I actually really like EQ2, and my old server had what was probably the best community in any game I have been in.

I hate SOE's quadraple dip revenue model though. They are just pure greed.

I really like EQ2 and like a few have mention earlier I plan to try it again After the new expansion. the expansion has a lot in it and by then they will have worked out most of the bugs with the new LFD grouping tool.

Well I have a couple of questions for the OP.  First all the screenshots you used were from Sentinel's Fate XP,  That is 1 soon to be 2 xpac's back.  Age of discovery is in Velious,   so I have to ask why no screenshots from that region.  Did you even get to 86 so you could actually experience any of the Age of Discovery game update?

 As far as role play ha ha,  you obviously never met the rotunga community,  the heaviest of the role playing folks. One thing I do agree with if you are not in a guild your going nowhere fast, and with some guilds you might as well not even try.  Running pugs can be fun.

I though it was an ok review, but a review of stuff that was old, none of the new stuff was listed.  Like the tradeskill AA lines.

Started EQ2 (again) last Week and i enjoy my stay sofar. Found a nice Guild, started Crafting and some Quests. At this Point, im pretty happy with EQ2. It was worthy, to re-register :-)

/cheers

Originally posted by midmagic

Originally posted by Golelorn
...

Its fun for a few weeks, then one just realizes its the same old stuff just a different level. On top of that one is passing up all the lore and dungeons, because it takes a group to experience the content. This game could be fun if the devs got their heads out of their butts and adjusted content to the actual dismal population.

...

They appear to not have thier "heads in their butts" as they are attempting to address this problem with mercenaries.

EQ2 also has a dungeon finder coming soon -  its on the test server now

http://eq2wire.com/2011/09/20/dungeon-finder-hits-test-today-september-20th/

Originally posted by erictlewis

Age of discovery is in Velious,   so I have to ask why no screenshots from that region.  Did you even get to 86 so you could actually experience any of the Age of Discovery game update?

clarification: Velious content is known as Destiny of Velious, AOD is not ingame yet

Age of Discovery is a "features only" expansion due next month, November

http://eq2wire.com/2011/09/23/everquest-ii-age-of-discovery-2-months-to-go/

it will be EQ2 first expansion with zero content and only new game features

also in November, with Game Update 62,

Freeport is being completely redone, and they are adding public quests to the commonlands

Tentonhammer has a good 4 page interview about all this -- from the July fanfaire

http://www.tentonhammer.com/eq2/interviews/age-of-discovery

future game content will be added through the quarterly game updates

As mention, AoD isn't live yet (November i think).  The pictures used by the OP sufficiently represent the graphics of EQ2.

I've been playing EQ2 for 7+ years now.   It's not the most progressive or the most innovative game by far.  But it is probably the most content-rich and it's graphics are still very decent given its age.  (Even though the art direction does suck).

If you enjoy soloing and questing, then EQ2 is probably the best game for you. (5000+ quests, 90% or more soloable)

If you enjoy endgame grouping and raiding with tons of difficult content, EQ2 is a great game for you too.  (the currenct tier alone has something like 12  6-person zones, 2 12-person zones and 13 24-person zones.)

If you've always wanted to try raiding but felt that you needed to dedicate your entire life to it, EQ2 is an amazing game to get into it as there are lots of easy raids, you can basically solo your way to being ready for them and they don't take a lot of time.

If you love decorating, EQ2 is an amazing game too.

On the flipside, if you're looking for meaningful crafting, grouping all the way up to max level, good pvp, immersion, good lore, roleplay, dynamic content or being able to actually have impact on the world, then EQ2 is definitely NOT a good game for you.

Know what you're looking for and you may very well find an amazing game in EQ2.

Originally posted by Nadia

Originally posted by erictlewis

Age of discovery is in Velious,   so I have to ask why no screenshots from that region.  Did you even get to 86 so you could actually experience any of the Age of Discovery game update?

clarification: Velious content is known as Destiny of Velious, AOD is not ingame yet

 

Age of Discovery is a "features only" expansion due next month, November

http://eq2wire.com/2011/09/23/everquest-ii-age-of-discovery-2-months-to-go/

it will be EQ2 first expansion with zero content and only new game features

 

also in November, with Game Update 62,

Freeport is being completely redone, and they are adding public quests to the commonlands

 

Tentonhammer has a good 4 page interview about all this -- from the July fanfaire

http://www.tentonhammer.com/eq2/interviews/age-of-discovery

 

future game content will be added through the quarterly game updates

Actually we got children of war,  and most of the aod content already been rolled out with gu60 and Gu61,  the AOD xpac is going to be week sauce at best.  Another 50 AA dungion finder and mercs and beastlords but no new content  not good in my thoughts.

However youguys missed my entire point, reviewing a game update thats not even out, showing old picures and not even doing a review of the current game systems.    I was just trying to figure out why the op named his review after the comming new xpac we not gotten yet.

Originally posted by erictlewis

 the AOD xpac is going to be week sauce at best.  Another 50 AA dungion finder and mercs and beastlords but no new content  not good in my thoughts.

 having an expansion w no content is risky but its an optional expansion

- no one needs to pay for it

the only "must have" in AOD is raiders wanting more AA

I'm pesonally looking forward to the Design Your Own Dungeon metagame

regarding your primary concern on the re-re-review

his review didnt address the latest expansion but DOV is only for levels 86+ anyhow

alot of the game under 86 has also seen changes

the reviewer also has 2 different versions of innovation being rated in his review

- in his summary, he says EQ2 is not innovative  (when compared to other mmos)

- for game changes since launch, he gives the game a high score for innovation but he only means within game itself and not when compared to other mmos

EQ2 has changed more than any mmo I know of since launch - innovation may not be the best word to describe this

Things I love about this game:

1. Housing - This game has my favorite housing system.  I like that I have visual representations of my achievements.  It's a fun system.

2. Crafting - Even though there are some holes in the system that are kludgy, it's still a fun crafting system.  I love that I can grind writs for status.

3.  Large world to explore, heritage/signature quests, involved deity system, intertwining quest arcs.

4. Environmental graphics - The world looks nice and the music is okay.

5,  Performance Improvements - The EQ2 team has really improved the performance of the client, a lot.

6. Class Play - For a tab-targetting, moderately paced action game I find the class play fun and enjoyable.  There are fun classes to play for many styles of game play.

Things I really don't like about the game:

1.  Character and item graphics - The character models feel plastic, like toy dolls.  The armour looks like you're playing paper dolls.  Some of the item graphics like chairs, tables, and such look too thick and cartoony.  It often clashes with the nicer environmental graphics.

2.  Better items sold in the store - Some of the coolest houses and cosmetics are sold in the store instead of providing a reasonable deterministic path to achievement ini game.  This is what I hate about cash shops in most games like EQ2, LotRO, etc.  I'm there to game and earn stuff in game, including fluff, not go mall shopping Facebook style.  Bleh.

3. Paid Expansions - I hate how they charge a sub and then expect a full box price for an xpac.  The game is old and barely worth a subscription at all.  I can see charging for xpacs on EQ2x, but not for the Live servers.  If the game was B2P/F2P with xpac charges, that would be great.

4. Vet Rewards - I like the rewards, but I hate how they implement them.  I don't get vet rewards on EQ2x even if I'm subbed.  I don't get my vet rewards until the time passes for the account.  So my annual rewards come up just as my sub ends - it feels like a ploy to get me to resub so I can actually use the reward.  I like how RIFT implements the rewards.  I hope SoE changes this.

5.  EQ2 Extended - I really hate how this was implemented.  I would like them to make Live servers open so I can access my favorite characters like Turbine did with LotRO.  Starting all over on Freeport just isn't worth it, plus I don't have my vet rewards there.

6. Content Identity Crisis - SoE, like Turbine, seems to have a content identity crisis.  Maybe they're trying to garner more players, but they go all helter skelter with the kind of content they're putting out.  They used to be a lot more consistent.  Now I don't know if I'm playing a raid or die game, a solo and group game, and such.  Sparkly vampires (ala True Blood)?  What the hell was that about?  Veilous being an overland raid zone, or at least feeling like it?  Does the team have a lead designer with a vision anymore?  The same could be said about a lot of middling games like this though (LotRO I'm looking at you too), so it's not just a problem with EQ2, but it's there.

Originally posted by hercules
2 things .first there is not much grouping pre 80, vets prefer to power level thru it so joining a guild is vital as guildies can mentor and help you thru.also the levels 51-60 is based in an xpac which I think is soe worst desert of flames while most other levels have at least two options

lesser faydark is for levels 50-60 too

http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/Soloing_Timeline

if you play on EQ2X (freeport server) theres grouping at all levels 15-90

its only the live servers that are top heavy

Originally posted by Torvaldr

3. Paid Expansions - I hate how they charge a sub and then expect a full box price for an xpac.  The game is old and barely worth a subscription at all.  I can see charging for xpacs on EQ2x, but not for the Live servers.  If the game was B2P/F2P with xpac charges, that would be great.

all old mmos do this, its not unique to EQ2

EQ , EQ2 , and maybe LOTRO are the only mmos I know of

where you pay for latest expansion and ALL past expansions are included

wish aging mmos like WOW included past expansions

Regarding EQ2Live,

the new 14 day  trial includes everything except the latest expansion

- dont have to buy anything, only subscribe

http://eq2wire.com/2011/08/25/everquest-ii-launches-free-14-day-trial/

Originally posted by erictlewis

However youguys missed my entire point, reviewing a game update thats not even out, showing old picures and not even doing a review of the current game systems.    I was just trying to figure out why the op named his review after the comming new xpac we not gotten yet.

This wasn't a review of the new expac or new update.  It was a re-review of the game as a whole.  I think you got thrown off by the word "discovery" being in the title of the review and the new expac being called "Age of Discovery".   The two are unrelated.  i.e.  EQ2 was a world of discovery long before "Age of Discovery" expac ever existed.

Originally posted by Torvaldr

6. Content Identity Crisis - SoE, like Turbine, seems to have a content identity crisis.  Maybe they're trying to garner more players, but they go all helter skelter with the kind of content they're putting out.  They used to be a lot more consistent.  Now I don't know if I'm playing a raid or die game, a solo and group game, and such.  Sparkly vampires (ala True Blood)?  What the hell was that about?  Veilous being an overland raid zone, or at least feeling like it?  Does the team have a lead designer with a vision anymore?  The same could be said about a lot of middling games like this though (LotRO I'm looking at you too), so it's not just a problem with EQ2, but it's there.

Actually this expac is pretty consistent with the last one.  What happened was this:

People wanted more solo stuff so...

SOE overcompensated and the RoK expansion came out and the entire expac was made up of soloing.  Leveling in a group was horrid.

As a result, people complained that there wasn't enough group stuff, so...

SOE overcompensated and the TSO expac came out and the entire expac was Group instances, with one terribad overland zone that everyone hated.

As a result, people complained that there wasn't enough solo / overland stuff, so...

SoE finally got the point and made SF that was kinda the middle ground between RoK and TSO, having both lots of overland solo stuff, but still having quite a few group instances and a terrible contested dungeon.

With DoV, it's pretty much the same thing as SF, the overland zones are all solo questing, with several really long quest-sequences that take people through the storylines.  There are also a bunch of instances.   SoE introduced a bunch of new mechanics that are required to survive DoV, however, they neglected to communicate these very well throughout the game.  So the lesser capable players were totally blown away by even the easiest content.  Not because they sucked, but simply because they weren't the sorts of players that went on eq2flames to find out that all new content required certain stats to defeat.

Lately SoE's relaxed a lot of that stuff, leaving the easy stuff for the ignorant people, but keeping a lot of the harder stuff for the veteran players.

IN terms of mix, there is still a variety of content available for all playstyles, althrough where the game truly excels is at the group and multi-group dungeons.  The solo quests are the same as any other themepark.

How can " Little innovation, even from its outset" be one of its Cons when the Innovation attribute receives grade 8??

Anyway, EQ2 is a wonderful MMO, highly immersive and with deep mechanics. 

Originally posted by rsreston

How can " Little innovation, even from its outset" be one of its Cons when the Innovation attribute receives grade 8??

its confusing because hes using the word in 2 ways

- not innovative when compared to other mmos

the 8 score applies only inside the game itself and how the game plays much differently since launch

eq2 content is now HUGE I mean it feels good Iam currently playing it 

You guys should just drop the reviews and admit you are a fan site run by people who's writing experience is all in blogging.

For christs sakes, somebody might see this score and think, judging against your other scores, that EQ 2 is one of the best mmos ever made and currently worth playing. Have some integrity.

I bought it last year but didn't really give it a chance. My problem was finding people who could show me the ropes, because I wasn't seeing many people in the starter towns.

I was going to look for a guild but I didn't want to be the guy "Looking for Guild" in the chat channels. Everyone gives that guy a hard time hehe.

I have nothing going right now, so maybe I will install it again. With that said, any reccomendations for class, race, starter area? I'm interested in being around people.