Am I the only one that hates unlimited flying (or flying in general)? From my point of view it makes the whole world design pointless, since you can basically render it obsolete by skipping the whole thing. For example, there is certain beauty in the classic WoW maps that was lost in the expansions, especially the feel of adventure or exploration. I guess I'm glad that LOTRO lore does not allow for flying 'mounts', that would have certainly kill a good portion of the immersion.

In Aion the balance seems about right. You can still fly, but you're limited to it so the surrounded map does not become obsolete.

It seems to me that a lot of the ppl playing atm in these beta Events do not deserve to be there, 1 it being a BETA TEST and they are worried about not being able to FLY fulltime O.o FFS,

This in itself shows' me that you have not done any research on the game, and if you did and  payed any attention to the LORE then you would have known that you are unable to fly in Area'a that do not have a dense comcentration of Aether. So with that being said all i see is ppl that ONCE AGAIN are not even there to test the game but are merely there just to have a free play and spurt there random bullshit about how the game is not all that they Expected, well here you go, i am sure you are reading this so how about you go read up about the game, the Lore e.t.c and you may unravel a few things that tell you what this game is about and save you wasting your time and a valuable Key for someone who might actually care and know something of the title to give some kind of Intelligent feedback. 

It really shits me how the MMO Community has become.

Originally posted by templarga

S-turdy Enviroment = The environment is nice except the zones seem small and VERY linear. Much of the environment is there for show and cannot be reached due to invisible walls...ala AOC.

If this is so, and I have no reason not to believe you, this is ruled out for me. I was hoping developers learnt from other's mistakes.

You want to see how flying works, go play perfect world, it makes Aion look like a poor step child.

Transportation is the achilles heel of Aion.  It will keep it from being a Wow beater.  You can try to sugar coat it all you like, but it will not change the fact that getting from one place to another is a chore in this game.

OVER HYPE METER CRITICAL

OP, you dont seem to understand that you are actually hurting the game you love by over hyping it. People will expect a lot, see its the same old crap, and leave.

Originally posted by Ozmodan

You want to see how flying works, go play perfect world, it makes Aion look like a poor step child.

Transportation is the achilles heel of Aion.  It will keep it from being a Wow beater.  You can try to sugar coat it all you like, but it will not change the fact that getting from one place to another is a chore in this game.

Im sorry but PW has better Flying mechanics than Aion O.o was gonna say you just insulted your own intelligence but obviously you have none.

Getting from one place to another in any game is a Chore, Killing mobs in a Game is a Chore, doing quest in a Game is Chore, Anything you do in an MMO is a Chore, i really don't know what you were trying to achieve with that comment.

And i just really love how ppl still like to compare a game that has been out for 4-5 years to a game only just released ROFLCOPTER Jesus guys get a grip, This game is Solid, it is not a WoW Killer, Never stated to be, it is Polished, relatively Bug free, and has not even launched, Has plenty of Potential, is new, fresh, NOT bringing a whole new league of gameplay to the table, but once again never stated to be.

This game is a good change from the other Crap out there on the Market, i have been playing Aion for well over 6 months now (Korean, China) and i am loving it, and so is everyone else that  i am playing it with. NO it is not a game for everyone, but it has features for everyone, it caters for both soft and Hardcore players. This game has taken the right steps in securing itself alongside some of the Greats in the MMO Genre like it or not.

I honestly Don't know why i argue i get more Sense out of my Nagging wife than i do with some of the ppl on these boards.

Originally posted by Zorndorf

Originally posted by charlizd

Originally posted by Ozmodan

You want to see how flying works, go play perfect world, it makes Aion look like a poor step child.

Transportation is the achilles heel of Aion.  It will keep it from being a Wow beater.  You can try to sugar coat it all you like, but it will not change the fact that getting from one place to another is a chore in this game.

This game is a good change from the other Crap out there on the Market, i have been playing Aion for well over 6 months now (Korean, China) and i am loving it, and so is everyone else that  i am playing it with. NO it is not a game for everyone, but it has features for everyone, it caters for both soft and Hardcore players. This game has taken the right steps in securing itself alongside some of the Greats in the MMO Genre like it or not.

I honestly Don't know why i argue i get more Sense out of my Nagging wife than i do with some of the ppl on these boards.

 

The fact you played a game for 6 months on a Korean or even Chinese servers shows you invested a tremendous amount of time and dedication in an mmorpg where even the simplest text wasn't understood...

I can imagine the effort being made in looking through windows full ^$$IO3D3EGHBEB8=µ789 text is an achievement in its own.

Heaven forbid if people will not join you in the coming months.

Must be frustrating.

I actually enjoyed playing with all the screwed up languages lol, it made me study a bit and learn what did what, made it more challenging in a sense, plus those Korean's are ruthless lol, Ganking is there style of gameplay, which made it all the more exciting to hit the Abyss, if only i could have typed in Korean that they were just owned by an Aussie Noob that had a Ranger decked out with MP boosting Manastones :) ...Took me while to figure out which one's were Crit lol.

I've quite a few points to make on this.

Firstly: This is not a "real" beta so much as a "preview" of the game. The game is already released in Asia, so what you're playing now is near to what the finished product will be. It's viable to review it, and why is it that it's somehow "ok" for fans of a game to give positive reviews in beta but as soon as a negative review comes up, the fanbois start screaming "you can't review a game in beta" ?  Hypocritical and rather idiotic if you ask me.

Secondly: This game does not bring anything new to the table for MMO vets. Well, most MMO vets. A good friend of mine is crazy over this game and has played at least 3 or 4 MMO's, including WoW. HOWEVER, she's a big anime fan and the artstyle really grabbed her (on the other hand, I dislike anime quite a bit ) - so I think that artstyle will be a major selling point for anime fans out there who just love the eyecandy factor. For the rest of us:  Not much new to it.  I view the "omg flying combat!" like the AOC-hyped "omg mounted combat!" . It's a gimmicky feature which is cool...for a short period of time, but still doesn't make up for the fact that otherwise there's nothing new to see or do here.  

I was bored within the first 10 minutes. Why? It felt way too much like several other MMO's I've played, and actually lacked some of the features of them.  No character progression customization (skill trees, skill points, attribute points, etc) ,  very standard UI with very standard "hit the ability button between auto attacks",  go kill "x" mobs (I also really disliked the mob style) and, as someone mentioned,  the areas were a bit generic and linear.

Lore-wise? Meh. The story didn't grab me much either.  I'm sure anime fans will really dig it since it definitely as a manga-esque feel to the basic story that's going on (good angels and bad angels trying to destroy one another over the body of some fallen hero and a huge tower etc etc) but I prefer things pretty gritty, actually. Now to compare to another game (not WoW, which I also found rather cutesy Lore-wise)  AOC had some rather gritty and - speaking in terms of realism- more realistic quests.  Go kill this whore who cheated me out of money.  Bring me the testicles of a dog.   Etc.  It's personal preference, but personal preference plays, of course, a huge part in whether I'm going to enjoy a game or not.

Thirdly: There is, apparently, a grind factor in later levels from all that I've read.  I find it beyond dull to grind the same mobs for hours on end, so on this note I'll also pass. Some people really enjoy this game style, some people don't. I am one of those that really does not. 

Fourth(ly ? ) :  PVPVE:  I have a feeling that a lot of people are going into this game without a huge amount of open PVP experience. I know my friend who loves the game so much has never, except for a brief stint on a WoW PVP server, I don't think she's done much PVP or open PVP (I could be wrong, but I don't recall her doing much of it in WoW at least).  I'm wondering how well she (and others) are going to adapt to an open PVP environment where you will likely be fighting other players (and getting ganked/camped by them) as much - if not more- as you are grinding mobs.  That style of gameplay is not for everyone, and if you aren't prepared to group  up much of the time for protection as well as have good support from an active and sizeable guild... well, it's going to be rough going to solo much in that environment.  

Some people enjoy that environment, but I think a lot of folks playing Aion for the looks and novelty of flying are going to find a nasty surprise at how open PVP environments in a PVP-centric game really work once they step foot out of a "safe zone".

In short: Anime fans and people not already burnt out on what is now standard MMO UI and combat systems will probably like this game. At least for a while - it will depend on if they can handle an intense PVP environment and if Aion devs add a little more depth to the game other than grinding without even the option of character progression customization.  Most Western gamers DO tend to enjoy different gaming styles and aspects of games than Asian players; that's just how it is, it's a cultural standard and difference.  I think AION will do moderately well, but I see a majority of people who play it getting bored of it or frustrated with it in a few months time and moving on to something else.  It will likely have decent subs, but be a much more "niche" game than WoW.

Originally posted by Elder_CLOWN

Originally posted by jonrd463

S-turdy Enviroment = The environment is nice except the zones seem small and VERY linear. Much of the environment is there for show and cannot be reached due to invisible walls...ala AOC.

 

There's my dealbreaker. So much for Aion. The one thing I hate more than anything in an MMO is zoning. Hate it with a passion. Give me a coast to coast open world. If developers are so keen to copy WoW, as many people here suggest, then why can't an open world be the one thing they take? 

 

Next game....

 

Amen.

Ok, I've read this entire thread and there are just a couple things I want to point out.

The first being above that the zones are tiny and linear.  This is Correct!!  But only for the very first two zones lol 1-10 & 10-20.  this allows a more fluid introduction to the game, and quests to help boost you to 20 in 8 hours (if you know what you are doing).  All of the 20+ zones are HUGE.  They are not these tiny little piddly linear zones everyone is talking about.  You can fit at least 10 of the lvl 10-20 zones into the 20+ zones.  Do not base the game size on the first two starter zones is all I'm saying.  Also keep in mind that this is literally 3 planets worth of starter content (more of course during expantions in the future).  There are two entire worlds per race, and a 3rd world in the middle.  All of which have several massive open free-roaming zones.

Second off my MMO history is UO (canceled) EVE Online (6 years active) Lineage II (4 years semi-active).  So you have an idea what side of the argument I come from.

Aion is not for everyone. In reality WoW has created a engenious system for MMOs that the "average" and even "non-average" gamer can sit down and enjoy. The term hardcore and WoW I'd only put in for raiding, as everyone knows the RvR and PvP has been, and probably always will be lackluster. People chose MMOs based on their lifestyles, and personal requirements for a game. This creates two very seperate columns of Risk vs Reward aka (how hard do I want to work, and how much time do I want to spend on this game to get to where everyone else is?). WoW is popular because it's not hard, and quite honestly, that's great! It keeps everyone more equil and you don't have to waste your life in a basement to get to where everyone else is. This also gives you time to go out and bar hop (have a life).

-Aion in reality is WoW's interface / structure / environment / semi-quest system.
-Lineage IIs PvP system (which has been de-hardcored so you can't pk anyone anywhere unless you are opposite race and in 20+ zones)
-EVE Online's build/craft system.  (I know some might not agree with me, but they are too similar to ignore)

The complaining I see from the WoW crowd are strictly related to:

- Eastern Graphics design
- Mob ownership
- High level grinding
- Any PvP whatsoever

Quite honestly, I'm hoping WoW people stay as far away from Aion as possible.  I will admit Lineage II is an extremely hard MMO.  Massive grinding, evil crafting system, open PvP.  These things are hard, however other than it's horrible botting reputation which has all but destroyed it, L2 seperated the people that wanted a free ride with the people that were willing to work hard for their gain.  I know this seems absolutely stupid and retarded to waste so much of one's life grinding just go one up the next guy, BUT THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT LIKE THAT!  Everyone is different!  Some people want to work hard for their independance, and some people want it easy and never move out of their parent's house. Bashing the people that want to work hard in an MMO just because "you" don't like it is stirctly your own opinion, and they have a wonderful game already for people like you to snuggle up with.  Please for the love of god, stay with that one!!

Aion is not L2, however it probably will be post lvl 30, (without the hardcore crafting system and same race PvP).   What few WoW people that do play Aion survive to 30, I doubt they will play past 30 as the difficulty curive will spike upwards and Aion will become more like Lineage 2 with an awesome engine/interface overhaul. 

Please do not compare WoW to Aion, because they truely are different.  The only minor similarities are between levels 1-25.  Once the abyss opens up to the player, it becomes a completely different RvR game.  Aion is an excellent game, just like WoW is an excellent game.  However they are literally for two different genre of players, do NOT group them together.
 

Originally posted by nailszz6

Originally posted by Elder_CLOWN

Originally posted by jonrd463

S-turdy Enviroment = The environment is nice except the zones seem small and VERY linear. Much of the environment is there for show and cannot be reached due to invisible walls...ala AOC.

 

There's my dealbreaker. So much for Aion. The one thing I hate more than anything in an MMO is zoning. Hate it with a passion. Give me a coast to coast open world. If developers are so keen to copy WoW, as many people here suggest, then why can't an open world be the one thing they take? 

 

Next game....

 

Amen.

Ok, I've read this entire thread and there are just a couple things I want to point out.

The first being above that the zones are tiny and linear.  This is Correct!!  But only for the very first two zones lol 1-10 & 10-20.  this allows a more fluid introduction to the game, and quests to help boost you to 20 in 8 hours (if you know what you are doing).  All of the 20+ zones are HUGE.  They are not these tiny little piddly linear zones everyone is talking about.  You can fit at least 10 of the lvl 10-20 zones into the 20+ zones.  Do not base the game size on the first two starter zones is all I'm saying.  Also keep in mind that this is literally 3 planets worth of starter content (more of course during expantions in the future).  There are two entire worlds per race, and a 3rd world in the middle.  All of which have several massive open free-roaming zones.

Second off my MMO history is UO (canceled) EVE Online (6 years active) Lineage II (4 years semi-active).  So you have an idea what side of the argument I come from.

Aion is not for everyone. In reality WoW has created a engenious system for MMOs that the "average" and even "non-average" gamer can sit down and enjoy. The term hardcore and WoW I'd only put in for raiding, as everyone knows the RvR and PvP has been, and probably always will be lackluster. People chose MMOs based on their lifestyles, and personal requirements for a game. This creates two very seperate columns of Risk vs Reward aka (how hard do I want to work, and how much time do I want to spend on this game to get to where everyone else is?). WoW is popular because it's not hard, and quite honestly, that's great! It keeps everyone more equil and you don't have to waste your life in a basement to get to where everyone else is. This also gives you time to go out and bar hop (have a life).

-Aion in reality is WoW's interface / structure / environment / semi-quest system.
-Lineage IIs PvP system (which has been de-hardcored so you can't pk anyone anywhere unless you are opposite race and in 20+ zones)
-EVE Online's build/craft system.  (I know some might not agree with me, but they are too similar to ignore)

The complaining I see from the WoW crowd are strictly related to:

- Eastern Graphics design
- Mob ownership
- High level grinding
- Any PvP whatsoever

Quite honestly, I'm hoping WoW people stay as far away from Aion as possible.  I will admit Lineage II is an extremely hard MMO.  Massive grinding, evil crafting system, open PvP.  These things are hard, however other than it's horrible botting reputation which has all but destroyed it, L2 seperated the people that wanted a free ride with the people that were willing to work hard for their gain.  I know this seems absolutely stupid and retarded to waste so much of one's life grinding just go one up the next guy, BUT THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT LIKE THAT!  Everyone is different!  Some people want to work hard for their independance, and some people want it easy and never move out of their parent's house. Bashing the people that want to work hard in an MMO just because "you" don't like it is stirctly your own opinion, and they have a wonderful game already for people like you to snuggle up with.  Please for the love of god, stay with that one!!

Aion is not L2, however it probably will be post lvl 30, (without the hardcore crafting system and same race PvP).   What few WoW people that do play Aion survive to 30, I doubt they will play past 30 as the difficulty curive will spike upwards and Aion will become more like Lineage 2 with an awesome engine/interface overhaul. 

Please do not compare WoW to Aion, because they truely are different.  The only minor similarities are between levels 1-25.  Once the abyss opens up to the player, it becomes a completely different RvR game.  Aion is an excellent game, just like WoW is an excellent game.  However they are literally for two different genre of players, do NOT group them together.
 

"WoW" people?

You do realize that probably about 90% of MMO players have likely been playing or have played WoW, yourself included I'm assuming.

So technically you're being slightly hypocritical or at least very short sighted in your blanket statements of "WoW people" when...in fact... most everyone here is or was one at some point.

*facepalms* 

Originally posted by KaitarBesh

 

"WoW" people?

 

You do realize that probably about 90% of MMO players have likely been playing or have played WoW, yourself included I'm assuming.

 

So technically you're being slightly hypocritical or at least very short sighted in your blanket statements of "WoW people" when...in fact... most everyone here is or was one at some point.

 

*facepalms* 

So just because WoW people are the majority of the entire % of the MMO tangent of gaming I can't jab them?  I'm not afrade of the majority.

I beta'd WoW true, I didn't decide to not play it because the game sucked or anything.  I won't play it because I can't stand the american character/world design.  I don't want to play candyland the MMO.

I've played WoW, but don't consider myself a WoW person.  (too d**n dumb and easy) 

I understood exactly what the poster was trying to say. 

Originally posted by nailszz6

Originally posted by KaitarBesh

 

"WoW" people?

 

You do realize that probably about 90% of MMO players have likely been playing or have played WoW, yourself included I'm assuming.

 

So technically you're being slightly hypocritical or at least very short sighted in your blanket statements of "WoW people" when...in fact... most everyone here is or was one at some point.

 

*facepalms* 

 

So just because WoW people are the majority of the entire % of the MMO tangent of gaming I can't jab them?  I'm not afrade of the majority.

I beta'd WoW true, I didn't decide to not play it because the game sucked or anything.  I won't play it because I can't stand the american character/world design.  I don't want to play candyland the MMO.

I played WoW for about 2 years, along with several other MMO's. Does this make me a "WoW person" unworthy to try other games that you deem "too good" for me?

Seriously dude, if it weren't for "WoW people" being displaced in Asia right now, AION wouldn't have the numbers it does over there. Most of your AION base in NA will be bored or displaced "WoW people", so you'd better -hope- at least some of them like it, or your preferred game is going to end up a ghost town like so many others, or a very very niche game at best.

Like it or not, today's standards of "mmo success" do hinge on having larger populations than MMO's of the first generation.  So while WoW does boast some real idiots in its community (then again, it actually was not the worst MMO community I ever saw..) every MMO has some piss-poor people playing it.  Nor does having played WoW mean you can't "handle" any other MMO and shouldn't "taint" them with your presence.  Because, again, it would lead to an almost nihl game population by today's standards if those "WoW people" don't come try your beloved AION.

Originally posted by KaitarBesh

 I'm sure anime fans will really dig it since it definitely as a manga-esque feel to the basic story that's going on (good angels and bad angels trying to destroy one another over the body of some fallen hero and a huge tower etc etc)  *snip*

In short: Anime fans and *snip*

 

"Anime fans"  ?

You do realize that probably about 90% of the people have likely been reading or watching anime, yourself included I'm assuming.

So technically you're being slightly hypocritical or at least very short sighted in your blanket statements of "Anime Fans" when...in fact... most everyone here is or was one at some point.

*facepalms*

Nice attempt, but not quite the same argument. At all.

"WoW people" = people, by the argument above, who have played WoW at some point. Most people have.  And then to turn around and say that "WoW people" shouldn't try AION is sort of...well, shooting yourself in the foot.  I'm no WoW fangirl. Not even close, actually, as would be apparent by my posts regarding recent changes in the game - and in fact I haven't played WoW now in quite some time because of several changes they made. HOWEVER to deny that WoW has impacted what would be regarded as "MMO subscription success" would be very niave'.

Anime fans = people who enjoy anime. I don't watch anime, actually, but I've seen it around on the net enough times to know I don't like that art style. But there is no doubt that the art style IS going to appeal to people who ENJOY that style of art. IT'S MEANT TO.  Just as EQ2 tries to appeal to people who like that style of  high fantasy art, and AOC to people who like more realistic art,  just as WoW is meant to appeal to gamers who enjoy a more comical and cartoony approach.

If most people here are anime fans, great!  I certainly wouldn't go tell them they can't try any other game and to stick with "Anime fan" games only.  Do you see the difference yet?

The first time I read your post I stopped at the point where you started to rant about anime fans.

I have no clue what anime fans have to do with mmorpgs like Aion, this argument is so far fetched (good angels, bad angels... etc. lol).  Anyway I didnt reply cant take that serious.

Than I read your reply, reread your post  and it took me a couple of cut & pastes to show that you arent different to the other guy.

Anyway, continue, kinda funny to read.

Originally posted by Shol

The first time I read your post I stopped at the point where you started to rant about anime fans.

I have no clue what anime fans have to do with mmorpgs like Aion, this argument is so far fetched (good angels, bad angels... etc. lol).  Anyway I didnt reply cant take that serious.

 

Than I read your reply, reread your post  and it took me a couple of cut & pastes to show that you arent different to the other guy.

 

Anyway, continue, kinda funny to read.

Hey, don't give up so fast. You lost the first round, but you can still come back.

Originally posted by Shol

The first time I read your post I stopped at the point where you started to rant about anime fans.

I have no clue what anime fans have to do with mmorpgs like Aion, this argument is so far fetched (good angels, bad angels... etc. lol).  Anyway I didnt reply cant take that serious.

 

Than I read your reply, reread your post  and it took me a couple of cut & pastes to show that you arent different to the other guy.

 

Anyway, continue, kinda funny to read.

Yeah except ... I wasn't ranting against anime fans or knocking them. I just said the game is going to appeal to them because of the art style. If you deny that then... well I can't see any sense in even trying to make a point to you.  I also said that I've a friend who likes anime and loves the game (in part) because of the art style. Not once did I say she was an idiot for doing so, not once did I say "anime is stupid lol" - all I said was "I really don't like anime myself so the art style doesn't appeal to me". Unlike the guy who is claiming "WoW people" shouldn't try Aion because they like WoW or played WoW.

Completely different.  I never once said anime fans shouldn't try other games or even that people who DON'T like anime style artwork shouldn't try AION, I said that the artwork style WILL APPEAL MORE TO ANIME FANS. Which it will. Because...dur...it's done in a Korean style anime artwork so wouldn't that -naturally- look better to fans of that style?  As for the Lore, it was explained to me that the "good guys" Eylos and the "bad guys" Asomdians (I probably spelled those wrong but I'm too lazy to go double check it)  are fighting one another because they blame the other side for the death of two (I believe it was)  legendary heros that died trying to save them.  That's what was told to me in a nut shell, and then I was told of a few animes that were quite similiar in story line. One was called EX or X or something of the sort. The Lore doesn't really appeal to me much for the same reason most manga doesn't appeal to me. But here's what you're missing. Instead of saying "the game is stupid and all anime fans should just diaf" I'm saying : it doesn't really appeal to me. 

Reading comprehension: it's a wonderful thing.

Originally posted by Ramonski7

Hmm well I'm in closed beta now and I'm running(not gliding) to most of the places I go. Sure, yeah I try to find hills and buildings to leap off so I can glide, but as soon as you hit the ground you're running. And if and when they allow PvP in beta (25 is what I'm hearin, so next beta weekend I guess) hills and terran will not matter because you can fly at any time (PvP= Abyss). But as of now when running quest to level up it's a LOT of running and looking for hills......not what I expected to do.

For Saturday, there were three main places I kept having to get to: the fortress under recronstruction in the Altrgrad zone, the Black Claw village just east of it, and the areas surrouding Morheim.  Getting to the fortress from the nearest flight path is a long downhill glide through a twisting mountain pass (Watch out for the cockatrices, they can knock you out of the air) and then a short sprit through a tunnel (lined with carnivorous plants).  Getting to the village east of there isn't any harder since that fortress zone is free flight.  Its even more pronounced in Morheim since the city is on a huge mountain and just about everything on that corner of the map is downhill from there, with some very strong winds and updrafts in a few places.

Originally posted by KaitarBesh

I've quite a few points to make on this.

 

Firstly: This is not a "real" beta so much as a "preview" of the game. The game is already released in Asia, so what you're playing now is near to what the finished product will be. It's viable to review it, and why is it that it's somehow "ok" for fans of a game to give positive reviews in beta but as soon as a negative review comes up, the fanbois start screaming "you can't review a game in beta" ?  Hypocritical and rather idiotic if you ask me.

The problem is most if not all the things people complain about are being changed in up coming patches before the game is even released in the US.

Secondly: This game does not bring anything new to the table for MMO vets. Well, most MMO vets. A good friend of mine is crazy over this game and has played at least 3 or 4 MMO's, including WoW. HOWEVER, she's a big anime fan and the artstyle really grabbed her (on the other hand, I dislike anime quite a bit ) - so I think that artstyle will be a major selling point for anime fans out there who just love the eyecandy factor. For the rest of us:  Not much new to it.  I view the "omg flying combat!" like the AOC-hyped "omg mounted combat!" . It's a gimmicky feature which is cool...for a short period of time, but still doesn't make up for the fact that otherwise there's nothing new to see or do here.  

I was bored within the first 10 minutes. Why? It felt way too much like several other MMO's I've played, and actually lacked some of the features of them.  No character progression customization (skill trees, skill points, attribute points, etc) ,  very standard UI with very standard "hit the ability button between auto attacks",  go kill "x" mobs (I also really disliked the mob style) and, as someone mentioned,  the areas were a bit generic and linear.

Lore-wise? Meh. The story didn't grab me much either.  I'm sure anime fans will really dig it since it definitely as a manga-esque feel to the basic story that's going on (good angels and bad angels trying to destroy one another over the body of some fallen hero and a huge tower etc etc) but I prefer things pretty gritty, actually. Now to compare to another game (not WoW, which I also found rather cutesy Lore-wise)  AOC had some rather gritty and - speaking in terms of realism- more realistic quests.  Go kill this whore who cheated me out of money.  Bring me the testicles of a dog.   Etc.  It's personal preference, but personal preference plays, of course, a huge part in whether I'm going to enjoy a game or not.

Sorry to break it to you but there is maybe a 1% chance that any mmorpg that gets released will have anything new or groundbreaking, you can't change what an rpg game is.

 

Thirdly: There is, apparently, a grind factor in later levels from all that I've read.  I find it beyond dull to grind the same mobs for hours on end, so on this note I'll also pass. Some people really enjoy this game style, some people don't. I am one of those that really does not. 

I think I read some where that by the time it is released in the US/EU they will have added like 500 more quests. Personally I don't think you should be able to hit max lvl by just doing quests, you should have to kill some random mobs on the way.

 

Fourth(ly ? ) :  PVPVE:  I have a feeling that a lot of people are going into this game without a huge amount of open PVP experience. I know my friend who loves the game so much has never, except for a brief stint on a WoW PVP server, I don't think she's done much PVP or open PVP (I could be wrong, but I don't recall her doing much of it in WoW at least).  I'm wondering how well she (and others) are going to adapt to an open PVP environment where you will likely be fighting other players (and getting ganked/camped by them) as much - if not more- as you are grinding mobs.  That style of gameplay is not for everyone, and if you aren't prepared to group  up much of the time for protection as well as have good support from an active and sizeable guild... well, it's going to be rough going to solo much in that environment.  

Some people enjoy that environment, but I think a lot of folks playing Aion for the looks and novelty of flying are going to find a nasty surprise at how open PVP environments in a PVP-centric game really work once they step foot out of a "safe zone".

On this you are correct it is not for everyone, if you are the type of player that hates to group or doesn't want to join a guild you will be killed over and over in the higher levels, this is not a solo players game.

 

In short: Anime fans and people not already burnt out on what is now standard MMO UI and combat systems will probably like this game. At least for a while - it will depend on if they can handle an intense PVP environment and if Aion devs add a little more depth to the game other than grinding without even the option of character progression customization.  Most Western gamers DO tend to enjoy different gaming styles and aspects of games than Asian players; that's just how it is, it's a cultural standard and difference.  I think AION will do moderately well, but I see a majority of people who play it getting bored of it or frustrated with it in a few months time and moving on to something else.  It will likely have decent subs, but be a much more "niche" game than WoW.