RuneScape may be the best In-Browser MMORPG to date.
RuneScape was one of my very first computer games, my history with it dates back to late 2004. The game was much different now, but still retains the feel it had nearly a decade ago. The game is easy to use and navigate, but will take time for people to learn. The game doesn't have a main quest either, it's more of a be your own kind of hero game.
The graphics aren't even par to graphics of its time, and even today with all of the graphical updates, the game doesn't looks ugly. Character models are low-res, blocky characters with dots for eyes that move awkwardly. The addition of textures, a new lighting system, a new particle system, more detailed animations, and different item icons haven't helped too much either.
The game has one of the best scores in gaming history in my opinion too. It has that 90s SNES RPG feel to it and all the music fits the game. Expect Arabian-like music in the desert and eerie music when in a cave. The music also is very catchy and brings a rush of nostalgia to me.
The gameplay is by far the best aspect of RuneScape, because of how much of a hybrid the game is. It's like Diablo, Dark Seed, and King's Quest had a baby. The controls are simple, arrow keys to move your camera, and the mouse to move and do almost everything else. The gameplay is extremely detailed and has more features than most RPGs today. There are 25 skills to master, with a Combat Level cap of 138.
That's almost twice World of Warcraft's level cap. The game also has a cool feature that other games of its type have had in the past, Examine. Examine is a cool feature that allows you to right click on almost anything in the 3D world and examine it. Your player will give a quick summary of what the object is and tell its importance (or not if it is un-important). You can put hundreds of hours into getting your skills up, and I personally have put 124 hours into the game. The game can get repetitive at times, but only in the later levels of skills.
Overall, the game is one of the best browser games ever, boasting an amazing score and nearly flawless gameplay. I would recommend it Old-School RPG fans and MMORPG addicts. I think RuneScape is the 2nd best MMORPG ever.
Presentation: 8, easy to use, hard to master.
Graphics: 6, mediocre at best, ugly at worst.
Sound: 10, one of the best scores in PC history. So many tracks, so little time to listen to them all.
Gameplay: 10, closest to flawless a web-based MMORPG is going to get.
Lasting Appeal: I have been playing since 2004 and have only put in 124 hours in total. If I wanted, I could have so much more.