Ten Ton Hammer - Taking MMO Gamers to the Next Level!

Karen "Shayalyn" Hertzberg posed a great question last week in a Loading…, where she asked what sort of game you would make if you were a dev. The discussion in the forums was lively with several readers giving up some pretty interesting ideas for a game. Of course it eventually devolved into sex and the ages old “are classes really needed in MMOGs?” You should check it out and give your input, and if you haven’t subscribed to Loading…, what are you waiting for?


Whatever your feelings about classes, we have a great interview series going on at The Hammer that looks at each of the 6 classes in Aika, the PvP free-to-play from gPotato. Aika isn’t the only game from gPotato that has caught the attention of North American audiences as Allods Online has been making news since it was announced. Now in full release, the game is going strong and is the subject of our third game review here in Microcosms.    

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North American publishing power gPotato scored a virtual coup this year in landing two of the more highly anticipated and polished free-to-play MMOGs in Aika and Allods Online. The latter of the two shattered production cost records for a microtransaction game and was flirting with amounts reserved for AAA titles. Combining elements of fantasy, sci-fi and steampunk, Allods is fairly unique in the way it blends these diverse styles, allowing higher end players the ability to pilot their own starship and explore the floating islands that the game draws its name from.

Allods is a faction-based game that focuses on the struggle of the Alliance, (home of the Kanians, Elves and Gibberlings) versus that of the League (comprised of the Risen, Xadaganians and Orcs). One of the more refreshing mechanics used in Allods is that of classes being faction locked; while both factions have the same archetypes, the classes’ slight differences give the game some flavor and give your faction choice some weight. Servers were initially skewed to the League, in terms of population balance, but recent data suggests that the ratio is closer to 1:1 now due to some player loss after recent patches.  Server populations are still strong however, as most of the players who have departed were level capped. The starting and intermediate areas are still very active and the game is still in excellent shape for the new player.

Graphics

Taking a cue from the success of some recent AAA titles, Allods was developed with highly stylized graphics and a bright color pallette. While the colorful scheme gives the game a bold look, it doesn’t prevent the darker areas from feeling ominous and foreboding when intended to do so. Both factions have fairly unique starting areas, with the architecture of the Empire city of Nezebgrad and the League city of Novograd  both  having a very Russian postmodern feel. 

Character models are detailed and cartoonish, with the polar opposites of the Risen having a total steampunk look and the Gibberinglings providing the “cute” race and comic relief. NPC models are impressive and varied, following the game’s overall theme very well. The art and animation areas of this game are as strong as those in any AAA title and will not disappoint players or serve as a constant nagging reminder that they are in a free-to-play game. 

Gameplay

Allods is a quest-driven leveling game with a PvP end game. If that sounds familiar and enjoyable to you it’s likely because Astrum Nival definitely used a very western approach here. And even though leveling may be slightly slower than other games you may be accustomed to, it should take you roughly the same amount of time to reach the level 40 cap.

Combat here is slightly different from what we are used to as there is no auto attack; constant monitoring and spell and ability selection are required. Not being able to AFK during a fight seemed to bother some players initially but it seems to be less of an issue now. However, players still seem to bemoan the slower combat speed. Overall game play is enjoyable with a nice balance of solo and group quests and a PvP system that rewards teamwork and effort. Once you get used to constantly selecting abilities the lack of auto-attack becomes an afterthought.

UI

The UI of Allods should also be familiar to most MMOG players with easily recognizable unit frames, spell and ability bars, quest logs and other standard elements. Allods has locked the ability for users to create add-ons or UI modifications in an effort to lower the possibility of hacks or exploits. For the most part the UI is serviceable but I would prefer more customization and expanded ability bars. One major omission that takes some getting used to is any sort of a mini-map with that function replaced by a compass that can be clicked to open the game’s main map.

Quest NPCs are easy to spot, with the now standard exclamation mark above their heads to alert you to their presence. Allods uses a question mark to show that the quest is in progress and a check mark to let you know that you have finished the assigned task. A quest tracker also adorns the screen, and can be set to filter all quests, those only in your current zone. or hidden all together. Overall the UI is basic and functional but lacks flexibility and features. Fortunately, none of the missing features hamstrings the game in any way.

Value

One of the more continuous points from the time the item shop was unveiled has been the perceived cost of playing once a character hits level cap. Allods gained a bit of notoriety when it unveiled the Fear of Death mechanic, a stacking debuff that comes into play after level 15 and reduces your combat effectiveness by 25% for each stack up to four stacks. Where the value aspect comes into play here is that the easiest way to combat this mechanic is to use incense from the item shop to negate its effects. The incense costs 25 gPotatoes (the ingame currency that is at an exchange rate of $1.00 USD to 100, purchasable in blocks of 1000) for a single use or 300 for a box of 20. The rub here is that the incense must be in use before death to negate the effects, so players engaging in PvP or more difficult PvE content will be compelled to keep it on at all times. Other than the incense, most items on the item shop are fairly well priced and, other than a larger bag for storing in-game loot (a $12.00 purchase) aren’t required to play and enjoy the game.

Score

(4 / 5 Hammers)

Allods Online scores a solid four hammers, with very minor issues keeping it from pulling down a perfect five hammer review. With all the features and style you would expect to see in a AAA title, Allods Online definitely raises the bar on free-to-play expectations. Stay Tuned to Microcosms and Ten Ton Hammer for all the latest news on Allods Online.

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