Too anyone calling "fanboi" on the writer. He does not hide the fact that this game is not
mind blowing original. Anyone who reads this can get a accurate description of what is
going on positive and negative.
Overall this is a solid review.
I'm so sick of everyone feeling the need to qualify any positive comment about this game with...'this game isn't mind blowing.' Guess what? It is. Level 31 and the most fun I've hard in an MMO in many, many years this weekend. Dear God, I'm so tired.
Tried the beta. I really like the storyline. The soul idea is a decent way to introduce multi-classing - while not unique, it is uncommon. The gameplay is definitely certified pre-owned.
Rifts, one of the defining pieces of this game, are just public quests. Interesting, but not really that great since they tell you everything you have to do in a popup. Think about that for a minute. You're walking around in the pretty landscape, a rift breaks through into your plane of existence, and somehow you magically know you and your cohorts have to kill 9 zombies to advance to the next stage. I'm tired of the handholding and spoon-feeding. I've never seen a war movie with a kill counter denoting when the battle would end, why would you do something like that for a rift incursion? There can't be a sense of wonder or immersion if you are constantly interrupted with text instructions telling you exactly what to do.
Quests are the same way. There are points on the map telling you exactly where to go for each quest, and areas showing you exactly where you need to go to find the mobs to kill. You really don't need to read the quest info.
I wanted to take an opportunity to chime in on a change we've made to our impressions process. Like many other sites, when a new game comes out we put out a first impressions article to give you our take on our early experiences with the game, this isn't incredibly new for MMORPG.com. However, what is new, is the little graphic on the bottom with our recommendation that you buy, try, or stay away from a product based on our impressions. This is simply our way of giving you an at-a-glance idea of how we feel about the game before we really put it through its paces in a full blown review.
There is no conspiracy afoot here and our writers really do not appreciate the disrespectful and unnecessary comments that are often cropping up. Please remember to respect the staff as well as your fellow MMORPG.com community memberrs when participating in forum discussions at MMORPG.com. You can feel free to disagree and provide your opinion on any article that we publish without attacking the integrity of the site or its writers.
Okay, Bill, we get it. You like Rift, that much can be gleaned from your past few columns. To me, you come off a bit starry-eyed over the whole thing, lacking critical objectivity. The take-away I'm getting from these sometimes gushing "impressions" is that Rift is "okay", but I'm not getting the sense that it's something people are looking forward to playing for any extended period of time. Maybe I'm a dinosaur, but I always thought that one purpose of a subscription-based MMORPG was a persistent world that people wanted to come back to month after month. I don't get that feeling with Rift.
I know that "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all" is a popular admonition from people who become "fans" of something, but people rely on writers for sites like this to step out of themselves a bit and offer a more criitcal analysis for a product that is requiring such an investment in time, money, and emotion.
Couldn't agree more.
It seems as if the current MMO players are looking for 2-6 months of entertainment. I do not get why though. The gameplay in MMOs these days is extremely dated compared to the current SRPGs. If you arn't looking for investment but just a quick bite then why not just play SRPGs. I don't play any MMO if i do not see me playing it a year later. Time investment is one of the most important things for me in MMO's.
I have to say that though my preferences hearken back to the older type of game play I don't see why a player can't be prepared to spend more than a few months in a game like rift.
Assuming they will continually update it over the months and years I don't see why the average player can't enjoy themselves over the long haul.
I'm certainly enjoying it. It doesn't have the same breadth as some of the older games but that doesn't mean that it doesn't have anything to offer. And who knows, maybe over time it will get a bit more depth.
It's fun and for those who don't mind a very theme park type of game it could very well hit the mark.
These games need to be evaluated for what theya are trying to be, not what players want them to be.
Like Skyrim? Need more content? Try my Skyrim mod "Godfred's Tomb."
Too anyone calling "fanboi" on the writer. He does not hide the fact that this game is not
mind blowing original. Anyone who reads this can get a accurate description of what is
going on positive and negative.
Overall this is a solid review.
I'm so sick of everyone feeling the need to qualify any positive comment about this game with...'this game isn't mind blowing.' Guess what? It is. Level 31 and the most fun I've hard in an MMO in many, many years this weekend. Dear God, I'm so tired.
While I haven't tried Rift yet, I agree with ya. I'm excited that it's getting the positive reeption it is. I'd love to see Trion rewarded for all the hard work and effort they have put into this game. This industry needed to see what a well polished, well designed game could do at launch.
Played the beta. Seemed like a decent game. How's the PvP in the game? I know it has warfronts but beyond that I know nothing.
But perhaps i'm just burned out on MMO's in general. When I have one going I neglect other types of games i'd like to play. Just not enough time in the day I guess.
To me it feels like another Aion... looks great, feels great, but there is nothing inside to keep me playing this after 2-4 months... rifts,class system..thats it...
I have to admit, I am almost offended at the double thumbs up thing at the bottom. Not because of the icon but because it says that I simply cannot live without it. I tried the beta, and I didn't like the game, It's just not my style and thats fine, I am glad other people enjoy it. I guess I would just recommend toning down the eager fanboi sounding comment with the double thumbs up icon for ANY game.
Have fun all you Rifters
All of my posts are either intelligent, thought provoking, funny, satirical, sarcastic or intentionally disrespectful. Take your pick.
I get banned in the forums for games I love, so lets see if I do better in the forums for games I hate.
I enjoy the serenity of not caring what your opinion is.
From what I saw of the beta I would say this is a fair first impression review . The combat I did'nt find too lackluster it just was'nt as fast as WoWs . I do wonder like some of the others posting here how much longevity the game will have or whether it will be something that has only 4-6 months play in it . Hard to tell at this point but it certainly isn't another AION ,AOC or War . If anything its the best mno release since WoW and a lot of fun . My two major concerns where size of the game world and only two starting zones (one per faction ) . Going through the same areas when leveling your 3rd alt might start to grate a little . Other than that what I've seem thus far is great . Not next gen but still great to play . Thats all I really ask for in a game .
Played the beta. Seemed like a decent game. How's the PvP in the game? I know it has warfronts but beyond that I know nothing.
AS far as I know it has the usual cross-faction pvp. Defiants and Guardians share some mid-to-end level zones with each other, its possible to invade and occupy enemy towns (similarly on how rift invasions do that, by destroying the wardstone) and so on.
Theoretically one SHOULD be able to cross all the way into the enemy territory starter zones, IF he is not caught and killed by NPC patrols, enemy players, npcs or various other similar thingies.
# A GRIM, ODD, ARCANE SKY # ANY GOD, I MARK SACRED # A MASKED CRY ADORING # A DREAMY, SICK DRAGON
This game better enjoy the glory while it last. There is a beast on the horizon known as Guild Wars 2 that is going to consume, devour and spit out every other fantasy mmorpg existance. Whatever is left over will play Swtor and WoW.
I love how some people are waiting for GW2 and SWTOR as if those were some kind of Mesiah coming to save us. Don´t get too hyped, you might get dissapointed.
spot on preview. If i just finished playing WoW for 5 years and I wanted something new I certainly would not choose Rift. But luckily I havnt played WoW for years and just came off a 2 year stint in EVE online. So Rift seems fresh to me at least and I am enjoying it.
Playing: PO, EVE Waiting for: WoD Favourite MMOs: VG, EVE, FE and DDO Any person who expresses rage and loathing for an MMO is preposterous. He or she is like a person who has put on full armor and attacked a hot fudge sundae.
Overall I agree with the preview, tough I'm tired ot that kind of game so I doubt I will buy it. If anyone were to ask me to suggest an mmo it'd be Rift, because it's the best on the market right now.
Remove that silly "Buy it" button, highlight the last paragraph as a well-rounded summary instead.
It is not a button as it does not click anywhere. We are not trying to literally click you over to buy it. We just have a simpliefied "first look" system now. The "Buy It" is the highest rank in this new system. These are *not* our official reviews.
- MMORPG.COM Staff -
The dead know only one thing: it is better to be alive.
I've always explained it to friends like this: if you're currently enjoying games like WoW, WAR, EQ2, or any other of the very "typical" fantasy MMORPGs out there, I see no reason why you wouldn't want to make the switch to Rift, other than fear of losing your investment (both emotional and financial) in the other games. Rift is simply better; it's newer, more refined, and it does brings a bit of a dvancement to the genre. However, If you're tired of the aforementioned games, you're simply not going to like Rift, it's just going to feel like too much of the same,
This is NOT true for everyone. For people that like immersion or RP aspect of MMORPGS Rift is very low on the scale. Its combat is certainly no better than the other games (nor is it worse). Its quest writing (at least from 1-20) is FAR below WoW and EQ2. It has the most claustrophobic feeling world of any big MMORPG. And it brings no advancement (but neither did WoW so thats not a knock, just do say that it is some kind of evolution)
It is still the same rigid class/level system introduced by EQ and there is absolutely nothing new that has not been done before in the genre. Just get tired of silly developers trying to out better Wow with the same exact design. When will they learn.
Wasn't impressed with Rift having been in several of the Betas. After watching TERA and ArcheAge gameplay I think I'll bypass SWTOR unless I get into beta. I'll probably pick up GW2 because it's B2P and if it ends up being the 2nd coming then great.....
Remove that silly "Buy it" button, highlight the last paragraph as a well-rounded summary instead.
It is not a button as it does not click anywhere. We are not trying to literally click you over to buy it. We just have a simpliefied "first look" system now. The "Buy It" is the highest rank in this new system. These are *not* our official reviews.
The 'buy it' graphic does come across as if you're closing a sale. If you guys at mmorpg.com take such offense at being called out for selling games... why do you use graphics like this?
If we're going to be told to buy something, it's quite fair to bring up the fact that you're trying to sell it to us.
Originally posted by Ozmodan It is still the same rigid class/level system introduced by EQ and there is absolutely nothing new that has not been done before in the genre. Just get tired of silly developers trying to out better Wow with the same exact design. When will they learn.
Seriously? I mean, the world is segregated by levels...but where do you get the class thing?
I can not remember winning or losing a single debate on the internet.
Remove that silly "Buy it" button, highlight the last paragraph as a well-rounded summary instead.
It is not a button as it does not click anywhere. We are not trying to literally click you over to buy it. We just have a simpliefied "first look" system now. The "Buy It" is the highest rank in this new system. These are *not* our official reviews.
{mod edit}
I think I agree.
Instead of "buy it" it should be more along the lines of "Highly Recommend" or something like that.
Like Skyrim? Need more content? Try my Skyrim mod "Godfred's Tomb."
It is still the same rigid class/level system introduced by EQ and there is absolutely nothing new that has not been done before in the genre. Just get tired of silly developers trying to out better Wow with the same exact design. When will they learn.
How exactly is the same rigid class system?
In EQ you picked a class and were locked into it. All of your abilities were fixed and you had no choice past when you created your character. In Rift you choose your archetype, but can effectively swap around souls and the points within the basically change your 'class'.
Rift may of in itself not be adding anything innovating with regards to game mechanics. Flexible 'classes' with 'talent trees' has existed before, Public quests have existed before, but none of the previous MMOs have done it to the level Rift does, and not to the level of polish Rift does it with... which to this point, means that Rift is in fact doing something that has not been done before.
Basically, Rift is to WoW, as WoW was to EQ in terms of features.
So people scream about innovation and yet praise Rift. I guess mmo crowd is so in need of a polished mmo they will get anything. The success of Rift will only show we need more WoW-clones with a few twists. Well at least Shogun 2 will be released soon =P
So people scream about innovation and yet praise Rift. I guess mmo crowd is so in need of a polished mmo they will get anything. The success of Rift will only show we need more WoW-clones with a few twists. Well at least Shogun 2 will be released soon =P
I think what it shows is that people would prefer a polished MMO with some improvements to the genre over super innovative MMOs that play like crap.
Most MMOs these days are held back by releasing a state that most people don't find acceptable, or not providing enough content to keep people interested long term.
Comments
I'm so sick of everyone feeling the need to qualify any positive comment about this game with...'this game isn't mind blowing.' Guess what? It is. Level 31 and the most fun I've hard in an MMO in many, many years this weekend. Dear God, I'm so tired.
Tried the beta. I really like the storyline. The soul idea is a decent way to introduce multi-classing - while not unique, it is uncommon. The gameplay is definitely certified pre-owned.
Rifts, one of the defining pieces of this game, are just public quests. Interesting, but not really that great since they tell you everything you have to do in a popup. Think about that for a minute. You're walking around in the pretty landscape, a rift breaks through into your plane of existence, and somehow you magically know you and your cohorts have to kill 9 zombies to advance to the next stage. I'm tired of the handholding and spoon-feeding. I've never seen a war movie with a kill counter denoting when the battle would end, why would you do something like that for a rift incursion? There can't be a sense of wonder or immersion if you are constantly interrupted with text instructions telling you exactly what to do.
Quests are the same way. There are points on the map telling you exactly where to go for each quest, and areas showing you exactly where you need to go to find the mobs to kill. You really don't need to read the quest info.
Hi guys,
I wanted to take an opportunity to chime in on a change we've made to our impressions process. Like many other sites, when a new game comes out we put out a first impressions article to give you our take on our early experiences with the game, this isn't incredibly new for MMORPG.com. However, what is new, is the little graphic on the bottom with our recommendation that you buy, try, or stay away from a product based on our impressions. This is simply our way of giving you an at-a-glance idea of how we feel about the game before we really put it through its paces in a full blown review.
There is no conspiracy afoot here and our writers really do not appreciate the disrespectful and unnecessary comments that are often cropping up. Please remember to respect the staff as well as your fellow MMORPG.com community memberrs when participating in forum discussions at MMORPG.com. You can feel free to disagree and provide your opinion on any article that we publish without attacking the integrity of the site or its writers.
Thanks!
I have to say that though my preferences hearken back to the older type of game play I don't see why a player can't be prepared to spend more than a few months in a game like rift.
Assuming they will continually update it over the months and years I don't see why the average player can't enjoy themselves over the long haul.
I'm certainly enjoying it. It doesn't have the same breadth as some of the older games but that doesn't mean that it doesn't have anything to offer. And who knows, maybe over time it will get a bit more depth.
It's fun and for those who don't mind a very theme park type of game it could very well hit the mark.
These games need to be evaluated for what theya are trying to be, not what players want them to be.
Godfred's Tomb Trailer: https://youtu.be/-nsXGddj_4w
Original Skyrim: https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/109547
Serph toze kindly has started a walk-through. https://youtu.be/UIelCK-lldo
Remove that silly "Buy it" button, highlight the last paragraph as a well-rounded summary instead.
While I haven't tried Rift yet, I agree with ya. I'm excited that it's getting the positive reeption it is. I'd love to see Trion rewarded for all the hard work and effort they have put into this game. This industry needed to see what a well polished, well designed game could do at launch.
Played the beta. Seemed like a decent game. How's the PvP in the game? I know it has warfronts but beyond that I know nothing.
But perhaps i'm just burned out on MMO's in general. When I have one going I neglect other types of games i'd like to play. Just not enough time in the day I guess.
Tribes 2 is back!!!! http://www.tribesnext.com/
And from the makers of tribes: Fallen Empire: Legions http://www.instantaction.com/
To me it feels like another Aion... looks great, feels great, but there is nothing inside to keep me playing this after 2-4 months... rifts,class system..thats it...
But i have to admit, this game is worth trying..
I have to admit, I am almost offended at the double thumbs up thing at the bottom. Not because of the icon but because it says that I simply cannot live without it. I tried the beta, and I didn't like the game, It's just not my style and thats fine, I am glad other people enjoy it. I guess I would just recommend toning down the eager fanboi sounding comment with the double thumbs up icon for ANY game.
Have fun all you Rifters
All of my posts are either intelligent, thought provoking, funny, satirical, sarcastic or intentionally disrespectful. Take your pick.
I get banned in the forums for games I love, so lets see if I do better in the forums for games I hate.
I enjoy the serenity of not caring what your opinion is.
I don't hate much, but I hate Apple© with a passion. If Steve Jobs was alive, I would punch him in the face.
From what I saw of the beta I would say this is a fair first impression review . The combat I did'nt find too lackluster it just was'nt as fast as WoWs . I do wonder like some of the others posting here how much longevity the game will have or whether it will be something that has only 4-6 months play in it . Hard to tell at this point but it certainly isn't another AION ,AOC or War . If anything its the best mno release since WoW and a lot of fun . My two major concerns where size of the game world and only two starting zones (one per faction ) . Going through the same areas when leveling your 3rd alt might start to grate a little . Other than that what I've seem thus far is great . Not next gen but still great to play . Thats all I really ask for in a game .
AS far as I know it has the usual cross-faction pvp. Defiants and Guardians share some mid-to-end level zones with each other, its possible to invade and occupy enemy towns (similarly on how rift invasions do that, by destroying the wardstone) and so on.
Theoretically one SHOULD be able to cross all the way into the enemy territory starter zones, IF he is not caught and killed by NPC patrols, enemy players, npcs or various other similar thingies.
# A GRIM, ODD, ARCANE SKY
# ANY GOD, I MARK SACRED
# A MASKED CRY ADORING
# A DREAMY, SICK DRAGON
I love how some people are waiting for GW2 and SWTOR as if those were some kind of Mesiah coming to save us. Don´t get too hyped, you might get dissapointed.
spot on preview. If i just finished playing WoW for 5 years and I wanted something new I certainly would not choose Rift. But luckily I havnt played WoW for years and just came off a 2 year stint in EVE online. So Rift seems fresh to me at least and I am enjoying it.
Playing: PO, EVE
Waiting for: WoD
Favourite MMOs: VG, EVE, FE and DDO
Any person who expresses rage and loathing for an MMO is preposterous. He or she is like a person who has put on full armor and attacked a hot fudge sundae.
Overall I agree with the preview, tough I'm tired ot that kind of game so I doubt I will buy it. If anyone were to ask me to suggest an mmo it'd be Rift, because it's the best on the market right now.
Edit: IMO
A good start to the resurgence year of MMOs.
It is not a button as it does not click anywhere. We are not trying to literally click you over to buy it. We just have a simpliefied "first look" system now. The "Buy It" is the highest rank in this new system. These are *not* our official reviews.
- MMORPG.COM Staff -
The dead know only one thing: it is better to be alive.
This is NOT true for everyone. For people that like immersion or RP aspect of MMORPGS Rift is very low on the scale. Its combat is certainly no better than the other games (nor is it worse). Its quest writing (at least from 1-20) is FAR below WoW and EQ2. It has the most claustrophobic feeling world of any big MMORPG. And it brings no advancement (but neither did WoW so thats not a knock, just do say that it is some kind of evolution)
It is still the same rigid class/level system introduced by EQ and there is absolutely nothing new that has not been done before in the genre. Just get tired of silly developers trying to out better Wow with the same exact design. When will they learn.
Wasn't impressed with Rift having been in several of the Betas. After watching TERA and ArcheAge gameplay I think I'll bypass SWTOR unless I get into beta. I'll probably pick up GW2 because it's B2P and if it ends up being the 2nd coming then great.....
My theme song.
The 'buy it' graphic does come across as if you're closing a sale. If you guys at mmorpg.com take such offense at being called out for selling games... why do you use graphics like this?
If we're going to be told to buy something, it's quite fair to bring up the fact that you're trying to sell it to us.
Seriously? I mean, the world is segregated by levels...but where do you get the class thing?
I can not remember winning or losing a single debate on the internet.
I think I agree.
Instead of "buy it" it should be more along the lines of "Highly Recommend" or something like that.
Godfred's Tomb Trailer: https://youtu.be/-nsXGddj_4w
Original Skyrim: https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/109547
Serph toze kindly has started a walk-through. https://youtu.be/UIelCK-lldo
How exactly is the same rigid class system?
In EQ you picked a class and were locked into it. All of your abilities were fixed and you had no choice past when you created your character. In Rift you choose your archetype, but can effectively swap around souls and the points within the basically change your 'class'.
Rift may of in itself not be adding anything innovating with regards to game mechanics. Flexible 'classes' with 'talent trees' has existed before, Public quests have existed before, but none of the previous MMOs have done it to the level Rift does, and not to the level of polish Rift does it with... which to this point, means that Rift is in fact doing something that has not been done before.
Basically, Rift is to WoW, as WoW was to EQ in terms of features.
So people scream about innovation and yet praise Rift. I guess mmo crowd is so in need of a polished mmo they will get anything. The success of Rift will only show we need more WoW-clones with a few twists. Well at least Shogun 2 will be released soon =P
I think what it shows is that people would prefer a polished MMO with some improvements to the genre over super innovative MMOs that play like crap.
Most MMOs these days are held back by releasing a state that most people don't find acceptable, or not providing enough content to keep people interested long term.