E3 2001 Preshow ReportEverQuest: The Shadows of Luclin
We've got new screenshots of the visually impressive third expansion to EverQuest.
The Shadows of Luclin is the third expansion for Sony Online Entertainment's popular fantasy-themed online role-playing game EverQuest. Sony announced Luclin on April 18, surprising many fans with such a substantial expansion so soon after the release of the second expansion, The Scars of Velious, just last December. Thematically, visually, technologically, and gameplay-wise, The Shadows of Luclin will be the most ambitious addition to EverQuest since the original game was released. The gameworld of Luclin is actually a moon that you can only glimpse from Norrath's Plane of Air currently. And with this moonscape come new themes and new imagery that evoke otherworldliness, mystery, and enchantment. Buildings not only look more ornately decorated, but they also don't look like anything of Norrathian origin. In addition, a new cat people player-character race, known as the "Vah Shir" (or pejoratively as the Kerran in Norrath), will be available, as well as a new class, the beastlord. The story of the Vah Shir is not well-known on Norrath, although there is a backstory on the animosity between them and the Erudites of the continent Erud.
Visually, The Shadows of Luclin represents a substantial upgrade. For example, Luclin uses a newly enhanced engine that supports richer and more detailed textures and all-new, higher-polygon player-character models. The screenshots of a male gnome and of the elf Firiona Vie made available to the public show much greater detail in the face, hair, hands, and clothing. Specifically, characters will be able to wear attachable armor. In addition, facial animation will be a reality in The Shadows of Luclin. The eyes and mouth will be separately animated objects, and as such, developer Verant will create different expressions for different emotions like surprise, anger, happiness, and so on. Also in the works are new body animations or social and combat animations like bowing and dancing. Kicking will look different depending on the weapons you're wielding, for example. Finally, support for DirectX 8 will be included in the expansion; the game will tap such features as T&L (transform and lighting) in DirectX 8-compliant video cards.
In terms of gameplay, Luclin will have adventure for all player levels. In fact, there will be a new starting city for the Vah Shir. In addition, Verant has stated that there will be more than 25 new areas to explore on Luclin, and you can bet that these contain new armor, new weapons, new spells, new quests, new NPCs, and more for all new and existing characters.
The Shadows of Luclin is due in December of this year.
- Sony Online Entertainment
- Fantasy Online...
- Release: Dec 2, 2001
- ESRB: Teen
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