"Fun for a little while..."

First of all, I haven't played many MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role-playing games) so I don't have too many expectations....but after comparing this to conqueronline or runescape, I had to give it at least a decent score. These are probably the only mmorpg games I've played and I haven't been truly satisfied with any so far, so if you know any decent ones, please tell me.

Gameplay 4
I seperated this into pieces, to simplify....
Pets
Pets are basically monsters that have been captured...You can use 1 pet for each method of battle which is using them in combat and other things to boost your armor and attack by putting them in your armor, weapon, and others such as to increase magic, etc. This is a neat practice, the only problem is that pets can take off lots of the exp you gain from battle which brings me to this-level ups are too slow.

Battle System
It's turn-based, like final fantasy, only not nearly as good. First of all, the level ups and stats. You get to choose 3 stats you want to increase at a level up, 1 point for each one and you get an automatic 3 completely random stat increases, which is probably one of the dumbest things I've ever heard of. Let's say you are a swordsman and you need strength, your +3 random stats can all be inteligence, something you definitely do not need. This makes it possible for characters out there to have better stats perfectly based on luck. What's worse, is there's a stat called "constitution" and when you increase it, supposedly it will raise the amount of hp you get at a level up although I've found it to be completely random so far. I had a mage with 10 less constituon then my friend, and he got a +32 hp bonus while i got +38 hp. Does it get any more random than that? Also the worst thing ever is the pking because it happens SO FAST. It can take about up to 3 turns only for a pk match to end. You don't use extensive strategy, just pick your best skill and wail on them with it. I'm sure almost everyone will disagree, but I have found this problem in many orpgs....leveling up. If you ever play conqueronline and think level ups aren't slow, then this game will be perfect for you. I just don't have time to play this game all day and level up. It will take about 3 hours to level up, even when getting the most exp you can, and having only 1 pet with you. Grouping with others rarely will allow you to gain exp faster...RIDICULOUS. Although I must admit, it's MUCH better than conqueronline, which can take years to level up and only if you have no life whatsoever will you be able to even get to level 40. I think this is just a personal problem, I always find level ups to be too slow. I don't think level ups should be too fast, but you should at least be able to level up in a game within an hour and a half at the most, unless it gets boring fast...

Working
You don't earn much money from monsters, so you work in multiple types of work. Great! you get to work to earn money! sounds cool....but whats the problem? IT'S THE MOST BORING THING EVER. You just sit there and wait for your work skill to level up....they should have made a mini game for work skills and allowed it to level up faster. It's so boring now, it's like a screen saver. You don't earn that much money either, and to pay for healing you it will cost an arm and leg...pun intended. Your character-you have very limited options of customizations, except for skin color, clothe color, and hair color...along with 2 body types. thats it.
I could go one a lot more, but that's basically it....it pretty much sucks. I find one of the best games was hostilespace.....only it needs a more work, but leveling up was actually not slow! In most other games like this, however, the higher level you get, the longer and longer it will take for you to level up....

Sound 8
The sounds are good. Music goes along with graphics pretty good. Gets annoying after a while though...

Graphics 8
Good...cartoonish. Many, many different pet animations unique for each type of pet....they seem to try to attract customers more by making pets and animations, because you don't have many character models....this probably also explains why many females play this game, and even hot ones too!

Interaction 7
It's great, using channels is easy. Biggest problem-no shout channel, and trading is done on posts or forums, which is inefficient since there is no auction channel. People are always nice and friendly, but beware, for some stupid parents allow their small children to play this game and they will annoy the hell outta you! I think the age limit should be 8. I once had a little girl asking me where to find a certain NPC for a quest, I said go left and talk to them there. She kept asking me over and over, and I didn't want to be rude and say she is by far the dumbest person I've known, so I thought this is either a mentally challenged, or young girl. I asked her age...."my parents won't let me tell others". I finally met up with her to find where she was, and the NPC she was looking for was right to the left of her like i said, not even off the screen. It turns out she didn't even know left from right. Honestly people, if they don't know this please do not allow your young ones to play!

Overall, this game is fun to play for a week...then it gets boring. Buy or free trial? FREE TRIAL DEFINITELY. It will be p2p by this month, and it isn't cheap or worth it. $10.00 a month and they use a stupid, inefficient, and annoying "point system" for payment. basically I think it's 350 pnts=1 month. The game is definitely not worth this price, you should instead go play FF11 online. To top it off, the people seem to lack enough inteligence to do a simple task of asking a translator to form proper english for the game and web site....and yet they can make a game and charge a lot for it? Please do not purchase this game...I only recommend you do if you are bored out of your mind during a summer season and don't have too many friends to hang out with...I'd rather you grow a social life though. You can't play in your spare time, because it will take up too much time and you can't get very far without playing it a lot during the day. I would reccomend playing Hostile Space instead, sure it's 2d, but it is free and fun and you don't lose a life by playing in your spare time.

Reviewer's Score: 5/10, Originally Posted: 08/14/04