We've got a fun new series kicking off today. We've asked each of the MMORPG.com writers to submit their favorite three MMOs. We start off with Tim Eisen's and Kelley Kiwi's choices. See if you agree!
Tim Eisen
For my top three MMORPGs, I looked hard at the intangible things that help games transcend into something more. From that point of view, I got SWG (transcendence from reality into the Star Wars Universe) and EVE (transcendence from within a game into reality). Then I put WOW on because those initials transcended the MMORPG genre Itself.
Star Wars Galaxies Pre-NGE
It was lawless, chaotic and dramatic while somehow being peaceful, social and creative. Those six adjectives are a baby step across the breadth of awe that SWG could create - when the servers were actually up! It did things that, 15 years later, its "successors" still can't touch. Galaxies most impressive accomplishment wasn't being so memorable that its fans rebuilt it from scratch. Its greatest feat was allowing us to escape reality and believe we were living in a galaxy far far away.
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EVE Online
Even if you haven't played it, I bet you've heard the tales whispered among PVPers and PVErs alike. That is exactly why it made the cut. EVE does something that is nearly impossible to duplicate. I'm not talking about the shared universe but that's part of it. Through the conductive relatability of actual loss, EVE breaks through our monitors into reality. Like no other game it makes people that have never logged in stop, read and feel the discomfort that the chaotic events within it create.
World of Warcraft
This will be one of most people's top three MMORPGs, that's because, like it or not, it is unequivocally one of the best MMORPG's ever made. I could list all of the things it did well but that's been done, repeatedly. Instead, I'll just say I strongly dislike theme park MMORPGs and I've logged more time in WOW than just about any MMORPG not named Star Wars Galaxies, because WOW. To this day when I mention writing about MMORPGs gamers look at me blankly, then I say "like WOW" and they smile while nodding. When your initials define a genre you get my respect.
For my top three MMORPGs, I looked hard at the intangible things that help games transcend into something more. From that point of view, I got SWG (transcendence from reality into the Star Wars Universe) and EVE (transcendence from within a game into reality). Then I put WOW on because those initials transcended the MMORPG genre Itself.
Kelley Kiwi
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You never forget your first. It leaves the most vivid impression for better or for worse but back then I didn’t know how much of an impression and the years of fascination that would follow. So much so, these are my top three MMORPG’s though all of them are in first place.
See, I grew up on sports fields and courts, spent weekends in a family owned arcade when I wasn’t bored which was rare. The only board game I played was battleship because of my brother and cousins. I wouldn’t play games via console or computer until my 30’s after I tore the ligament in my leg resulting in 8 weeks off work. I was going nuts by day four, at a friends house who was gaming online at the time. So it began.
World of Warcraft
My first MMORPG crush three months before Burning Crusade, stirred on by hanging out in ventrilo with friendly people that had the coolest accents! From camping spirit beasts for a hunter buddy, fishing for cake recipes, to saving guild mates in Southshore or mind controlling enemies off the paper mill. Azeroth was fascinating before even doing a dungeon, then I tried raiding and I was hooked. That pioneering feeling of conquering content none of you have seen before was like no other team sport I had already played. It would be six years of dinners going cold, chugging noggenfoggers and a guy named Leroy constantly yelled across my screen before my hardcore raiding guild I had come to adore would retire and I would find myself on the steps of Darnassus looking at someones gear who was the same as mine but it took me seven months to earn and them a few weeks from day one of playing. My days were numbered.
Aion
To this day Aion remains my favorite world pvp game. When I first saw flight combat and angel wings I was sold on it, the world was fluid in vibrant pastels and dreamy shadows. The character creation more realistic and beautiful. Then we discovered the Abyss fort raids and creating portals to opposite faction lands just to see how fast we could attract pvp as generals and kisk hunt. Three different characters to enjoy three different types of content including Dredge where I’d remain a tanking cleric. Spiritmaster for everything else and Enchanter whenever my guild needed me to be. Once content moved from the Abyss though, excitement started waning but it would be manastone RNG that would finally break me. So much so, it still gives me nightmares!
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ArcheAge
Now this third choice was hardest because it was a choice between it or Rift. I had played Guild Wars 2, Dragon’s Prophet and Trove by the time I reached ArcheAge which won over Rift because I have never met a more compelling, frustrating and fascinating pixel world as Auroria. The graphics are second to none, content both solo or group friendly with this sense of satisfaction when you support your faction not just your guild, family or friends. Open world housing and farming became my favorite way to relax but more than any of this ArcheAge hands down has the best water content still to date. From fishing, to diving and world bosses I will always want to return to the days this content was even more relevant or day dream of a treasure hunting world that’s bot free, waiting to see what the next phase of ArcheAge will be to hopefully enjoy the parts of it I love the most or something completely new!
