RuneScape

"A whole lotta runes with a whole lotta attitude."

Well, you've probably heard, "Runescape sucks!" from any die-hard MMO fan that HASN'T played Runescape. Well, they're wrong. Very wrong.

(By the way, this is my first review on any website on any game. Figured RS was a good place to start :p)

Runescape is an MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game) that is similar to most every other MMO out there, but with a few - no wait, a LOT - of differences. And not all of them are bad.

Let's start from the beginning.

The game was created by Jagex LTD, the creators of many other fine games (just check out their website) and is a Java run game, which means all you need to play is a Java download (which you should already have). There are two versions of the game: Runescape Classic (which is the first version), and Runescape 2 (which is the newer, better version, and the one this Review is about :D).

The game is free, and offers alot of exciting features, such as a fishing skill, cooking, mining, and something I've never really seen before - Prayer. I'll bunch on the skills later. For now, let's focus on the features.

As I said, it's free, and the free version plops you with a ton of features, including a massive world to explore, a "wilderness" area where you can attack other players PvP style, and a wide array of interesting characters...all except the Old Man.

The controls are pretty smooth: all you have to do is click on a certain spot of land to move, and your character moves there automatically, barring the fact that there's a hole in your way or a closed door, etc. To pick up items, all you do is click on them, to attack enemies just right-click and pop, and the oddest thing I've ever seen before - a full-on customizable character. Copyin' off of Guild Wars, eh?

Not really, because this game pits you with a TON of customizable features on your avatar. Some bellbottom pants, a pink shirt, no wait! - a pink jacket! Ah, it's all so suiting. But later on in the game, you'll obtain some sweet looking swords and capes and such, but that's LATER. Be patient.

After you create your character, it lands you in Tutorial Island, which, basically, explains every free skill, how to move, how to talk, etc. It's very straightforward, and easy to get through. Even a monkey can do it. But once you get to the real world, a.k.a the "mainland", you're set with a sword, a wooden shield, and thousands of players babbling on pointlessly about free itens and help meh pl0x.

But a weak spot, I think, is the limited amount of player control. They really need to up the controls, like when you swing your sword, you gotta click a button, or...something?! Or when you're casting a spell, have a spell charge-time or something, like World of Warcraft.

I'm not picking on either game, but hey, I'm right. Right?

The graphics are actually pretty good for a Java-run game. Which raises the question: Why does everyone hate Runescape because of its graphics? You can't really not like a game because of graphics. It's Java for god's sakes! Ergh.

Another weak spot to shoot at is the lag. Oh, god, the lag. Unless you're on a world with one or two people, or you have Broadband with the latest version of Internet Explorer or FireFox, you're screwed. Even the Member version is laggy! Stupid advertisements.

Let us move on.

When you get past the graphics and kooky lookin' characters (go, Bob!) it's a pretty good game. It's a must for any MMO fan, and a certain ne'er do well for people who like games for their graphics.

So far...

GOOD POINTS
- Free to play!!!!!!!!!!!! (yes, the exclamation points were necessary)
- Customizable character (sweet, pink panties)
- Smooth controls
- A kick-ass array of features
- A large world to explore
- A PvP area so you can vent your anger, Scarface style
- Graphics, only because it's Java

BAAAAD POINTS
- Need to update the controls there, Jagex!
- Lag...oh, god, the lag!

Back to the review!

Okay, let's hit on the gameplay...I already did, but hey! MORE!

The number of quests as of 2007 are astounding. They offer a wide set of abilitiies to gain EXP in, new items to get, and new objectives and tasks. It really blew me away when I had to actually OBTAIN an item and a PUZZLE to solve, rather than killing monster A and retrieving the item, and then having to kill monsters B - N to get out of the dungeon.

A lot of the quests are straightforward and easy, but the majority of them are LONG and DRASTICALLY not needed. Big downside. I really hated Family Crest the most...and Desert Treasure is a beotch, too.

But! It's much better than World of Warcraft come skill time. There are a WIDE ARRAY of skills, such as Magic, Fletching, Woodcutting, Thieving, Agility, etc., although Agility is BORING. Very. Try sitting there for three hours going through the Gnome Agility Course. I needed an ass brace.

Luckily, we have a new type of skill no game has seen before - Prayer! Prayer is much like magic, but it focuses on your defenses and attack rather than blasting your enemy. For example, cast Rock Skin to raise defense, or Intellect to raise attack. Witty, eh?

But what's neato is that it doesn't run off of magic power or runes, it's a point-based system, meaning, over time, your Prayer Points wear off as you use the prayer. Likey?

Another unique skill is the Runecrafting skill, which is a big dealio. If you hate buying runes from Aubury and his annoying spell ("Senventior Disthine Molenko, freakies!") you can always teleport to the essence mine and mine a few essences, and then get a kickass set of runes in about an hour. But...

You gotta do a quest to be able to mine essences...

Which brings us back to a bad side of questing. For many areas of the game, many items, skills, spells, you need to complete a quest to obtain them and be able to use them. It's a little frustrating at first, but you get used to the fact that those requirements are put there to prevent people from getting too powerful too quickly. Nice work, Jagex.

But it's FREAKIN' annoying.

A good side, though, is that each quest corresponds with a certain skill. For example, if you want to utilize your Fletching skill, you can do a quest that focuses on Fletching. Nifty! Or, Combat, just fight some commies or slice some dice. Neat! Or...Farming...blech, who cares about Farming?

Downside to skills? Over 1/3 of them are only available if you play the payable version of the game. Baaaad choice. But it's a meager cost of $5.00 a month to play a Member server. Just five bucks? Wow, what a bargain!

I'll hit on the items later. But for now...

GOOD POINTS
- Lots of quests
- Lots of objectives in the quests
- Lots of sweet items to obtain after completing the quests (oh, god, the Legends Capes!)
- Great set of skills
- Great compatability with quests, those skills be
- I is a runecrafter, crafting me some runehs!
- Prayer is a great addition

BAAAAD POINTS
- Some quests are FREAKING long
- Some quests are FREAKING annoying
- Farming is extremely boring
- Agility is like eating a pumpkin raw...with a dull, rusty knife

The items in the game are quite good and highly detailed. I like the looks of the Abyssal Whip, the movements of the Crossbow, and the missiles of the Cannon. But what's weird is that the movements are edgy and pixellated. But what can you expect from Java?

Another strong point is Special attacks, available via Membership. Only a certain amount of weapons have Special attacks, like the Dragon Longsword or the Granite Maul. But those weapons are for people like me, who want to whack some helmets, or stabbity stab BM style (thank you, 8 - Bit Theatre!)

Avast, a weak point: Limited weapon styles! Tired of your sword only swinging vertically while you attack? Tired of the same old upward movement with your whip? Or are you tired of not popping caps, gangsta style with your Crossbow? This is a part of the earlier comment on bad player control, but hey, I'd like to see some variety, peeps!

It's not a bad combat system, though. It's alot like Guild Wars, where you sit there and click the monster and watch the mayhem ensume. But your duded moves like a robot, and the weapons are like sticks. Variety!

I'll hit on the sound.

The sound is a lot better now, thanks to Area Effects. Like if you're far away from the ocean, you'll hear the distant sound of the waves lapping on the shore. But as you near the sea, the sounds get louder and more detailed!!! Wow, nice change of pace!

The music is VERY impressive for a Java game, considering the beeps and bloops of original 8 - bit games. My favorite track so far has to be Book of Spells. I loves me mah spells.

The sound effects of combat, though, are...rather I say...bad. I don't like my character making a computer beeping sound while dieing, or hearing a demon die whilst crying like a broken record.

Overall, though, the game has a pretty good score in everybody's mind. The quests are good, it's VERY addictive, and above all, a kid-friendly game. No cuss-words or blood! Be happy, mom.

Overall rating: 8 / 10

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 02/05/07