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My EQII beta review
Cydone
Member Posts: 171
Let me start out by saying that my highest lvl char in the beta is only level 8. But I was not realy trying to level, I was trying to get a feel of the game, I wanted to explore, see as much of the world as possible. To see if this is a place I want to spent more time in, more so, pay for.
I have thrown in a few shots from the last part of my adventure, which took me into the Commonlands near Freeport. I walked from Qeynos.
http://www.imagedump.com/index.cgi?pick=get&tp=146273
http://www.imagedump.com/index.cgi?pick=get&tp=146274
http://www.imagedump.com/index.cgi?pick=get&tp=146275
http://www.imagedump.com/index.cgi?pick=get&tp=146276
http://www.imagedump.com/index.cgi?pick=get&tp=146277
http://www.imagedump.com/index.cgi?pick=get&tp=146278
http://www.imagedump.com/index.cgi?pick=get&tp=146279
http://www.imagedump.com/index.cgi?pick=get&tp=146282
Shots were taken with Very High Perfomance settings, and it ran smoothly (this was out of town) Note that I have reduced the quality of them alittle to fit into imagedump. So it is actualy nicer ingame!
To the short review, I got all caught up in making these and posting em, ah well here goes.
The game is beautiful, and there can be no discussion that EQII has the best graphics on the market, and will probably have for at least a year. It is breathtaking! However, there is more to a game than Graphics, and this is what I have been trying to find out. I personally feel the world is stale, like walking around in a very big and beautiful gallery. Its like its one big virtual chat room. Again take my noobieness into account.
Another big issue for me, is the constant zoning you have to do. Its like walking on bricks of a puzzle, its not good for the emersion. Sometimes in cities, you have to wait minutes to get in. But I guess thats the tradeoff for the wicked graphics.
Combat is beautiful, the way the characters move, dodge, swing swords and staffs around is unparalled. You feel that your equipment is somehow a part of you, you get somehow more attached to your weapon. Thats why the shops its a turnoff for me, its a little list with lille thunbs of the weapons, and it all just looks the same, while in the shop.
The quests must have taken years to make, they are everywhere, and the voiceovers are impressive.
It feels like there is somekind of seriousness about EQII that I have have not seen with other titles, its like its not a game or something, more like a new virtual world. Like EVE Online, have this very deep and Alien kinda atmosphere, not that EQII has that, but its the same kinda depth.
Leveling is slow, and one could fear the Lineage II grind. However, since you get skills almost at every lvl, I guess its bareable, I woulndt know though.
Another big issue for me is the solo/mob system, with the locking of mobs while attacked by other players. Even the player is locked so you cant interfere with him/her. You cant heal someone in need, without him/her asking you to, but when you need help the most, do you have time to type or click? This is a restriction I realy dont like. Solo and Group mobs are thrown in among eachother, and it is very hard to adventure out alone, since even in low lvl areas, you will find Group mobs, that will kill you. Its very group oriented.
I want to end this here.. Earlier I was a sucker for good Graphics. But when I think back at the Amiga days, it was indeed the gameplay that made a good game. I fell a lack of gameplay in EQII, a lack of meaning. Its all too real. Its like being in another world.
I dunno, I want to like this title, and I have been very hyped. What makes me go back right now to the game, is the way my character moves in combat. If I go back now to play alittle more before they pull the plug, its to see my character in motion within the beautiful scenery that is EQII.
Would like to hear from some high lvl beta testers... whats out there?
Comments
heh, I just posted my newbie review of EQ2 like 1 minute after you finished yours
But anyways, I'm lvl 15, and just wanted to comment on some of your comments...
Another big issue for me is the solo/mob system, with the locking of mobs while attacked by other players. Even the player is locked so you cant interfere with him/her. You cant heal someone in need, without him/her asking you to, but when you need help the most, do you have time to type or click? This is a restriction I realy dont like.
Locked encounters = nobody kill-stealing or ninja-looting your kills. EQ is the first MMOG I've played where KSing has been completely stomped out, one of my favorite features to be honest. By default the Yell for Help button is on your hotbar, you press one key to yell for help, its not that difficult to hit 1 button, and its definitally not as time consuming as you make it out to be. This feature also discourages people from taking on a mob they know they can't handle then expect bystandards to help them finish the kill then get all the solo XP for themselves.
Solo and Group mobs a thrown in among eachother, and it is very hard to adventure out alone, since even in low lvl areas, you will find Group mobs, that will kill you. Its very group oriented.
Very true, but this is a multiplayer game not a single player game. My view on soloing has always been "if you want to solo, play a single player game". I've read that WoW is more solo-friendly if you are looking for a single player MMOG. But on the bright side, everybody who plays EQ2 knows that soloing sucks, thus groups are easy to form and easy to get into. If nobody answers your /ooc mage LFG, then explore around until you find a group, at least that how I've handled the issue and grouping for me hasn't been a problem for me. Certainly groups with the "right" combination of classes work better, but even tankless and/or healerless groups work a LOT better than soloing does. I think they've taken the right approach, make groups basically manditory, make every class useful to a group and everybody will be able to find a group. Sounds good in theory and so far its worked well for me.
Leveling is slow, and one could fear the Lineage II grind. However, since you get skill almost at every lvl, I guess its bareable, I woulndt know though.
It hasn't been slow for me, and now that I know the game a little bit I'm sure I'll make level 15 in much less time next time around. If I'm leveling faster than you it might be because...
1. I don't solo, I look for groups. I found early that solo xp is slow xp. Solo XP = fighting blues, maybe whites if I weren't a dark elf warrior, and running around a lot looking for a solo camp spot. Group XP = pulling 4-5 yellows per pull (in a good group) with nearly 0 down time, maybe 2-3 whites/yellows per pull in a not-so-good group.
2. I've been trying to XP, not running from Qeynos to Freeport
or otherwise exploring as much as you have.
Yeah I saw your review just second after
You have some good points, and the one about Locked mobs, is a valid point, and I agree.
However I have yet to see some comments on how fun people find this game. If it is something they think they can use alot of time in. Im actualy looking forward to go back to my char and play alittle, thats a plus side.
Im honestly looking forward to WoW. But I havent tried it. And the release of EQII presses me a great deal, since I realy cant decide if its good or bad for me..
ah well.
As someone that has played a little bit of both, it seems to me that, if you like the Warcraft series then WoW will not disappoint you;on the other hand, if you value character customization and feeling different from everyone, i would go with EQ2, as there are a lot more options for that. Like in WoW, you cant even make your character taller/shorter or skinnier/fatter? Thats a huge turnoff to players like me, that value seeing changes in people and different styles, etc.
But who am i to complain about anything, I'm glad we have more MMORPGs to play
You actualy hit the core of my biggest worry about WoW. I have played SC and Diablo, and loved em deeply. I find them some of the best games ever. However, Warcraft never got to me. Surely I have tried, but I just end up not caring about it, it feels boring.
My worry is that this sense of not realy getting attached to the world, as I didnt with the warcraft games, is what will happen when I play WoW.. But then again, I will only know once I have tried it, and surely I will.
Nice review.
About the slow levelling well i really think the levelling is just fine not too fast that in 3 months half the community is maxed out and not too slow that in 3 months half the community is only level 25.
It is just about right for me. 2 months after the character wipes we had level 50.I can confirm i ran into a level 45 myself just 9 weeks in crypt of betrayal after the wipe and he in return has met a level 50.
I seen a few threads here stating that the highest level around is level 40 ingame ATM.This is totally untrue.
I myself took a character from 1-20 in less then 18 hours gameplay because i done this levels numerous times and had a good idea how to do it.
The levelling is just about right if u ask me.
Solo mobs.Well there are plenty around there thats for sure.Now when asked a while ago on thebeta forum about soloing not been as good as grouping and the poster went further to compare with SWG the developer said in a diplomatic fashion that grouping will never be like SWG .
Basically,if soloing equals to ,or nearly equals to grouping exp no one will bother.I certainly will not because i will not have bad players pile on exp debt on me.