f13.net

First my background regarding this type of game:

#1 - Ultima Online player, off and on, since February of 2000.  Didn't quit over any great outrage, it was just getting old and newer games were coming out.

#2 - Tried Asheron's Call a couple years ago, decided it was boring and shitty, and quit after a week.

#3 - Never played Warcraft 3, or followed the WoW development process at all.  I only chose WoW over SWG at the behest of a UO buddy of mine.

My primary character is a level 17 human paladin on the Cenarion Circle RP server (I literally started typing "shard" just now) and so far I like it quite a bit.  The graphics are nice enough, the combat is nifty, and the eleven billion quests mean I always have something to do.

Lack of direction is what killed AC for me.  Nothing to do but bash on the nearest monsters, to level up, to bash more monsters.  Why?  Because apparently it's just what is done in that game.  Here I at least have a set of short-term goals.  Hell, so far my quest log has NEVER been empty, or even down to less than three.

Leveling isn't painful, groups are okay, and I can fight solo if I wish.  Plus the music is nice and unobtrusive.

So is it the mystical uber shiny game to end all games?  I guess not.  But it is fun.

This is a review?

He's been playing UO for the last five years, what else did you expect?

Best.  Review.  Ever.

If only Raph had fixed the chairs in SW:G.

Then one thing in the game would work as intended.

Yes.  Unlike some folks, I haven't bothered playing every single MMOG that's ever come out.  Hence I can't give a long and nauseatingly detailed breakdown of every aspect of the game versus its counterpart in EQ/DAoC/Whatever.  All I can tell you is that I always have something to do, and it's non-shitty.

World of Warcraft: It's non-shitty!

That pretty much sums it up. I like WoW because it is "good enough" all around. I'll pay for consistency.

Nothing wrong with playing UO for 5+ years, unless that 5+ years include last few.

Okay, here's a clumsy metaphor:

Most MMO games are a tasty ham sandwich with a side of dogshit, but WoW is just the ham sandwich by itself.  Sure it's not the filet mignon everyone wants, but it sure is nice not to eat any dogshit for once.

Now that's an interesting review--and analogy.

The most interesting thing is I'm inclined to agree with it. But I'll amend it with a "for now...". For now...WoW is like the ham sandwich without any nauseating side dishes. We'll see what Blizz does with their first expansion or major update.

I remember patch v1.07 and the Lord of Destruction release. Blizzard might be holding back on those side dishes for a large sandwich of previously said side dish.

Please don't throw away your day job for a career in journalism.

I disagree. That quote should be on the back of every WoW box.

So you think that advertising "WoW doesn't taste like dog shit" would be a good marketing move when the subs start to dwindle?

With lots of flash animation ads!

Do not discout Elf Boobies.

Ever seen an ad for Lineage II?

They sold that game on elf boobie power alone.

You forgot the Elf panty upshots as well.

Ohhhhh yeahhhhhh!

I should have quit that game the second I saw that casting spells fanned the caster's skirt upwards. That being within the first hour ..