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Reviews

  • EQ2 Expansion Review at Gamespot

    And another!

    Gamespot digs EverQuest 2's new desert turf, but is disheartened by incomplete PvP implementation and content exclusively designed for high-level players. Of course, to complain about the latter means you'll have to put yourself at loggerheads with every MMO expansion ever made.

    Desert of Flames has the most to offer EverQuest II players of advanced level, but the new PvP trappings and the combat revamp mean that there's something new to see for just about anyone. The player-versus-player combat still doesn't feel like a fully realized diversion just yet, but the act of exploring Ro and getting your character to level 60 should nicely fill the time you don't use waiting around for an arena game, provided you're of a high enough level to actually do those things. Existing players who are nearing the level of expansion country should check out Desert of Flames, and if you've let your account sit fallow for a bit, the changes to the combat system are worth sampling.

    Read all about EverQuest 2: Desert of Flames (again) at Gamespot.

    Other links you might enjoy:

  • The TTH Desert of Flames section - A section, because a review alone just wouldn't do!
  • Past EverQuest 2 News
Reviews
Mon, Oct 24, 2005
Ethec
  • TTH Profiles Guild Wars

    Guild Wars, hammered.

    Part review, part synopsis, the TTH crew takes a candid look at a subscription-free success story. NCSoft re-entered the Massively Multiplayer scene in early 2005 via a young upstart developer called Arena.net, and Guild Wars was set to face off with two established persistant-world heavyweights.

    It turns out that Guild Wars was unique enough to carve a stable niche for itself, but are 20 levels enough to keep players from turning their attention to the next big thing?

    "New players notice a few things about Guild Wars right off the bat. First comes the choice of "player vs. environment" (PvE) or "player vs. player" (PvP) - a theme that pervades the game as Arena.net races to develop and balance the game for the heavily segmented player base. In any case, with PvE you'll start at level 1 and explore, equip, and adventure your way to level 20, choosing your own unique blend of primary and secondary subclass (more on this in a moment) along the way.

    Under the PvP ruleset, you'll start at level 20, with a decently-developed primary / secondary skillset and the ability to equip a baseline set of equipment (you can later utilize equipment and templates "unlocked" through previous PvP successes- unlocked equipment is tied to the account, so players don't lose it when they delete a PvP character). PvP and PvE both have the ability to change the size and a few of the appearance attributes of their character and color of their starter armor."

    Click here to see the TTH Guild Wars profile!

    Other links you might enjoy:

    Reviews
    Mon, Oct 24, 2005
    Ethec
  • Desert of Flames Review at GameSpy

    Welcome to the Desert of Flames. You can now kill other players. Please enjoy your stay.
    GameSpy has posted a review of EverQuest 2: Desert of Flames giving the game a thumbs up. Huzzah to Sony Online Entertainment for a job well done.

    " SOE has been pretty aggressive about updating EverQuest II (not to mention meticulously listing every such update to its playerbase). As such, it shouldn't come as a surprise to see a full-fledged expansion to the game so relatively soon after its release less than one year ago. Desert of Flames is the first retail expansion to SOE's flagship MMO, and in many ways, it matches the scope of some of the original EQ's most memorable ex-packs. On top of a plethora of game-system overhauls, the game adds a significant amount of new content -- enough so that it warranted an increase to the character level cap, from 50 to 60. "

    You can read the entire EverQuest 2: Desert of Flames Review at GameSpy.
    Related Links:

    Reviews
    Fri, Oct 21, 2005
    Boomjack
  • CoV Review at Rewired Mind

    Reviewing them before release.
    Via time machine, the folks at Rewired Mind have reviewed City of Villains, which is due to be released on October 31st. An entire city of villains, in Canada we call those prisons.

    "Ever wondered what it would be like to be the bad guy in a
    game for once? To hatch evil schemes and to generally run amuck? Well- now you
    can! The City of Villains beta servers have switched to full-time availability, which can only mean one thing – it’s finally here. Now that the NDA has been lifted I can tell you why this expanshalone (™) should be on your "must play" list. "

    You can read the entire City of Villains Review at Rewired Mind.
    Related Links:

    Reviews
    Fri, Oct 21, 2005
    Boomjack
  • EQ2 Review at GamersInfo.net

    For those of your about to EQ2, we salute you.
    GamersInfo has published a review of Everquest 2 that's well-suited to players new to MMO gaming.

    " That’s the basic nature of the game. You do quests, you group with other people, you wander the countryside and figure out the mysteries of the world. You go see interesting, and exotic new people and creatures and, a lot of times, kill them. As you go up in level, raiding becomes more and more important - large groups of people, usually in guilds, getting together to kill the larger, tougher mobs that drop the really good loot. "

    New to EQ2? Read up! The GamersInfo.net review of EverQuest 2.
    Other links you might enjoy:

    Reviews
    Mon, Oct 10, 2005
    Ethec
  • IGN Reviews WoW "RP-PvP" Ruleset Servers

    IGN Reviews WoW "RP-PvP" Ruleset Servers
    Consider it a "no tresspassing" sign for brats, morons, and their ilk.
    IGN takes a look at what makes a WoW roleplaying server a nice alternative to the gank-a-rific flame-fest that gave WoW PvP servers a skanky reputation. Arnold Schwarzenegger, after being terminated one too many times in Molten Core (and using his gubernatorial powers to have the perpetrators summarily executed), recently made the big switch. He quoted this excerpt from the article in a press conference:

    "When it comes down to it, "RP" is more of a special tag that keeps out the jokers, letting those who play well with others do their thing without much hassle. In general, it seems to be a more mature crowd full of people who genuinely enjoy the game and enjoy socializing within it. I've been playing the game since closed beta in April last year (with a few gaps, mind you), and I've experienced my share of hair-pulling aggravation that only a dedicated asstard can generate, so it's nice to come across what looks like a fresh change of pace."

    View the "review" on RP / PvP play in World of Warcraft at IGN.com.
    Other links you might enjoy:

    Reviews
    Thu, Oct 06, 2005
    Ethec
  • Guild Wars Review at GamersInfo

    Guild Wars, rated G for Good.
    GamersInfo has posted a review of Guild Wars with predictable results. Britney Spears was too busy eating to talk, but amid the spitting of crumbs and the slurping of cola we heard this:

    "
    There have been many MMORPGs released into the market as of late. ArenaNet's entry into this market, Guild Wars, attempts to change many of the elements that have become the standard in MMOs today, while at the same time keeping many of the most basic principles of what an MMORPG is. One of the changes to the traditional MMORPG is the lack of a monthly fee. ArenaNet has decided to make money solely by releasing expansions. The gameplay in this game is fun and easy to get the feel for. It looks as well as sounds great, and it runs well on most computers. " 

    You can read the entire Guild Wars Review at GamersInfo.
    Related Links:

    Reviews
    Wed, Oct 05, 2005
    Boomjack
  • Ragnarok Online Review at GamerGod

    Thor, where are you when we need you?
    GamerGod has reviewed Ragnarok Online, taking a long look at a game some say is long in the tooth. We're sure some celebrity has named their child Odin, but we can't figure out who, so let's pretend we found them and that they said this:

    "
    First, if you are a gamer who can only find happiness in crisp, surreal
    graphics with fully realized 3-D characters, environments you can
    practically smell the grass in, weather effects that make you check
    your windows, and sounds so real you hear the trees rustle at your
    passing, Ragnarok Online (RO) is not for you. If, however, you are of
    the breed of MMORPG players who cares more about game playability and
    community, you may want to give Ragnarok Online a try. From extreme
    template customization through the ability to acquire and combine a
    nearly limitless amount of weapon upgrade combinations, Ragnarok Online
    delivers an open-ended game experience suitable for all types of
    players.
    " 

    You can read the entire Ragnarok Online Review at GamerGod.
    Related Links:

    Reviews
    Tue, Oct 04, 2005
    Boomjack
  • Guild Wars Review at ReWiredMind

    One million copies sold and one more review written.
    ReWiredMind has posted their review of Guild Wars. Martha Stewart asked to call her back at a more convenient time, but we prefer to pretend that she said this:

    "
    My quest for a free and quality MUD or MMORPG has been long and, so I
    thought, fruitless. A couple of years ago I was able to find Achaea, a text-based MUD populated by people that not only wanted to roleplay, but who were also more than happy to indulge in gratuitous (but relevant) PVP on continental scales. To become skilled in this game required a knowledge of programming for the various MUD programs used, plus there were no graphics which proved to be a big downer for me towards the end. " 

    You can read the entire Guild Wars Review at ReWiredMind.
    Related Links:

    Reviews
    Mon, Oct 03, 2005
    Boomjack
  • TTH Profiles "World of Warcraft"

    The subscriber numbers alone are enough to WoW you!

    Blizzard took its renowned Warcraft franchise into the MMO fold in late 2004 and hasn't looked back since. With over 4 million subscribers around the world and a number of new and old MMOs targetting Blizzard's success, how long will World of Warcraft (WoW) retain its title as the new crown prince of MMOs? We don't know, but we can tell you what all the fuss is about! Check out the TTH profile of genre juggernaut "World of Warcraft"!

    "Spurning EverQuest 2's emphasis on established MMO formulas (in short- an emphasis on player cooperation and groups / raids instead of competition and soloing, a zoned rather than continuously loading environment, complex and involved quests within a strong storyline, and a lengthy character progression), World of Warcraft (WoW) focused moreso on heightening the individual experience.

    After the typically shaky, premature launch often associated with MMOs, new players discovered that WoW always delivered something accessible, and markedly fun, to do. Like a breath of fresh air, many casual gamers found in WoW's quest systems (and adventuring experience, in general) something reasonably commensurate with the time invested. And WoW has been gobbling up market share ever since."

    Take a look at the Ten Ton Hammer profile of "World of Warcraft"!

    Reviews
    Thu, Sep 29, 2005
    Ethec
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