Those of you who read my game reviews or have been unfortunate enough to play alongside me have probably noticed that I'm pretty harsh on MMORPG's. There are two primary reasons for this and several smaller ones depending on the game in question so I'll go ahead and give you the rundown here in a format I'd like to call "The Good, The Bad and The Nitpicky."
"The Good": (not much here, I told you I was tough on MMORPG's)
"Yay a new patch!" MMORPG's have a lot to offer in terms of new missions, new content and new DLC. Enough to keep most gamers busy for years which is a benefit to cash strapped gamers who can't afford to run out and buy new games every week. Sure all MMO's have a level cap but multiply that level cap by each character class and you've got a fantastic recipe for replayability.
"Can I catch the next flight?" MMORPG's are huge. The worlds are expansive and there's lots to see and explore. Sometime just running and exploring can be an adventure in and of itself. For players who love to grind bad guys this is a double bonus because it means you don't have to stay in the same overly familiar areas running around in circles. It also means you get to see that many more new areas even in single player campaigns, a graphical treat.
"Boy's nights out takes on a whole new meaning." MMORPG's are unprecedented in their capacity for multiplayer action. For those who remember the days of meeting at someone's house for tabletop games of Shadowrun, D&D, GURPS or any other role playing system this is beyond awesome. Now you can do the same thing with your favorite video game, what could be cooler than that?! Not only that but if you've got a score to settle with someone than you can meet up mono-a-mono or in teams to have at it. Anything you could do at home you can now do in cyber space.
"... and the then King told him..." MMORPG's actually have fantastic story backgrounds with rich and diverse factions, flora and fauna as well as mythologies. The best MMORPG's draw you directly into the storyline itself and make you feel like your actions actually have a big impact on the evolution of the world you are in. In-game encyclopedia's are worth reading not simply because they explain why your faction may not like the enemy but is actually some very entertaining reading. Understand the backdrop well enough and you can even glean some secrets you can't get otherwise.
"The Bad": (grab some popcorn, there's a lot)
"But I wanted to role play!" With few exceptions makers of MMORPG's seem to have forgotten what the "RPG" stands for. No longer do you create a character with personality traits, goals or anything resembling individuality on more than a surface level. Sure you can customize your character's appearance but most of the time your options are severely limited and its not at all uncommon to run into three or four other players a day that look just like you. All too often your character is nothing more than an icon with a list of spells or skills that you can't do anything with. Unlike their table top brethren MMORPG's give you next to nothing in terms of customization once your character is made.
"Why would I buy your shit when I can steal something better?" A big part of role playing games be they online or off is the acquisition of new gear. This is an essential part of gaining levels, winning battles and completing quests. Unfortunately, makers of MMORPG's seem to think that the gear your venders sell shouldn't be anywhere near as good as the gear you can loot or steal. This makes the collection of money a pointless affair at best since you really have very little, if any real incentive to actually spend it in town on vender's wares, at least in terms of gear.
"What was I supposed to do again?!" MMORPG's greatest strength is also it's biggest weakness. The shear number of side quests available to you is enough to keep you busy for months on end. In some MMORPG's you can level up to incredible heights without ever progressing down a main story quest making the main story line superfluous. Not only that but side quests are often quite generic since they are designed to be played by any character from any class. This doesn't sound like a bad thing at first until you wonder why your assassin is hauling goods for some desperate family or your knight is sneaking into someone's house to steal something.
"Uh some help here please?" Unless you're in a guild finding people to join you on the multitude of group quests is difficult at best. Often times just finding one or two people could take several minutes to an hour. Some games are starting to address this by simply setting up schedules and times for players to sign up and join an instance. This doesn't solve the problem completely since you may not be available at that time and if you miss out, oh well come back tomorrow. Expect to spend a lot of time sitting on the sidelines waiting for someone who is "looking for group."
"You want HOW MUCH?!" Despite the growing trend of Free 2 Play MMORPG's the biggest titles still cost an arm and a leg to buy and play. Star Wars: The Old Republic and Aion are probably the worst offenders in this area costing you as much as $60 up front followed by another $15 every month. This doesn't even include the multitude of micro-transactions in both games that can suck up your bank account balance like a Dyson on 5 Hour energy drinks. You may think Free 2 Play is the way out of this trap but considering how many restrictions most Free 2 Play games place on non-paying players you may find yourself forking out a lot more for the same experience.
"Oh great, where the hell am I going to find THAT?!" Now that crafting has become one of the latest MMORPG trends its also become one of the biggest headaches. Being able to build your own gear sounds great at first, especially since most of the time the only way to get the best gear is to learn how to craft but also keep in mind that the stuff you need for crafting can't always be bought. That means running all over the massive maps trying to figure out which enemies you have to kill in order to get two or three of some rare crafting item which fall infrequently at most. Even if the game tells you who to kill or what area to go to you still have to spend an exorbitant amount of time going out of your way in order to get (what you hope is) epic gear of some kind. Oh and if your MMORPG offers a detailed tutorial on how to craft consider yourself lucky. Most of the time all you get is some short blurb about what to do that makes little if any real sense to someone who has never played an MMORPG.
"Alms, alms for the n00b!" The absolute worst part about MMORPG's is probably not necessarily the fault of the game makers themselves. MMORPG's as a video game genre have a long and very loyal following and most players of MMORPG's have played several games throughout their lifetimes. As a result the games are tailored for their experienced players who are guaranteed to make a repeat performance. Unfortunately, this is hurting the one demographic that MMORPG's depend upon most, the new players. Tutorials are scant, features are familiar and often over used and in game navigation is a mess. Unless you've been playing MMORPG's for some time getting into the genre now is going to involve a steep learning curve with most of the game's most used features remaining idle as you struggle just to get used to the complicated controls with nothing more than a short paragraph to explain what to do.
"I thought this was 'Role' playing, not 'Roll' playing." Not the worst feature but not far from it is MMORPG's heavy reliance on the "point and click" user interface for combat. All you do is target an enemy and then click on whatever skills or spells you want to use against them. This system has been used for so long that only the most new players to the genre don't know the best strategies for how to use it. Left out of the equation is the trusty game controller which thanks to advances in server and software technology can now be supported by just about any MMORPG. A scant few MMORPG's like Star Trek Online and Black Prophecy actually allow you to use a gamepad for game play but just about every other MMORPG shuns this helpful device. As a result instead of being actively engaged in your character's combat abilities you get to sit and wait and hope your character's stats are good enough to resist, dodge or block without you being able to do anything about it one way or the other.
"You think they could have spent a LITTLE more money on this..." Bugs are a constant headache in all MMORPG's especially the newer ones. Despite the genre's age it seems game companies can't seem to find a way to release a game or patch without causing some kind of problem. Graphical glitches are the most common but also system hangups, faulty controls and incompatible hardware are a constant nuisance as well. This is not as big a deal with Free 2 Play MMORPG's since there was no initial investment on your part but for some games like SWTOR this kind of offense is unforgivable.
"The Nitpicky:" (stuff that I hate but doesn't really impact game play all that much)
"Why would I want THAT crap?" Microtransactions can be a great way to add a little spice to your game. Especially for Free 2 Play games which offer special gear through microtransactions. Often times though the stuff in the specialty store doesn't impact game play at all. Fashion, pets, strange looking mounts with bad stats and many more equally useless items are up for sale. Wandering through the stores I can't help but wonder how the company makes any money at all.
"But I like that other one one better..." The worst part of character customization is how much of your character you CAN'T customize. Sure you can change most aspects of your character's face but most of the work you do you can't really see most of the time. Your armor is something that will constantly be in a state of flux and if you see an outfit you like and want to keep, too bad. Some games will keep the same style going throughout higher levels like Guild Wars or Perfect World will let you buy fashion items that you can wear over your gear. Most of the time though whatever items you get you're stuck with, no matter how ugly you think they are.
"I knew I should've made that left turn at Coruscant..." Navigation is always an issue with maps as large as the ones in MMORPG's but the mini-maps aren't very helpful. Some MMORPG's like Star Trek Online have mini-maps that are completely useless forcing you to spend more time with the map window open trying to figure out which way to go than actually moving from one point to another. Admittedly SWTOR has a creative solution whereby you can leave the map open and while you move it becomes transparent. This is actually pretty useful until you get shot at.
"Now who's trying to kill me?!" Enemies abound in MMORPG's which is great for leveling and grinding but not so much when you're just trying to move around. To address this problem some MMORPG's like City of Heroes simply make it so that enemies don't attack you just for running by. Others like SWTOR not only fix it so that any enemy you come across is going to attack you but even go so far as to NOT display them on the mini-map making it easy to walk into an ambush.
"Who writes this stuff?" While the worlds of MMORPG's and the backdrops are often wonderful to explore the actually character to NPC interactions can be downright nauseating. Poorly worded, badly scripted and just plain boring text floods your mission boxes. If you're unfortunate enough to play an MMORPG like Black Prophecy that uses voice actors than your ears can suffer as well. Sure you can simply skip over the dialogue and most players do but this is supposed to be and MMO"RPG" so just as much thought should have gone into the telling of the story as the actually graphical elements that show it. If you do find a well written story line though read every word, trust me its well worth it.
So that about sums up how I feel about MMORPG's. Don't get me wrong I do find them fun and I can relate to the appeal but unless some major changes are made to revolutionize the genre I can't see myself lasting much longer.
"The Good": (not much here, I told you I was tough on MMORPG's)
"Yay a new patch!" MMORPG's have a lot to offer in terms of new missions, new content and new DLC. Enough to keep most gamers busy for years which is a benefit to cash strapped gamers who can't afford to run out and buy new games every week. Sure all MMO's have a level cap but multiply that level cap by each character class and you've got a fantastic recipe for replayability.
"Can I catch the next flight?" MMORPG's are huge. The worlds are expansive and there's lots to see and explore. Sometime just running and exploring can be an adventure in and of itself. For players who love to grind bad guys this is a double bonus because it means you don't have to stay in the same overly familiar areas running around in circles. It also means you get to see that many more new areas even in single player campaigns, a graphical treat.
"Boy's nights out takes on a whole new meaning." MMORPG's are unprecedented in their capacity for multiplayer action. For those who remember the days of meeting at someone's house for tabletop games of Shadowrun, D&D, GURPS or any other role playing system this is beyond awesome. Now you can do the same thing with your favorite video game, what could be cooler than that?! Not only that but if you've got a score to settle with someone than you can meet up mono-a-mono or in teams to have at it. Anything you could do at home you can now do in cyber space.
"... and the then King told him..." MMORPG's actually have fantastic story backgrounds with rich and diverse factions, flora and fauna as well as mythologies. The best MMORPG's draw you directly into the storyline itself and make you feel like your actions actually have a big impact on the evolution of the world you are in. In-game encyclopedia's are worth reading not simply because they explain why your faction may not like the enemy but is actually some very entertaining reading. Understand the backdrop well enough and you can even glean some secrets you can't get otherwise.
"The Bad": (grab some popcorn, there's a lot)
"But I wanted to role play!" With few exceptions makers of MMORPG's seem to have forgotten what the "RPG" stands for. No longer do you create a character with personality traits, goals or anything resembling individuality on more than a surface level. Sure you can customize your character's appearance but most of the time your options are severely limited and its not at all uncommon to run into three or four other players a day that look just like you. All too often your character is nothing more than an icon with a list of spells or skills that you can't do anything with. Unlike their table top brethren MMORPG's give you next to nothing in terms of customization once your character is made.
"Why would I buy your shit when I can steal something better?" A big part of role playing games be they online or off is the acquisition of new gear. This is an essential part of gaining levels, winning battles and completing quests. Unfortunately, makers of MMORPG's seem to think that the gear your venders sell shouldn't be anywhere near as good as the gear you can loot or steal. This makes the collection of money a pointless affair at best since you really have very little, if any real incentive to actually spend it in town on vender's wares, at least in terms of gear.
"What was I supposed to do again?!" MMORPG's greatest strength is also it's biggest weakness. The shear number of side quests available to you is enough to keep you busy for months on end. In some MMORPG's you can level up to incredible heights without ever progressing down a main story quest making the main story line superfluous. Not only that but side quests are often quite generic since they are designed to be played by any character from any class. This doesn't sound like a bad thing at first until you wonder why your assassin is hauling goods for some desperate family or your knight is sneaking into someone's house to steal something.
"Uh some help here please?" Unless you're in a guild finding people to join you on the multitude of group quests is difficult at best. Often times just finding one or two people could take several minutes to an hour. Some games are starting to address this by simply setting up schedules and times for players to sign up and join an instance. This doesn't solve the problem completely since you may not be available at that time and if you miss out, oh well come back tomorrow. Expect to spend a lot of time sitting on the sidelines waiting for someone who is "looking for group."
"You want HOW MUCH?!" Despite the growing trend of Free 2 Play MMORPG's the biggest titles still cost an arm and a leg to buy and play. Star Wars: The Old Republic and Aion are probably the worst offenders in this area costing you as much as $60 up front followed by another $15 every month. This doesn't even include the multitude of micro-transactions in both games that can suck up your bank account balance like a Dyson on 5 Hour energy drinks. You may think Free 2 Play is the way out of this trap but considering how many restrictions most Free 2 Play games place on non-paying players you may find yourself forking out a lot more for the same experience.
"Oh great, where the hell am I going to find THAT?!" Now that crafting has become one of the latest MMORPG trends its also become one of the biggest headaches. Being able to build your own gear sounds great at first, especially since most of the time the only way to get the best gear is to learn how to craft but also keep in mind that the stuff you need for crafting can't always be bought. That means running all over the massive maps trying to figure out which enemies you have to kill in order to get two or three of some rare crafting item which fall infrequently at most. Even if the game tells you who to kill or what area to go to you still have to spend an exorbitant amount of time going out of your way in order to get (what you hope is) epic gear of some kind. Oh and if your MMORPG offers a detailed tutorial on how to craft consider yourself lucky. Most of the time all you get is some short blurb about what to do that makes little if any real sense to someone who has never played an MMORPG.
"Alms, alms for the n00b!" The absolute worst part about MMORPG's is probably not necessarily the fault of the game makers themselves. MMORPG's as a video game genre have a long and very loyal following and most players of MMORPG's have played several games throughout their lifetimes. As a result the games are tailored for their experienced players who are guaranteed to make a repeat performance. Unfortunately, this is hurting the one demographic that MMORPG's depend upon most, the new players. Tutorials are scant, features are familiar and often over used and in game navigation is a mess. Unless you've been playing MMORPG's for some time getting into the genre now is going to involve a steep learning curve with most of the game's most used features remaining idle as you struggle just to get used to the complicated controls with nothing more than a short paragraph to explain what to do.
"I thought this was 'Role' playing, not 'Roll' playing." Not the worst feature but not far from it is MMORPG's heavy reliance on the "point and click" user interface for combat. All you do is target an enemy and then click on whatever skills or spells you want to use against them. This system has been used for so long that only the most new players to the genre don't know the best strategies for how to use it. Left out of the equation is the trusty game controller which thanks to advances in server and software technology can now be supported by just about any MMORPG. A scant few MMORPG's like Star Trek Online and Black Prophecy actually allow you to use a gamepad for game play but just about every other MMORPG shuns this helpful device. As a result instead of being actively engaged in your character's combat abilities you get to sit and wait and hope your character's stats are good enough to resist, dodge or block without you being able to do anything about it one way or the other.
"You think they could have spent a LITTLE more money on this..." Bugs are a constant headache in all MMORPG's especially the newer ones. Despite the genre's age it seems game companies can't seem to find a way to release a game or patch without causing some kind of problem. Graphical glitches are the most common but also system hangups, faulty controls and incompatible hardware are a constant nuisance as well. This is not as big a deal with Free 2 Play MMORPG's since there was no initial investment on your part but for some games like SWTOR this kind of offense is unforgivable.
"The Nitpicky:" (stuff that I hate but doesn't really impact game play all that much)
"Why would I want THAT crap?" Microtransactions can be a great way to add a little spice to your game. Especially for Free 2 Play games which offer special gear through microtransactions. Often times though the stuff in the specialty store doesn't impact game play at all. Fashion, pets, strange looking mounts with bad stats and many more equally useless items are up for sale. Wandering through the stores I can't help but wonder how the company makes any money at all.
"But I like that other one one better..." The worst part of character customization is how much of your character you CAN'T customize. Sure you can change most aspects of your character's face but most of the work you do you can't really see most of the time. Your armor is something that will constantly be in a state of flux and if you see an outfit you like and want to keep, too bad. Some games will keep the same style going throughout higher levels like Guild Wars or Perfect World will let you buy fashion items that you can wear over your gear. Most of the time though whatever items you get you're stuck with, no matter how ugly you think they are.
"I knew I should've made that left turn at Coruscant..." Navigation is always an issue with maps as large as the ones in MMORPG's but the mini-maps aren't very helpful. Some MMORPG's like Star Trek Online have mini-maps that are completely useless forcing you to spend more time with the map window open trying to figure out which way to go than actually moving from one point to another. Admittedly SWTOR has a creative solution whereby you can leave the map open and while you move it becomes transparent. This is actually pretty useful until you get shot at.
"Now who's trying to kill me?!" Enemies abound in MMORPG's which is great for leveling and grinding but not so much when you're just trying to move around. To address this problem some MMORPG's like City of Heroes simply make it so that enemies don't attack you just for running by. Others like SWTOR not only fix it so that any enemy you come across is going to attack you but even go so far as to NOT display them on the mini-map making it easy to walk into an ambush.
"Who writes this stuff?" While the worlds of MMORPG's and the backdrops are often wonderful to explore the actually character to NPC interactions can be downright nauseating. Poorly worded, badly scripted and just plain boring text floods your mission boxes. If you're unfortunate enough to play an MMORPG like Black Prophecy that uses voice actors than your ears can suffer as well. Sure you can simply skip over the dialogue and most players do but this is supposed to be and MMO"RPG" so just as much thought should have gone into the telling of the story as the actually graphical elements that show it. If you do find a well written story line though read every word, trust me its well worth it.
So that about sums up how I feel about MMORPG's. Don't get me wrong I do find them fun and I can relate to the appeal but unless some major changes are made to revolutionize the genre I can't see myself lasting much longer.
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his kids dont know i actually live here either.. ive met his son, but not his daughter.