Rating: 
Summary: AC2 looking good...
Review: I am really enjoying beta-testing this product. AC2 is shaping up to be a very nice mix of previous MMORPG offerings (EQ, DAoC, AO) and some of the best single player RPG/Action RPGs to date (Diablo II/Neverwinter Nights). The game environment and skill structures strike me as having endless opportunity for improvement and enhancement. I would very much like to see Turbine take this beta product forward and just keep making it better at and well beyond release. - Chaotrope
Rating: 
Summary: Asheron's Call all hype no fun
Review: If you liked AC1 (which was my favorite game for over 2 years) AC2 is a let down. Stick with AC1 and let this Dark Age of Camelot clone go by.
Rating:
Summary: Very Very disappointing
Review: I have been playing the BETA of AC2 for some time now, and I must say that I am very very disappointed with it, I barely feel any need to log in anymore with a free account never mind pay for it. Let me say however that the graphics are amazing but the games is really boring. Its so basic, no housing no banking system, no NPCs, the monsters AI is really basic, it plays like a dumbed down version of other MMRPGs out there. Another major disappointment was that its essentially a completely different game to AC1, all the play balancing and fine tuning has been totally lost in AC2, worst of all the chat interface is terrible, mono color, its almost impossible to chat during fights. Im hoping that in 6 months after release they add the housing and banking system, plus some plot I will take a look again, right now it's a total wast of money, I cant see very many sticking with this dull dry game.
Rating:
Summary: Very Disappointed
Review: I have played most MMORPG with AC1 being my alltime favorite. Asheron's Call 2 is pathetic, and it feels almost like a joke. I will never buy this game unless the hundreds of basic issues are addressed. DO NOT BUY THIS GAME.
Rating: 
Summary: They should have named it Pokeman's Call 2.
Review: As a 5 month beta tester I expected more from the game upon release. Here are the problems I find and I'll try to be as impartial as I can. * The chat interface is still bugged. * The user interface is sub par. * Pack space issues are a problem. * PVP and character balance are non-existant. * Lack of "content" which does not require constant monster killing. * Crafting system is tedious, gives little reward or desire to even participate in it. Seems to be a money sync for gold attained while hunting monsters. * Level advancement becomes very slow and tedious after level 20. You must fight monsters which are your level are much higher which is often quite difficult, and you get little experience for doing so. * Spell trees are limited since many of the spells just don't work correctly, or are so unusable because of their duration/refresh time. Many spells are just prereq's on other trees, and often spell effects are not even known since their effects are not displayed anywhere. * Vaults are very simple, and the movies which are their 'rewards' are equally as simple. * Map areas are level restricted, items are level restricted, dungeons are level restricted, even lifestones are level restricted. Equivalent of forcing "zones" on people. * Game is very repetitive, mostly because players little other than kill monsters. * A majority of the beta testers did no feel the game was ready for release because of the list above - but was pushed out anyways due to the common practice of companies releasing unfinished games and expecting the players to recoup further development costs.
Rating:
Summary: AC2 is a great online game....
Review: I have spent the last 2 months in AC2 Beta. This game is great! Graphics rock, combat is very challanging, character development is wide and varied. I have played all races, and many for the tepmplates. They all have unique abilities and fun-factor. I am really looking forward to Release!
Rating: 
Summary: Good game- don't listen to everyone
Review: If this is your 1st MMORPG, you may want to wait a few months. Unfortunatly, many of the reviewers of this game probably played the original, which was a solo game. You could potentially go through it w/out saying a word.
The same is true for AC2... only you won't have any fun that way. This game brings the multiplayer part back into the game. Many critics put the game down because of 2 main aspects: balance and socializing. The game is pretty balanced atm. There are flaws, like many games, but even the least "uber" character has a role. The game IS soloable, even as a support character (I know this from experience AND have seen it). The players truly run the economy. Gold is, and always will be, worth something. Removing the NPCs means that the market won't become overloaded with cash. I know, it'll happen: but i doubt it. The best of the best equipment is made by crafters. Crafters need money to make there gear. Crafters also need supplies for this as well, so i doubt there will be many crafters who will suite you up for free within seconds: removing the NPCs means the crafter can't just go buy an infinite amount of new supplies. Also, if you don't want to deal w/ crafting, you can gamble for boosts (adding shielding, damage, health, etc). it DOES require money, and a good deal of it too.
Many critics have some things correct, but over exaggerate. There are MANY options for character skills, no game has yet made it so every character looks completely different from the others, and the game is updated on a monthly basis- generally speaking, that means new quests, monsters, skills, and an on going story.
Most of all, it's fun. People may say, "Oh, it's just pretty," but that's the POINT. You want to explore the world. You want to run around, see the sights, climb hills, swim across lakes, etc. Looks DO matter, and this game's got'em.
I could go on with other things, such as the untested but interesting PK scene, the fact the company does listen to fans (despite a few whiners who angrily post threats demanding fixes), and other such things you'll find out from reading many reviews written on fan sites , but I don't think I need to. If you want to play a social game, come on in. Loners can stick to others games.
Rating:
Summary: the most beautiful MMP available to date
Review: No doubt about it here, the graphics of this game are far and away the most beautiful the MMP community has ever seen. I somehow managed to get into the beta on this and if like me your typically intimidated and don't know what to do in MMPs this is a great game to start with. Choices are very clear and its very difficult to create a character you can't use. Did I mention the graphics are amazing? There are people griping about having to turn down the graphics to run everything smoothly, but from what the developers said as hardware gets better the game will look even better, so 2 years from now when people are still playing this game will still look cutting edge!
Rating:
Summary: AC2 - A recipe for excellence
Review: As an AC2 beta Player I think this game is a treat to play. Things are a little rocky right now, as they always are in the beta stage, but even in the short time I've played, the game has gotten much much better.
The graphics are beyond par - definitely the best of any MMORPG, if not the best of just about any PC game to date. (Doom 3's not out yet! But let's see an outside scene in Doom 3...)
Asheron's Call 2 is definitely not fully fleshed out yet. It's got a lifespan of 3 to 4 years for a gamer who buys it, and Turbine is in the Monthly Updates business, which means the game will stay compelling, with new content added every month. Character Creation is simple in the beginning, as I think it should be. Truly customized characters are aquired through playing them, and building up your specilizations, instead of choosing everything at the start. This is great, since it means I don't have to study the game for a year before I can make a character that's not totally gimped. The quests and monsters need a little tuning still, but I'm sure that's being worked on every day (and night, if I know Turbine's rep...) I don't think many people can (or are willing?) to remember how Asheron's Call 1 started out, it was much more rocky and sparse. It's truly full and compelling now, and Asheron's Call 2 is only building on that, while at the same time being a fresh and new game that will be pretty for years to come. Definitely try it out!
Rating:
Summary: What else would you want?
Review: Aside from primo graphics, this game has fantastic gameplay. Turbine has proven itself unique with its monthly content updates, which makes for a constant new game experience. The open endedness of the engine makes for exciting future possibilities. The combat model is new and fun, the Kingdom vs. Kingdom experience is very interesting, and the craft system is the best I've seen. I'm very much looking forward to its release!
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