Rift is a linear questing game. That makes it very difficult for grouping, unless you don't mind pick up groups. I played in the beta with a guild. It had no meaning outside of guild chat in the guild forum. I found solo after level 18 very difficult, so I had a friend to duo with. Neither of us plan to purchase the game.
Eh, all depends really.
Getting groups for questing can be a chore and frustrating, but getting groups for Rifts/Invasions and dungeons is actually easy and as rewarding as doing quests.
I discovered in the last beta event that questing worked well with small groups (2 to 3 people) but when the rest of the guild came on we went straight to hunting rifts and invaders, gaining XP the whole time and having a blast (specially when we went into gaurdian territory and did some pvp while hunting rifts/invaders).
I guess what I am saying is if you pidgeonhole yourself into doing one form of progression (questing) then yeah, you will be stuck in the linear rutt. Grouping doesn't have to be about questing as there are plenty of things a group can do aside from questing that will be fun as well as rewarding.
I leveled from 20-27 barely doing any quests..... Quests are now optional.....
"It would be awesome if you could duel your companion. Then you could solo pvp".--Thanes
Rift is a linear questing game. That makes it very difficult for grouping, unless you don't mind pick up groups. I played in the beta with a guild. It had no meaning outside of guild chat in the guild forum. I found solo after level 18 very difficult, so I had a friend to duo with. Neither of us plan to purchase the game.
Eh, all depends really.
Getting groups for questing can be a chore and frustrating, but getting groups for Rifts/Invasions and dungeons is actually easy and as rewarding as doing quests.
I discovered in the last beta event that questing worked well with small groups (2 to 3 people) but when the rest of the guild came on we went straight to hunting rifts and invaders, gaining XP the whole time and having a blast (specially when we went into gaurdian territory and did some pvp while hunting rifts/invaders).
I guess what I am saying is if you pidgeonhole yourself into doing one form of progression (questing) then yeah, you will be stuck in the linear rutt. Grouping doesn't have to be about questing as there are plenty of things a group can do aside from questing that will be fun as well as rewarding.
I leveled from 20-27 barely doing any quests..... Quests are now optional.....
Exactly my point
Sadly people see quests and automatically think 'Quest = the only way'. What they need to do is look past the '!' and see that there is more than one way to play.
There are 3 types of people in the world. 1.) Those who make things happen 2.) Those who watch things happen 3.) And those who wonder "What the %#*& just happened?!"
Sadly people see quests and automatically think 'Quest = the only way'. What they need to do is look past the '!' and see that there is more than one way to play.
Agreed, but the devs as well should encourage and think out more ways to get experience.
Games like Lineage didn't have quests but were fun anyways.
Rift have Quests, mob grinding, PvP and rifts/invasions, I wouldn't complain if they thought out more ways than that.
Still, Rifts quests could be somewhat less linear and more innovative, most feels a lot like quests I done before many times if not all of them. Some long, complicated and fun quests would help the game, lets hope they add stuff like that later.
Sadly people see quests and automatically think 'Quest = the only way'. What they need to do is look past the '!' and see that there is more than one way to play.
Agreed, but the devs as well should encourage and think out more ways to get experience.
Games like Lineage didn't have quests but were fun anyways.
Rift have Quests, mob grinding, PvP and rifts/invasions, I wouldn't complain if they thought out more ways than that.
Still, Rifts quests could be somewhat less linear and more innovative, most feels a lot like quests I done before many times if not all of them. Some long, complicated and fun quests would help the game, lets hope they add stuff like that later.
Aye, I agree that some more 'epic story' type quests would be nice - like ones that would have you following the trail of say a serial killer (just an example so not really rift based) and have to collect clues and such, not just grinding mobs...
Sorta like 'The Missing Diplomat' in 'nilla WoW.
I would also like to see quests that once you turn in a part of it, you have an option to pick 1 of 2+ ways to progress taht questline. Once you select the path you want to pursue the other options get locked out. Kinda like a 'Choose Your Own Adventure' book idea.
There are 3 types of people in the world. 1.) Those who make things happen 2.) Those who watch things happen 3.) And those who wonder "What the %#*& just happened?!"
Sadly people see quests and automatically think 'Quest = the only way'. What they need to do is look past the '!' and see that there is more than one way to play.
Agreed, but the devs as well should encourage and think out more ways to get experience.
Games like Lineage didn't have quests but were fun anyways.
Rift have Quests, mob grinding, PvP and rifts/invasions, I wouldn't complain if they thought out more ways than that.
Still, Rifts quests could be somewhat less linear and more innovative, most feels a lot like quests I done before many times if not all of them. Some long, complicated and fun quests would help the game, lets hope they add stuff like that later.
Aye, I agree that some more 'epic story' type quests would be nice - like ones that would have you following the trail of say a serial killer (just an example so not really rift based) and have to collect clues and such, not just grinding mobs...
Sorta like 'The Missing Diplomat' in 'nilla WoW.
I would also like to see quests that once you turn in a part of it, you have an option to pick 1 of 2+ ways to progress taht questline. Once you select the path you want to pursue the other options get locked out. Kinda like a 'Choose Your Own Adventure' book idea.
I'm pretty sure they are planning to do quests like that in the dungeons. I can't know for sure, but I hear'd a podcast about how they were going to have characters develop and change according to different dungeon paths...
Rifts and invasions are fun, but not in my mind if that's all you do. I'm one of the few people, I guess, who likes a story behind my efforts. I want something to fight for, aim for, adventure for. So you say destroying a rift is advancing the story? I see that true only if one shows up in an area I'm questing in. You'll never run out of rifts if you go looking for them.
Rifts and invasions are fun, but not in my mind if that's all you do. I'm one of the few people, I guess, who likes a story behind my efforts. I want something to fight for, aim for, adventure for. So you say destroying a rift is advancing the story? I see that true only if one shows up in an area I'm questing in. You'll never run out of rifts if you go looking for them.
There are end game raid rifts... they will advance the story.
Rifts and invasions are fun, but not in my mind if that's all you do. I'm one of the few people, I guess, who likes a story behind my efforts. I want something to fight for, aim for, adventure for. So you say destroying a rift is advancing the story? I see that true only if one shows up in an area I'm questing in. You'll never run out of rifts if you go looking for them.
There are end game raid rifts... they will advance the story.
The 10 dungeons as you level all advance a storyline at level 50. You then can run the dungeons again with new paths/storyline/mobs. The dungeons are tied around the storylines. Story is actually one of the main focuses. Check out the MMOreporter podcast with Hal. He talks about it later on in the interview.
Rifts and invasions are fun, but not in my mind if that's all you do. I'm one of the few people, I guess, who likes a story behind my efforts. I want something to fight for, aim for, adventure for. So you say destroying a rift is advancing the story? I see that true only if one shows up in an area I'm questing in. You'll never run out of rifts if you go looking for them.
There are end game raid rifts... they will advance the story.
Trion is doing monthly events after launch to help tell the lore, and for a little extra fun for us.......... Also there going to be some really cool quests in Port Scion so lets see what we get...
There's just so much we haven't seen yet o and they have added AA in the game, we might see it in beta5..
"It would be awesome if you could duel your companion. Then you could solo pvp".--Thanes
The soul system and the rift events are really the only thing that catches your eye. Everything else has been done before. People are better off trying their new mmorts End of Nations, atleast that is unique and something more appealing.
The soul system and the rift events are really the only thing that catches your eye. Everything else has been done before. People are better off trying their new mmorts End of Nations, atleast that is unique and something more appealing.
Then you should play it while i play Rift, I'm not really into RTS games but End of Nations does look good. You should check out Trions game there working on with the Sy-Fy channel.
"It would be awesome if you could duel your companion. Then you could solo pvp".--Thanes
I hear a lot of Rift either being awesome on one side and the other side it is the same old, same old. But instead of using these statements, that does not really say much, why not actually list why this game will be so awesome, or not.
From what I have gathered the pros are:
Soul system which allows for great customization and replay value
Rifts which introduces a, somewhat, fresh and dynamic element to the game
PvP with both open world and instanced elements
Nice gfx/sound
Cons:
Small and very linear "world", remiscent of WAR.
Only two factions and only starting zones
Generic quests
Pointless PvP (?) as you really cant conquer much of anything, just temporarily disturb quest hubs (I dont consider gear rewards as meaningful PvP)
Same auto-target, click 1,2,3 combat system that have been seen before. No dodging or using the environment to your advantage (?).
So I really only see two elements that seems to make the game stand out, rifts and the soul system. Everything else seems kinda generic.
PS. I dont consider polish/bug free etc. to be a pro, I take that for granted for any game that wants me to pay for it.
Let's break down your cons.
Small and linear world: I can concede this point for the low level content I have explored in beta. The game drives you from quest hub to quest hub. The difference is that your quest hub may or may not be there depending on if one of the planes has a foothold in the area or not. While it's not a huge jump, it does bring a certain level of diversity when leveling one character to the next on the same faction.
Two Factions: Pretty standard faire in mmos these days. The three sided war thing is rather interesting, but then again, you're also looking at more races, more leveling zones, more of everything. No small undertaking. I am fine with two factions, even though three makes for a more diverse pvp experience, but the game is PvE centric.
PvP: The game is heavily PvE centric, with PvP as an option. If you're looking for meaningful PvP, obviously Rifts isn't going to be it.
Combat System: Honestly, what do you really expect from a mmo? Since the inception of mmorpgs, almost every single one of them has had a hotbar with skills you place on it. The correct combination of button mashes wins the fight. The issue you're going to run into with mmos and their combat, is that it needs to be somewhat non-gimmicky. Developers needs to account for a wide degree of player types and other things such as latency. If the game requires a lot of twitch, then you place players with higher latency at a disadvantage. Twitch mechanics can also be exploited and used in ways that can become gamebreaking. Moreover, if you add in a lot of twitch mechanics to your combat system, you're also going to alienate a good portion of the market, in a sub based game, you want to try to attract as many people as you can.
As far as using the environment to your advantage, Rifts does have that ability to a degree. The denizens of the different planes will fight each other. Opening a tear that is occuring near your enemy may result in a different element type pouring out. You can let them duke it out and strike when they are weak. I saw this happen a couple of times in beta 4. Granted, the tears were opening extremely fast, so I didn't get to force open the rift, but I saw Life pour out of a Rift and beging fighting nearby Fire, it was neat.
Rift has a lot to offer, moreso than many of the other mmorpgs that have released the past few years. Yes, it has its flaws, but that's the same for any mmo. The degree of polish that Trion is adding should be considered a pro, considering the utter crap we have been presented with recently. How shiney and new Rift remains is unknown, but it has enough going for it to give it a fair shake.
Your post looks more like an attack toward the poster regarding his attacking and defending Rift. He is giving pro's and con's of the game wich i believe any good game reviewer would do after looking or playing a game.
PS. I dont consider polish/bug free etc. to be a pro, I take that for granted for any game that wants me to pay for it.
Someone here must not play a lot of MMOs, because this reality stated above simply doesn't exist.
Every MMO in the last five years or more has not had polish or been bug free, so I believe you are taking the wrong thing for granted (that a game is usually bug free and polished) when evidence exists otherwise.
Based on just about every MMO I've played since FFXI was released (which had problems as well), Rift being polished is a definite pro for most players.
I can't imagine that you actually wait for a MMO to become polished and bug free before you give them your money.
Nahh you may be surprised. Ive been waiting for one person to finally explain in detail why they dislike the game.
I would very much like to get into a discussion about it.
Tough to do when everyone just says its a wowclone or the same old thing and moves along.
Can't say that I really dislike it myself but most people I heard who does complain because Rifts gameplay is similar to Wow, LOTRO and EQ2.
Some others don't like the art of the game and I guess that is fair, to me it varies from good looking to aweful stuff, a clear 3/5 but art is relative.
I think most people who complains somehow got the expression that Rifts were offering a playstyle we never seen before but the soul system and rifts isn't enough and playing it is rather similar to most other MMOs. That is bad for some and great for others.
The thing I personally didn't like was the quests. Questgivers were always standing around in not always logical hubs and all quests were happening very close to them. The quests were not that greatly written either.
I would still say that Rift is a pretty good game but these are the reasons I heard from people around here.
Some people also complains over the engine but I can't really see why since Trion seems to have it run fine with the exception when you have certain newer GFX cards, something they hopefully fix before the release 1 Mars.
Why are there so many topics about this? I've seen several topics about 'stop hyping rift' or 'let's break it down' etc., etc. I can see offering critique, but essentially asking people to dislike a game they're enjoying just because it's not your cup of tea is silly. It's juvenile. Or are you guys getting threatened that it's climbing the hype meter?
They like their game. Leave them alone. I'm looking forward to GW2, I couldn't possibly care less about Rift. But you know what? If Rift shot to 10.0 on the Hype meter and surprassed GW2, you know how that would affect me? Not a bit. I'd still want to play GW2. I'd still be uninterested in Rift. I harbor no ill will towards it or it's gamers, I'm not just interested.
I could see if Rift was releasing with a lot of issues and bugs (a la FF14 or DCUO) but it seems to be pretty polished in its current state. I'll never understand this fixation you guys have for pissing in each other's cheerios.
"Forums aren't for intelligent discussion; they're for blow-hards with unwavering opinions."
The big selling point for me is the soulsystem. You will have to look very hard to find another player with exactly the same setup at level 50. There are so many options and choices to make in your built like pve or pvp, solo or grouping, spike damage and fast kills but low survivability or the opposite.
Quests are bland. But then again, i don't mind. I rather have them focus on epic end game content than using all their time to make superb quests that i will finish in 5 minutes anyway.
Currently playing browser games. Waiting for Albion Online, Citadel of Sorcery and Camelot Unchained. Played: almost all MMO pre 2007
I hear a lot of Rift either being awesome on one side and the other side it is the same old, same old. But instead of using these statements, that does not really say much, why not actually list why this game will be so awesome, or not.
From what I have gathered the pros are:
Soul system which allows for great customization and replay value
Rifts which introduces a, somewhat, fresh and dynamic element to the game
PvP with both open world and instanced elements
Nice gfx/sound
Cons:
Small and very linear "world", remiscent of WAR.
Only two factions and only starting zones - What other MMO has 3 factions besides DaOC that isn't a sandbox. Faulting a game for not adding something nobody else is, is IMO stupid.
Generic quests
Pointless PvP (?) as you really cant conquer much of anything, just temporarily disturb quest hubs (I dont consider gear rewards as meaningful PvP) - Only other game that has meaningful PvP was DaOC. You fought for dungeon control and relics to strengthen your realm. Judging Rift based on one or two games is pointless and shouldn't be considered a con.
Same auto-target, click 1,2,3 combat system that have been seen before. No dodging or using the environment to your advantage (?). - Sounds like you are faulting Rift for not being an action MMO. Maybe you got into the whole TOR hiding behind objects thing, and felt it had to be in Rift. Whatever the case It's a pointless Con. It's a standard combat system. If you have a problem with standard then why even look at Rift to begin with. Not all games should be made in the name of innovation.
So I really only see two elements that seems to make the game stand out, rifts and the soul system. Everything else seems kinda generic. - Wanting a revolutionized game is an individual need. Games can't be faulted for not living up to an individuals fantasy.
PS. I dont consider polish/bug free etc. to be a pro, I take that for granted for any game that wants me to pay for it.
I would like to add dungeon design and the Collection/achievement system to the pros and maybe a generic crafting system to the cons. I think most would agree with that. The collection system alone promotes exploration. Similar to the way Lotros deeds system makes the players travel to ever section of a map. It's pretty good and the dungeons are really good and even challenging.
Yeah I agree with those 2 things for pros and crafting cons. Someone also listed the dev team as a pro, which I agree.
Comments
I leveled from 20-27 barely doing any quests..... Quests are now optional.....
"It would be awesome if you could duel your companion. Then you could solo pvp".--Thanes
Exactly my point
Sadly people see quests and automatically think 'Quest = the only way'. What they need to do is look past the '!' and see that there is more than one way to play.
There are 3 types of people in the world.
1.) Those who make things happen
2.) Those who watch things happen
3.) And those who wonder "What the %#*& just happened?!"
Agreed, but the devs as well should encourage and think out more ways to get experience.
Games like Lineage didn't have quests but were fun anyways.
Rift have Quests, mob grinding, PvP and rifts/invasions, I wouldn't complain if they thought out more ways than that.
Still, Rifts quests could be somewhat less linear and more innovative, most feels a lot like quests I done before many times if not all of them. Some long, complicated and fun quests would help the game, lets hope they add stuff like that later.
*raises hand* Umm.... Excuse me.... I think there might be a few more Pro's out there...
Artifact collection This really is great for all the OCD's out there. I haven't had this much fun collecting things in a long time.
Fully customizable UI.... DCUO do I need to say more...
AoE loot pick ups, new map interface, enhanced Auction house, instant transport, etc... It really is the little tings in life.
Top quality customer support... That really is one of the best things Rift has going for it.
Aye, I agree that some more 'epic story' type quests would be nice - like ones that would have you following the trail of say a serial killer (just an example so not really rift based) and have to collect clues and such, not just grinding mobs...
Sorta like 'The Missing Diplomat' in 'nilla WoW.
I would also like to see quests that once you turn in a part of it, you have an option to pick 1 of 2+ ways to progress taht questline. Once you select the path you want to pursue the other options get locked out. Kinda like a 'Choose Your Own Adventure' book idea.
There are 3 types of people in the world.
1.) Those who make things happen
2.) Those who watch things happen
3.) And those who wonder "What the %#*& just happened?!"
I'm pretty sure they are planning to do quests like that in the dungeons. I can't know for sure, but I hear'd a podcast about how they were going to have characters develop and change according to different dungeon paths...
http://www.riftpodcast.com/
Check it out!
I agree, it's the little polished things about the game that seem to bode well for subscriber retention.
Rifts and invasions are fun, but not in my mind if that's all you do. I'm one of the few people, I guess, who likes a story behind my efforts. I want something to fight for, aim for, adventure for. So you say destroying a rift is advancing the story? I see that true only if one shows up in an area I'm questing in. You'll never run out of rifts if you go looking for them.
There are end game raid rifts... they will advance the story.
The 10 dungeons as you level all advance a storyline at level 50. You then can run the dungeons again with new paths/storyline/mobs. The dungeons are tied around the storylines. Story is actually one of the main focuses. Check out the MMOreporter podcast with Hal. He talks about it later on in the interview.
Trion is doing monthly events after launch to help tell the lore, and for a little extra fun for us.......... Also there going to be some really cool quests in Port Scion so lets see what we get...
There's just so much we haven't seen yet o and they have added AA in the game, we might see it in beta5..
"It would be awesome if you could duel your companion. Then you could solo pvp".--Thanes
The soul system and the rift events are really the only thing that catches your eye. Everything else has been done before. People are better off trying their new mmorts End of Nations, atleast that is unique and something more appealing.
Then you should play it while i play Rift, I'm not really into RTS games but End of Nations does look good. You should check out Trions game there working on with the Sy-Fy channel.
"It would be awesome if you could duel your companion. Then you could solo pvp".--Thanes
Your post looks more like an attack toward the poster regarding his attacking and defending Rift. He is giving pro's and con's of the game wich i believe any good game reviewer would do after looking or playing a game.
Every MMO in the last five years or more has not had polish or been bug free, so I believe you are taking the wrong thing for granted (that a game is usually bug free and polished) when evidence exists otherwise.
Based on just about every MMO I've played since FFXI was released (which had problems as well), Rift being polished is a definite pro for most players.
I can't imagine that you actually wait for a MMO to become polished and bug free before you give them your money.
"TO MICHAEL!"
This may come as insulting to someone but here goes:
IN MY OPINION - this game is BLAND.
NEW IDEAS that can refresh the STALE state of MMORPGs
How so?
Playing: Rift, LotRO
Waiting on: GW2, BP
NEW IDEAS that can refresh the STALE state of MMORPGs
Nahh you may be surprised. Ive been waiting for one person to finally explain in detail why they dislike the game.
I would very much like to get into a discussion about it.
Tough to do when everyone just says its a wowclone or the same old thing and moves along.
Playing: Rift, LotRO
Waiting on: GW2, BP
I've already said what's wrong with it for me. You haven't read all the posts, obviously.
Can't say that I really dislike it myself but most people I heard who does complain because Rifts gameplay is similar to Wow, LOTRO and EQ2.
Some others don't like the art of the game and I guess that is fair, to me it varies from good looking to aweful stuff, a clear 3/5 but art is relative.
I think most people who complains somehow got the expression that Rifts were offering a playstyle we never seen before but the soul system and rifts isn't enough and playing it is rather similar to most other MMOs. That is bad for some and great for others.
The thing I personally didn't like was the quests. Questgivers were always standing around in not always logical hubs and all quests were happening very close to them. The quests were not that greatly written either.
I would still say that Rift is a pretty good game but these are the reasons I heard from people around here.
Some people also complains over the engine but I can't really see why since Trion seems to have it run fine with the exception when you have certain newer GFX cards, something they hopefully fix before the release 1 Mars.
Why are there so many topics about this? I've seen several topics about 'stop hyping rift' or 'let's break it down' etc., etc. I can see offering critique, but essentially asking people to dislike a game they're enjoying just because it's not your cup of tea is silly. It's juvenile. Or are you guys getting threatened that it's climbing the hype meter?
They like their game. Leave them alone. I'm looking forward to GW2, I couldn't possibly care less about Rift. But you know what? If Rift shot to 10.0 on the Hype meter and surprassed GW2, you know how that would affect me? Not a bit. I'd still want to play GW2. I'd still be uninterested in Rift. I harbor no ill will towards it or it's gamers, I'm not just interested.
I could see if Rift was releasing with a lot of issues and bugs (a la FF14 or DCUO) but it seems to be pretty polished in its current state. I'll never understand this fixation you guys have for pissing in each other's cheerios.
"Forums aren't for intelligent discussion; they're for blow-hards with unwavering opinions."
The big selling point for me is the soulsystem. You will have to look very hard to find another player with exactly the same setup at level 50. There are so many options and choices to make in your built like pve or pvp, solo or grouping, spike damage and fast kills but low survivability or the opposite.
Quests are bland. But then again, i don't mind. I rather have them focus on epic end game content than using all their time to make superb quests that i will finish in 5 minutes anyway.
Currently playing browser games. Waiting for Albion Online, Citadel of Sorcery and Camelot Unchained.
Played: almost all MMO pre 2007
Yeah I agree with those 2 things for pros and crafting cons. Someone also listed the dev team as a pro, which I agree.