Let me start this off so you get where I'm coming from. I played EQ. Twice. Once for almost a month before I finally threw it out the door in disgust, the second time about two years later after playing through almost every MMORPG known to man coming out in the meantime (Anarchy Online, DAoC, Asheron's Call 1 & 2, Earth & Beyond, EVE, SWG...). That time it didn't even last for two full days. I *HATED* EQ for being so fanatically harsh to the beginner. There was simply no way to get into the game without devoting a week of 12-hour days. The interface was clunky and hard to grasp, the graphics were horrible even in 2001 (3 years after it came out), the massive amount of "we-want-your-money" expansion packs were almost exclusively tailored to those fortunate enough to have sat through enough 6-hour raids to have reached level 45 or higher. The MMORPG genre is daunting to even many hardcore gamers in its complexity, to say nothing of players less experienced with games in general. I've been looking high and low for an MMORPG that is friendly to the beginner, yet captivating and engaging enough for the veteran. I've found that MMORPG in EQ II. From the well-thought out introduction to the exceptionally well-designed crafting system, on to the difficult-to-master-but-easy-to-learn combat system. There's something in here to cater to many tastes. Perhaps the biggest thrill for me at the moment (I've managed to pull myself to about level 15, and "crafting level" 8), is without a doubt the challenge of becoming a master craftsman. The game is very inviting in the sense that you don't choose your type of character (known as Archetype) until you've familiarized yourself with the game's basic controls. At level 10, you get to specialize further in your chosen profession (from Mage to Sorcerer, Enchanter or Summoner, for example) by running through a little bunch of quests for your profession's "Master" in whatever city you ended up in. Along the way you are given little choices such as whether to focus on developing your strength, intelligence, most hated enemy type, etc. etc. You are constantly shaping and forming your character little bits and pieces all the time, without having to face a massive number of skill stats all the time. This ensures that you are never overwhelmed by your choices, they are cleverly hidden and masked as little choices along the way. Crafting is also done this way. You specialize in your chosen "crafting line" (Scribe, Craftsman, Outfitter etc) as you progress up the skill tree. Crafting is almost like a little combat session, with effects and countereffects used like spells or special attacks on your hotkey bar (of which there are a maximum of 10). All in all, from the beginner to the hardcore MMORPG veteran, EQ2 is a game I can thoroughly recommend. People who say there is "nothing to do" can't really even have scratched the surfac. The sheer number of quests and routes to follow in this game is staggering. The content is presented to you in such a way that the cities feel alive and vibrant, with NPCs speaking to you (with REAL, English voiceovers) - all the way down to the most insignificant bartenders and merchants. Play this game!
Other Helpful Reviews for EverQuest II (With Kingdom of the Sky Bundle)
I remember the first Everquest. I first started playing it in November of 1999, and played it all the way up till sometime in 2004. It was by far one of the most addicting games I had ever played. When I was in my ear... Read Full Review
Hello, thanks for taking the time to read my review. I was very late arriving to EverQuest 2, infact it wasnt all too long ago I stumbled upon this hidden gem. EverQuest 2 is a game I had heard of, but had never hear... Read Full Review
