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

Introduction
----------------
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: 2/10
---------------------
I honestly could go either way on this aspect, however there is currently more facets I do not like about the game that ones that I do like so my score reflects that. I think a 2 is appropriate because there are some gameplay issues I like and others that could be improved (and if they are improved, I will change my score for this section). One of the major pluses of EQ2 is the abundance of quests (so far, anyway). Another good thing (I think it is good, anyway) is that for a lot of battles/encounters you do not have a chance of surviving unless you are in a group of 3 or 4 people, unlike SWG where you could easily solo very difficult enemies depending on your profession.

I will mention a few of the negative gameplay issues now. In order to attack an enemy, you need to be facing directly towards them. While this seems to make sense at first thought, it is a horrid way of implementing combat. The reason why I say this is that because to have to be facing directly towards the enemy, sometimes this causes your camera angle to be very awkward. This is frustrating because it can lead to a lot of confusion.

Another negative point is the miniscule inventory. Now granted, some games have inconceivably large character inventories, but EQ2 goes the other way. First of all, in your inventory, a chest plate (armor) takes up the same amount of space as a leaf. Can you say impractical? I can and just did. Secondly, there are just not enough spaces in your inventory to carry the loot you will find. Some items do stack, which is a definite plus, but it is not enough to compensate for the lack of inventory slots.

My third biggest gripe with the game, so far, is the map system. There is no overhead map. I realize that maybe I am one of only a few people who like having an overhead map on all the time while playing to give me a sense of direction, but regardless I think they should have put it in the game.

I haven't spent much time crafting yet, but from the little crafting I have done and from what a few friends have said, it does not meet the hype it was given before launch.

Story (Lore): 9/10
------------------------
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.

Graphics: 9/10
--------------------
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
----------------
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
--------------------------
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.

Final Recommendation: 6/10
--------------------------------------
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 x 2) + Story + Graphics + Sound + Replay Factor]/6

Reviewer's Score: 6/10, Originally Posted: 11/11/04