With talk of EVE Online's next expansion, Apocrypha, getting more and more frequest, we thought it might be a good idea to ask EVE Online expert Andrew Wallace to write a review of the game's last expansion, Quantum Rise.

EVE is no stranger to upheaval. It is a constantly evolving beast, and has been since its release back in 2003. Rather than consolidating all of their updates into a single release every year or so, CCP releases two major expansions for free each year, but it would be wrong to say that just because they appear more frequently and cost nothing that they are lacking somewhat. Each one is substantial enough to bring about a new age for the game, requiring players to adjust their strategies accordingly, and Quantum Rise was no different. It was also not short on controversy, with some players heralding that the speed changes it was bringing would ruin EVE; that this was it, the apocalypse was on its way, and it had a November release date. Well, shockingly enough, November has come and gone, and EVE is still here; stronger than ever, perhaps, having recently reached a new Peak Concurrent User (PCU) record of 45,186 at the beginning of 2009. Anyway, is the latest expansion for EVE Online any good? Yes. That's the simple answer; it's a good expansion, but not for the reasons you might expect. There isn't a swarm of fancy new ships to look at, no new weapons to blast each other with; not much new stuff at all, oh no. What makes Quantum Rise deserving of the score below and has caused such an impact to the game has much more to do with the balances and upgrades to what was already there. Let's pop the hood and take a look.

Read the Quantum Rise Review

these pictures dont do the game justice.. looks like they were taken with a 10 year old ocmputer.

Eve is a fun game that has now been the 2nd longest mmo i've ever played. I love the sanbox style this game has to offer.  Cant wait for Earthrise too.

The pictures shown are not what I see on my high end comp. You can do better than that! :)

Most of the time your staring at icons and the overview on the screen so what's the difference.

The only time you get a nice screen shot when actually playing the game is when something goes boom.  Otherwise I'd call it false advertisment for the screen shots people love to use to tout Eve.

Originally posted by Sargoth

Most of the time your staring at icons and the overview on the screen so what's the difference.

The only time you get a nice screen shot when actually playing the game is when something goes boom.  Otherwise I'd call it false advertisment for the screen shots people love to use to tout Eve.

Dunno what your talking about... eve looks gorgeous when I play, not only when something pops. those pictures look like it came from an Atari.

 Yea I am a new Eve player and the game is one of the best looking games I have ever seen .

Originally posted by kaladek51

Originally posted by Sargoth

Most of the time your staring at icons and the overview on the screen so what's the difference.

The only time you get a nice screen shot when actually playing the game is when something goes boom.  Otherwise I'd call it false advertisment for the screen shots people love to use to tout Eve.

 

Dunno what your talking about... eve looks gorgeous when I play, not only when something pops. those pictures look like it came from an Atari.

i think he may be using the old graphics client maybe? cause it can't be the newer trinity client, cause i get about 20+ screenshots a day with what could be called "space art". The game's scenary and graphcs are stunning (and run amazingly well i might add)

Qunatum

Typo

Nice review btw

Excellent review.

I think EVE needs to be re-reviewed after the March 10th expansion. It should score more than 8 then.

Apologies for the poor quality on the screenshots, it's something I'm looking into.

Originally posted by Sargoth

Most of the time your staring at icons and the overview on the screen so what's the difference.

The only time you get a nice screen shot when actually playing the game is when something goes boom.  Otherwise I'd call it false advertisment for the screen shots people love to use to tout Eve.

Staring at the overview?

I don't know how you play, but it seems a bit wrong... Once you aquired your targets, you need more to focus on the environment than anything else.

I'm mostly flying small ships, and you'd better pay attention to where you fly not to band into something like a stargate when fighting than watching the overview.

Quantum rise didn't add many ships, but it gave back use to many ships and some modules I wouldn't use anymore.

Inties on AB, assault frigates, cruisers and HAS that weren't too good in the nano trend...

I have to agree that EVE should rate higher than an 8. It's easily the best MMO I have played and I have played alot. (WoW, EQ2, Heroes/Villians, LoTR, etc.) It's not for everyone, I agree, but still should rate at least an 8.5.

He's not rating Eve, he's rating the expansion.

Originally posted by BarakIII

He's not rating Eve, he's rating the expansion.

It's the same thing, but the March 10 expansion will be out soon and if they re-review EVE then, the mark should go up.

Well I will disagree about the certificates.  Most of the seem to always include a nonnecessary skill in the group to get the certificate.  Been playing this game for years and I qualify for few certificates even for the areas I specialize in.  To take the time to train up a skill I won't use just to get a certificate is a real stretch in absurdity.  So I basically scoff at anyone mentioning them.  The initilal release of them does not serve much purpose in the game at present. 

Originally posted by Jack_Target

Excellent review.

I think EVE needs to be re-reviewed after the March 10th expansion. It should score more than 8 then.

Considering QR was a very small Content patch an 8 was actually suprising.

I love eve but im not such a fanboi to give QR a score it doesn't deserve.

Anyway imo Eve will need a re-review about six months after ambulation (to give players sometime to fill stations and give each one identity).

With the march xpac and ambulation along with the particle and planet graphics revamp, then i would like to see a re-review.

Overall I give QR a 7 since the nerfs while needed still messed the game up for certain people and nerfs aren't fun imo.

Originally posted by Sargoth

Most of the time your staring at icons and the overview on the screen so what's the difference.

The only time you get a nice screen shot when actually playing the game is when something goes boom.  Otherwise I'd call it false advertisment for the screen shots people love to use to tout Eve.

um, maybe for you.

Why are you reviewing one of worst expansions to hit the game, and then lower EVE's overall rating??

The conclusion would be that the expansion made the game worse,  something is not right here.

I do hope, as someone said earlier in this thread, that you review EVE after Apocrypha.

Actually, I agree with you.

It's a pity the lower rating happens just before EVE is about to be sold in shops.

Originally posted by Goparu

Why are you reviewing one of worst expansions to hit the game, and then lower EVE's overall rating??

 

The conclusion would be that the expansion made the game worse,  something is not right here.

 

I do hope, as someone said earlier in this thread, that you review EVE after Apocrypha.

I'm looking into it, but I think the change in rating from 8.5 to 9.0 is an error. Generally, expansion review scored don't alter overall ame review scores.