Black Magix

Ok so I haven't seen any games worth my time lately to play and complete front to back to review but I've been kind of itching for a new mmo.
So I picked this up a couple of weeks ago

Courtesy of Wikipedia:


First thoughts: Having been on the lookout for a decent mmo now for the past 2 months or so I picked this up today in hopes that it will satisify. I went through several mmo's hoping to find a good one. I tried Tabula Suck, City of Heros/Villians, Guild Wars, Eve, and a few others that I wont bore you with explaining and never really found one that could hold my attention span that long. So I installed this today.

Installation was across two disks and everything went smoothly. Got the game up and patching in no time. During the patching process I was busy making my account on their interface and had no problem getting billing set up and my account up and running. About an hour later I was in the game reading the EULA and selecting a server. Great opening movie by the way.

Hardware: The game actually seems to run fantastically on mid grade hardware from what I hear of my friends. The game looks great and the hardware requirements are low, I easily get 60FPS at all times in all places in the game. Only problem is that Creative ALchemy doesn't recognize the game for EAX on the X-FI cards...but that's not their problem.

Gameplay: Wow...easy to use familiar interface from a number of mmo's (WoW Like feel for those that are curious.) I was in the game in no time and already exploring. Layout feels natural and the keyboard layout is easy to get used to with a little bit of relearning. In no time flat I was already out on my Dark Elf and killing High Elves for EXP.

Leveling: Slower then most. With a 40 rank (level) cap in the game, the game's progress through the rank's is slow but satisfying. I'm not normally the patient type but I am enjoying the play through thus far.

Features: This game is PACKED full of innovative ideas and revolves around RvR (PvP) In a non direct way. Cities, guilds, areas, are all living entities growing/shrinking and unlocking/locking content as your particular realm (faction) dominates or gets dominated. PvP Ranks are of their own entity and unlock their own rewards as you rank up and is completely separate from your normal rank or level. The game borrows several key features from well known games as well as introduces several new features into the game that are flat out brilliant. You can customize and dye your own armor to your liking within limits. With achievements, unlockable titles and spells, the game continues to grow and produces some funny and enjoyable moments.

PvP: Not just the standard control this area or ctf anymore. The game introduces murderball features as well as seige weapons in pvp. Well balanced maps and sides without having the same classes on either side.

Downsides: Ok the game is new and some bugs are present (As is to be expected.) Environmental issues are a big factor as are lag and connection problems. But, disconnecting doesn't mean you have to sit in queue again as after you quit the game or disconnect, you have a grace period to log back in without waiting in the server queue (if there is one.) Servers are VERY loaded right now but they are working on that. Gold farmers are a HUGE Problem in the game right now. They've already banned over 100,000 from the game and it's still a persistent problem that they are working on.

In conclusion: The game is a breath of fresh air and a lot more involved then most mmo's. Public quests help you meet new people without being in their group while still working towards a common pve goal. In total this game is brilliant and has a STRONG possibility to one day rival WoW in terms of popularity of the Mystic play's their cards right.




Rating: 8.7/10 - This game has pulled me away from Wow and my life once again to enjoy leveling and playing.

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nasher27

I agree completely.

I first started playing as a Chosen, on the Destruction side. It is very similar to WoW's Warrior, although more emphasis is being put on tanking rather than DPS. Coming from a warrior in wow, it was very run-of-the-mill. I struggled in PVP, because the Destruction side has very players that like be healers.

I usually play the tank class in all MMOs I play, and I figured it was time for a change. So I created a High Elf Shadow Warrior. So far, it is very refreshing and fun. It isn't really a ranged DPS class like me and most other expected it to be, it's just more of a blend of damage and support via debuffs. It is very good in PvE, but on PVP it takes getting used to. I'm not exactly a DPS class, so I can't take down a tank from ranged, but I rather have to soften weak targets up from a range, and then go in for the kill with a few devastating melee combos.

So far, I'm loving the game, with most of it's innovations being very good in my opinion. If any of you guys play, come make an Order alt on the Dark Crag server, and hit up Talrothel with a tell.

dralb

I played in the open beta and enjoyed it. I am def going to pick it up one of these weeks.

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"[Vietnam] only made billionaires out of millionaires. Today's war is making trillionaires out of billionaires. Now I call that progress." -Kurt Vonnegut

CD in response to whether folding is a waste:

gandalf615

yea i'm loving this game as well, rank 18/rr 12 Witch Hunter. keep sieges are FUN FUN FUN...

nice review, +rep for it, but tbh i really don't believe you get 60+ fps "at all times in all places" on your sig rig. i don't believe you would get that on ANY rig. that's a bit of a misleading statement and might be influential on readers. you might get fps like that in solo pve, or when you're running around in the open, but no way you do in keep sieges or mass pvp.

my CF 4870s on an x38 board + e8400 @ 4.0 gets in the 90s when i'm all alone, 60 or so in towns, 40-60 avg fps in mass pvp.

probably a good standard "budget build" for playing this is a 2.5GHz dual core, 2GB memory, 8800GT or better gfx (this being for 1680x1050 or so). you'll get comfortable fps with that setup.

ichiveritas

How do you feel it compares directly to WoW pros and cons?

I just started playing wow about a year ago and its been fairly fun I picked up AOC and I didnt care much for it the game did not feel like an open world but more like a bunch of instances.

gandalf615

WoW is much more focused on PvE, like raiding and whatnot for endgame. WAR is focused on RvR, keep sieges and the like.

if you like to raid a lot, you prob won't like WAR. if you love to PvP and wish WoW had more open-world fighting, then you will loooove WAR.

just depends on what your thing is.

hope that helps..

Black Magix

The game is very wow like in the solo leveling. But pvp is completely different as the realms arn't on gear so much as skill and class and tactics. I find this game to be a LOT more in depth then WoW ever was or will be. There's a lot more goals to work towards and a lot more to do in the world rather then quest and grind out levels. PvP is a VERY big part of the game but likewise, the game is brand new and end game pve content hasn't been released yet because they're trying to fix some issues. Most end game stuff is still locked for the time being allowing players to level up so one level 40 doesn't go and massacre everyone at the objectives.

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ichiveritas

I may just have to give it a try..

Black Magix

It's well worth the time and cash.

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Aawa

I have tried almost every single MMO imaginable and the only one that had been able to keep my attention has been Dark Age of Camelot, and I have played it since it was released. When a new MMO would come out, i would play both DAOC and the new MMO to give it a whirl and could never find anything that drew me in as much. That was until I played WAR(which is made by Mythic who created WAR)

The other MMO's couldn't keep my interest because either the pve sucked so bad that i got bored with it, or the pvp was soo craptastic that there was no reason to do it. Moreso the pvp than the pve since i prefer to PVP more than anything. WAR has combined the level grind so that you can PVP and get the leveling rewards (renown rank and levels) I am interested to see what the end game pve content is like, but it is something you wont see me ram my head into like how it was in WoW.

If anybody is looking for a MMO, i strongly recommend that they try WAR. It is worth the $50 for the game and the $15/month subscription fee.

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