Best Seller Series: Dark Age of Camelot

Rating:
Summary: Sheer brilliance
Review: I can see how its fun. However,it is just like the game Dark Age of Camelot.Here there are three Realms which you can join - Albion, which is similair to England and is based on the Arthurian Lgends, Hibernia - which is based on celtic legend and Midgard - which is based on the Norse Mythology. Here, you can have 8 characters on each server, and play any number of the current 18 races: Trolls Dwarves Kobolds Norseman Valykn Frostalf Briton Highlander Avalonian Saracen Iconnu Half Ogre Elf Lurikeen Firbolg Celt Sylvan Shar. Each realm has individual classes,including ArmsmanCabalistCleric FriarInfiltratorMercenary MinstrelPaladinScoutSorcerorTheurgistWizardReaverNecromancerVikingWarriorSkald beserkerthaneSavageBonedancerRunemasterSpiritmasterShamanHealerHunterShadowbladeBardBlademasterChampionDruidEldritchEnchanterHeroMentalistNightshadeRangerWardenAnimistValewalker. Then, join with the thousands of players in your realm and go to fight in epic battles and huge sieges.

Rating:
Summary: Great Game, Piss Poor Technical Support
Review: I was introduced to this game through an internet trial download, and was quickly hooked. While the graphics were poor in comparison to the expectations I had from the Herald web page screenshots (a bit of a misleading bit of marketing, since they are all stills of scenery, and not the "moving parts of the game), I quickly became "addicted", and bought a six month (the maximum) subscription.

Shortly thereafter, I began to encounter some serious issues with the game, resulting from Mythic "updating" the game files on their server. The most serious of these involved a recurrent "system crash" and "serious system error" issue, once only a problem with those who played under versions of Windows pre-dating XP.

Despite the gravity of the threat implied by "serious system error" to my PC, and the promises of Mythic to reply within 72 hours, no such reply was forthcoming. I was instead directed to European customer support (I play from Hungary), who do not accept the (still valid, but useless since I cannot play the game without a crash) account name under which I am subscribed. While Mythic has an in-game appeal system supposedly to deal with these issues, the only reply one gets is to contact customer service, by phone, and only on Monday thru Thursday. Why a gaming company doesn't have technical support over weekends, presumably the time when most would play the thing, is beyond me. The server I am playing on is, by default of my location, an International server, as well, so why am I pointlessly directed to contact US technical support through a US number when they will just decline to help? Finally, why is a game out for three years issuing updates that cause "serious system errors" on software that formerly worked perfectly, in the first place?

Additionally, there has been an infrequent, but regardless frustrating when it occurs, incidence of delay in technical and online support due to the fact that the advisers are too busy playing the game. On one occasion I was actually told by the online support agent that he would come back and help me with my issue after he had finished playing through his "quest". What is up with that?

The long and short is that, while you can get over the misrepresented graphics, and will have a blast playing and interacting with other players in the game, this will only continue as long as the game plays well. Once you have technical or game play issues, the bustling online community sorta vanishes, and you will feel very, very alone.


Rating:
Summary: Fun and Addictive!
Review: This game is definatly a keeper. After the first few days of playing you are hooked. Even though you have to pay a monthly fee, you'll find that it is well worth it.

Choose between 3 exciting realms, Midgard, Albion and Hibernia. Then choose between your favorite type of class, whether that is rouge, caster, fighter, or healer. In the game, you will find that leveling is a must, and with each new level you earn points to advance your self. The whole idea of leveling and finding your way around is difficult at first but becomes easier later on. Certain things come with certain levels such as:
Level 5: Choose your main class, instead of you base class, and specialize in new and more exciting abilities.
Level 10: Earn the right to a last name.
Level 15: The first level you can enter Battle Grounds, also known by BG's. There are 4, BG0, BG1, BG2, and BG3. 15-19 BG0. These are RvR area's (Realm vs. Realm) where you can tear at the other realms and battle for center keep. Here you are fighting useing your skills agaisnt real people, not just creaters in the game.
Level 20: Guild embelem. BG1 20-24 (I've found not very active)
Level 25: BG2 Also not a very active Battle Ground.
Level 30: Ahhh yes, one of the most enjoyable levels (I thought) you can go into BG3 which is a very exciting, jam-packed Battle Ground. This level also enables exciting new areas to go in!
35+: You can go into the frontier battleing Levels from 35-50, enjoy new and better groups, find newer and exciting guilds, get better items, and help lower levels. Gets very fun from here on...

It's not just the leveling and gameplay of the game, you can build strong social relationships, make friends with other people, I even have relatives who I play with in the game all the time. Find new guilds, the real people playing in the game make it all the funner. Having some one to talk to as you play is always fun.

Enjoy!