RuneScape

"You get what you pay for."

Just about a month ago a friend told me about a game called Runescape. I, naturally, was sceptical that a free web-based mmorpg could be any good. I was right. He was wrong. Runescape sucks. Thats all there is to it. Now, dear reader, let me tell you why you would be better off watching ice melt than playing this bad excuse for an mmo.

After starting runescape, right away you notice the horrific 3D graphics. But hey, thats not that big a deal seeing as the screen is in the web browser, meaning it is too small to actually take full notice of the bad graphics. The next thing you will probably notice is the clunky and annoying interface where you have to click where you want to go and your character walks to it. Now that doesnt sound too bad on its own but add horrible pathing and beyond annoying camera controll and you will get what I'm saying. Now I'm all for saying graphics doesn't equal gameplay, but in this game it is at the point where graphics actually get in the way of gameplay. The fact is, Runescape is borderline unplayable.

However lets assume that you can actually put up with the unplayability and I will tell you about the gameplay:

The gameplay is probably the best part of Runescape. That being said, it is greatly lacking. And by greatly lacking, I mean it sucks. You basically have a bunch of skills in mining, cooking, fishing, etc. As you do these things you level them up. You also have a fighting engine where you have a limited choice of moves that you can pull on enemies (and by limited I mean 4). You collect Runes which are the meat of the game (hence the name Runescape) and go into dungeons fighting monsters, getting rare armor, ect., etc. Now you may be saying: Hmm that sounds like your everyday MMORPG. However, Runescape is different and by different I mean there is not quality in the gameplay. Fighting is clunky and awkward(did I meantion 4 MOVES). The animation is minimal so you don't actually really get a feel for what your character is doing. It is impossible to be immersed in this game. I'm not sure if there is a huge story behind the runes but nevertheless, they are pointless. I guess they are kind of like spells. Some cheasy repeated effect goes off and they basically all have different magical powers. This is obviously no fun without there being effects, when I cast a fire spell, I wanna see smoke. In runescape, the effects of the spells are horrible. Which means that the one thing that makes runescape unique still pales in comparison to other rpgs. While the ideas in runescape are similiar to other mmo's, the poor interface and limited gameplay make doing anything in this game tedious at best. The graphics are so lacking that the fun of doing anything in this mmo is nonexistent.

Now your probably saying: But wait if the game sucks so much, as you claim, then why do so many people play it?

One reason: ITS FREE. In fact that is the only redeeming quality about this game. But here is something that most Runescape players do not know. Watching ice melt is also free!!! Actually heres what I recommend to all you Runescape players out there: take an ice cube, go out to your driveway or sidewalk, and watch it melt. You will have more fun than you do playing Runescape, guaranteed! Also I should mention that they offer a 5 doller a month scam (membership) obviously not many people do this. No offense but if you are willing to pay 5 a month for this sorry example of an mmo you need to get out more.

So anyway heres the rundown:

Graphics: 2/10 My eyes hurt from playing this game and I'm not kidding. The poor camera controlls, or I should say minimal camera controls don't help. Neither does the fact that the screen is way too small. Overall the graphics are comparible to a release title for the playstation gone horribly, horribly wrong.

Controls: 1/10 ....seriously you should consider watching ice melt. The controlls consist of point and click. I personally hate it but some people dont mind I guess. However there is no way that u can argue about how badly the pathing is screwed up and how the poor camera angle comes into play to make the controlls really cruddy.

Gameplay: 4/10 Pales in comparison to real MMORPGs, lacking content, lacking everything for that matter. Gameplay is boring and repetetive. If thats not enough there is not alot of content. I repeat: 4 sword moves.

Music: 6/10 Actually not that bad, not that good either. Its ok. It actually didnt fail. You can actually change the music wherever you are. I think thats cool. But past the surface, the music is just like the gameplay: boring and repetetive.

Online: 4/10 It would be fun to see the combined IQ of some of the people on the server I tried the game on. They weren't helpful, they weren't even nice. In fact, they were annoying. So that was my experience with the community. But of course, I was only on one server. I don't blame them for being cranky though. There playing Runescape for cryin out loud.

Overall: 3/10 Again, you get what you pay for.

So basically here is what I recommend you do:
-go play runescape see for your self why I gave it a 3
-realize that there are better MMO's out there such as WoW that are actually worth your time
-if you still insist on playing Runescape, try my ice-melting idea for a fun alternative

Reviewer's Score: 3/10, Originally Posted: 02/13/06