Kingdom of Loathing

"The Most Unusual Game Yet"

Most games on the Internet have beautiful graphics. Fully detailed worlds, that are practically impossible to distinguish from real life. This game, Kingdom of Loathing, shortened to KoL by the players, has some of the least detailed graphics I have ever seen. This game is different from any other game, and that's what makes it great.

Graphics: 8/10
I might be over-rating this a little, but some of these graphics are good. Remember in school, when you drew little stick people killing each other? That's what this is. Besides the monsters, there are the buildings, and your items, which are all black and white, but still look pretty good.

Gameplay: 10/10
The game is easy to learn. Click on the action, and you wait until the page loads. Whatever damage against the other monster and you is dealt, and repeat. This is FUN because the text accompanying each attack is so different...and it's hard to put it into words.

Storyline: 9/10
Ok. So, you start off by choosing your class, out of the six available. Then, you learn about the plot, which consists of the Naughty Sorceress (Yes, that's her real name), kidnapping the King. You fight through the Kingdom, doing quests, and eventually fighting the Sorceress, and freeing the King. Simple.

Community: 10/10
Like most games, you can join a clan, or an NPC run-guild. The guilds are existant for quests. Clans are fully human-based. You can help with clan wars, or work together in the basement to fight hobos. Clans are expensive to make, however. The chat system is basic, but there are loads of channels, some you have to unlock. For example, you can unlike chats for ascending, buying items, joining a clan, or being invited.

Replay Value: 10/10
This game is constantly replayable. After you save the King, you can ascend. You choose a moon sign, a different class from before, and can make one of you skills permanent, so you can use it forever! You can choose a path to ascend into, for example, in Hardcore, you cannot buy from the Mall, or receive items from other players. In Teetotaler, you can eat food, but not drink alcohol. In Boozetefarian, you can drink alcohol, but not eat food. In Oxygenarian, you cannot eat food OR consume alcohol. Bad Moon is basically Hardcore, but some adventures give bad results.

Pay or Free?
This game is free. You can buy items with real life cash, but most people sell these items for in-game meat, which is legal.

In conclusion, I would say that you should play this game, as it is fun, and you most likely will never get bored.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 06/30/08

Game Release: Kingdom of Loathing (US, 01/31/03)