EverQuest Online Adventures

"Evercrack"

The newest trend in gaming has become a focus of the market recently. It draws in children, adults, men, women and does not discriminate due to skin color. The newest way to loose ones self, to become someone else if only for a time.

The M.M.O.R.P.G.; but, what is it?

For some time now various game development studios have competed with each other to create the most innovative, enjoyable and profit generating massively multiplayer online role playing game, or MMORPG. Worlds where anyone can be a heroic elven warrior, a genetically bred space marine, or just about anything imaginable.

The difference between these video games and those that came before? Now people are able to play with not just one person, but thousands.

Many games have risen and many more have failed since the creation of the MMORPG. But, of them all only one has stood above the rest since the beginning; Ever Quest. And now, it's left the computer and come to the big screen with the help of the Sony Playstation 2.

So sharpen your sword, done your armor and brew some coffee. It's going to be a long night.

-:Game Play 7:-

The interaction with the world is simple and seems to be designed for new comers to gaming. You interact by highlighting monsters, NPCs and other players using a button on your controller.

Though the controls and interface seem a bit overly simple at first you eventually grow to them. This simplicity is burdened by one thing though, typing. It can be achingly slow to try and type out dialogue with only a controller. But there is a solution.

Any USB keyboard can be hooked up to your PS2 though and along with your standard controller it really is a must if you plan to role play as well as charge through lines of enemies.

-:Story 3:-

This is a category I can not honestly rate. The quests provided by the game seem rather weak as far as plot is considered, but they do grow as you begin to raise in level.

The real potential is in the stories that you and your friends can make. Sadly, with no real focus it usually ends up little more than groups running around slaughtering groups of beasts while chit chatting as they heal in between battles.

-:Graphics 5 / Sound 1:-

The graphics, though rather dull for an Ever Quest game, are on par with what should be expected in the early years on console MMORPG games.

Sadly though, there is no real music and little in the way of ambient sounds. I do not know why, but I do know it is something you will find yourself missing unless you have a CD player near by.

-:Play Time 10 / Replay Value 9:-

The focus of any MMORPG is the ability to play it for lengths of time normal games would not be able to attain and still have something new to offer. This is accomplished by the amount of players, the size of the world and the option to have multiple characters of different races and classes.

As almost all MMORPGs, Ever Quest Online Adventures quickly becomes addictive. It is not uncommon for people to spend hours upon hours on it. That can be a good thing for some, or a curse for others. Please remember this before you decide if this is a game for you.

-:Final Recommendation:-

Simply enough, buy it and give it a shot if you think you might like it. Most people who will not enjoy this game can tell at first look. Keep in mind when you purchase it though, there is also a monthly, quarterly or 66-month fee to play. Monthly starts a $9.99 but in my opinion is worth it.

If you do pick it up I wish you luck and happy hunting. See you in my other life.

Reviewer's Score: 6/10, Originally Posted: 02/25/03, Updated 02/25/03