Impressions of the Reveal

AumHybrid

First off, I'll say that it definitely was not what I expected.  In my head I was visualizing something more along the lines of a fully realized EQ original with advanced AI and perhaps no classes.  This is the idea that has been floating around in my head for several months while awaiting the reveal date.  

That being said, I was thoroughly impressed with what I saw.  What was shown at SOE Live was one of, if not the most ambitious attempts at innovation in the MMO genre.

Everyone is so concerned about how hardcore things will be, but so easily dismiss why we started playing MMO's in the first place.  I know that when I started playing EQ all those years ago that I because lost in a new world.  What better way to do that than create a world that can evolve and change depending on the actions of the player?  A server system that is meaningful in that each server could potential be it's own world.  Where is the sense of adventure that everyone claims to have?

I'll go ahead and say that the graphics looks stunning.  Yes, they did make the Kerran look really weird and the character models went a different route than expected, but they are by no means ugly.  Everyone is so focused of that one character model, but I couldn't keep my eyes off the environment that they were in.  The day/night cycle was beautiful and looked completely immersive, like something I could definitely get lost in.

The idea of having NPC's react to player actions seems like a great concept as well.  Sure, camping zones back in 1999-2004 was pretty fun, but now there is technology that is getting closer to creating a living world.  It is so interesting t think that on one server there might be a city where on another there might be the orc infested remains of some small town, or perhaps no town at all.

Having no levels seems like a strange way to go, but then again I don't know anything more than that and that there will be 40 or so classes all together.  I like the idea that you have to seek out the other classes and learn their skills.  That seems like a form of progression but as of now I can't really say much on this subject.

The combat system looks like it has great potential.  It also doesn't look fleshed out yet at all.  There is a reason they only showed two classes and races so I'm pretty sure that they are still deep in development.  I wouldn't pass too many judgements on this yet either because I think that it just needs time to develop.  Obviously the AI really preset during the set pieces at the event.  They seriously put like 40 of those little creatures in one spot thinking that everyone would think it's cool.  I think that this combat system will be great, however, with the surroundings are more natural and the group dynamics are present.  As far as I know they are still using the trinity of class roles and this is what was missing from the recently released GW2 combat.

And by the way, yes I do see the similarities with GW2 combat, but that is where it ends.  The Kerran look NOTHING like the Charr (the Charr look way cooler so don't insult them) beyond the fact that they look like Tigers/Lions and can run on all fours.  The world events do not seem similar AT ALL so people need to stop comparing them.  EQ Next claims to have events that last for days or months at a time and can change the state of the world, while GW2 has events that repeat every few minutes to hours and change little to nothing.  It is a comparison that makes no sense.

The destructibility is something that has never been done before in an MMO and I am completely excited for it.  I am excited to see how it will really be use it game.  Also, the thought of going underground into a completely new location that changes over time is also really cool and seems like it will lead to endless adventures that weren't intended. 

Anyway, I can't really pass too many judgements since the game has only had it's core concepts explained, but from what I have hear so far it is going to be something refreshingly new.  People are upset because of things like it straying too far from the original EQ or because it won't be "hardcore" enough, but to me, personally, I am fine with the changes.  I don't know exactly how the lore of EQ will be implementing in the game because they haven't really gone into that, but I am fine with it not being hardcore if I actually have a sense of adventure again.  No MMO has been able to do that for me since EQ.  Also, all of the people complaining about how it isn't going to be hardcore are basing this info off one quote and the fact that there aren't levels.  I say we hold off on these rants until we receive more solid information on the progression system and actually see how places like Crushbone are designed.  For all we know, they could be deathtraps fore only the most skilled players of their class.  But who knows.

It's upsetting that so many of us seem to be focusing of certain aspects of the game that they aren't sure of and ignoring all the crazy stuff that they are doing to really make this game unique.  I could be upset about the Kerran model all day and refuse to notice the stunning environment and the fact that they fell into a SINKHOLE which is just insane to me.

Ahhhhhh I can't wait to try this game out.  I'm not sure what to expect but I know it's going to be unique and in the very least be worth my money.

I guess this may not have been much of a review, but I kinda got lost typing.