EverQuest

Rating:
Summary: EverQuake is more like it
Review: They call EverQuest a massively multiplayer roleplaying game. A better description would be a massively multiplayer cooperative first person shooter. There's very little roleplay going on in EverQuest but a whole lot of hack-n-slash. The publisher's slogan is, "You're in our world now!" It should have been "tastes great, less filling." EverQuest is beautiful eye candy but, when you get right down to it, there's not a whole lot of substance to the gameplay. From level 1 to level 50 it all comes down to killing the monsters to take their stuff so you can kill bigger monsters to take better stuff.

The basic system will be familiar to anyone who's ever played AD&D which means that there won't be a whole lot to distinguish your character from everyone else who's playing the same class. A wizard is a wizard is a wizard. They all have the same spells and the same skills. They even look the exactly the same. Yes, you can select your character's face but there are only about 8 choices for each race/sex combination and with server populations now starting to exceed 1700 players at peak times, there will be a lot of people running around with your face.

Female characters, with the exception of spellcasters, are pretty much locked into the chainmail bikini look. There's even an "easter egg" that allows you to oggle a semi-topless half-elf's nipples. Which just serves to encourage the less mature players to sexually harrass female characters. I actually had a nice bit of RP going the other day when some slobbering simp started sending me /tells about how great I looked in my thong. That pretty much ruined the mood instantly.

Trade skills are largely worthless. With the exception of jewelcraft and, on the younger servers, smithing they mainly amount to expensive hobbies.

Customer support is virtually non-existant. When I had a video problem it took tech support a week to reply to my email, their preferred method of contact, and then they just sent me a form letter referring me to their video FAQ which I, as I had indicated in my initial email, had already gone through and tried. In game support is just as bad. If you need help, expect to wait a minimum of 20 minutes to get a response from someone and several hours is not unheard of. When a GM finally does show up...well, they have well deserved reputations for being rude, obnoxious, arrogant, and not particularly helpful.

And I hope you like sitting in one place for hours on end killing the same thing over and over again waiting for something that only spawns once ever 8 hours (or more) to show up so you can kill it in the hopes that it will drop an item that it only drops on rare occasions. In fact, I hope you like standing in line for hours on end waiting for your turn to sit in one place for hours on end, etc. because you will be doing that alot at the higher levels. You see, that's the only way to get a lot of the nicer high level items.

Special events are largely excuses for GMs to run amok with high powered creatures that the players have little to no hope of defeating, killing players left and right until they get bored.

Verant is constantly tweaking the game to improve play balance which would normally be a good thing but they favor quick fixes over good fixes and that means they usually cause more problems than they fix. Also, it is their standard procedure to *NOT* announce when they make a change that will have a major negative impact on the players. Which means players find out about the changes the hard way. A lot of necromancers died when the previously unresistable Lifetap spell series became very resistable but no one bothered to tell them.

For what it is, EverQuest is a good game but it does have some serious problems. There's not a whole lot of depth to the game and customer support is among the worst I've ever seen. If all you're interested in is hack-n-slash, then EverQuest may very well be the game for you. But if you're looking to get anything else out of the game, look elsewhere. I know people who've played for a few months before finally quitting in disgust and going back to text-based MU*s because they're more fun. When you think about it, that's a pretty sad comment about EverQuest.

Rating:
Summary: EverQuest does it better!
Review: This game is a very well made graphical interface that will have you calling in sick to work the next day! This game allows you to play a multitude of races (from elves to trolls) and alows you to choose your character's appearance, so you don't look like every other Tom, Dick or Harry adventurer. You are able to develop your trade skills (cooking, fletching, gemsmithing, etc.) to expert levels while at a low level, making the game easier for people wanting to buy the best in armor, weapons, spells and magic items.

Rating:
Summary: Amazingly wonderful game with so-so services.
Review: Everquest is entirely online. This makes for a great game and the progression and excitement of the game are the best I have ever seen. But...as in all things, there is a catch. Since this is only played online, you are at the mercy of the Everquest network. Servers crash on a regular basis and some areas of the game are heavily lagged.

All in all though, I feel it is a great game when it is working. It is a addictive and fun. Just stay away from the "Nameless Server"!

Rating:
Summary: For the MUDder in all of us
Review: Having gone through a two-year multi-user dungeon (MUD) addiction, I guessed that EverQuest wouldn't have much of anything new to offer me. I don't think I have ever been so wrong before in my life. EQ is a massive game populated by unbelievably kind players and a seemingly endless array of options for your character. It is intricately and carefully designed, and will be fun long after you recover from the stunning effect of its beautiful graphics and intuitive gameplay.

Rating:
Summary: EverLevel would be a more appropriate name...
Review: EverQuest consists of wonderful graphics, an easy to use interface, and an addiction factor somewhat steeper than crack. At first I had a wonderful time playing, but then after time the only true goal of the game seemed to be to move your little "Experience Bar" up to get to the next Level, then repeat. It's major sufferings as a massively multiplayer online game (no roleplaying to it) are in part how incredibly impersonal it is compared to other online games, and the inability to adventure with friends whom have somewhat more advanced characters. There are just too many other online games out there, similar but superior than EQ. If you pick it up, be sure to watch it... games like these are VERY addictive.

Rating:
Summary: Words can't describe this game!
Review: Think to your self of a game that will take your wakeing moments and make them a dream. This game is the greatest out there, once you are in the world of Norrath you won't want to leave. Think of a world where thousands of people live, yes, live. I bought this game when it first came out and haven't bought another game. You log on and choose a charecter, from 14 different races and a profession that you choose from 12. You can be a dwarvin cleric, a high elf magican, or a barbarian warrior. There is no limit to what you can be. And then you take your first steps in one of Norrath's many cities. Players shouting wares, moving about, and makeing a generial chaos to a new players senses. But don't worry, in ten minuets you know the basic controles and have killed your first bat. Simple, yeah right. After enjoying a little time of batteling monsters, you see that you have a small pile of silver and copper. So you go into the local shop, and are overtaken by the ammount of differen't things to buy. There are hundreds upon hundreds of things to buy in Norrath, in ONE city alone no less. After buying that first weapon or piece of armor you go back out and battle some more. And your hooked. Thats it, you have dround in the "Most imersive role-playing expirence ever." - PC Gamer You now spend hours and hours and hours in Norrath, adventureing with new friends, finding new and rare items, visiting exciting locations, and completeing your first few quests. The only problem with this game is that you may have a little problem with "lag". That can be annoying at times, as can getting kiled by that new monster that attacked you from behind. And be warned, the person who buys or gets this as a gift will not be seen for a LONG time. Well, enjoy this marvel of gameing tech and you wont be dissapointed, in this ever changeing world of fate.

Rating:
Summary: Unbelieveable Experience
Review: This game is the perfect definition of "Digital Crack". Its more addicting than cigs! Extremely good interface, and beautiful storyline and interaction with other players. It opens a new world of interactivity and gets you in the feeling that you really are there. If I had to pick any RPG on any platform (including console games) that I would give my highest ratings, this is it. If you are an RPG buff like me, you will NOT be upset purchasing this game. Believe me, its worth its weight in platinum! :-). - Aalodar on Erollisi Marr server!

Rating:
Summary: Remarkable game
Review: I found this game to be a vision of what is possible for the future of games, the internet and maybe humanity itself. The backbone of this experience is the establishment of community and common purpose. You have to live it to understand this. It goes without saying this game has my strongest recommendations.

Rating:
Summary: Ultima what? Whose Call?
Review: Yes, I have played both UO and AC in addition to this, and neither one of them could hold a candle to Everquest. UO, well, it's just bad. Asheron's Call is definatly a worthy contender, but it only has one advantage (no zones) and plenty on disadvantages (only one class, smaller world, and worse interface) when compared to Everquest. One thing though; don't buy this game if you don't have time on your hands. It takes a long time to get a respectable character, and money, well, you will feel like celebrating when you make your first platinum, or get anything better than what your guild gives you. But if you take the time, this will be one of the most immersive games you have ever played. P.S. My name is Demitrius in the game, and I am on the Ber. server (the actual name is WAY too long to spell here, but it is the only one that starts with B). See you there!

Rating:
Summary: EverQuest is just that!
Review: Cut to the chase...EQ is a game unlike no other. Asheron's Call is zoneless, yes, and you can have larger parties, yes, but EQ is more of a roleplaying game than the others. It does not allow player killing unless you agree to be one (which you can do at any time). It gives spells real names - rather than Heal Song One for instance, a bard sings Hymn of Restoration. Rather than speed, a shaman cast Spirit of the Wolf (SoW). It is this type of verassimilitude within the genre that make EQ great. In addition the world is huge. I have been playing for three months now and have only really explored four zones out of 70 some odd - though I have been to about 10 others. Each zone is unique, and exploring the EQ world reveals stunning vistas and new enemies to be dealt with. The early going is a bit tedious, but by level 7 the game becomes rivetting. You will have forged friendships with other characters and will regularly use your friends list to see if they are online and ready to group with you on another quest. You will also continue to make friends by your actions and words in the EQ world, and as they start exploring they will invariably invite you along to share the adventure. Finally, let me mention the updates. EQ is regularly updated and they actually listen to the players when they make changes. And changes are not to allow players to advance faster - rather they are to increase the pleasure of the gaming experience. They even run a test server that any EQ player can log onto and experience potential updates that might occur on the main servers themselves. Also, in March comes out the add-on which launches a new continent in the south and a new race of lizard-like creatures with their own unique abilities. It also promises improved graphics (and believe me, the graphics are already stunning) and game handling. So...if you want to purchase an on-line multi-user massive world game, EverQuest is the one for you.