i must say i kilke the story lines in the game so far destiny Quest is cool and all the other quests kind of tied into it a little. took me about 20 hours to reach lvl 23.

GAME RUNS SMOOTH, no lag combat is addictive, i love combos i'm hitting them a lot. Olny one glitch i kept getting stuck in walls with the my avatrars foot, used /stuck to get out. also the vendors are down for some reason that effects the bank and the on-line bazzar.

i soloed all of it but prepare to die a bunch until you get the hang of the combat, no auto attack. i rolled a barbarian on my fourth toon and i like that class, preivious to that i tried necor lvl 9, ranger lvl 7, dark templar lvl 8 or i would be about lvl 34 right now.

i give the game a 8 outof 10 score for fun and a very nice envirment tortage is a big and there is a lots to do great starter zone.

i'm now in cimmeria in the starting city there is huge had a hard time getting out of the city its so large.

also there is a lot of reading in the game if you don't like to read a lot you won't like the game as much its not a shooter but it is a action game with good story content.

i wasn't in beta because i like to be suprised, no one is running around naked and the people on my server are very helpful when you ask a question.

oh fyi it was packed today but no issues.

Thanks for the review. I must say I agree that the new combat system takes time getting used too after so many years of autoattack in different mmo's. But when you start to get into it I find just that this change was really refreshing to the genre.

Good post. truthful and nice.THX ,I will be seeing you all in game in a few months when i get my new pc

I'm enjoying the game, but as far as combat goes, I think I'm missing out on all the fun as a defensive caster.   The combat seems pretty much just like every other MMO.. I might try one of the soldier classes to see what all the fuss is about.  So far I'm not seeing what makes the game any different in combat than every other MMO.   I lock on a target and hit the same number keys over and over in succession.  Pretty much standard fare.

Thanks for the review. I'll be joining the AOC tomorrow. A friend of mine picked up the game today and he is having a great time. Sounds like Funcom has a winner on their hands.

Originally posted by Salvatoris

I'm enjoying the game, but as far as combat goes, I think I'm missing out on all the fun as a defensive caster.   The combat seems pretty much just like every other MMO.. I might try one of the soldier classes to see what all the fuss is about.  So far I'm not seeing what makes the game any different in combat than every other MMO.   I lock on a target and hit the same number keys over and over in succession.  Pretty much standard fare.

 

Spell casting, i'm not sure if thats in yet or not but yes casters don't seem different from Eq2.

I'm still a little confused using combo attacks.  Is it a timing thing? Am I supposed to wait a second before hitting the direction button after the icon appears? Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Any help would be appreciated.

Originally posted by ajax7

Originally posted by Salvatoris

I'm enjoying the game, but as far as combat goes, I think I'm missing out on all the fun as a defensive caster.   The combat seems pretty much just like every other MMO.. I might try one of the soldier classes to see what all the fuss is about.  So far I'm not seeing what makes the game any different in combat than every other MMO.   I lock on a target and hit the same number keys over and over in succession.  Pretty much standard fare.

 

Spell casting, i'm not sure if thats in yet or not but yes casters don't seem different from Eq2.

Spellweaving will add another dimension, but I agree they aren't much different. what I like about my Priest of Mitra is that I can level very nicely. I use a lot of different abilities and don't spam a certain spell. And if i get bored, I pull a bunch of mobs and see if I can live. Took down 6 mobs including a boss mob at once yesterday...it was intense and had to pop potions, but managed to win!

Biggest difference for me in this game is aoe damage is emphasized rather than penalized with very high mana costs. Part of the reason why leveling is so fast.

  Odd, no one has flamed him to reviewing the game before he has even played past the newb zone.  I suppose that is left to use against people who dislike it.  Typical of you all.

  I will say that I'm glad you enjoyed your time, thus far, with it.  I would also advise against approaching the actual game (anything post Tortage) with new eyes...because expecting it to flow like the previous of your 23 levels has will end with you being a little upset.  As I understand it, the story is still there...but the execution isn't the same at all.   Based on what I keep hearing, my mind has compared this to saying that Tortage is like playing an interactive movie of awesome...whereas post-Tortage is like playing an MMO.  Which isn't surprising...AoC IS an MMO after all.

  Just make sure you aren't expecting more interactive movie, I guess.  Please come back and review more once you've lanced out into the world more...I'd love to hear how it fleshes out.  I don't mean that in a "God I can't wait to flame you to DEATH over inane crap" either.  I'd actually like to hear how the MMO side of this is once you leave the innovation of Tortage.

i'm hitting those at about 20% i use the mouse instead of the number keys and the delay to ouse over seems to get me more combos.

Originally posted by Gishgeron

 

 

  Odd, no one has flamed him to reviewing the game before he has even played past the newb zone.  I suppose that is left to use against people who dislike it.  Typical of you all.

  I will say that I'm glad you enjoyed your time, thus far, with it.  I would also advise against approaching the actual game (anything post Tortage) with new eyes...because expecting it to flow like the previous of your 23 levels has will end with you being a little upset.  As I understand it, the story is still there...but the execution isn't the same at all.   Based on what I keep hearing, my mind has compared this to saying that Tortage is like playing an interactive movie of awesome...whereas post-Tortage is like playing an MMO.  Which isn't surprising...AoC IS an MMO after all.

  Just make sure you aren't expecting more interactive movie, I guess.  Please come back and review more once you've lanced out into the world more...I'd love to hear how it fleshes out.  I don't mean that in a "God I can't wait to flame you to DEATH over inane crap" either.  I'd actually like to hear how the MMO side of this is once you leave the innovation of Tortage.

Well, I think the amount of time and cost to do voice acting for ever single quest was probably too much. Tortage is a great hook, so to speak. And yes it's disappointing to loose the voice acting after tortage (except your destiny quest that picks up at level 30). However, Tortage had the same types of quests in other zones. The quest lines were a bit more polished, but the best and most innovative quests were your destiny quests.

It would take a lot of effort to work to put in the same level of care into all quests in the game.

There's some quests that were interesting and fun outside tortage. I had to find out what happened to this guy in Khemi and it turns out he was fed to a snake as a sacrifice to set. Seeing that snake that had recently devoured him looking really fat was quite disturbing, but memorable!

I have two big complaints about AoC. There should be more destiny quests between tortage and level 30. Perhaps they simply wanted you to do what you want for 7-12 levels, but would be nice to have a continuous story that you can follow at your own pace.

the second is there's not much incentive to group. I like to solo a lot, but in WoW you got quests to do WC and you can only do it as a group. It was an obvious multiplayer dungeon. I wish AoC would have gone this route. You can do these instances solo. I want to be forced to group and learn how to heal a group, but I have no idea if that zone is like Archeron ruins, or is an actual dungeon meant to be grouped. It's just confusing to me. It's a silly complaint I know, but I think AoC should have eased you into the grouping process like WoW did by giving you incentives to do fairly easy low level dungeons to get used to group dynamics as you level. In AoC I feel like I can solo everything so there doesn't seem to be a nexus point for people looking for groups.

Originally posted by ajax7

i'm hitting those at about 20% i use the mouse instead of the number keys and the delay to ouse over seems to get me more combos.

Ajax, thanks. Was wondering if it was a small percentage. Then I am doing it correctly. Does make for more interactive combat vs. auto attack. Thanks for the reply.

tip for melee, if your in a zone with doorways, stand in the doorway draw the mobs to you and that keeps them in the combat cone in front of you so you hit them all each attack, i can take 4 or 5 this way.

Originally posted by Anlar

 

Originally posted by Gishgeron

 

 

  Odd, no one has flamed him to reviewing the game before he has even played past the newb zone.  I suppose that is left to use against people who dislike it.  Typical of you all.

  I will say that I'm glad you enjoyed your time, thus far, with it.  I would also advise against approaching the actual game (anything post Tortage) with new eyes...because expecting it to flow like the previous of your 23 levels has will end with you being a little upset.  As I understand it, the story is still there...but the execution isn't the same at all.   Based on what I keep hearing, my mind has compared this to saying that Tortage is like playing an interactive movie of awesome...whereas post-Tortage is like playing an MMO.  Which isn't surprising...AoC IS an MMO after all.

  Just make sure you aren't expecting more interactive movie, I guess.  Please come back and review more once you've lanced out into the world more...I'd love to hear how it fleshes out.  I don't mean that in a "God I can't wait to flame you to DEATH over inane crap" either.  I'd actually like to hear how the MMO side of this is once you leave the innovation of Tortage.

 

Well, I think the amount of time and cost to do voice acting for ever single quest was probably too much. Tortage is a great hook, so to speak. And yes it's disappointing to loose the voice acting after tortage (except your destiny quest that picks up at level 30). However, Tortage had the same types of quests in other zones. The quest lines were a bit more polished, but the best and most innovative quests were your destiny quests.

 

It would take a lot of effort to work to put in the same level of care into all quests in the game.

There's some quests that were interesting and fun outside tortage. I had to find out what happened to this guy in Khemi and it turns out he was fed to a snake as a sacrifice to set. Seeing that snake that had recently devoured him looking really fat was quite disturbing, but memorable!

 

I have two big complaints about AoC. There should be more destiny quests between tortage and level 30. Perhaps they simply wanted you to do what you want for 7-12 levels, but would be nice to have a continuous story that you can follow at your own pace.

 

the second is there's not much incentive to group. I like to solo a lot, but in WoW you got quests to do WC and you can only do it as a group. It was an obvious multiplayer dungeon. I wish AoC would have gone this route. You can do these instances solo. I want to be forced to group and learn how to heal a group, but I have no idea if that zone is like Archeron ruins, or is an actual dungeon meant to be grouped. It's just confusing to me. It's a silly complaint I know, but I think AoC should have eased you into the grouping process like WoW did by giving you incentives to do fairly easy low level dungeons to get used to group dynamics as you level. In AoC I feel like I can solo everything so there doesn't seem to be a nexus point for people looking for groups.

Yes you can solo it, but I did group several times to kil some bosses, or to help the squishy cloth mages.

Two man groups can fly through this so get in a guild and start lvl'ing with new friends!

yes, timing is a factor in combos...there's a rythm to it that you will pick up.

Also, make sure to combo to sides that your enemy has no shields, or only 1 shield assigned to. If you need to open them up for that combo, use directional attacks to a different side to get them to guard there, then go for the combo.

Edit: for those who want to play casters, but still enjoy a good amount of melee combat, try the HoX...it's a great mix of the two....kind of like a demonic battlemage. And the "burn" fatalities are a blast.

Grouping... Well if you havnt tried the "Epic" setting yet I would do so. Holy crap so much fun! I spent about 6 hours yesterday (sad I know) with some random stranger and had a great time. We went from 14-21 and the time flew by. Just becouse the game doesnt force you to group doesnt mean you dont have to..

That was a great review Ajax7, thanks!

Being in the UK, I will have to wait until Friday but I am looking forward to it more than ever now.

Originally posted by Joshyray

Grouping... Well if you havnt tried the "Epic" setting yet I would do so. Holy crap so much fun! I spent about 6 hours yesterday (sad I know) with some random stranger and had a great time. We went from 14-21 and the time flew by. Just becouse the game doesnt force you to group doesnt mean you dont have to..

  This post appeals to me.  As a fan of City of Heros...I can follow this logic WELL.  You aren't forced to group..but doing so makes the game blistering fun to play.  In that game, you could solo your mission.  OR....you could grab 8 people, jack the difficulty to max, and then proceed to enter the SAME mission with massive amounts of mobs with higher levels.  Instead of killing 3 or 4 things at a time...the battle became a hailstorm of gun fire and carnage, with enemy bodies flying around the room and explosions going off.  Epic indeed.

  This is probably the most enjoyable thing I've heard YET about the game.

Gish, as you level up you get true "group quests" too that you need a group with solid dps/healing/tank to do easily. There are also group dungeons as you level up, they just dont put em in the early early levels.

Thanks for that info not there yet.