After Ultima Online there has been very few titles that has dared to try it's concept again..

A few has tried to make a skillbased MMORPG's, Wish was one title that the developers canceled on it's doorstep..

Star Wars Galaxies and maybe Acherons Call had sort of semi skillbased systems, and also free to roam worlds..

EvE, a space MMO in the same sence as Elite or Privateer, a sandbox world and a skillbased system that grows skills offline.

And now Darkfall has arrived claimed by it's followers to be a spirital successor to early days of Ultima..

I will give you my review...

Characther creation..

A very basic characther creation tool, with many basic features currently disabled, like skin tone etc..Basically you will look almost identical to the next characther.

Tutorial and start of the game :

You magically appear at 1 out of 3 newbie areas belonging to the race of your choice, with a sword that can't be looted or destroyed. There is now a tutorial window that pops up as you enter.. After that you can talk with a councelor that gives you a quest for gobblins, these quests are the same for every race, they have just copied and pasted them to every starting area..

Graphics/sound/animations:

The worlds graphics aka the outdoor graphics does it's job rather good for an engine that seem's to be aged in almost every sence. It does look good mostly because the strong use of shadows, if you turn them off most of the beuty of Darkfall vanishes quickly IMO..
But as you combine the overall effect off added animations and sound and very ugly avatar graphics you get a game that looks and feels very cheap.

Sound effects are even disturbing, you will have to tone down your volume othervise you will end up with some very loud noice when a skill raises or you jump, all the time you will hear the ugly sound of mana missile as players train that everywhere..there is no enviromental audio at all and hardly no music..

First fight :

You head out in your underwear, yes underwear with your equipped blade, you will soon notice that some of the matching skills starts to "ding", like running, sprinting etc. When you strike you first blow at a goblin you will notice that melee is nothing else than you strike/goblin strike, you can also try to block the blow with a reactive block..

Bow fighting is rather nice in the game, it's a FPS mode/arc aiming archery

Then magic, needs a staff and later it will also need reagents, the problem i see with magic is that it basically needs macroing to get you anywhere, both in the way of obtaining reagents and also in the tedious training of the mage skills..

Alignment system
There is 3 modes in Darkfall, blue = Lawful, Grey = rogue and red = Criminal/murderer.
Each race has a couple of sworn enemies, wich let's you raise your status from red back to blue.

First PVP/Grief and meeting with some exploiter :

There is a greater chance in this game that your first PvP encounter will be another player that tries to fool you to become grey(rogue), this is done with ease in Darkfall, just jump infront of someone swinging his sword, and bang that person is now grey and you can kill him without penalty..

And in the event you became "grey" the towers of any city or outpost will kill you and then the player that fooled you will loot you dry.

And if you will come upon someone that is your enemy it's only a matter of who will drink the most potions of stamina and get the most hit's on your probably running like crazy enemy.

There is countless of other exploits rampaging this game, the fans ofcourse claim that most of it works as intended.
There is no point in even trying to argue with these fans, they will most certainly not listen to anything scared that teir ability to cheat the innocent players remain in the game..

MOBS/Wildlife:

The game is almost empty from both NPC's and wildlife and has a very sparse Mob selection, you can run for a half hour without seeing as much as single mob, this is done so the game runs smoothly, wich ofcourse it did during my beta test.
This alone makes this game an enormous battlefield, but far from a living breathing world it should be in any MMORPG..
To bad really because the developers has actually made a deacent world but without any population part from it's bloodthirsty cheaters of playerbase it has almost nothing.

Other skills/professions part from killing

There is crafting and Gathering skills wich is a very grindy process..

As I also thought this game was supposedly crafted after Ultima Online I also took for granted that they would introduce real rogue skills, lockpicking, pickpocketing etc ...But neither is in this game, and if you try to ask the fanbase about this you will certainly get flamed for even asking..

Overall..

The very core game of Darkfall is there, but to truly become something like Ultima Online they will have to work with this game for atleast a couple of years more. Now it's not even close to a rpg, as everything is almost left out part from fighting, there is no lore no nothing just a world with locations and your enemies..If you ask of this the fans tells you to STFU or read the homepage..

5/10 It should actually be lower, but I gave Aventurine a couple of points more due to the fact that some of the areas in this game is actually good, and If they really stop listening to the most of it's rabid fanboys they have a small chance at creating something here..See you in a few years..

/junker

Sounds like you played a day, maybe.  Sorry you didn't have fun.

Sounds like the best review.

 Well I liked how despite his obviously biased tone from the start still couldnt downrate the game more then 5/10.

He had to swallow his own bias and admit that there where certain parts of the game that where actually quite good.

All the issues he had seems trivial to me.

-Darkstar

Originally posted by dark-merlin

Let me ask you is that your picture in your AV?

 

Its forbidden for ugly people to play Darkfall.

 

 

Is this the "Hey look! I disagree with this review but cant argue it so I'll just insult the OP's looks!" defense?

Originally posted by fyerwall

Originally posted by dark-merlin

Let me ask you is that your picture in your AV?

 

Its forbidden for ugly people to play Darkfall.

 

 

 

Is this the "Hey look! I disagree with this review but cant argue it so I'll just insult the OP's looks!" defense?

Trolls of this here game have come up with much worse over the years....shall I look up the google earth aventurine = darfall vaporware thread thats floating around?

Originally posted by dark-merlin

Originally posted by fyerwall

Originally posted by dark-merlin

Let me ask you is that your picture in your AV?

 

Its forbidden for ugly people to play Darkfall.

 

 

 

Is this the "Hey look! I disagree with this review but cant argue it so I'll just insult the OP's looks!" defense?

 

Trolls of this here game have come up with much worse over the years....shall I look up the google earth aventurine = darfall vaporware thread thats floating around?

So you are saying the OP is a troll then?

Originally posted by dark-merlin

Let me ask you is that your picture in your AV?

 

Its forbidden for ugly people to play Darkfall.

 

 

You really have sinked to a new low.

question for OP you will cry on forums if i repetive jump near you when you PVE  and then gank you whit 4-5 ppl ?

Originally posted by thark

This alone makes this game an enormous battlefield, but far from a living breathing world it should be in any MMORPG..

Thanks for this great review thark.

This sucks badly. We are in 2009 and mmorpg developers still take 7 years to put together dead lifeless worlds, and they want to call themselves sandbox ???

This game is nothing different from the 1000 other same console or PC games. Another couterstrike or Quake wars. Where is the mmorpg world with npcs and mobs living, sleeping, traveling and working. Where is the sanbox ? What I see is only players running after each other for hours.

Hmmm....

I have read tons of reviews that are both for and against DF.  I have watched many vids and have been to the DF forums.  I am still sitting on the fence about it.

Positive:  So far, it seems the client is extremely stable.  It is appearant that most the skills work right.  The world is huge and fully exploreable.  Combat is fun.  Very little lag.  Folks find the game fun despite its beta state.

Negative: The world is listed as empty with few mobs.   Though huge, the world's being vast is useless due to being mostly empty.  Crafting and questing is uninspired.  Exploits, macros and griefing are running rampant.  Promised features not in game yet.

The game is still in beta, so many shortfalls can be forgiven to this point.; however, once Aventurine takes money the bar of expectation will (as it should) be raised.

I am not convinced enough to pony up the cash.  FFA PVP with full looting is not enough.  If that was my main focus, I could play the CoD games or even Diablo 2, Titanquest or Sacred 2 online.  For me, I want I viable, living and breathing world.  Only time will tell on this.

What is most pushing me away from DF is not the game, but the community.  Any question, query or negative report brings on vicious attacks by fans that paint a very unflattering portrait of the game's community.  This thread features some of these attacks.

I guess I will wait and see how the game and the community matures.

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Originally posted by dark-merlin
Let me ask you is that your picture in your AV?
 
Its forbidden for ugly people to play Darkfall.
 
 

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Yes, It is me !!

Thanks for the insult kiddie..

But do not worrie, I expected a couple of these responses..Because this is how the fanbase of Darkfall usually reacts :)

/junker

Rouge?

Originally posted by cosy

question for OP you will cry on forums if i repetive jump near you when you PVE  and then gank you whit 4-5 ppl ?

Question is would you cry from the pain if you had the ability to say something with even a hint of intelligence. lmao

I truely hope this persons diminutive intellect isnt contagious, if so we are all doomed!

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Originally posted by Darkstar111
 Well I liked how despite his obviously biased tone from the start still couldnt downrate the game more then 5/10.
 
He had to swallow his own bias and admit that there where certain parts of the game that where actually quite good.
 
All the issues he had seems trivial to me.
 
-Darkstar
 
 
 

---

Well..I gave a reason to why I gave it 5/10 instead of 3/10.

biased or not, It's MY review and my experience with this game. It wasn't made to make any other impression.

The parts in this game is in no form or shape trivial, it's atleast years of work to get that done mr Darkstar, I have seen your countless responses in each and every post on this forum. You defend this game at all costs, very funny :)

But then again if you are satisfied with the content and complexety as it stands right now in Darkfall, well then Aventurine do not have to do anything at all, then I guess I agree with you, It's trivial. It all comes down to preference from player to player.

But my guess is that most players will NOT feel that this is enough

/junker

Originally posted by thark

 

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Originally posted by Darkstar111
 Well I liked how despite his obviously biased tone from the start still couldnt downrate the game more then 5/10.
 
He had to swallow his own bias and admit that there where certain parts of the game that where actually quite good.
 
All the issues he had seems trivial to me.
 
-Darkstar
 
 
 

---

 

Well..I gave a reason to why I gave it 5/10 instead of 3/10.

biased or not, It's MY review and my experience with this game. It wasn't made to make any other impression.

The parts in this game is in no form or shape trivial, it's atleast years of work to get that done mr Darkstar, I have seen your countless responses in each and every post on this forum. You defend this game at all costs, very funny :)

But then again if you are satisfied with the content and complexety as it stands right now in Darkfall, well then Aventurine do not have to do anything at all, then I guess I agree with you, It's trivial. It all comes down to preference from player to player.

But my guess is that most players will NOT feel that this is enough

/junker

How is your forum handle in official forum ?

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Originally posted by DarthRaiden

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Originally posted by thark

 

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Originally posted by Darkstar111
 Well I liked how despite his obviously biased tone from the start still couldnt downrate the game more then 5/10.
 
He had to swallow his own bias and admit that there where certain parts of the game that where actually quite good.
 
All the issues he had seems trivial to me.
 
-Darkstar
 
 
 

---

 
Well..I gave a reason to why I gave it 5/10 instead of 3/10.
biased or not, It's MY review and my experience with this game. It wasn't made to make any other impression.
The parts in this game is in no form or shape trivial, it's atleast years of work to get that done mr Darkstar, I have seen your countless responses in each and every post on this forum. You defend this game at all costs, very funny :)
But then again if you are satisfied with the content and complexety as it stands right now in Darkfall, well then Aventurine do not have to do anything at all, then I guess I agree with you, It's trivial. It all comes down to preference from player to player.
But my guess is that most players will NOT feel that this is enough
/junker

---

 
How is your forum handle in official forum ?

---

Hmm..odd one !!

Originally posted by loxleynew

Originally posted by dark-merlin

Let me ask you is that your picture in your AV?

 

Its forbidden for ugly people to play Darkfall.

 

 

 

You really have sinked to a new low.

agreed, personal attacks on ones appearance is very childish

Originally posted by thark

 

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Originally posted by Darkstar111
 Well I liked how despite his obviously biased tone from the start still couldnt downrate the game more then 5/10.
 
He had to swallow his own bias and admit that there where certain parts of the game that where actually quite good.
 
All the issues he had seems trivial to me.
 
-Darkstar
 
 
 

---

 

Well..I gave a reason to why I gave it 5/10 instead of 3/10.

biased or not, It's MY review and my experience with this game. It wasn't made to make any other impression.

The parts in this game is in no form or shape trivial, it's atleast years of work to get that done mr Darkstar, I have seen your countless responses in each and every post on this forum. You defend this game at all costs, very funny :)

But then again if you are satisfied with the content and complexety as it stands right now in Darkfall, well then Aventurine do not have to do anything at all, then I guess I agree with you, It's trivial. It all comes down to preference from player to player.

But my guess is that most players will NOT feel that this is enough

/junker

Well at least u admit that u started out Biased so I cant really blame you for it.

As for ur negative points, alot of it was things that was only a part of beta, like the locked character customization, and the lack of mobs in the world.

Some of it was purely beginner issues, like getting griefed by the Alignment system and experiencing combat as a matter of who has the most stam pots.

Im not saying those issues are not there, im saying they are trivial because they do not affect the game past the starting areas, even the potion chugging is a tactic that is easily adapted to once u get into it.

U did not like the graphics with the shadows off, for my part i intend to keep them on, and u didnt like the animations, there I agree, but it is trivial to me.

That leaves ur comment on the crafting skill, which again I agree with, but from what I understand the Beta is lacking any high end crafting materials, which will be added at launch.

Hopefully increasing the complexity of the system.

In any case, thou I do intend to craft those concerns are trivial to me.

I appreciate the time uve taken to write this, I understand u want to do a service to the mmorpg community.

Hopefully the game will improve in time even past ur own qualifications.

-Darkstar

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Originally posted by Darkstar111

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Originally posted by thark

 

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Originally posted by Darkstar111
 Well I liked how despite his obviously biased tone from the start still couldnt downrate the game more then 5/10.
 
He had to swallow his own bias and admit that there where certain parts of the game that where actually quite good.
 
All the issues he had seems trivial to me.
 
-Darkstar
 
 
 

---

 
Well..I gave a reason to why I gave it 5/10 instead of 3/10.
biased or not, It's MY review and my experience with this game. It wasn't made to make any other impression.
The parts in this game is in no form or shape trivial, it's atleast years of work to get that done mr Darkstar, I have seen your countless responses in each and every post on this forum. You defend this game at all costs, very funny :)
But then again if you are satisfied with the content and complexety as it stands right now in Darkfall, well then Aventurine do not have to do anything at all, then I guess I agree with you, It's trivial. It all comes down to preference from player to player.
But my guess is that most players will NOT feel that this is enough
/junker

---

 
Well at least u admit that u started out Biased so I cant really blame you for it.
 
As for ur negative points, alot of it was things that was only a part of beta, like the locked character customization, and the lack of mobs in the world.
Some of it was purely beginner issues, like getting griefed by the Alignment system and experiencing combat as a matter of who has the most stam pots.
Im not saying those issues are not there, im saying they are trivial because they do not affect the game past the starting areas, even the potion chugging is a tactic that is easily adapted to once u get into it.
 
U did not like the graphics with the shadows off, for my part i intend to keep them on, and u didnt like the animations, there I agree, but it is trivial to me.
That leaves ur comment on the crafting skill, which again I agree with, but from what I understand the Beta is lacking any high end crafting materials, which will be added at launch.
Hopefully increasing the complexity of the system.
 
In any case, thou I do intend to craft those concerns are trivial to me.
 
I appreciate the time uve taken to write this, I understand u want to do a service to the mmorpg community.
Hopefully the game will improve in time even past ur own qualifications.
 
 
-Darkstar
 
 
 
 

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To make lore for an entire world is not a feature that has been closed off during beta, and that is one of the most important features for it to become a gameworld and not a Quake Arena with skills..

Those issues you mention here are atleast fixable, part from the animations wich i highly doubt they will ever be able to do anything about.

Sound is another important feature that will bring it to become a world, fixable, but I highly doubt that aswell..