EverQuest Online Adventures

"Never say Never. Again."

This is how it goes. I am sitting down in November, looking at one of the many video game magazines I tend to read. I open the front cover and I see the advertisement for the Playstation2 Network Adaptor. I was really geeked out about it when I saw it, and I decided to purchase it. I call a few stores and absolutely nobody freaking has it. Well, fast forward a few weeks and it is the day after thanksgiving and I am at Target with my older sister, looking around. All of a sudden this lady asks aloud, ''Is this the thing that let's you play online with the playstation thing?'' And since not very many people are hanging around her, I see it and I almost freak out because I forgot to even look for it. I turn to her. ''No, ma'am that isn't it.'' I tell her and she puts it down and leaves. I pick it up and it is the last one that store has. I buy it, and plug it in and play Frequency for a little while. I go and buy Tribes. I see an advertisement for EQOA in a magazine and I say, ''I will NEVER buy that game. 10 bucks a month? Whatever. And I don't have time to play the game...I'm not a loser.''

Well, January comes around, and then February does. And on the 17th of February (my birthday!) I say screw it and I buy EQOA. And this is where the review begins...

First Impressions: At first I was completely underwhelmed. Nobody responded to my questions, there was no music and the enemies were annoying. However, I quickly overcame those short sights and now the review begins again...

Graphics: 7/10. I know people complain about the graphics being subpar to the PS2, and at first I agreed. However, the gameplay is so smooth and the graphics actually grow on you and I start to like the graphics. The detail is alright but the other day I was playing and I saw the sun start to set and it looked beautiful.

Sound: 4/10. There is no music, but I guess that can be a blessing. After 500 hours of EQing it...I'm sure the same some would get annoying. To fix this, grab a stereo and some of your favorite CDs and you got yourself a killer soundtrack. Also, the magical effects and monster effects are a nice choice. Playing in the middle of the night in a forest hearing nothing but your footsteps and the monster chasing you is exciting, too.

Gameplay: 9/10. This is f-ing awesome! At first I had trouble but once you start grouping with other people and just go XP hunting you realize how great this game is. Grouping with a bunch of strangers (even better yet, friends....or making friends with the strangers) and coming together to kill things really is a humane bonding experience :) Every group member has their role, they know it and abide to it and it is all around fun. The game is never the same, because there is always something else to do. Also with server wide events planned and client updates, I am looking forward to future EQOA additions.

Worth the 10 bucks a month? I would say so. I always thought I would never fork over the cash to play it but I seriously love this game. All other games won't be played until summer when I can alternate between all of them. Even when FFXI comes out (if) I will be so engrossed with this game I think I might not even realize FFXI came out. For the first PS2 MMPORPG to be released this side of the pacific...this game is great. Never say you'll never pay 10 bucks to play this game. Pick it up and you'll be saying ''never say never,'' too. Now ends this cliched review :) Now I am going to click the 'Preview Review' button which just gave me a chuckle, and I am going to go play EQOA. See you on Diren's Hold!

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 03/16/03, Updated 03/16/03