(Source)

Keen, from Keen and Graev's Gaming Blog, has been playing Darkfall for a while now and posted his score for the game, based on several categories, in order to answer the emails he gets in regards to the game. Here's the text (emphasis mine):

Scale: Fantastic, Great, Good, Mediocre, Bad, Lousy, Total Crap.
Totally subjective. Totally my take based on how I play the game.

Skill-based system
I expected: Fantastic
They delivered: Mediocre
Reason: The system is susceptible to macroing and sets aside the value of earning skills with the value of accruing them. Example: Instead of hitting mobs with spells to earn skillups, you just spam them into the sky. The skill system could have been taken an alternate root with skill trees, skill progression and unlocks, choices between skills via branches or pools, etc.

Combat
I expected: Decent
They delivered: Great
Reason: I expected Oblivion with a lot of issues translating such a real-time system to the mmorpg gameplay. Aventurine surprised by actually pulling it off with just a few quirks that can be worked out.

Crafting
I expected: Fantastic
They delivered: Mediocre/Bad
Reason: It’s not what they advertised it to be. I’m not even knocking them for simplicity or tedium. I’m knocking them here for allowing stupid stuff to make it into launch such as only having to make the very first item from 1-100. Seriously, why craft anything but Goblin Axes from 1-100 when they take the least materials and you can skill up on them just as easily as something that takes 100x the mats? The system earns points with me for really requiring players to work at something, rewarding them with a player-driven economy, and having much of the game in general center around crafting. [Additional points added today for making the gathering system more in-line with what it should be in today's patch with resource nodes being global.]

Melee Abilities and Weapons
I expected: Great
They delivered: Lousy
Reason: Whether you’re using a dagger or a polearm, the abilities are all the same. You get a Seize (draw in), Knock back, Whirlwind, and power attack. Zero thought went into this. Additionally, combat with certain weapons doesn’t make sense or it’s not polished. Polearms do the most damage, have the most range, and the widest arc while the only drawback is they use the most stamina. Arguably using anything else is inferior. There are subtle differences, but weapons should really stand out as having their unique benefits and drawbacks. It’s too simple. Ranged Combat falls into this for much of the same reasons.

Magic System
I expected: Good
They delivered: Mediocre
Reason: The spells are just “bleh” right now. I admit that few people have even reached the elemental magics, but commenting on what I have seen I can’t possibly rank it higher. The simple bolt spell with a splash is effective and to the point, but using it to such a degree as pretty much the bread and butter is just… well, “bleh”. I’ll happily reevaluate this later.

PvE Gameplay
I expected: Good
They delivered: Total Crap
Reason: The game is obviously not a PvE game. The mob behavior is … I don’t even know sometimes. There are times I think “Wow that’s the smartest mob I’ve ever seen” and then there are times where I think “Some GM must be controlling this thing and having a great laugh” because of how bizarre they act. The fact remains that PvE introduces money to the economy and PvP redistributes it. Lately I have avoided PvE as nothing but a chore

PvP Gameplay
I expected: Good
They delivered: Fantastic
Reason: It’s the total package. The “hardcore” consequences with the political landscape combined with how completely open it all is make it for one of the best PvP experiences ever. Add in the fact that they made the oblivion style combat actually work, mounted combat work, sieges, ship combat, and almost everything they promised have really made this an experience that every future PvP game will have to live up to.

City Building
I expected: Good
They delivered: Fantastic
Reason: I added this as its own category because I really feel that they’ve achieved something special with cities. Owning land in Darkfall is the total experience. When you finally own something under the conditions of this game then that feeling you get will embody what Darkfall is all about. Just imagine how easy it will be to lose territory and how important it is that you don’t. It gives your clan a place to hang out, a place to craft, and a purpose.

Graphics
I expected: Good
They delivered: Great
Reason: I expected 1999 and I got 2007. Can’t complain with what they’ve been able to pull off. The game on max settings really is beautiful if you can look past some of the animations.

Itemization
I expected: Bad
They delivered: Good
Reason: I actually thought we would be stuck with something a lot simpler. There are several types of armor, different appearances for each race, item ranks based on skill level, durability, and functionality (although limited as mentioned in combat). ‘Enough’ diversity is there to not make you think about it. Gear doesn’t matter - exactly how it should be.

Performance / Lag
I expected: Good
They delivered: Lousy
Reason: The game itself actually runs really well on my system (70-100fps), but they lose an overwhelming amount of points for server-side lag and stability. It’s inexcusable for it to be going on this long.

Server Stability + Communication from Aventurine
I expected: Bad
They delivered: Total crap
Reason: Didn’t have to be Nostradamus on this one. The server queues lasting 3+ hours, server downtimes every day, ninja patches with no notes, and almost a total communications blackout make this category a stinker of massive proportions. The worst of any company I’ve seen actually.

Overall
I expected: Good
They delivered: Good/Great
Reason: There is something about Darkfall. It has that really important aspect that reaches out and grabs on to you to keep you playing. There is something special about all they’ve accomplished with taking PvP combat and gameplay to new places. I don’t think I’ll be able to go back to a game that doesn’t capture the same quality of PvP and potential on this scale. I’ve been saying this a lot: “Darkfall is better than I expected”. Although they could have, and really should have in 7 years, reached the “Fantastic” status, the server issues combined with the systems that fell short (like the skill system) make Darkfall Good/Great. I don’t expect much from Aventurine. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if it took them a year to overhaul the skills system. But the fact that I can set those things aside and still play a very functional and very fun game is the key.

I was surprised by his overall score, based on how low he rated many of the categories, so I put together a matrix with a 1 - 7 point scale for each of his categories.  Giving equal weight to each category, he expected the game to be "Good" (5), but got "Mediocre" (4), not "Good/Great" (5.5).  Clearly, he's having fun and his expections were exceeded in a few categories, but overall, his expectations haven't been met.

~Ripper

I love people who try so hard to show how bad DF really is. You can't change the fact that this game is actually fun to play and many people, including him, is enjoying it.

Originally posted by drago_pl

I love people who try so hard to show how bad DF really is. You can't change the fact that this game is actually fun to play and many people, including him, is enjoying it.

 

I'm not trying to show how bad Darkfall is.  I think it's great that he and others enjoy it.  I just translated his verbal ratings into an actual score, based on his scale, giving equal weight to each category.That being said,  I don't know whether his overall rating is intended to be an average of the categories, or if it's just a general impression.

As I stated, "Clearly, he's having fun and his expections were exceeded in a few categories, but overall, his expectations haven't been met.".  I'm not offering any opinions on the matter, just stating facts, based upon his blog article. 

~Ripper

Originally posted by drago_pl

I love people who try so hard to show how bad DF really is. You can't change the fact that this game is actually fun to play and many people, including him, is enjoying it.

 

Even Pong is fun for a few minutes.

He's on the honeymoon, and honestly, any review that doesn't adequately give a picture of what the technical issues are is a big fail.  I'm sure he's a nice enough guy, but the fact is, he's on the honeymoon.

Lastly, DF could be the best game going, but if you can't play it(queues, technical issues, etc) it's all for naught. 

For some reason even all of you with a myriad of MMO experience somehow forget every single launch that, the game itself is only 30-50% of the experience.  If you can't log in, it doesn't matter.  If there is little to no customer service, it doesn't matter.  If the servers are down 13+ hours a day, it doesn't matter.

Add it all up, and you have a huge failure of a launch, almost a MONTH after ground zero.  It's sad that the few who are continuously eating the turd, are asking for seconds and thirds.

Originally posted by drago_pl

I love people who try so hard to show how bad DF really is. You can't change the fact that this game is actually fun to play and many people, including him, is enjoying it.

 

This kind of post is needed. Since most of us will never be able to play, its nice to see some review.  Or is the game finally up for marketing? I don't follow the game much anymore.  It's not like there is much to follow anyway.

There is something I do not understand here. He is saying that "Combat" was delivered as a 6. And says "Melee Abilities and Weapons" is delivered at a 2.

From what I have seen on movies from Darkfall, most people who are in the early stages of the game (wich is everyone at this moment) are mostly using melee to fight.

Then how is it possible that melee abilities gets a score of 2 and combat gets a score of 6. This makes no sense.

I may edit this post later, as I have not yet read the review. I will read it now and maybe he elaborates on this issue.

Edit: after reading these sections of his review, it makes even less sense. As he also gives low scores to ranged and magic.

So either he is wrong about the combat score, or he is wrong about the 3 different types of attacking that make up the combat.

Certainly looked fair and balanced to me. Not homely, and certainly not trolly (we've seen enough of those). Good to see some reviews from other people in the industry. Reminds me of Paragus.. pretty straight forward and not "Rah rah".

I'll still wait for the NA version and see how it progresses further. Nice post, OP and thanks.

Originally posted by TalRasha

There is something I do not understand here. He is saying that "Combat" was delivered as a 6. And says "Melee Abilities and Weapons" is delivered at a 2.

From what I have seen on movies from Darkfall, most people who are in the early stages of the game (wich is everyone at this moment) are mostly using melee to fight.

Then how is it possible that melee abilities gets a score of 2 and combat gets a score of 6. This makes no sense.

 

I may edit this post later, as I have not yet read the review. I will read it now and maybe he elaborates on this issue.

Edit: after reading these sections of his review, it makes even less sense. As he also gives low scores to ranged and magic.

So either he is wrong about the combat score, or he is wrong about the 3 different types of attacking that make up the combat.

I interpret "combat" as the overall experience, which contains aspects of melee and ranged weapon attacks, as well as magic.  It also takes into account the targeting/non-targeting system, movement, and other factors.  Based on that, combat, in general, seems pretty fun.

Melee Abilities and Weapons, I interpret as being very specific.  For example, I'd love to see attack types based on the type of weapon (quick stabs with a dagger, vs. a huge slow overhead slash for a polearm).   Based on this, melee abilities and weapons seem a little weak, epsecially if there's no compelling reason to use anything other than a polearm (per his review - I haven't played, so I can't comment on that).

All that being said, I think the review is highly subjective and kind of thrown together, based on his own play experiences.

~Ripper

Keen's fanboyism strikes back! He was behaving the same way with the WAR release. Don't get me wrong, he knows about gaming and his comments are usually spot on, but when it comes to objective writing he scores "Bad".

Originally posted by popinjay

...

I'll still wait for the NA version and see how it progresses further. Nice post, OP and thanks.

You're welcome. Personally, I'm in "wait and see" mode for Darkfall.  Aspects of the game appeal to me and I'm sure parts of it are fun, but I'm going to wait a bit to see how both it and Aventurine do.

~Ripper

Originally posted by huxflux2004

Keen's fanboyism strikes back! He was behaving the same way with the WAR release. Don't get me wrong, he knows about gaming and his comments are usually spot on, but when it comes to objective writing he scores "Bad".

Umm, he did state at the very beginning that his scores were completely subjective.  As such, you can't really fault him for not being objective ;)

~Ripper

I also can't see why he gives Combat a 6 and abilities a 2 either, personally I believe they are part of the same thing, abilities define your combat experience.

He also does not "explain" why he gave combat 6, just made a vague references to oblivion and "quirks", he really needed to explain that section alot better.

Other than that I found the rest of it a very good read and quite informative other than my gripe about combat.

Originally posted by TalRasha

There is something I do not understand here. He is saying that "Combat" was delivered as a 6. And says "Melee Abilities and Weapons" is delivered at a 2.

From what I have seen on movies from Darkfall, most people who are in the early stages of the game (wich is everyone at this moment) are mostly using melee to fight.

Then how is it possible that melee abilities gets a score of 2 and combat gets a score of 6. This makes no sense.

 

I may edit this post later, as I have not yet read the review. I will read it now and maybe he elaborates on this issue.

Edit: after reading these sections of his review, it makes even less sense. As he also gives low scores to ranged and magic.

So either he is wrong about the combat score, or he is wrong about the 3 different types of attacking that make up the combat.

That's easy to understand, if you play the game.

Because it is a total blast, as a package.  I don't know how else to express it.

Yeah, I read some of the afterpost email comments to people asking the same questions here, and he answered them well. I underlined some key parts. Here's an example:

---

Keen Says:
March 17th, 2009 at 10:14 pm

@Schmapdi: The combat - the act of engaging and fighting and how it all comes together is great. The Oblivion style combat swinging weapons and shooting arrows in FPS style is great. This type of combat in PvP makes it even better.

There isn’t lag in combat for me.

You have to keep in mind that the parts which aren’t crap outweigh the parts that are crap. It won’t make much sense unless you realize that.

@Drak: The game is just that much fun. It’s what it boils down to in the end. The server, even after 3-5 hour queues, is full to capacity and people are having fun. That should be the “something vitally important”.

And yes, it’s very much like UO.

---

Not sure who all these people saying the game is doomed are after they've played it. Seems like he's saying what most say that play it... it's packed and it's fun.

I am surprised no one mentioned the graphics score. He expected 1999 graphics (a score of 5) and he gave it a score of6 because he expected UO graphics and was surprised the game was in 3D? I know the review was subjective, but c'mon now, have some standards for 2009 if you are going to review games for any reason.

Originally posted by Cereo

I am surprised no one mentioned the graphics score. He expected 1999 graphics (a score of 5) and he gave it a score of6 because he expected UO graphics and was surprised the game was in 3D? I know the review was subjective, but c'mon now, have some standards for 2009 if you are going to review games for any reason.

The graphics, themselves are actually very nice, imo.

Animations could use some love in places.

Originally posted by rhinok

Originally posted by huxflux2004

Keen's fanboyism strikes back! He was behaving the same way with the WAR release. Don't get me wrong, he knows about gaming and his comments are usually spot on, but when it comes to objective writing he scores "Bad".

Umm, he did state at the very beginning that his scores were completely subjective.  As such, you can't really fault him for not being objective ;)

~Ripper

"Subjective" and "score" do not go together. Escpecially when the numbers do not add up.

There are lots of warts.

The game is still fun, for now.

The game is group oriented, not solo.

The end game is large clan oriented, not small or even medium.

A lot of the problems we are overlooking now and the "fun despite the problems" will evaporate like a flash rain on a hundred degree summer Texas day the moment a viable alternative hits the market.

Aventurine is working on borrowed time.   They are going to truly pull out all stops and surprise almost all of us with their ability to move the game beyond the rough state and into something with legs to maintain a healthy playerbase, and that is the truth of it.

I do hope that happens.   But I'm not blind.

I dont understand the "There are tons of people enjoying DF"It has like 1 server with 5k-10k players.I bet i can find more people that like to spin around in shit.I could understand it if it had a player base of like 50k-100k but come on.Its first month and it has so few players. 

Originally posted by DiTH

I dont understand the "There are tons of people enjoying DF"It has like 1 server with 5k-10k players.I bet i can find more people that like to spin around in shit.I could understand it if it had a player base of like 50k-100k but come on.Its first month and it has so few players. 

To be fair, the percentage of Darkfall players that like it is probably greater than the percent who don't.  So, regardless of the size, the majority of actual Darkfall players seem to like it, for now, even if it needs work.

~Ripper