EverQuest II

"It is that time again. Time to review an MMORPG"

Introduction
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Well, after doing a review of Star Wars Galaxies, I promised myself I'd never do another review of an MMORPG, let alone another one made by SOE. …but, here I am (mainly because my server is down at the moment).

Gameplay: 8/10
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NOTE: I have adjusted this section's score because the game has undergone several changes that were greatly needed and helped boost this from a 2 to a 8.

I still have some problems with the gameplay, but it has gotten a lot better over the last few years. My main issue is still the lack of an overhead map and really the map system in general. Thankfully, though, there is a wonderful mod called EQ2maps that can be used to enhance the regular map system. The lack of inventory space is no longer an issue thanks to the abundance of bags and crates that can now either be acquired as quest rewards or crafted by players (or bought off of the broker FROM other players).

If you have played an MMORPG before, such as the original EQ or even Guild Wars, combat will seem very familiar. It is smooth and engaging, which is good, of course. There are the usual character professions (or classes.) These classes are divided into 4 main groups. These groups are: Scouts, Mages, Tanks, and Healers. In case you are not aware, a Tank is a character that is able to take a lot of damage from enemy mobs so that the other members of the party can stay out of danger. Healers are self-explanatory. Scouts and Mages are typically seen as DPS (damage per second) or just general damage dealers. Some other things that party members might be able to do include buffs for the rest of the party and debuffs for enemy mobs. These minor facets of each class will come more into play during raids.

The expansions that have been released since launch really add a lot to the game (especially Rise of Kunark). Going from 1 to 20 is no longer the grind it used to be and evil Faes (Arasai) are FINALLY playable! The plethora of new quests and areas to complete and explore have certainly added a lot to the general feel of the game.

As of right now, the main thing that keeping this score from being higher is the way that player housing is handled. I did not like it at launch and I still do not like it.

Story (Lore): 9/10
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It would take me a LONG time to explain why the story deserves this score, so I am not even going to attempt to do that. Just to give you an idea, I will say that at the very beginning of the game there is a five to ten minute monologue read to you describing the story. This monologue is just the beginning of the story, however. There is a lot to look forward to if you like your games to have a good story.

If one really does enjoy how much lore this game has to offer, then I definitely suggest going through the numerous Heritage quests that are available to players.

Graphics: 9/10
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The graphics are top notch (for an MMORPG). Waterfalls look natural, the wildlife looks realistic, and your character (toon) looks very clean (not blocky) and the movement for all creatures is very fluid. I shall remind everyone reading this that graphics are not the making or breaking point of any game.

Sound: 9/10
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I was pleasantly surprised when my speakers gave me a taste of EQ2's music and sound effects. My jaw nearly dropped when I realized that most, though not all, of the NPCs speech is voiced instead of just being text that you have to read. Without giving any possible secrets away, I will say that the voices of the leaders of the two major cities in EQ2 should sound VERY familiar. Even besides that, the sound is first rate. Normally when gaming, I turn off the speakers on my computer and put a CD in my stereo, but with EQ2 I haven't (so far). The music is the real thing and that is coming from someone who majored in music in college.

Replay Factor: 5/10
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You can never really “beat” an MMORPG, so I don't think that there even is a “Replay Factor.” I'd rather give it a 5 than a 0 or a 10 though. It just seems fairer. (...more fair? fairer? ...)

Final Recommendation: 8/10
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I probably would not have pre-ordered if I had played the beta. I'm not sure if I will play this past the free month that you get with the purchase of the game. Some may like it, others may not. As with all MMORPGs though, it is really too early to tell how this game will turn out. My advice is to wait a month or two and then check the newer/updated reviews.

For those of you that are wondering, the formula used to calculate the final score is:

(Gameplay + Story + Graphics + Sound + Replay Factor)/5 (Then rounded to the nearest whole number, if need be.)

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 11/11/04, Updated 08/28/08

Game Release: EverQuest II Collector's Edition (US, 11/15/04)