Update - The best graphics and PvP of any MMORPG to date. Level grind is improving, but player-run economy is horrendous
It's very easy to pass Lineage II off as yet another kill, wait to heal, kill some more, rinse, repeat mmorpg if you've only played it for a few hours. The depth of the game can only fully be realized once you've gotten your character up into your first Profession Change (at 20th level).
Gameplay Positives:
The skill and class progressions are quite well-developed and, depending on race, branch out into specializations that add further layers of class-specific strategy. The game is wide open for more classes and skills being added with expansion sets. Combat is much more attractive than in other mmorpg's, in that a) It's the best 3rd-person perspective of any mmog, and b) the skills you can choose from add a distinct feel of strategy and involvement in the fight, rather than just clicking your mouse and sitting back to watch the fight unfold.
The really intriguing aspects of the gameplay occur when you get into the clan system, where a large mass of characters can group together to perform clan-specific quests, or even storm castles! Once in control of a castle, your clan can set the npc leaders of the town or lead it themselves, and begin hauling in profits and resources that the castle produces! Clans also have clan-specific skills and abilities not available to solo adventurers, and you can open chapter houses in more than one location in order to recruit new members.
The PvP in this game is excellent and "realistic", by which I mean that killing another player actually has in-game consequences. Character names all appear above their heads in white. Attacking another "white" player, causes your name to change purple as a warning to the attacker. Killing that player changes your name to red. Any white player may attack and kill any red player without fear of themselves turning red. In other words, PK'ers are open season for anyone. Death also comes with roughly a 5-8% exp loss, and the slim chance to drop a piece of equipment (including anything you have equipped/worn) PK'ing also increases your level of karma. The higher your karma rating, the more likely you are to drop equipment (which is extremely expensive in Lineage 2) upon dying. As far as I'm concerned, this system of PvP is brilliant. In addition, for those wishing to try out/hone their PK skills without fear of penalization, Lineage 2 has instituted dueling arenas where anyone can go and kill/be killed without fear of equipment/exp loss.
The level grind, which used to be insanely difficult, especially after 20th level has been sped up somewhat, so that level 20-30 is now reasonable, but still challenging. The real reason that L2 makes levelling take so long is the fact that each kill provides Skill Points, that you then use to purchase skill upgrades, or brand new skills (which become available every 4-7 levels, depending on character class). In order to save up enough Skill Points, you need to do a lot of killing/questing.
The choices in face, hair style, and hair colour have improved with each expansion, and Lineage 2 considerately allows pre-existing characters to alter their appearance should they desire to take advantage of the new options.
Dragons (available as pets/mounts) in the game have now reached the level where they are wingless, and can be used as mounts. Owning pets (you can also have a wolf) is a mixed blessing. They will fight beside you and carry extra things for you, but you must keep them fed, armoured and happy, which can get costly. It's a very nicely balanced system. Rumours about the upcoming expansion state that Dragons will be able to be levelled up into a winged flying mount, complete with breath attacks, that can be used in castle sieges.
The language filters are constantly being tweaked and improved in order to strain out all of the childing cursing and swearing.
Gameplay Negatives:
A few very annoying factors are the only things holding this game back, but should vastly improve as the development team releases further tweaks and patches and downloads (the 3rd major update is scheduled for June 05). The level grind in the game is still quite challenging, but no longer absurdly difficult. Still, it's no where near as rapid as the advancement in such games as Everquest 2 and World of Warcraft. Then again, who wants to max out their character in a matter of weeks anyway?
The real drawbacks to this game are two things: The in-game player-driven economy, and the lack of rewarding quests.
The best pieces of armour and weapons available in Lineage 2 are only available as monster-drops or by crafting them. Crafting is quite time-consuming. Not only do you need to hunt down the ridiculous number of materials required to create even the lowliest piece of equipment, but you'll often be sacrificing time that could have been spent levelling and/or farming money. In addition, only dwarves can craft, which makes the process even that much more constricted. Due to the time it takes to collect materials and create items, the cost of those items once ready for sale is immense. There are no NPC shops that offer these higher level pieces of equipment for sale.
As a result, the in-game economy has become so out-of-control, that items normally sell for anywhere from 2x - 4x their actual worth, due to the commitment necessary in their creation. As a side note, money drops have been increased to reflect this, but the process is still wildly out-of-control, with no hope in sight. Top equipment from level 20-40 will usually cost you in the vicinity of 2-4 million. And that's only if you plan on getting the best stuff for that range as soon as you hit 20th level, otherwise you'll slowly upgrade your various pieces over time as you level, meaning you can add another million or two onto that original estimate. Considering that each kill gains you anywhere from 100-500, you do the math. At higher levels, you're looking at least that much (3 to 6 million) for each piece!
As for quests, the system for undertaking quests in Lineage 2 is one of the best I've seen to date. Unfortunately, there simply aren't anywhere near enough quests in the game yet. In addition, the rewards for completing quests barely constitute being labelled as rewards. The game still needs quests that will hand out high-level equipment, large sums of money or large sums of exp as rewards for completion.
I am stil quite upset at the overall lack of any over-riding nationalism or politics in-game. I mean, why institute a background and history for your game world if you have no intention of "enforcing" it? Why set up dark elves and orcs as villains, if you fully intend for everyone to run around being happy and friendly talking about their real life jobs and significant others? Why establish a war between the major factions of each nation/continent if you intend for everyone to want to be each other's happy friends? (Then again, this is my biggest complaint for all mmorpg's. If there is no roleplaying, simply the ability to tweak your skills and such, then wake up people - it's not a true roleplaying game. Ugh)
I'm also still a little miffed that NCsoft has yet to implement naming conventions for the game. So the game is still plagued with moron teenagers named IAmAwesome, and oOYouStinkOo.
Botting (software-driven automated characters that camp locations, farm money and kill-steal) is still an issue, but only in so far that it affects the in-game economy by allowing players to purchase money and equipment on ebay. If you're willing to accept the state of the economy, then botting isn't really that big an issue. Besides, almost every mmog has problems with botting and such.
Graphics Positive:
The graphics, using the Unreal engine, are absolutely stunning. The sky-scapes, water effects, buildings, monsters and terrain are the most lush and realistic I've ever seen in a computer game. In addition, the characters look really good, though there is a distinct anime influence. Character graphics, and game graphics in general, are lightyears better than every other mmo on the market.
Graphics Negative:
Some may be turned off by the anime-style (Main developers for the game are Korean) look of the characters (the female dwarf is the most extreme case, most male characters can't have facial hair etc. etc.), but it's not so blatant that it detracts from the fantasy feel.
Sound Positive: Getting a well-established composer, and making use of the Seattle Symphony was a genius stroke. The use of choirs and haunting vocals is an absolutely brilliant addition to the already gorgeous score.
Sound Negative: My only complaint here is that the gorgeous soundtrack doesn't play all the time, and I'd love to hear even more of the several existing tracks.
Value Positive: The sounds and visuals alone make this game stand way above its competitors. It easily has every other MMO on the market beat in the graphics department. Every expansions for the game is FREE!!!!
Value Negative: If you can stick it out long enough to make the money you'll need for the ridiculously over-priced equipment, then this MMORPG is easily the most challenging and enjoyable one available.
Tilt: Having been a computer gamer since Telengard and Pirates! on the Commodore64, and Pike's Peak on the Texas Instruments-99, I've played more than my fair share of computer rpg's. The mmorpg was just the natural evolution, the next stage of which will hopefully include as much roleplaying as monster-killing and lewt-collection. Lineage II is by far the best I've played yet.