seemed to make massive changes, and were still doiing heavy balancing over a year after release...But it was great fun, even on the crappy computer (pentium 3, and a graphics card right before the supported model heh) I had that I would freeze massive fights.
4. Vanguard - Its early problems doomed it, it has turned into a very good MMO imo, it has great PvE/classes/play now. I so wish someone would buy it and devote time/money to it and maybe do a 'relaunch' with an expansion (also support PvP and open a server back up).
5. SWG - Loved the crafting/economy of this game, it was very fun, it needed some tweeking, and more content, not the CU/NGE, if they would of done some battlegrounds/scenarios, like a hoth invasion, where imps/rebels could man both sides and have a purpose, it would of been very cool.
Atlantica is overrated.
I would have switched that out with Perfect World Int.
Guild Wars 2!
For as far as I have played it, Age of Conan surely can be put on this list. The graphics (best I've seen so far) and the combat (Close combat: hitting multiple opponents based on your position) just make it, but then again, I can't talk about endgame, only leveling.
Eaglix
Amen brotha!
My personal fave is still AC1. Even of the original 'Big Three' it was the underappreciated one of that lot. No zoning, huge world, emmense amount of quests, listening to their players (a bit too much actually if you ask me...) hardcore (relatively to 'modern' mmos) death penalties, a very in depth skill system that allows you to make the toon you want instead of being shoehorned into a few set classes.... AC1 has it all. They even still manage (mostly) monthly content updates, which is WAY more than can be said of most 'modern' MMOs.
I wish we could pretend AC 2 never happened and release an AC: Next Gen with new graphics but virtually the same design concepts and skill system etc... That's why AC2 failed is because it veered too far out from the original...what everyone wanted was a shinier version of the same game with it's rich lore.
Played: Asheron's Call(still the best fantasy MMO!), EQ1, EQ2, Vanguard, DAoC, Horizons, City of Heroes/Villians, WoW (crap), LOTORO, D&D Online, Eve, Anarchy Online, and still playing SWG daily.
RE: SWG.... I know what you are saying and I agree to a point. We now have the content, even the Hoth instance that you speak of, but minus the awesome skills system of the original game. The downside is that the original version of the game was just a great skills system with nothing to do. I like sand box as much as the next guy (I totally get just wandering around checking things out, overland hunting and all that I really do) but original SWG didn't have that. A mixture of pre-cu classes with the depth of content that is in the current system is what would be most awesome, but undoable as SWG is in maintainence mode now...just waiting for someone to turn out the lights is the general concensus over there...even though us dedicated players don't want it to be like that.
Played: Asheron's Call(still the best fantasy MMO!), EQ1, EQ2, Vanguard, DAoC, Horizons, City of Heroes/Villians, WoW (crap), LOTORO, D&D Online, Eve, Anarchy Online, and still playing SWG daily.
Atlantica is a great concept and functions pretty well but ya the item mall makes it very IMBA in pvp but its still a great pve experience for any1 that likes a good strategy game and u dont have to drop a dime into it to enjoy it, but if u hope to b the best at pvp on ur server and win weekly and go on to win titan ur gonna either live on the game or drop some cash sooner or later... but i still play it and love it to death, its not always about being the best after all.
Free MMOs FTW?
Re: Vanguard
I haven't checked in quite a while, but the last time I looked (I still have it with my Station Pass and I did go buy it when it was new in hopes that it would be good) it was STILL an unplayable mess, even with an upgraded rig. Constantly flushing the graphics, jerky performance, a severe wall of difficulty when reaching the mid teens: going from soloable (challenging but do-able) to 'don't even think about attacking me without lots of backup' very early on...not for raids or anything, but the normal quests people in towns give you. I like complex and I like challenging, but I don't like feeling like I'm just running into a brick wall over and over. VG seemed to turn into that very quickly for me (since I rejected it when it was new mostly and now am a newb in a mature game...hard to get groupmates for lowbies in an old game...nature of the beast...besides...I like to roll solo, especially when I am still trying to learn the game.
This changed yet? Cause I want to like this game, but can't seem to make it thus far.
Played: Asheron's Call(still the best fantasy MMO!), EQ1, EQ2, Vanguard, DAoC, Horizons, City of Heroes/Villians, WoW (crap), LOTORO, D&D Online, Eve, Anarchy Online, and still playing SWG daily.
my list would be probably:
Vanguard
Ryzom
Istaria (Horizons)
Haven and Hearth
Final Fantasy XIV (i know i will get flamed a lot on this one, but tho it has a lot of faults which makes most people (incl. me) not wanting to play it, its CORE mechanics (crafting process, harvesting process, combat, character development etc.) are imho great.
Careful people I just got a warning for trolling for pointing out the lie's lack of fact checking and putting a none released game in the article.
Dear banshe13,
You have been issued a warning by one of our moderators.
Warning Category: Trolling
Reason: Posting excessive negative comments or baiting others to respond in a negative manner is considered trolling on the MMORPG.com forums.
This warning was generated from the following post on our discussion forum:
Thread: General: Five Underappreciated MMOs
Below is the content of the post:
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LOL fail 1 game is not out yet 1 game alantica is one on the top FTP games many users and then theres the dark fall speech shadowbane anyone? besides ship fighting
I don't think Darkfall is underappreciated at all. It's one of the most talked about MMOs on this site and probably the most talked about indie game (yes, even more so than EVE nowadays). It has several people who rave about it and a few who dislike it with a passion, but what popular game doesn't? I think most people who played Atlantica Online also enjoyed it up to point where the cash shop becomes needed to progress further at a decent rate, and it may not be the most popular free to play but it certainly gets a bit of recognition here especially last year when there wasn't more options like Vindictus. The others I agree on. I think Everquest II is a solid MMO that is generally underappreciated here too, and Asheron's Call definitely doesn't get as much recognition it deserves so I'd probably add those two to my list over Darkfall and Atlantica. Isatria (sp? - the game formerly known as Horizons) is another one that definitely doesn't get the credit it deserves.
I understand the basis of this article. Underappreciated in the media to be lack of articles by sites like MMORPG. HYPE by the players propping up games they think will be the one, while being guided by hpye themselves.
For me there should be a secondary class of OVERappreciated = GW2, and Tera is the underappriated.
GW2 - Any game that puts a mouseover aura everytime you point at a mob needs to be removed (destroyed the feel of the game play in one pic).
TERA - OMG, if the cambat is even half as dynamic as it appears, then anything else that is evolutionary in the game is just more icing on the cake. There does seem to be a lot of CAKE in TERA!
TERA developers need to open the CBT to the rest of us. I'm dying to try this game.
TERA developers need to release more information on how things work in game.
TERA DEVELOPERS NEED TO MAKE THEMSELVES KNOWN MORE!
I would like to see more classes in the game and more starting areas, but over all the game is just a box of hopes for me. If it doesn't turn out to be Pandora's box, then they own me.
X - WOW player who will never return. Bliz u r idiots! Why did you make the game so easy to play and so fast to level that you chase away your hardcore players? BAKA! BAKA! BAKA!
BRING ME TERA, Im having withdrawl.....