EverQuest: Kiss RL Goodbye
Written: May 08 '00 (Updated May 10 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Gameplay, Graphics, Sound
Cons: Netlag, 'bad apples'
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| otaking's Full Review: EverQuest for Windows |
UPDATE (05/09/00): I WHOLEHEARTEDLY recommend that new users of this game go out to the nearest computer store or bookstore and BUY Primagames Official Strategy guide for EverQuest. It has helped me understand the game on a whole new level, and made it ten times better than it already was.
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EverQuest has quickly turned into one of my favorite games, especially after being introduced to it almost as a crack dealer would introduce a potential client to his product. I was given the game as a gift, and of course, Sony allows you to play for a full month absolutely free. After that, you shell out $9.89 a month (they also offer 3 and 6 month plans at reduced prices).
For those of you net.denizens who're familiar with the concept of MUDs (MultiUser Dungeons/Dimensions), EverQuest is a graphical MUD. For those who aren't, allow me to retreat into a small overview of the concept of this game.
The closest analogue version of this game I can think of, would be TSR's Advanced Dungeons and Dragons, the old tabletop game. This is a fully-functional, almost completely autonomous version of the old classic, capturing every single nuance and essence of what made tabletop gaming so great: playing it with other people, and role-playing as a being on a fantasy world somewhere. You, of course, have your choice of race and class, and the combination of both determines exactly the difficulty of molding and furthering your character. I found playing a Wood Elf Bard much easier than a Human Enchanter, for example. The bard character of mine begins on the continent of Faydwer, while my human began on the huge continent of Antonica. My bard character had the advantage of quite a few helpful people... while my human character was forced to strike out on her own. A note to the wise... when it gives you the summary of your choices at the bottom (ie: EASY to MODERATE to HEAVY difficulty); BELEIVE IT! I wholeheartedly recommend for newbies to be elves, as they are rather simplistic.
Gameplay, once figuring out all the commands and controls, becomes easy (as with all things). All that's really left is going out and accumulating experience points so your character may grow from level to level. You will find yourself relying somewhat on other more experienced players for assistance, not only in learning the game, but getting various tasks and quests accomplished. For the most part, I've found the general populace to be just like that of any other multiplayer internet game: so-so. You will happen upon the full spectrum of people: from helpful to rude... you'll learn quickly how to function in this subsociety of players, who to trust, who to become friends with, and of course, who to ignore.
Each character somatype (enchanter, bard, wizard, druid, cleric, etc) has what is known as a 'guild'. In this, you become part of a 'family' of people who're of the same class. Herein, you can poll the online listing for other people of this class and ask for assistance. As a bard, I found the Bard's Guild to be incredibly helpful while the Enchanter's guild was rather lacking. With the assistance of friends, new and old, I was quickly sucked into this world, having fun, leveling up and exploring the continents upon which the game saw fit to deposit me upon.
With that out of the way: Graphically, this game is very impressive for what it is trying to accomplish. Although it does suffer to network latency issues, disregarding them (as they are beyond Sony's control, anyway) and just trying to enjoy the game will soon find you staying up late nights to play it. Impressive sound, realism (for a fantasy world) is well-done... right down to footsteps, battle cries, various effects which complete the illusion of actually being within the game.
In short, if you liked AD&D or MUDding... get EverQuest. You won't be disappointed.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
otaking
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Member: Michael Garcia
Location: San Jose, California, USA
Reviews written: 15
Trusted by: 0 members
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