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Evercrack

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 18 / 43
Date: October 07, 2002
Author: Amazon User

If you want to have a life, stay away....far away

Still not ready for prime time

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 7 / 11
Date: December 09, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Before you give this game as a Christmas gift, be aware that the game is still in a pay-to-Beta state. I get tossed from the servers ~every~ day for up to an hour for maintenance. Be sure the recipient of your gift has a Beta tester mentality or they may get frustrated.

Best RPG game I have played to date

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 7 / 11
Date: July 19, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Well after I gave poor reviews to Everquest, Everquest II I am giving high reviews to! My hat goes off to sony for making an amazing game. Everquest II is the paragon of fantasy games. Almost all my quibbles I had about Everquest are fixed with Everquest II. I played Everquest for a while and got bored and fustrated that the fun didn't really begin until I became a higher level character. Also solo play and death in Everquest was not fun. It seemed unsurmountable to solo a character past level 20. Well sony listened to players carping criticism and made a better game with Everquest II.

Improvements:

1) The death system is more congenial in everquest II. You don't loose your body, you don't loose experience, levels, the only attribute that is affected in death is wisdom, you can still equip all your items after death.

2) In my opinion graphics transcend any game to date including Doom 3! Surreal graphics, character detail is immaculate, lighting and reflection affects are resplendent. This game is a pearl! My paladin's pulchritude left me stunned. Those incredulous graphics come at a cost though, it requires a goliath of a system to play this game well. My desktop is rigged with a 3ghz processor, 768 megabytes of ram, a 10,000 rpm hard disk - RAID configured, and a Geforce 6600 GT with 128 megs of VRAM and my computer is still not effacacious enough for this game. The ultra high graphic settings in Everquest II can freeze my computer with ease. So I can only image how eye-popping this game can be! The game recommends to play the game at ultra high (maxed out) video system you should have a video card with 512 megabytes of VRAM, YIKES !!! For now I can only play it at a resolution of 1024 x 1280 pixels on a High Quality setting.

3) No kill/loot stealing ! This is a treasure trove. I wallow this in everquest II once you attack a monster that monster is locked with you. A little lock appears at the top indicating to other players that kill is all yours and other players cannot barge in and kill the monster ( steal your kill and your experience and loot from that monster). This was an unsurmountable problem in Everquest that vexed me as a player, because some players were inconsiderate and plundered my experience points and spoils! This is probally one of the biggest reasons why I prefer this game over World of Warcraft, in World of Wacraft no such system like this is in place other players can pillage your earned loot without reprimand. I speak from my own personal experience.

4) I wallow in the monolithic labyrinth of timorous passageways and chambers found in the dungeons in Everquest II !! What an improvement the dungeons are from it's predecessor. The dungeons were not all that arousing to me in Everquest, except for mistmore and kurnst. And what is nice about it is a wide range of characters from many different levels can savor these dungeons. I fell in love with Stromhold ! Given my druthers, this is my favorite dungeon. I can still gain experience from this dungeon even at level 27. The level range of the monsters in this dungeon are from 15 - 25. I have seen characters as low as level 13 and as high as level 30 adventuring through this dungeon. This is a dungeon you can revist over and over again as you level up and pioneer into unfathomable depths. This dungeon doesn't look like a hundred other dungeons, it is a novelty and has its own look. Graphically one of the most jaw dropping zones.

5) Even green players can venture through entrancing dungeons and caves. This wasn't true with everquest before the expansions. The origonal everquest was unfriendly to new players, it was only until later after the expansions that they added oddments of new zones and features for the inexperienced characters. YOu can participate in a raid at only level 23 in this game ! In everquest Raids were origonally only reseved for high level characters.

6) Equiptment and spells were basic and only a small farrago of items to choose from. The crafting system in Everquest was elemtary and crude. Everquest II is a stark contrast, a conglomeration of hundreds of arms and incantations to pick from. An motley of mythical, legendary, fabled and treasured loot. Crafting is unparralled in Evequest II. Players can become apt in their chosen craft in little time. Better crafting systems create a more robust economy. The economy in this sequel is so volatile it is surreal ! Spells can be upgraded from other players that specialize in scribing scrolls. All my items I wear are handcrafted by other players. There is just something special about being able to wear items other players tailored specifically for your needs !

7) Solo adventuring is actually an option in this sequel. Cresting to that elusive level 60 can be concievably be done alone in this game without any other players help. I enjoyed the fast clip I could level up while playing solo in this game, this was a pampering change compared to its predecessor. This sate my appetite for an online game that had an oustanding single player experience. Leveling up is a lot faster in EQ II also because you never loose experience or levels ! You don't have to worry about recovering a body in order to level up, example in everquest whenever I died I couldn't kill anything or level at all period because all my stuff was gone left on my body somewhere !

8) The principal cities in Everquest II, Queynos and Freeport, sate my fantasy reveries. Queynos I found a serene solace where my character would retreat to ease the days tensions. The king arthur atmosphere of the city made me feel as if I was repute and wore a laurel over my head. I had a profound feeling of chivalry and swagger. Freeport was a becon for vile irreverence and servitude. NPC's were contempt and shallow in this city. The city's sky was marred by the gloom of the precipice turrets and pallisades.

cons:

1) I think the general opinion that the party system is flawed in Everquest II is a cogent argument. Although I am sure Sony carefully crafted the new party system, anyone who has played the game can't deny the inherent shortcomings. The party system in other games ,like for example World of Warcraft, does not bludgeon the players when they make a fatal mistake. I do not like groups sharing experience debt. This can make playing in groups an irremediable calamity. Players do not like losing expeirence and if I was the cause most players wouldn't hesitate to chafe me with a pompous lecture. Other players would get infuriated and berate me if I died, one group booted me out of the group when I died. I quickly learned some players are pious and haughty about this game. This game overall is quant and pleasing even with its flaws.

Evercrack, revisited

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 8 / 14
Date: May 03, 2005
Author: Amazon User

If you're a casual player and/or soloist, move on, nothing to see here. The recent combined combat revamp/expansion (Sep 2005) has completely reversed SOE's changes of the summer, making this a game clearly geared to those who take obsessive gaming to new heights. If you're wondering what that means - a short visit to the official forums should be enough to convince you that the current EQ "hardcore" base believes that:

a) Casual players, ie. players with real-life commitments, should leave

b) One's real-life success is measured by one's success in Sony's IMAGINARY world

c) One should be prepared to "work" in this game

Complete Waste of Time!

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 11 / 23
Date: November 27, 2004
Author: Amazon User

If you like spending hours on end waiting for people who will never help you in a task that you can not solo. Then this is your game. In that same Vein, you would also enjoy a game like FFXI. I have been playing RPG's since it was on paper, 2D, kids. I have pretty much seen them all. But this by far is the pintical of beauty and despare. For some reason the Japanese publishers of both EQII and FFXI have decided to dupe americans for every last dime they have by simply frustraing the gamers into staying. You make just enough progress to belive that you will do something worth while. When you get excited by seeing a 90 second cut scene every three to seven days because it is something diferent. There is a major problem. Also it should be an option to solo past a rough spot if you can not find a party to quest with. And don't get me started on the internal gaming systems. This is got to be the worst crafting, buy/selling, questing system I have ever encountered. If you play this game and find these systems accetpable in any way. You need to get your head checked. That being said. If you happen to be a newbie. Then you would never know any better and you would readily accept everything that is presented to you. This is the case for most pre-teens, and teenagers. But the rest of the game buying/target audience of these companies such as sony, and Squar Enix. You need to recogniz that they have an alterior motive. And that is simply to get you to pay as much as they can for subscriptions while delivering unecisarrliy long and drawn out, not to mention unrewarding, quests and missions that yeild little or no reward. The only reason you feel that you have done something is becuase the given task is actualy over. While somehow trying to give you that ever present feeling of hope that some great might happen. But you didn't really gain that much at the end of the day. And all you do is grind away until you accept anything as a sign of progress. Even if you are a level {EDIT} and only level. You will hit a wall that will grind to a fun loving halt because you will have to rely on other player who will not help you, EVER! And fun factor is non-existant. Simply put, this is more of a job than a game. I have seen Master Degree programs that would take less time to complete than this game. You can grind away at EQII for years and never get everything done, or anything done in some cases. It is supposed to be fun and it just isn't. It is unfortunate that such beautiful graphics and presentation were put to waste here. This game was even more disapointing than {EDIT} was. If you enjoy tedious work with little reward and like depending on other players who have no intrest in helping no matter how nice you are to them. Then this is the game for your. This game is pure sadist haven. I encourage everyone to avoid this exercise in self torture and at least look at games like {EDIT} or hell even whip out the old D&D books and roll up some characters. At least you will be having fun!

Patience is the only skill challenged!

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 7 / 12
Date: October 01, 2005
Author: Amazon User

This game seems nothing more than a better looking EQ1. There is still ridiculous camping of mobs and items. What skills are you challenging when all you do is stare at tree roots waiting for a rock to spawn, for up to 3 days, such in Feerrot? There is solo content, if you feel like grinding out exp for weeks on end. The solo content in this game seems like it was added after the fact, its lame at best. Two simple fixes: (1) eliminate ridiculous camping and make all spawns triggered (the serrated bone dirk and bone bladed claymore quests prove they can do it) and (2) add henchmen that can be hired, which will eliminate the finding a group problem we all have. They offer hired henchmen as a response in a questionnaire when you cancel your account, so it's something that crossed their desks. A lot of people say if you don't like this game, then quit. Well, I did quit and am suggesting to anyone out there, save yourself the aggravation and invest in WoW or Guild Wars.

Pretty Big Disappointment

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 7 / 12
Date: March 23, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Given all the hype around this game, I had expected something phenomenal. The reality is that this is a VERY high-priced, but hom-hum, and 2nd rate effort by Sony. Other reviewers have pretty effectively (and appropriately) flamed this title, so I'll make it quick...

Pros...
1) Excellent graphics, but nothing you haven't seen before
2) Simple UI; average gamer can be up and running in minutes
3) Huge gamespace with rich and varied character types

Cons...
1) Resource requirements are extreme (I have a system that runs Doom 3 well, but it gets severely bogged down on EQ2)
2) Lack of system availability (several hours a day, even worse on weekends) is maddening, especially given the hefty monthly recurring charge of $14.95
3) To get a character to a level where you can actually have fun requires the completion of literally dozens of stupid, poorly thought out tasks/quests (others have likened it to delivering pizzas -- IMHO, that's a pretty accurate assessment)
4) Neverending barrage of sales messages from Sony trying to get users to buy into other options, but at $14.95 month for access, I would think Sony would be embarrassed to try to get users to pay any more for this lame title -- for any game this sad, improvements/enhancements should be free

Net/net: many other options out are out there for on-line gamers that are much more fun at a lower cost. My recommendation is to save your money and steer clear EQ2.

EQ2 - The Thinking Gamer's Crumpet

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 12
Date: December 30, 2004
Author: Amazon User

This is my first review of EQ2 and will probably be added to as time goes on. I'm currently a level 18 Kerran Predator who played a 52 Woodelf Druid on EQ1 for several years before dropping it for SWG (Teras Kasi Master, Master Creature Handler, Master Ranger, Rebel Colonel, Jedi Glowie) because it just became impossible to have any fun without a 20-person group to help do anything at higher levels. And I dropped SWG because, well, because. If you've played it yourself, you'll understand.

Some things EQ2 has gotten right so far:

1) Excellent quest progression from simple delivery missions to multi-part expeditions that can take you to every part of the globe. Very newbie friendly although more experienced gamers may find the early quests too simple for their tastes. Even the simple ones can give good rewards, though, including magic items that were ridiculously hard to get in EQ1. And everything you do expands your knowledge of the world which will come in handy later.

That's the best part of EQ2: it encourages you to use your mind to really think and develop as you play the game rather than simplistic plots or raw sensory overload.

2) Wherever you go, you can find new quests in the most unexpected places. Besides city-based NPC's, you can find others outside of the cities to give you more and better quests the further afield you go. That's one reward for moving around and exploring. Even simply locating a new landmark for the first time gives you experience, sometimes quite a lot, whether you have a specific quest for the location or not.

3) You CAN solo in this game, most definitely. You may need to experiment with various class/race combinations to find the particular skill set that works best for you, but once you have it and really learn how to use it you can solo as well as anyone.

That being said, of course, you can't do every single thing by yourself in the game, as in real life. Sometimes we all need a helping hand from other people to deal with the tougher situations. But what's wrong with that? It actually adds a lot of pleasure to the game, and there are plenty of options to go out on your own if you want to.

And if you really don't like working with people, why are you playing a multi-player game in the first place?

3) No power leveling, kill stealing, camping or twinking. Everyone in a group who is working on the same quest gets the same reward when the quest is completed, so there's no competition only the benefits of cooperation.

It's hard to know for sure, but my gut feeling is that a lot of complaints regarding EQ2 are from those who find that they can't exploit the game like they could in EQ1 and can't enjoy themselves unless they feel like they're "putting one over" on the rest of the player population.

Sorry, kids, you need patience and skill to work this game, the old cheats and exploits just don't work any more. And even if you don't rely on cheats and exploits to have fun, you do need to invest some time in it so if you have to have a quick thrill rather than a more extended and satisfying progression then you'll probably be happier elsewhere.

4) Very high quality graphics, very realistic feel to the world. Some people like a totally immersive experience where they really feel like they've been transported to another dimension, others don't. I happen to like this, so the graphics in EQ2 do very well for me. It does need a good machine to get the best use out of them but if you don't have one that's not the game's fault.

5) Crafting skills are much more diverse and reward taking the time to really learn your trade through higher quality results and bigger payouts if you like to be a merchant. Much more interactive creation processes than any other game I've played.

Again, if you like to whiz through town and expect to get the best stuff just by looking at it, there's nothing for you here. Move along......

6) Death trauma is vastly improved. Now when you get killed you wake up in a nearby safe area with all your gear intact, with just a bit of experience penalty and item decay. A glowing path leads you right back to your 'spirit shard' which eliminates most of the experience penalty when it's recovered. And even if you just leave it, all the experience penalty goes away after three days automatically, although the item decay remains which can be easily repaired by an NPC mender for a small fee.

So no more needing to bind in distant locations, and no more naked corpse runs over vast distances through overwhelming enemy forces. And no losing levels just for losing a fight. This one thing alone is definitely worth the price of admission!

Things that need improvement:

1) The inter-game communication system is primitive to say the least. SWG did one thing right in that they had the best in-game chat and email system ever developed, and considering that EQ2 is coming from the same company it's totally inexplicable why they didn't do the same thing here. Hopefully they'll make improvements soon.

2) SWG also had a terrific trade system where anyone could put their wares on a bazaar terminal or personal vendor and they would be on sale 24/7 whether you were logged in or not. This business of having to keep your character logged in and in its own room if you want to sell items is absurd and adds nothing but aggravation to the game. Are you listening out there, devs?

3) EQ1 became much less enjoyable at higher levels, and I hope EQ2 will avoid that fate by continuing to give us meaningful things to accomplish without needing massive groups to succeed. If they can do that then the future will be bright indeed.

So that's my analysis of EQ2 so far. I've tried WoW and find nothing wrong with it per se, but it's not EQ2 and for now EQ2 is what feeds my soul. Aren't we lucky to live in a time where we have so many options so everyone can find something they like, even if it's not the same as what other people like? ;)

If you're on the Antonia Bayle server, drop me a line, maybe we can go adventuring sometime.

Alduranson
18th Kerran Predator

Beautiful, but no soul

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 7 / 12
Date: February 18, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I was a long-time player of EQ1 -- playing since beta4. I loved the feeling of openness that EQ1 gave you, the feeling that you were in a world and could do whatever you wanted. Groups were a choice, not a requirement. Zones were scary and huge, but most had something to do at any level. You could buff someone as you ran by, or give 100p to a monster, shout it out to the zone, and watch the lowlevels swing into action to hunt that mob down before it despawned. The game was only limited by your imagination.

EQ2 doesn't deliver that same openness. Instead, you are railroaded into a series of zones and quests, and a single playstyle. It's like they took any chance for you, the player, to operate outside the planned experience that the developers had in mind for you.

Not to my liking at all. It lasted 2 months before I deleted it from my system. Compare that to 7+ years for playing EQ1.

Pros: gorgeous graphics, fairly intuitive gameplay, lots of quests, well-developed tradeskills.

Cons: system hog, many bugs still, very few zones, not a very compelling storyline, boring spell lines, I could go on.

As the title says -- gorgeous, but not very fun.

They expect us all to just start over?

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 17 / 43
Date: October 22, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Ummm... no thanks. I don't care HOW pretty it is, I, as well as just about every EQ player I know (and I know many of them) all agree: The timesinks stop at EQ1. There will be no starting over for any reason. We've all invested too much time on EQ1 to just drop it and move forward, especially with Sony's infamously horrific customer service.

I am a paying beta tester for Everquest (in my opinion that game still hasn't left beta, and since I pay to play it, well, that makes me a paid beta tester doesn't it hehe). I will not pay Sony for the privaledge of testing their new game.

IF Sony was smart, they would make Everquest II a complete rewrite of EQ1 with this fabled new engine of theirs and allow people to import the characters into it that they have worked so incredibly hard on.

EQ2 is going to be a total loser, mark my words--regardless of it's prettiness or features. It will be another Anarchy Online, UO2 (ummm WHAT UO2? heh), Dark Ages of Camelot, etc. It simply will never reach critical mass because EQ1 players will NOT switch in droves like they are hoping.

Sony is crazy to make EQ2 incompatible with EQ1. Not smart at all.

It truly seems that the "soul" of Verant has left the building, in a big way, since their acquisition.

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