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

By Danny "Ralsu" Gourley

The frosted look does not please Ralsu. Luckily, players can change the settings so that the graphics are crisper and have better shadows.

Graphics
Changes: The biggest change in the graphics of Perfect World International is that the game has more settings to control the look. Click the right boxes, and gamers can make the game look like a stereotypical Asian game with extra bloom and a weird sort of frosted look. By contrast, click a different set of boxes and the game looks stereotypical Western in its lighting and contrast.

What stayed the same: The graphics overall are better than average. The textures used on the ground are a little lazy and make every piece of land seem like a bed of different-colored straw, but beefy machines can turn on some thick vegetation that makes the landscape more realistic. Expect a little draw in when entering new areas, but the horizons should look pretty. Spell effects start off weak but get better as your character levels. Melee animations are smooth. Everyone swims like a fish. It's really a mixed bag but mostly positive.

Gameplay
Changes: The translation is light years better in Perfect World International. Being able to understand the story removed some of the feeling of being trapped in a grindfest that I encountered when playing the first incarnation of the game. In the version of the beta I tested, the sound on combat was barely audible. I played with settings and even turned off music but could still barely hear the sound of my weapon striking the enemy. Hopefully this will be fixed for launch.

I encountered more quests that involved meeting non-player characters and training my skills in the new iteration. Again, being able to read what is going on really helps players feel like they are a part of the story.

What stayed the same: Quests are still mostly of the kill 10 beetles variety, but the motivation for them is clearer with the improved translation. The monsters are still big and impressive. Character development is still up to the player, too. Players get to place points into attributes at level up, and they can find trainers to increase their skills in the order they see fit provided they meet the requirements and have the funds.

Spell effects start out somewhat mundane but improve with levels.

The quest tracker remains in place, too, and gamers can enable arrows that lead them to the right location. Finally, the five elements (wood, water, fire, earth, and metal) still factor heavily into combat.

Parting Thoughts
Even though Perfect World International is essentially the same game I tried months ago, the improved translation made it play like a very different game to me. New players who try this version will not be disappointed the same way I was with the old version. The translation here allows gamers to enjoy the lore of the Chinese creation myth and features of the game without feeling resentful about the lazy attempt to port the game to the West. At its heart, Perfect World International will still have players grinding out kill quests, but they will know why they are doing it and enjoy it because of deep character customization and better than average graphics. Beijing Perfect World recognized the mistake of trying to introduce its game to Westerners the quick way and took the necessary steps to get it right. Now the title is worth trying for anyone looking for a solid free-to-play game.