I don't normally blog just for the sake of linking something, but now and then I read something I really enjoyed. Since I want to make sure others read this, check out this great Everquest II "Review". Oliver, the author of the post, tasked himself with playing and reviewing 26 different MMOs, and EQII was one of them. I think his review did a swell job of showing why EQ2 is such a fantastic game, how much it's improved since launch, and just how deep and enjoyable the experience is.
Every time I find myself playing a new MMO, I find myself wishing it had feature X from WoW or feature Y from EQ2. Everquest 2 especially has such a complete feature set, such an immersive gigantic world, so much content. Look at this feature list:
- 25 different classes to play
- 19 different races
- Mentoring
- Achievement points/AA's
- PvP and PvE
- Questing
- Collections
- Epic quests
- Extremely robust tradeskill system
- Built-in card game
- Purchaseable perks (real cash)
- Mounts
- Heroic opportunities
- Spell queuing
- Automatic spell granting when you level
- Alternate models
- Player housing
- Voiceovers
- Appearance slots
- New map system
- Guild system
- Guild housing
- Built in voice chat
- Trial download
- Recruit a friend
- Soloability
- Group dungeons and quests
- Raiding
- Non-combat pets
- Station pass
The list really does go on, but I don't want to look like a shill. Everquest 2 *really* does a lot of things well. It's unfortunate that a few things they didn't do so well (performance out the gate, poor launch, lacking features at launch, etc.) hurt them so hard early on. It really has improved and is one of the most fun MMOs to play. They do a lot of things RIGHT.
Read this review, take it from someone who was a little more verbose than me.
Tami Baribeau is the Associate Producer for Metaplace, Inc, currently working on Island Life. She is also the Lead Editor of feminist gaming blog The Border House, and the National Facebook Games Examiner for Examiner.com. She can be reached on Twitter or by email.
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Nice list! A lot of the points don't really tell the entire story, either. WoW, LOTRO, Warhammer etc might have a guild tab… but EQ2 has a freakin' guild system to be sure. User notes, in-game DKP, being able to contribute to your guild and help buy a guild hall as big as a town…
And that's just an example. The AA xp system promotes helping newbies by mentoring down so you can kill named creatures (you get AA xp, they get loot)… just, wow. So many awesome design choices in the game. Unlike a lot of MMO's that kind of just exist, and patch rarely here and there with bits of content, EQ2 has really gone crazy with the time they've had since launch.
So that is the list. Whence I played EQ2 I found out that the map system was severely lacking and EQMaps addon was doing it's best to remedy that: has the map system been revamped?
I wish I had friends from my own timezone playing the game, as it is always a drag to play 'alone in the dark' when the rest of the population is sleeping.
Oh, as a side note: my youngest kid is all the time telling me that EQ2 is so much cooler than WoW in this and that. He fell in love with the scary races and classes when I was playing it, so I might be tempted to take the leap to the dark side again sometime.
C out
@copra: Dunno about the before/after on the map system, but the current version of EQMaps makes it VERY robust (arguably too robust if you don't like to know where all your quest targets are).
I'm working on a “review” of the game myself, probably sometime when I hit level 50 (the game's original cap). Overall, I do agree that it's a much better game than people realize, though I've found a few more things to complain about after a few more than six hours in game.
P.S. 25 classes, Cuppy? Are you carrying a torch for the Beastlord? (I don't actually claim to understand the Beastlord meme as a newbie, one of those things that you miss out on for arriving late to the party, I guess.)
That was an awesome review, thanks for linking to it! I really liked his enthusiasm and the clear way he makes his points.
Yes, I'm biased (and was gleeful to see he liked one of the newb quests I worked on), but EQII is really such a beautiful, rich game it deserves some kudos!
Launch definitely hurt them – in fact, that is what hurt them the most, really showing that a solid launch is very important.
As far as EQ2 goes, I agree entirely with you. I'm not SOE apologist, but whenever someone complains that they “ruin every game they touch,” I always bring up EQ2. It had a rough start, but they took that game from the shaky – although still enjoyable – launch, into a very solid game that is probably one of the best on the market right now.
Oops. I meant 24!!
I wish there were Beastlords…..
So glad to see a recent review. I love eq2, it will always have a place in my heart. I play, I leave, I come back. The only downside to leaving and coming bac it rolling a new toon, and having absolutely no one to play with at lowbie levels. It never used to be that way, and I have fond memories of levels 1-20. If someone can suggest a server with lots of lowbies, tell me now! lol (and I’ll come back again)
If you need a low population server with lots of lowbies, I suggest Vox