Well, it's about as good of a launch as any other game has had, and it's better than SWG. Feels like WoW though...
Note:: I would just like to state before this review that WoW is overrated. However, I have played it, and since it seems to be "Top Dog" right now (why, I have no idea), I figured it would be okay to compare the two. Also, SWG and EQ2 will be compared to.
8.0 Gameplay - If you played EQ2 or WoW, then you've been here before.
Alright, so the biggest thing to say here is this game plays exactly like WoW, only I will say it seems to be a bit faster. This isn't necessarily a good thing, since there is absolutely nothing new here - at all. But, it serves its purpose, so I suppose it's good enough for a decent score.
I will give it brownie points though, because the combat actually looks pretty cool at times. Your character will perform flourishes every now and again, and actually change battle stances periodically, as if revving up for a fatal swipe of the blade, but loses it's luster since it's only flash - no substance. Smoke and mirrors man...
Crafting.... in short, I hated crafting before I came to this game, and nothing about it made me change my mind. To be perfectly honest, I am sick and tired of Developers making the Crafting game cater to the hardcore "crafters" while they streamline the rest of the game. Combat keeps getting dumber, and crafting keeps getting more and more complex, and this game is no different. Comat is almost a carbon cpy of WoW, but the crafting is like EQ2 (which is pretty deep), except it's turn based. I went through the tutorial, and at the end of it, was even more lost in the process than when I started. Then, when I actually strted trying to skill up... I realised how incredibly boring it was - fit for only the diehard. At least EQ2 kept it original enough where you could actually die by crafting. That was pretty neat if you ask me.
Diplomacy is nothing but a card game. This is actually kind of neat, but also borderline retarded. They try and be coy by explaining how this "card game" is really just you trying to quip your way through conversation. But this is nothing more than the Developers making their players out to be complete morons. No one beleives it's a conversation - hell they probably don't even read the diologue. This is a card game, and card games suck! However, it is at least something to do when you don't feel like grinding crafting anymore, or you're waiting on your group to get ready for battle.
7.0 Graphics - I still think SWG has some of the best graphics in an MMO.
So, okay. This was supposed to be a big deal. At least, the Developers made it out to be a big deal. Plainly put, these graphics are "okay". The problem is, the world is so big, that it is a serious resource hog, so you need a hefty PC to play it on high settings. Normally, this wouldn't be a big deal, except the highest settings aren't really all that great. Some of the textures and general "feel" of the world objects are downright hilarious to see.
Given that, I will move onto Art Style. I'm in a huge process right now on deciding whether or not this Art direction is groovey or not. On the one hand, it goes for a more authentic feel, but an EQ2 authentic feel.... which sucks. On the plus side, it's not overly retarded animation wise like EQ2 - I think you know what I mean where every motion is way over the top.
Actually, the Art Direction reminds me a lot of SWG in some ways, but there is a certain depth that just doesn't exist in VG. Anyhoo, it serves it's purpose just the same and will likely be a world better once they convert to the Unreal Engine 3.0, using DX10. As it stands, it's just a big puddle of mess, that looks good enough in the parts that really count.
8.0 Sound - Pretty good stuff here actually, as good as SWG anyway.
Now, here's the cold hard truth of the matter - SWG had some of the best sound of any game ever. Clearly, it had an unfair advantage back in the day.. but still - you can't blame them for using the stuff they're supposed to be using. That being said, it's not so much what you're hearing, as it is the quality of what you're hearing.
The Music in this game is borderline retarded in some cases. It's almost as bad as EQ2. Other times, it has some seriously cool music - like Lineage 2 (only cooler and less over the top).
The Sound Effects are what really stands out though. Unlike WoW, the SFX are actually generated at 44khz. WoW is generated at like... 22 or something - in other words, it sounds muffled. Not in VG. A sword swipes at it's target, and instantly you here the sharp chain of steel hitting flesh. I must say, I was satisfied in this department, though that is hardly enough to make me love the game.
7.0 Value - Meh....
Dungeons and Dragons has about as much value as this game, although that game blew all credibility with being associated with DnD. VG is one of those games that I personally could care less about, but play it for no other reason than it's about as good as anything else, and at least has some kind of a production value.
10.0 Reviewer's Tilt - Giving it a good score for no other reason than I want to.
Okay, so basically, I'm rating this high for one reason only. This game offers everything WoW offers, only more so. By no means does that make either one a good game. They are decent games. WoW is successful for the same reason that Zha Zha Gabore is famous - she's a celebrity, who is a celebrity, because she's a celebrity.
So, what's the deal? I basically find both of these games to be on equal ground, except VG hasn't had the time to improve in quality. In fact, I'll be extremely pissed if Gamespot gives VG anything less than an equal score to what they gave WoW - proving once again that they grade on a skewed scale. WoW isn't a 9.5, and I don't care what anyone says. It was in no better conditon than VG is right now when it launched.
So, because I would like to see credit given, to where credit is due, I am skewing this grade as I see fit.
TOTAL - 8.4