The Darkfall Online Review

Czzarre · March 2009

Hey all, its been over a week, some players are still having a tough time getting into the game. As such, I thought the hame has been released long enough to put down a comprehensive review of Darkfall Online.

Darkfall Online: The Review "This game is not for everyone"

I worked hard to make it unbiased, fairly comprehensive and fun to read.

However I would really like your input. Aspects I overlooked, things you liked or didn't like. I don't mind if you post how much you hate the review, just be constructive as to how I can improve.

Thanks all!

Alfurras · March 2009

Not to sound cheap but... you misspelled 'Aventurine' (Aventurine S.A.)

Die_Scream · March 2009

Extremely in depth, nice work.

Seemed quite unbiased and well thought out.

strongaxe · March 2009

Good job bud. Great review.

Czzarre · March 2009

Originally posted by Alfurras

Not to sound cheap but... you misspelled 'Aventurine' (Aventurine S.A.)

not cheap at all Alf, Thats exactly the boneheaded mistake I need people to point out! Thanks.

Usually I screw up with the you're --> your ..checked 3 times for that

asdar · March 2009

I think you posted a good review.

My nitpick would be that you're taking all graphics at one time. I think the world is awesome, and I'd apply that to almost every stationary object.

Mobile objects look pretty dated and frankly awful. I'm not sure if that's to reduce lag or what, but anything that moves, ugly, anything that doesn't seems pretty.

DarthRaiden · March 2009

Good review ..very helpfull too for undecided or new to DarkFall

Czzarre · March 2009

Yea, As I mentioned I thought the Terrain itself was great. The terrain shadows too. The rest is just rough. I agree, it was likely because they needed to reduce lag.

MunioVeritas · March 2009

Your lack of English skills is disturbing.

But otherwise it's quite a good review.

altairzq · March 2009

Why didn't you mention macroing skills and gathering, and the speedhack?

DarthRaiden · March 2009

Originally posted by altairzq

Why didn't you mention macroing skills and gathering, and the speedhack?

Macroing was mentioned and speedhack occured in very rare occasions..isolated cases.

I fully understand why you want to make it apear as massive , but it isn't..

Czzarre · March 2009

Originally posted by altairzq

Why didn't you mention macroing skills and gathering, and the speedhack?

As above. I have yet to see speedhack. Ive seen several people cry out speedhack on the chat channels. But then again, Ive been in many games where people cry foul just because they died. As if "Someone had to have been cheating in order to kill me!"

If I see more evidence of this, or bots / scrips (which I do mention in the flaws section) I will add and update

thinktank001 · March 2009

I'm update this as I go.

+ I would reccommend you get rid of the first paragraph in your " Server Selection " section. That one is completely your opinion on the subject, and is not in anyway shape or form what Aventurine had intended. You nicely sum that paragaph up on your 2nd sentence in the 2nd paragraph in that section.

+ I would reccommend taking the lines that refer to WoW in the " Character Selection " section, and getting rid of the Aventurine part also. All those don't really add to the review in a good way, and doesn't keep your impartial stance. The 2nd paragraph I would just take out the last 2 sentences, and the first one do something similar to this (if this is what you are getting at):

" I find that one character per server brings something to darkfall that other MMOs often lack, which is commitment and consequence to a single character. However, you can always delete your sole character and start anew. "

+ Again refrain from using Aventurine in your review, and some how incorporate the first name and last name statement into the " Character Selection " paragraph. I would probably have combined the first and second sentence with a single example of each extreme and just stated that DF falls into the middle.

+ I would get rid of the silly Tetris remark, and incorporate the last paragraph in the " Game Settings and Performance " section ( you missed the capitalization ) into the first paragraph.

+ Get rid of the 2nd paragraph in the " Graphics " section. It looks like your trying to convince people that graphics do not matter. A better option would be to just post a picture instead.

+ The skill section felt a bit bland. It doesn't really tell the readers much of anything, and doesn't give the feeling that you had done your research on it. I would have definitely ended the last paragraph at this line:

" You can take matters into your own hands, kill the offender and loot everything off him ...if you don’t mind the alignment hit (more on alignment below). "

+ The PvP section is out of place and should go under or above the PvE part. Its also not very well done, and your opinion part should be taken out, and instead reworded as to what you did and what you like about it.

The rest of it doesn't really feel like a review. I don't honestly know what you would do with it.

Speedhaak · March 2009

Originally posted by MunioVeritas

Your lack of English skills is disturbing.
But otherwise it's quite a good review.

There is quite a difference between gramattical errors and poor command of the English language - Besides, I thought the review was fantastic, no need for negative comments when such a fine effort was made. Thanks for the read OP.

freakn1ck · March 2009

You lost me early when you stated exactly how this game would play out. It would mature, and not go down in flames. That's still yet to be seen. Check back after the free month is up. Not only that, but you applaud them for only rolling out one server. Gimme a break. Are you serious?

They are missing out on sales. In the MMO business population = life.

No free trial, people not able to purchase accounts because of "limited" release. That's alot of lost revenue in the long run.

Mortal Online will probably open beta signups the same time the first paid month comes up for Darkfall Subscribers.

Deathstiny · March 2009

how can you review a game that has not been released yet?

Czzarre · March 2009

Hey Thinktank, I appreciate your input. I wager the main issue is a style difference between us. However, I will review the sections.

Thanks

Paragus1 · March 2009

Decent write up, but you should try to put some pictures into it to break up the wall of text. This would especially be useful when talking about graphics. Even though the screenshots never do the game justice, a picture helps show what the game really looks like.

Czzarre · March 2009

Solid Point. I put in some shots from the game highlighting some of the points I made. Like character customization, etc

Benthon · March 2009

Originally posted by Deathstiny

how can you review a game that has not been released yet?

If you don't even bother to know information about a game to troll it, don't troll. You make the rest of us look bad.

Paragus1 · March 2009

Originally posted by Czzarre

Solid Point. I put in some shots from the game highlighting some of the points I made. Like character customization, etc

There ya go, that's a bit better. Pictures can do so much to enhance an article. I sometimes read some of the other bloggers on this site and wonder why they don't take an extra 2 minutes after spending all that time writing to really make the article jump out at the reader.

qbangy32 · March 2009

Well I definately understood what the OP was saying and thought the review was very good.

I'l still be waiting 2 months though before I dare buy the game.

But nice to read a balanced review.

Czzarre · March 2009

Yea, writing is not my strong suit. Still, I'm happy that most seem to agree with my findings.

Any others? let me know how the review can be improved

Umbral · March 2009

This is by far the best and the only unbiased Darkfall review till now.

...

Czzarre · March 2009

Thanks for the kind words Umbral.

made some changes to the Summary section. I toned down the language that you 'must' be a crafter. You do have the option of not crafting and depending on friends/guildmates to carry you on their back

Umbral · March 2009

You are welcome Czzarre

Personaly, I cant stand the arrogance and amateurish attitude of Aventurine, but you were totally unbiased, your review is the only one that does not has a defensive posture trying to focus on "hardcore" vs "casual" aspect to justify the game flaws, but you also knew how to show the good aspects of the game.

Your review is informative and neutral as every review should be and it is the first real, non defensive, non hater Darkfall review I have seen.

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