Asheron's Call

"Heed the Call, Dereth Needs You!"

Asheron's Call from Microsoft Games and Turbine Entertainment has gone retail, and the craze is just beginning.

First of yes, this is a Massive/Multi/Player/Online/Role-playing/Game (MMPORG), and yes it does cost money. Previous reviews have blown this way out of proportion however, the cost for the game itself is around $45 USC and the monthly charges are only $10 a month just like UO and EQ, and this game blows them out of the fully rendered 3D water.

The thing that each of the other aforementioned MMPORG lack are made up for here.

Ultima Onlines (UO) lack of any 3D graphics, (you get an overhead view the entire game) is compensated by the fact that the inhabitants all act like a community, while EverQuest (EQ) has beautiful graphics and stunning 3D visuals, its seems the only thing that online community desires is more stuff, Asheron's Call (AC) Combines both the stunning 3D world of EQ and the warm feeling of community that UO has and makes for an undeniably wonderfully addictive game.

The graphics while not as texturized as EQ are still absolutely wonderful, the great thing is thanks to Turbines fantastic servers, if you see a mountain far off in the distance just start running and eventually you'll get there, there are no zones like in EQ where if you run a little too far you have to wait while the next zone loads, which can be really frustrating. The combinations to customize characters is amazing with three races (all human), and many different facial components (i.e. hair, or the lack of it, eyes, nose, mouth) and not to mention the clothes you start with, there is a very slim chance you will see someone who looks exactly like you. The color is rich and wonderful, the slight problems with texturizing that AC does have, will not even affect you, you will be too emersed in the game to really think of such things. The lighting is great and can be adjusted to be oppressively dark or sun-too-close bright.

The sound is as it should be, virtually non-existant, this is a role-playing game, it's kind of hard to get into a role, it kind of detracts to hear Conan music thumping in the background. The sound their is however is done very well, (although some of the monster screeches can get to you sometime, that just adds to the realism), birds are heard chirping in the background when close to water waves are heard hitting the shore, and even the portal sounds give the mood of ethereal travel.

Game play is what it's all about, and this is about as addictive as it gets, I've had just as much fun beating up monsters as I have had talking to total strangers and new friends, that's the best part of MMPORG, they allow you to play a character to its fullest, through talking to others, and many people seem willing to talk an awful lot in AC. The AI while, admittedly by Turbine, is something they are working on, is not all that bad, yes sometimes you can be standing next to a monster and it will not even acknowledge your existence but, sometimes they surprise you and come swarming from all different directions. The game itself is designed to be a team effort, and that's where the unique allegiance system comes into play, you can swear allegiance to a patron/monarch (Monarch is at the top of the pyramid structure of the allegiance system) thereby becoming there vassal. The benefits to the patron/monarch is that a little extra Exp. points is generated for them while you are allied with them, the benefit for the vassal, guidance, knowledge, and more often than not, good armor and weapons/spells from your patron. The spell system is phenomenal, though it really does take someone else to teach you beacause it is rather complicated. The amount of spells (supposedly around 1500) are so varied and amazing coming from four different magic classes, you will have to do your research like a real mage would to discover these spells. Overall the gameplay is smooth and fluid, the fighting is good but not perfect, and lag can play a big factor in things (though it doesn't happen that often, when it does watch out).

With a world so large and so many things to see, and the promise of monthly events (the first to be kicked off this weekend from Turbine) this world called Dereth is so unique and so encompassing, and so addictive, you will have a hard time leaving your computer... One word of warning however, if you are a power gamer who likes to play solo, or just want another Quake style experience, you will not find it here. This is a role playing game, and you will have to on many occasions rely on the charity of others to accomplish your goals.

Over all though, this is without a doubt the best CRPG I have ever played.

Just so you know, I'm a 24 year old, male actor from Chicago, Kimi Hoshiko is my in-game name (Morningthaw server) I have been playing role-playig games since I was 12, from pen and paper D&D to LARP (Live Action Role Playing) This game comes very close to LARP, if you are a serious RPG'er pick this up it can't be missed.

Asheron awaits.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 12/13/99, Updated 12/13/99