After playing MMO's for years much like a number of you I found myself checking out Aion and wondering if Aion would be that "next best thing" we all want in an MMO game. I think a ton of people even myself held out hope that Aion would be the next EQ or WoW. Well after sitting down and playing for a week and a half I have to say....

No it's not.

Much like Age of Conan many people flocked to Aion and just in my first week alone I've seen tons of people quit, I myself have run into some down right rude players on the so called "role playing" server. And I think it's safe to say that Aion is far from the next best thing. Lets open her up and see why Aion is just going to become another nitch MMO that isn't the best MMO around but nice for some.

*Gameplay*

Game play is like every other MMO for the most part, you start off with a few classes to pick from and level up, at level 10 you have two classes to pick from with whatever starting class you took. In this case I took Scout and had to pick from Ranger, Aion's main ranged class and Assassin a duel wielding DPS Class. All and all the system is like most MMO's on the market, kill and do quests that have you kill or find *X* amount of things and gain Xp.

The faults however are in plan sight.

First off in order to gain any new skills one has to buy a Book with said Skills in them. Now this would be all find and dandy however you have to take into mind that your going to need Armor, Weapons and Healing Items as you go on. Meaning you have to really watch your money. Now the big fault is thanks to NCSoft not stopping Money Farmers, items in Aion cost a ton of money to get. Meaning you really have to think about if you want that new Armor or be able to use a new skill.

The other big fault is how long it takes to level in Aion, the game had in my eyes one of the longest grind from 1 to 10 then any game I have played to date! Unlike most games where the first few levels in the newbie zone do not take that long and do teach you what you need to know about your class, and how to play. Aion just tends to go on for next to forever, this is just way too slow in my eyes for any MMO on the market and it just cannot hold people in the game.

Moving on... Combat is well like every other MMO on the market. See a Target, go after it and hit whatever key you have for one of your specials. Some Specials have Combo Chains that allow you to do more damage, however this gets boring really fast. It's not fun. And at times Combat feels broken, I've had many times where I go after a target hit it ones and then do a special on it only to have to hit my attack again in order to keep hitting the target. This really turns into if you move your head for a second, you could find yourself getting kicked around by whatever you are fighting.

PvP is just unbalanced from what I've seen and heard. I did a few duels with my Assassin and well much like every Fantasy game on the market, Mage looks to be the way to go with Aion.

*The Player Base*

Rude. Like I said I rolled up on what many people have said is Aion's RP Server, and I have to say the amount of rude people who run around with an RP tag is mind boggling. One person today led a few Mobs to me in a newbie area before running off and sending me a whisper about how this area was his grinding area. The GM staff doesn't do anything to stop things like this, and the role players just will not welcome anyone new into their circles.

*Looks and sounds*

The music and sounds can get a tad old really fast, and at times it feels like it doesn't fit with the setting. Other then that the game does really look good, and it runs well unlike other next gen MMO's or even older MMO's that love to crash every other hour.

*My over all view*

Aion is the new Age of Conan. Granted right now it's drawing in players due to how "new" it is. However the turn over rate from what I've seen is going strong. I haven't found anything outside the insanely long grind that makes me wish to stay in Aion, and with an unfriendly and unhelpful player base I don't see the game lasting too long on the top.

Over all Aion is a bust.

You probably seen a lot of the game in a week and half to begin with. Money is not hard to come by and for a so called MMO veteran you should know how to manage your in-game money. I never ran out of money really... 1-10 a grind ? haha, i think i've done the 1-10 in like 3 hours gameplay... MMO veteran from 1 MMO perhaps ? At least if you're going to give a review of a game, play it more than 10 days, especially MMOs and stop pretending you're a veteran cause you don't look like one at all...

you really seem like a veteran of one particular mmo.

a week and a half is hardly enough time to decide if a game is "next best thing"

You clearly haven't left the starting area and neglected (didnt know probably) mentioning real problems of the game like bots, rmt, siege crashes.

fail.

Not only are you a noob, but you are a terrible noob.

"Aion would be the next EQ or WoW" Aion is Aion. Expecting it to be something else is fail.

"in my first week alone I've seen tons of people quit" I think you mean "log out" rather than "quit". My server still has an excellent population. Remember, logging out does not equal quitting.

"PvP is just unbalanced from what I've seen and heard. I did a few duels with my Assassin..." LOL. You are a moron.

I give your troll post "1.5 chuckles" on the laugh scale.

By far the single worst review I've read...

At least other reviews that I didn't agree with did have SOME valid points.

Sounds like you got to lvl 10 (and a grind? 3 hours is a grind).... and now you somehow think your an expert. I'd like to know WHAT MMOs you have actually played...

My guess? You're another poster who hates Aion and created a new account to try and get SOME sort of credibility... and honestly, you failed miserably.

If you want to claim to be an MMO "vet" and know what your talking about - actually play the damn game. Reading forum posts about how things "are" doesn't give you anything.... "Many people in Aion have already quit from what I've say.... lawl" - how would you even know? Most people don't quit in the starter zone...

{mod edit} I thought this was gonna be a good read too (whether I agree/disagree doesn't matter - you have absolutely no idea what you're talking about). 

{mod edit}

 This guy just does not know how to play. It took me less than 2 days to level 1-25 for my new cleric alt. i did 1-10 and then I crafted (with support from my main of course for supplies) to level 25. At 399 crafting it's 3,499  a pop - times that by 20 = 69,980 XP per 2.8 minutes. Rinse Repeat -. It takes aprox 40 minutes per 1 million XP if you are grinding work orders from the "hot spot" where you don't have to move to turn in and start crafting again.

This game is way to easy to level in - so whatever to the OP!

 Actually i Agree with the OP for the most part, but saying that i have'nt reached 22+ so i havnt even reached the real content yet

The true sad part is Aion just isn't a fun game. It takes too long to do anything in Aion, and really I wouldn't want to group up with people who proclaim that they are role players only to be stabbed in the back when it comes down to loot and gear. Aion is like I said Age of Conan 2009. From what I've been reading a good chunk of the player base is leaving thanks to NCSofts in action with bots and gold farmers.

I wouldn't tell anyone to go to Aion, maybe if it makes it another year or two and NCSoft gets their act going and starts taking action to make the game better. However NCSofts past shows that's just a pipe dream at most.

Great post...but your first paragraph made me laugh. May I ask you sir why your looking for another MMO like EQ or WoW? Maybe you should go play them if your so focused on another similar MMO. 

Can't folks just play a new MMO anymore without comparing it to every other MMO on the market and just play to have....whats that word again....FUN!! ya thats it.  I mean seriously, do you have that much time on your hands? If so maybe you should look into getting some schooling to focus your wasted energy elsewhere. Either that or stop playing MMOs, you sound abit worn out of them to me.

 Meh, Im in no way saying Aion is the greatest thing on earth. But alot of what you said leads me to believe you may be a vet but not a very good one. Money is hard to come by? Maybe If you don't know or care how to work an auction house, or for that matter just find what is selling. I've had loads more than I need to buy armor and even level crafting (real grind).

 Leveling is a grind? I found 1 to 10 to be fairly pleasant as well. Of course like you said it is run of the mill as far as that goes. From that point on its not too bad, but I might agree with you that you may have to grind a bit If you want better xp. Although this game may be nothign special, I'd say its still a pretty good game, will only get better with time to add mroe content.

After nearly two months of play I'd agree with the OP but not necessarily for the reasons stated.

Originally posted by Ethian

Great post...but your first paragraph made me laugh. May I ask you sir why your looking for another MMO like EQ or WoW? Maybe you should go play them if your so focused on another similar MMO. 

 

Can't folks just play a new MMO anymore without comparing it to every other MMO on the market and just play to have....whats that word again....FUN!! ya thats it.  I mean seriously, do you have that much time on your hands? If so maybe you should look into getting some schooling to focus your wasted energy elsewhere. Either that or stop playing MMOs, you sound abit worn out of them to me.

What it comes down to is this, EQ was a great game that gave the MMO Player Base a new way of playing. WoW just dumbed down a few of the things EQ did and made it work a bit better. So the thing is most people are going to be looking for a new game that is like EQ or WoW rather then look for something truely new.
 

Originally posted by OneMMOVet

Originally posted by Ethian

Great post...but your first paragraph made me laugh. May I ask you sir why your looking for another MMO like EQ or WoW? Maybe you should go play them if your so focused on another similar MMO. 

 

Can't folks just play a new MMO anymore without comparing it to every other MMO on the market and just play to have....whats that word again....FUN!! ya thats it.  I mean seriously, do you have that much time on your hands? If so maybe you should look into getting some schooling to focus your wasted energy elsewhere. Either that or stop playing MMOs, you sound abit worn out of them to me.

What it comes down to is this, EQ was a great game that gave the MMO Player Base a new way of playing. WoW just dumbed down a few of the things EQ did and made it work a bit better. So the thing is most people are going to be looking for a new game that is like EQ or WoW rather then look for something truely new.
 

 Funny you say that when that whiners complain that every new MMO is a WoW "clone". Not sure where your getting your info from but its false. Everyones waiting for the new ground breaking MMO, which isnt going to happen anytime soon unfortionately. Maybe they'll realize their burnt out of the genre 5 years from now when new MMOs are still very similar to each other.  
 

Originally posted by FatGamer

 This guy just does not know how to play. It took me less than 2 days to level 1-25 for my new cleric alt. i did 1-10 and then I crafted (with support from my main of course for supplies) to level 25. At 399 crafting it's 3,499  a pop - times that by 20 = 69,980 XP per 2.8 minutes. Rinse Repeat -. It takes aprox 40 minutes per 1 million XP if you are grinding work orders from the "hot spot" where you don't have to move to turn in and start crafting again.

 

This game is way to easy to level in - so whatever to the OP!

I agree but, to be fair, leveling a cleric is very easy to do in Aion. I have yet to die from my Cleric, which I do like but I play a Cleric more because I enjoy being a healer in groups; and they're always needed.

Nothing is Realy New about Aion, Which isent bad kinda like WoW took good things from all MMOs and made somthing that works and complies to the fans needs Aion is not the MMO savior but its a good start!

Originally posted by OneMMOVet

After playing MMO's for years much like a number of you I found myself checking out Aion and wondering if Aion would be that "next best thing" we all want in an MMO game. I think a ton of people even myself held out hope that Aion would be the next EQ or WoW. Well after sitting down and playing for a week and a half I have to say....

No it's not.

Much like Age of Conan many people flocked to Aion and just in my first week alone I've seen tons of people quit, I myself have run into some down right rude players on the so called "role playing" server. And I think it's safe to say that Aion is far from the next best thing. Lets open her up and see why Aion is just going to become another nitch MMO that isn't the best MMO around but nice for some.

*Gameplay*

Game play is like every other MMO for the most part, you start off with a few classes to pick from and level up, at level 10 you have two classes to pick from with whatever starting class you took. In this case I took Scout and had to pick from Ranger, Aion's main ranged class and Assassin a duel wielding DPS Class. All and all the system is like most MMO's on the market, kill and do quests that have you kill or find *X* amount of things and gain Xp.

The faults however are in plan sight.

First off in order to gain any new skills one has to buy a Book with said Skills in them. Now this would be all find and dandy however you have to take into mind that your going to need Armor, Weapons and Healing Items as you go on. Meaning you have to really watch your money. Now the big fault is thanks to NCSoft not stopping Money Farmers, items in Aion cost a ton of money to get. Meaning you really have to think about if you want that new Armor or be able to use a new skill.

The other big fault is how long it takes to level in Aion, the game had in my eyes one of the longest grind from 1 to 10 then any game I have played to date! Unlike most games where the first few levels in the newbie zone do not take that long and do teach you what you need to know about your class, and how to play. Aion just tends to go on for next to forever, this is just way too slow in my eyes for any MMO on the market and it just cannot hold people in the game.

Moving on... Combat is well like every other MMO on the market. See a Target, go after it and hit whatever key you have for one of your specials. Some Specials have Combo Chains that allow you to do more damage, however this gets boring really fast. It's not fun. And at times Combat feels broken, I've had many times where I go after a target hit it ones and then do a special on it only to have to hit my attack again in order to keep hitting the target. This really turns into if you move your head for a second, you could find yourself getting kicked around by whatever you are fighting.

PvP is just unbalanced from what I've seen and heard. I did a few duels with my Assassin and well much like every Fantasy game on the market, Mage looks to be the way to go with Aion.

*The Player Base*

Rude. Like I said I rolled up on what many people have said is Aion's RP Server, and I have to say the amount of rude people who run around with an RP tag is mind boggling. One person today led a few Mobs to me in a newbie area before running off and sending me a whisper about how this area was his grinding area. The GM staff doesn't do anything to stop things like this, and the role players just will not welcome anyone new into their circles.

*Looks and sounds*

The music and sounds can get a tad old really fast, and at times it feels like it doesn't fit with the setting. Other then that the game does really look good, and it runs well unlike other next gen MMO's or even older MMO's that love to crash every other hour.

*My over all view*

Aion is the new Age of Conan. Granted right now it's drawing in players due to how "new" it is. However the turn over rate from what I've seen is going strong. I haven't found anything outside the insanely long grind that makes me wish to stay in Aion, and with an unfriendly and unhelpful player base I don't see the game lasting too long on the top.

Over all Aion is a bust.

Well, since you've thrown yourself into the altar of the audience I suppose you don't mind another old timer taking a critical shot at your testament.

Aion and AoC have been measured often, but the measurement haven't been just. Funcom declared they'll take WoW down. NCSoft said they are satisfied with 2nd place. There is a big difference, not only marketingwise but also expectionswise.

Aion gameplay (it seemed to be an annoyance to you) is good enough. It's easily adapted and complex enough to satisfy the normal player.
It's a strenght, not a weakness as you try to imply.

I'm level 40. I have bought all the skills there is for me atm. I've gathered my Kinah and I have good enough equips. I still have over 1mQ in pocket. Where's the "watch your money" part?

I had a chat with my friend in a MMORPG game named Dofus. He asked me how the Aion is, and I said it's ok although the levelling is a bit slow compared to other MMOs. He asked how bad is it and I said it takes about 2 months to get to max level. He laughed at me (we both know it takes about 2 years to get to max level in Dofus).
It's not bad to have a high levelling curve. It makes you fell every level special.

You really didn't catch the chaining? The chaining with it's random possibilities opens you a chance to hit another "bonus" skill. If you missed this one, you've just defined yourself as a buttin masher. It's not too hard, but it might be too hard to some.

The Player Base...

What? What did you expect in an MMO? Handholdin? You sound like me trying out AoC for the 3rd time. I got ganked while returning a quest and decided: You can keep your game. The difference is that you tried to heal your sore ass in the forums.

To your last paragraph, you're so wrong. Aion isn't the new AoC. There just too many directional differences. Aion might be L2 in west, but that's yet to see. There's quite a many anime people worldwide =).

Overall, I can speak only for myself. Aion is what I want for now.

 you're like a month late on the aion reviews. Truth be told its just another fantasy mmo like the rest, i'm loving the fact that there are actually new genres of mmo's coming out 2010. There will never be a fantasy mmo that is as good as WoW. 

Originally posted by OneMMOVet

The true sad part is Aion just isn't a fun game. It takes too long to do anything in Aion, and really I wouldn't want to group up with people who proclaim that they are role players only to be stabbed in the back when it comes down to loot and gear. Aion is like I said Age of Conan 2009. From what I've been reading a good chunk of the player base is leaving thanks to NCSofts in action with bots and gold farmers.

I wouldn't tell anyone to go to Aion, maybe if it makes it another year or two and NCSoft gets their act going and starts taking action to make the game better. However NCSofts past shows that's just a pipe dream at most.

If there's one thing I've come to learn, it's that reviews from "MMO vets" are worthless, more often than not.  "MMO vets" almost always carry an agenda with them, and are therefore some of the least objective people on the planet regarding MMOs.  Besides, nothing will ever measure up to their first MMO love, which many are desparate to rekindle but never will because they will never get over their first.

Whether or not Aion is fun for you, your opinion is not "truth".

Most of the points made by the supposedly veteran OP are things that a truly objective veteran would be embarrassed to post.  Such as:

Level 1 to 10 a grind, when it is routinely done in 3 to 4 hours by new players.

Money problems forcing choices between training and gear.  Low level training books are brutally cheap, as is the gear (especially now that the wave of people is well past low level, prices on low level gear have come down dramatically, as any "vet" would expect).

The OP clearly just doesn't like the the game, which is fine.  But offer proof of things like subscription loss on something a little harder than your supposed "veteran" interpretation of reading message boards.  That's rookie crap, and just proves you've an agenda and an axe to grind (like any "jilted lover" who didn't find a new "one").

Overall, a worthless review.  To the OP, until you learn to open your mind, and accept new games for what they are instead of what you believe they should be in your personal fantasy world, you are always going to be disappointed.  Always.

Originally posted by Rohn

Originally posted by OneMMOVet

The true sad part is Aion just isn't a fun game. It takes too long to do anything in Aion, and really I wouldn't want to group up with people who proclaim that they are role players only to be stabbed in the back when it comes down to loot and gear. Aion is like I said Age of Conan 2009. From what I've been reading a good chunk of the player base is leaving thanks to NCSofts in action with bots and gold farmers.

I wouldn't tell anyone to go to Aion, maybe if it makes it another year or two and NCSoft gets their act going and starts taking action to make the game better. However NCSofts past shows that's just a pipe dream at most.

 

If there's one thing I've come to learn, it's that reviews from "MMO vets" are worthless, more often than not.  "MMO vets" almost always carry an agenda with them, and are therefore some of the least objective people on the planet regarding MMOs.  Besides, nothing will ever measure up to their first MMO love, which many are desparate to rekindle but never will because they will never get over their first.

Whether or not Aion is fun for you, your opinion is not "truth".

Most of the points made by the supposedly veteran OP are things that a truly objective veteran would be embarrassed to post.  Such as:

Level 1 to 10 a grind, when it is routinely done in 3 to 4 hours by new players.

Money problems forcing choices between training and gear.  Low level training books are brutally cheap, as is the gear (especially now that the wave of people is well past low level, prices on low level gear have come down dramatically, as any "vet" would expect).

The OP clearly just doesn't like the the game, which is fine.  But offer proof of things like subscription loss on something a little harder than your supposed "veteran" interpretation of reading message boards.  That's rookie crap, and just proves you've an agenda and an axe to grind (like any "jilted lover" who didn't find a new "one").

Overall, a worthless review.  To the OP, until you learn to open your mind, and accept new games for what they are instead of what you believe they should be in your personal fantasy world, you are always going to be disappointed.  Always.

Somehow your way of handling the issue, made me fell in love with you. (figure of speak, pumpkin).

I tried to write another reply to his post but I hassled something with my comp just at the moment.

Originally posted by Rohn 

If there's one thing I've come to learn, it's that reviews from "MMO vets" are worthless, more often than not.  "MMO vets" almost always carry an agenda with them, and are therefore some of the least objective people on the planet regarding MMOs.

Exactly! Well said.

It is more of a warning sign of someone believing their opinion must necessarily be worth more.