Everquest: Titanium Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)In some ways Everquest hasn't changed all that much, while in others it is a completely different game from what it was even a year ago.Some things about the game have been drastically improved (like tradeskills) and if you like a more quiet atmosphere on a game server; the population is a little lower these days as most of the kiddies have moved on to World of Warcraft, EQ2, etc.

If you have friends still playing the original Everquest, or are just looking for something to do to pass the time, EQ Titanium just might work for you.

This packaged game does include 10 of the expansions, more than enough to play with old buddies if you've taken a leave of absence like I did a little over a year ago.The price is the major factor for this unit, as the expansions individually do not come cheap.

Overall 4 stars for affordability, 4 stars for fun factor (There aren't as many people to play with, making the game just a bit slower paced for casual gamers.)

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Product Description:
Includes the original Everquest and ten Expansion Packs. EverQuest -Depths of Darkhollow lets you see Norrath through the eyes of some of its fearsome and powerful creatures. Step into the forms of unusual creatures and use their unique abilities to do battle against their ancient foes! EverQuest -Omens Of War lets you follow the Wayfarers Brotherhood to the war-ravaged Realm of Discord. It's rumored that they intend to invade Norrath, and you'll into their country's battle-scarred plateaus to find out.EverQuest -Gates Of Discord is an all-new adventure in a new part of Norrath. A mage named Calliav has seen a vision of strange new beasts and a far-off land. He has seen an army called the Legion of Mata Muram -- They are the greatest threat to Norrath ever unleashed, and you'll fight them in all-out war! Also includes Lost Dungeons Of Norrath, The Scars Of Velious and Shadows Of Luclin

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EverQuest II Review

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(More customer reviews)Okay, I can almost hear all of you asking me: "WHY? are you NUTS?"

Firstly, my computer is just under the minimum recommended spec required for this game: AMD Duron 950 (100MHz FSB), 1GB 133MHz SDRAM (yes the old stuff), Radeon 9800Pro 128MB (Running at 4X AGP) - You get the idea. I have the game on low settings, except for the main texture quality, that is set to HIGH. This game is *just* about playable for me (although some of you may disagree) I get anywhere between 5 - 10 FPS in the cities, and higher indoors. But it lags, and quite serious lag sometimes.

But I'm still playing. And I'm not planning on quitting. And SOE are welcome to the monthly fee that I will pay - gladly.

What's in.... THE BOX!?

The collector's edition of this game comes beautifully presented in a shiny metal box. Opening the box you find: a velvet pouch with collectors coin, a cloth map of the world, a glossy poster map of the main cities, a glossy poster of Antonia Bayle - signed by Heather Graham - and a pic of Lucan D'Lere - signed by none other than Christopher Lee (otherwise known as Saruman in LoTR), a thick glossy book full of game artwork, a glossy manual and a hardback gatefold CD case containing both game DVD's, a music CD and a Bonus DVD (4 discs in all).

It's quite a package, and strangely, I found myself cackling with glee as I was rummaging through its contents. After installing (4.5GB!) and getting into the game, I typed in /claim, and found to my surprise that the collector's edition of this game also includes in-game items as follows: A choice of paintings (to be put in your Inn room after leaving the Isle of Refuge), A statue of Lucan or Antonia to put in your Inn room(and they talk when you click on them), and a baby dragon pet in your choice of colours (it also does tricks). What can I say? Pretty cool stuff - but you're paying for it, don't forget!

The Game

Now, I want you to ask yourself if you like clear purpose in an RPG. Think about all those great single player RPG's of the past that included great storylines and quests. Let me tell you that if you like quests, then you will love Everquest 2's excellent quest system. The game designers have put a lot of thought, effort and time into the stories, quests and reward system, and it's all brought to life by the outstanding voice-overs of the NPC's. It didn't take long for the LAG I was telling you about before, to become... how shall I say? ... more unnoticed. In fact, I was already planning my next PC upgrade.

The game really comes to life when you leave the Isle of Refuge and partake in the well thought-out initial quests to get you used to the city, your Inn room and the places to hunt. The NPC's chatter away as you go about your business - e.g. I saw one of the Ratonga rat men weilding a hatchet and chasing a cat through the streets of Freeport with a comical voice over of "Here kitty kitty!". Moments later the cat was chasing him instead, hissing and yowling, while the Ratonga was shouting "Helllp!.. I'm being chased by dinner!"

The game is full of these comical moments, and it draws you in, gives the world life. This game is very immersive - even more so than the original Everquest. Dangerously immersive. Hmmm... this game could be a real life stealer - but I'm not sure yet if this is a Pro or a Con.

Everquest2 is all about adventure - more so than any other MMORPG that I have played to date (and I've been playing them since the early MUD's). It has the same fun level that I experienced with single-player games like Baldurs Gate and BGII. And even though I have played the original Everquest, EQ2 is completely new to me, has that element of exploration and adventure... and good clear sense of progress right from the start.

But this game requires a COMMITTMENT.

If committment scares you, or if you don't have the time to truely sink yourself into this game - then I wouldn't recommend it for you! I'm going to take time off from real life, and become what I call "a computer hermit" for a month or so. I won't shave or wash much, I won't see the light of day for a while. Grocery shopping will be done online, or from a phone.

You get the idea. If you want a "casual" gaming experience, try WoW out for style. But if you're hardcore, like me. You know what to do..... (bwhahahahaahahaaaaa!)

Pros: Graphics, Sound, Quests, Animation, Community, Can Solo (all the way with the new solo monsters that SOE have added), Player Housing, Guild system, Group System, Combat, Item system, Voice Acting, The way that swarms of bats fly in caves, The way that flocks of birds realistically fly outdoors, Fish (and fishing), Tradeskills, Mining, Gathering/Harvesting and the whole lack of... boredom.

Cons: Price, Monthly fee, REQUIRES High-End system (works good after messing with the game settings on my friend's 3200 AMD barton, 1GB DDR RAM, Radeon 9800Pro), REQUIRES time to play - but if you're patient I suppose you could "casual" this for a time, It's by Sony - so cust support might be sketchy, Expansions to the game are PAY, Game special features are PAY, Overall the game is EXPENSIVE, your real life sanity (and/or relationship with girlfriend/boyfriend) may be at RISK.

And that's all I can think of. Hope you find the info above ^^ useful.

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Product Description:
The EverQuest II Collector's Edition opens up a new world of epic deds and amazing damgers, where players will encounter hundreds of creatures and unlimited adventure. Breathtaking graphics and an epic storyline immerse you in this world, as you become a legendary hero or villain. This special Collector's Edition includes a "Spell Book" DVD holder, bonus DVD with video assets, art book, cloth map and a collectible coin ina small velvet pouch.Players can now own real estate, such as apartments, homes, and guild houses Incredible graphics bring over 160 creature types to life -from orcs and goblins to menacing dragons and colossal Living StatuesFeatures voices for almost every NPC in the game

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Everquest I: The Anniversary Edition Review

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(More customer reviews)I have been playing Everquest off and on now for 7 years now and I can say, without a moment's hesitation, it is the best one out there.I know that some will argue with this, but as far as a really good online game for adults, you cannot top this one.I've tried DAoC, EQII, WoW, Vanguard and numerous others only to always come back to EQ.Like someone said earlier, the music will take you back several years just like a good tune on the radio will and remind you of something funny that happened in game, or that special event or person.This is an awesome game and unlike others that are full of kids, this game is too advanced and too technical in many respects for kids to even be able to understand.The average age is late 30's - 40's with quite a few older players as well, which I love to see.
The quests are like no others I've ever seen in a game.When a 9 year old can play WoW, I don't feel you can really say you've accomplished much when you get a high level character there; whereas, with EQ, when you hit the highests level, you KNOW you've accomplished a lot and so do all of those around you.Does it have the best interface, no.Does it have the best map system, absolutely not.Are the graphics the best, no to this as well but the game content is way beyond anything I've ever seen before and you submerge yourself into a virtual reality game that will keep you entertained for years to come.
And, no, you won't jump off of a building, drop out of school or quit your job unless you were looking for an excuse to in the first place.

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Product Description:
The EverQuest Anniversary Edition compiles every add-on for the Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG). It brings together every expansion pack for the legendary EverQuest games, plus a brand new one - The Buried Sea. This collection also treats gamers to new in-game content, including dozens of Luclin Fabled NPCs, a new scavenger hunt for players of all levels, and the return of the Fabled fiends of years past. Choose from 16 unique races and 16 distinct classes, including the new dragon-bred Drakkins. With more than 375 zones to explore and more than 50,000 items to earn and collect both magical and mundane, including artifacts of great power, characters can shape the universe in EverQuest.
EverQuest: The Buried Sea features:Energeian Items -Gain a new inventory slot for an Energeian power source and armor that can tap into the energy within

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Everquest: Prophecy of Ro Expansion Pack Review

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(More customer reviews)Most of the game play in this expansion is targeted towards people who have well-geared 70 characters.The only benefit for low level characters is the ability to get 8 extra bank slots and a horse (when you buy the CD version).Also, if your 55+, you can most likely get an Aura via a quest.

One last thing. You probably already realised this, but you probably should NOT BUY A USED COPY.If its used, then who ever used it probably registerd the key with Sony for thier EQ account.Since you can only do this once for each account, buying a used one would be a waist of money since Sony would not alow you to register the key.

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Product Description:
The gods have returned and the mortal realm shifts with their influence. But a new presence walking among the gods - a malevolent force that was released into godhood by the follies of mortals. Unbound by the laws of the pantheon, it leaves corruption in its wake and threatens to bring the entire pantheon crumbling down. The only hope for Norrath hangs on the very mortals who have unleashed this upheaval. They may be the only ones with a chance of stopping it.Though the gods have returned, time is short and the future of Norrath lies once again in the hands of mortals!

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EverQuest: Secrets of Faydwer Review

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(More customer reviews)I played Everquest from it's launch in the late 90's until just before the Luclin expansion was released. I quit because it was too much of a time sink- managing guild responsibilities while also handling a family, work, and a relationship is not very feasible. Recently I've found that I've had some spare time that I could spend on playing games- other games didn't cut it. As any Classic Everquest player will tell you, you will never find a game that gets you as into the game as much as Everquest does. I decided on purchasing this software and starting a new account instead of resuming my old account, because new players get a free month of service. If I didn't like it, then hey- with the monthly subscription fee being around $15, I only paid $15 for the software.

After installing every Everquest expansion made to date, I was pleasantly surprised- several of the old world zones have been tweaked to provide a better play experience- zones designed for 10 year old technology tend to get quite stale. Many, many other elements have been added to the game since it has launched- I do admit, I was a little overwhelmed at first, but once you get the hang of it all, you will be amazed.

The reason I originally quit Everquest was because it was not casual player friendly- you will find that all of the enhancements that the newer expansions have added other options for players that wish to live the solo life. No more waiting for a group for a crowded, cramped dungeon- you can find your own adventures on your own time.

I have not experienced any of the high end content of this expansion; however for new or returning players, I can assure you that this is still a great game and it is definitely owed a try. Try it out- you have a free month!

The reason I gave the game 4 stars is because the developers seem to have focused a lot on the new zones- while I appreciate that they have revamped some of the older zones such as Freeport, the Commonlands, etc, I feel that they definitely should revamp ALL of the original zones to match the newer zones in art style. The textures in the old world are so compressed and grainy, it makes it very difficult to see what you are doing when playing in the zones with a high resolution monitor + video card.

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Product Description:
Defend Faydwer against acts of vengeance from enemies old and new. The clockwork armies of the evil gnomish necromancer Meldrath the Malignant gather in the Steamfront Mountains awaiting his order to invade the kingdom of Ak'Anon. The launch of his great air fortress Mechanotus has exposed new paths into the nearby Loping Plains home to the soul-eating wereorcs of Bloodmoon Keep. Meanwhile an ancient menace stirs deep in the Dragonscale Hills where the prismatic dragon Kerafyrm the Awakened plots the destruction of all Norrath.EverQuest Secrets of Faydwer is the fourteenth expansion to the genre-defining series. Characters can now advance up to level 80 as they battle to triumph over the rising menace. Along the way discover thousands of new items including Heroic Items that push abilities to new heights. Secrets of Faydwer also includes dynamic high level raid content new spells and new Advancement Abilities to rejuvenate even the most hardened warrior.Note: This expansion pack requires the full version of EverQuest to play.Format: WIN 2000XP Genre:ENTERTAINMENT Rating:RP UPC:814582412720 Manufacturer No:41092

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Everquest II The Shadow Odyssey Review

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(More customer reviews)For everyone who loves online fantasy games. There is something for anyone. From beautiful adventuring zones to house decorating. This expansion is an all in one pack, so if you buy this you get the original game plus all expansions. You get a nice bear mount which levels with you. There is both an exciting adventure part to the game, a very well developed tradeskill part, there is thousand of quests and very customizeable house decorating part from little inn rooms to giant guild halls. Creating your character also gives you a lot of posibilities with so many different races and classes to choose between. When you have chosen your race and class then there is almost endless possibilities for customizing their looks. This game is fun and challenging for both teenagers and adults. The only downside to the game is the high requirements for your computer which must be up to date with lots of ram for being able to run the game smoothly and enjoy the fantastic graphics.

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Product Description:
EverQuest II The Shadow Odyssey is the latest EverQuest II expansion pack from Sony Online Entertainment, and follows the award-winning Rise of Kunark expansion. New and veteran players will marvel at the massive expanse of the new journey through an unknown realm. With new quests, stories, deities, and more, The Shadow Odyssey will provide hours of fresh gameplay.


Explore Ether and its 20 new zones, including the overland zone of Innothule. View larger. Special Pewter Bear Figurine Included in Box
A special pewter dire bear figurine is an included bonus with this set. The bear is a new addition to the game, either a pet or mount depending what level you are, and gains experience and levels with you. This collectible pewter replica will look great on your desk as a reminder of your digital friend.
New Worlds and Nostalgic Places to Explore
At the heart of The Shadow Odyssey is a new realm called the Ether, with 20 new zones including a new overland zone, Innothule. Players will enjoy the added pieces of nostalgia with familiar dungeon themes from EverQuest such as Najena, Mistmoore, and The Sebilisian Empire. There are also five new Heritage Quests, and more than 18 goal-based dungeons such as Befallen and Ruins of Guk.
The story unfolds along with the hundreds of new quests and dozens of new creatures. As you fight, you learn a little more about this new world and the challenges that must be overcome in it.
New Mounts, New Deities
Players will now be able to ride new mounts such as a bear and a unicorn. Two new deities have also been introduced into Norrath: Rodcet Nife and Anashti Sul. Players can also now ride airships to travel between distant lands.
A New Group of Erudites Offer New Loot
Along with the new realm and new enemies are new equipment, weapons, armor, and other loot. Players can get them by bartering the void shards earned during your encounters with a mysterious group of Erudites who have powerful new armor and equipment.
Legends of Norrath Online Card Trading Game Included
Legends of Norrath, a strategic online trading card game, is included in The Shadow Odyssey expansion. The card game tells the story thousands of years before the events in The Shadow Odyssey, giving players a chance to learn the realm's history. Players can gain new loot cards for EverQuest II, including rare items, new mounts, cloaks, consumables, and baubles.
All-In-One Compilation Pack Includes Previous Releases
The Shadow Odyssey is an All-In-One expansion pack that includes all previous expansion and adventure packs for EverQuest II. This means that you'll have access to the entire EverQuest II world and have a chance to catch up on any adventures you might have missed.

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Champions of Norrath Review

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(More customer reviews)As if the EverQuest juggernaut needed any help, the Champions of Norrath game brings a new chapter to this RPG saga.
First, you choose your character. There are barbarian warriors, wood elf rangers, high elf clerics, erudite wizards and dark elf shadow knights. We seem a bit elf happy here, with none of the other interesting races represented. You do get to choose a male or female of each, but the females all look like Playboy models rather than normal human beings (or elven beings for that matter).
You get a tiny bit of customization - hair style, hair/skin color. A few point modifications to your stats and you're set. A quest to fight orcs, and you're all set!
The game is extremely Diablo-like. Your inventory lets you arrange your items tetris-like in a grid, and there is almost infinite variety in the combinations of weapons and armor available. This on one hand is good, but on the other hand, do you really need 80 different types of boots to choose amongst?
The graphics are VERY sweet, with whirling mists, swinging lamps on ropes, and well done body movements. This isn't a splinter-cell reality look, it's more like a 'living cartoon'. There are shadows and glows from lights, the flames flicker quite realistically. Even the menu scenes are very nicely done and get you in the mood.
The sounds are reasonably good, from the clicks of swords to the haunting music in the background. As in all games you can get tired of certain phrases or songs rather quickly, but that's what the mute button is for.
Gameplay itself is very much like other RPGs out on the market. You run around the randomly generated map slashing at everything. Creatures die. You gain experience points and push for the next level up to give yourself more stats. Depending on your character type, you can move along different skill trees to become more advanced at tasks you want to do.Note that unlike other games, if you click on something you're stuck with it. So think carefully before you click.
As enjoyable as this is, there are a few flaws to at least watch out for. One, the random maps are fun, but the randomly positioned save points are either really good or REALLY awful. If they were going to do a random map, they should have just let us save at any time.
Most RPGs let archers have unlimited arrows - but here you have to buy them. Then you're stuck running back for more all the time. Especially for a newbie archer, this really means you don't arch much at all. Not fun.
The bad guys seem to lurk by the spawn points, so if you die, you often come back to life only to watch in anger as your character is slain on the spot. This falls into the Not Fun category.
Also, the camera could use a fair amount of work. There are many times when you're caught fighting and can't see at all what you're doing.
Still, these are just things to keep in mind - the game in general is gorgeous to look at and great fun to play. Because it's random, and because it plays well in multiplayer (both in person and on PS2 Online), this is where it really shines. Much like Diablo was AMAZINGLY fun in an online setting, the Norrath online can keep you having fun for weeks and weeks, if not months and months.
Highly recommended for the RPG fan who wants to play with friends!

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Product Description:
Champions of Norrath debuts on the PlayStation 2 gaming console delivering intense action-packed adventure. Combining elements from the Fighting Action and Role-Playing genres Champions of Norrath challenges players to master hand-to-hand weapon and spell combat to conquer the Realms of EverQuest. Your adventures will take you to a variety of beautiful locales enchanted zones and the darkest dungeons imaginable. Brave the perils of hideous creatures challenging quests and unforeseen evil to acquire the equipment and skills you will need for victory.Format: PS2 Genre:RPG (VG)/Rating:T - Teen UPC:814582404428 Manufacturer No:40442

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Champions Return to Arms Review

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(More customer reviews)I've been enjoying good old hack-and-slash computer and video games since the days of the original Diablo.Therefore, when I read the reviews of Champions: Return to Arms, and saw that previous reviewers had noted on the redundancy of this game, I figured that after a while, any hack-and-slash saga could get old.There's only so much killing and looting one can do before the plot gets boring.Therefore, I went out and bought the game anyway under the impression that Return to Arms would at least elaborate on the plot in Champions of Norrath.I was wrong.

This game is extremely redundant.Aside from the two new player classes, the player characters are all the same.Exactly the same.No elaboration from the previous game whatsoever.I suppose this makes it easier to import your characters from Champions of Norrath, but it would have been nice to see some kind of elaboration in this department.Furthermore, many of the "bad guys" you fight are the same as in the previous game.Many of the characters you met in Champions of Norrath return.For example, Babik Nurn makes an appearance.Many of the locales are the same.You will again visit the gothic vampire castle, as well as the Pit of Ill Omen.Some of the quests are even familiar.Once again, the mermaid has lost her conch shell and would like you to find it for her.After you do this, you again are granted the ability to breathe underwater so you can fight some undead pirate skeletons.What does all of this add up to?The feeling that you just paid a bunch of money to play the Champions of Norrath all over again.

In addition, as with Champions of Norrath, the game seems to have several bugs.I've had the game freeze on me, and the screen seems to bounce around every time you're looking through your character's inventory.These are some minor technicalities that one might think would have been worked out after the several complaints that arose regarding the original game, however, that doesn't seem to be the case.

However, this isn't to say that the game is all bad.As I stated previously, I'm one to enjoy a decent hack-and-slash game, so I pushed onward and completed it in it's entirety.Any fan of the Dungeons and Dragons type RPG should find some decent entertainment value in Return to Arms, regardless of the aforementioned pitfalls.In addition, as with Champions of Norrath and both Baldur's Gate games, the graphics are incredible.I have yet to see video games as visually stunning as the stuff Snowblind puts out.It feels as though your characters are walking around in a diorama rather than on your television screen.

I've never tried the online play, in this or in any other game for that matter, so I can't comment on that.However, the rest of the game makes for hours of good fun if you don't mind a little bit of repetition.It's still worth buying, just don't expect anything too terribly ground-breaking.

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Product Description:
Champions: Return to Arms brings all the action packed hack n' slash fun from Champions of Norrath(tm) back to the PlayStation(r)2 computer entertainment system.The sequel offers more than 100 hours of gameplay per character unlimited battles deadly missions and the ability to import characters from the original game.Champions: Return to Arms enhances all the groundbreaking features that made the original the must-have action RPG of 2004 and brings in a host of advancements to take multiplayer gaming to the next level.Features: All-new multiplayer and online gameplay options A continuation of the engrossing fantasy storyline of Champions of Norrath with exciting twists and turns that require the player to choose his or her fateTwo new playable racesThousands of new items and magical artifacts to acquire All-new and beautifully detailed environments A host of new monsters to battle and non-player characters to encounter Innovative medal system which unlocks secret gameplay modesThe ability to import characters from the original gameMore than 50 levels along with a mission menu containing non-linear side questsFour-player multiplayer on a single PlayStation 2 with a Multitap (sold separately) Superior online multiplayer options for up to 4 players with a Network Adaptor (Online play requires internet connection Network Adaptor (for PlayStation2) and Memory Card (8MB) (for PlayStation 2) (each sold separately) - no additional subscription fees required(players must provide their own internet connection for online gameplay modes)Format: PS2 Genre:RPG (VG)/Rating:T - Teen UPC:814582405821 Manufacturer No:40582

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Everquest II: Echoes of Faydwer Review

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(More customer reviews)When Everquest 2 (EQ2) was released two years ago in conjunction with Blizzard's World of Warcraft (WoW), it was suppose to be the battle of two heavyweight giants in the game industry.However, EQ2 was far from being a complete game and it suffered as WoW has gone on to court well over 5 million subscribers since then.

Flash forward to present day and EQ2 has released it's third expansion - Echoes of Faydwer (EoF) - and it's easy to see how much improvement this game has made over it's two year journey.The game has gone through numerous changes - both from the combat mechanics down to the tradeskill subset - to where EQ2 not only makes a strong run against WoW for best MMORPG on the market but the most casual player friendly game on the market right now.

EoF provides players with a new race - the Fae - and a new staring city, Kelethin, to start on the continent of Faydwer.Race selection is not just limited to the Fae as you can also start as a Dwarf, Gnome, Wood Elf, or High Elf as well.Kelethin is considered to be a haven of good in this game so only classes that fall within the alignment of Qeynos can chosen for play.

The continent returns famous landmarks that many original EQ players will recognize off the bat: Steamfront Mountains, Butcherblock Mountains, Castle Mistmoore, The Butcherblock Chessboard, etc. to name a few.Old enemies return such as the Crushbone orcs, Mayong Mistmoore as well as new challenges such as The Pumpkin Headed Horseman in the Loping Planes.

New raid zones including Emerald Halls, The Freethinkers Hideout and Mistmoore's Inner Sanctum await guilds that desire to raid high end content and offer great rewards for those skilled enough to make it through the zones (more on that in a minute).New armor sets await including set bonuses along with the abilities to adorn current armor sets with bonuses.New tradeskills include tinkering and transmuting to add greater variety to the game and help improve characters over the course of their journeys.Finally, Alternate Achievement (AA) points can now be earned starting at level 10 and are split 50/50 between two trees; the first tree goes to your character's class archetype; the second tree is specific to your character's class.

As if that was not enough, old EQ players who may not have taken to EQ2 due to the lack of no interaction with the pantheon of Norrath can rejoice as the gods have begun to return to Norrath again.Currently, there are nine gods that players can worship.The catch, however, is that the gods are now have alignments and depending on your character's alignment will dictate which gods you have access to worship.The gods are as follows:

Good Alignment - Mithaniel Marr, Tunare, and Quellious
Neutrals - Solusek Ro, Brell Serilis
Evil Alignment - Rallos Zek, Cazic Thule, and Innoruuk

Worship of each god provide players with abilities in the forms of blessings and miracles.Players have to provide offerings to their gods in order to gain the points necessary to use blessings and miracles for their characters.It should also be noted that each god's avatar appears in the game as a contested raid mob.This will prove to be interesting how this plays out in game since it has been suggested that players worshiping a god who kills their god's avatar will be perma-flagged as hated by that god.This is probably done due to how players acted in EQ's Planes of Power (PoP) expansion in order to make the consequences of such decisions long lasting.

With all the good that this expansion has been for EQ2, there are some glaring problems right now.The first problem being that a lot of the Old World content, Desert of Flames (DoF) content, and Kingdom of Sky (KoS) content did not get re-adjusted with the combat update that removed the hard stat caps in favor of a system of diminishing returns.The main problem with the re-adjusted combat system is that raid and heroic mobs in the game seemed to miss the re-alignment.Currently, raid mobs in familiar KoS zones (Labs of Lord Vyemm, Lyceum of Abhorrence, Halls of Seeing, Deathtoll) and content in the Fallen Dynasty adventure pack (Chel'Drak, The Direvine Matron, the city of Nizara)is currently out of balance with the mobs one-shotting players right and left.This problem does not exist with the mobs in Fayder zones it seems save for the more upper level raid/instance zones (Castle Mistmoore, Obelisk of Blight).While this will be beneficial for players starting out, for more players who have been around for a while it makes running the current quest series hard until more tweaking of the combat system is done.

The second complaint that I have with this expansion as a whole - and this is a personal gripe - is the lack of support Freeport characters have in the game.The Fae are a new good-based race while Freeport characters are still limited to the evil-neutral race based classes that have been around since the game started.The new quests in Faydwer also have substantially higher coin and gear rewards versus their Freeport counterparts.In rolling a new Fae Mystic toon recently and taking her to level 10, she sat close to 2g from quest rewards and loot drops versus THREE Freeport toons I also rolled at the same time that have yet to break over that amount from quest rewards and loot drops (but they make more money based on their tradeskills alone).

These two items knock this down from being a completely perfect expansion but minor issues aside, EQ2 has come a LONG WAY from where it was two years ago and deserves a second look at.While WoW may have held the crown for this long, this expansion has shown that the EQ2 development team has truly come to the level - and in many cases even surpassed - Blizzard when it comes to crafting a MMORPG that players of all types can enjoy and get lost in for a few hours.

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Product Description:
This expansion introduces a new playable race, The Fae, an enchanted race of winged creatures.The Fae dwell on the continent of Faydwer, in the arboreal city of Kelethin, the new starting city being added to new chapter in the EQII saga. Echoes of Faydwer includes over 350 new quests, a new selection of profession hats, cloaks, armor, and new horse mounts available to players of all levels. EQII players will encounter over 40 new types of creatures to face, more than 20 new zones and adventure areas, and will be able to compete against other players for new PvP (Player vs. Player) rewards, plus all-new items, equipment, spells and tradeskill recipes. The Achievement system introduced in the Kingdom of Sky expansion has been enhanced to include additional sub-class abilities, allowing players to further customize their characters' abilities.All-new Profession Hats and Armor Over 20 new adventure zones - lush forests, vampire-infested castles and arboreal cities Over 40 new types of creaturesNew rewards for PvP (Player vs. Player) combat New player housing, items, equipment, spells and tradeskill recipes Levels for Guilds raised from 50 to 60An MMO RPG that requires online play at a monthly subscription fee

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Everquest II: Rise Of Kunark Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I first played EQ2 at release, almost three years ago now.The game was beautiful, no doubt, but lacked the fun factor that kept me involved in the original EQ for over two years.I gave up on the game after three months, and only stayed with it that long due to some friends I had made in the game and didn't want to just walk away from.At that time, the crafting was horrible, the questing overly drawn out (I recall gathering 100 each of wood and metal for a very early stage in a very long questline), and grouping was absolutely necessary to advance.

After a recent free-trial weekend, I decided to buy RoK and give EQ2 another shot.I found a much improved questing path in the new area (the Sarnak).There's nothing earthshattering in the mechanics - go there, kill that, come back for your reward that is the staple of rpg's - but the implementation shows a lot of effort was put into increasing the action and reducing the running from place to place that plagued the game at release.I have not gone back and levelled a character in the original game areas, so I will not speak to any improvements that may (or may not) have been made there, but I would hope there has been improvement in the "old" areas as well.

The crafting system was also, in my opinion, greatly improved.At release, the crafting system was in-depth and engrossing, but also incredibly frustrating.Originally, you crafted preliminary components from harvested materials, then turned the preliminary components into final products.Those final products frequently (at higher levels) required the crafter to acquire preliminary components that the crafter would need to rely on other crafters in other skill trees to provide.Finding the items you needed to advance required turning to brokers, either slowing the process, or making it hopelessly expensive to advance your crafting skills.Now, the crafter is able to harvest all of the necessary components to create a final product.The "action/reaction" part of the crafting is still in place.Crafting failures are still a possibility, but no longer are you destroying carefully crafted components in the process (only raw materials), and they occur far less frequently (greatly reducing the frustration level).

The most noticable difference is the ability to advance.It took me three months to level a character to 30 at release, and a few weeks in the current expansion.It is now possible to go out and accomplish a quest solo, and likely to do a great deal of levelling that way.This was just not possible at launch.It happens occassionally that I don't have time to form a group to go questing, but I still want to accomplish something in a limited amount of time.Being able to do so is a welcome addition to the game.

The one potential drawback has to do with grouping.At this point, the majority of players are max level, and a lot of the newbie areas are less populated.It may be tough to find a group to do the quests that require a full group.However, it's usually fairly easy to find one or two people to group with, and most of the content can easily be managed by two or three players.

It's clear to see the impact that other mmorpg's have had on EQ2 by the changes made since launch.EQ2 has clearly made strides to broaden its appeal, and from what I've seen of it there's quite a bit to appeal to both the casual solo player or the hard-core, raid-oriented player.

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Product Description:
The fourth expansion pack for EverQuest II Rise of Kunark features hundreds of new quests promising exciting adventures and encounters including class Epic Weapon quests for all classes. Rise of Kunark introduces a new playable race the Sarnak. This dragon-like humanoid inhabits the jungle islands of Timorous Deep a new starting location for adventurers. Timorous Deep presents a wealth of new content for levels 1-20 and is one of the many new zones being developed for this expansion. Many of these zones are based on favorite gameplay areas from the original EverQuest such as Karnor's Castle the Lake of Ill Omen Sebilis and Veeshan's Peak. Guilds adventurers and artisans can expect to benefit from a raised level cap as all level caps are raised to 80 in addition to new solo group and raid content for levels 65-80. Players will also be able to explore this new world astride a new mount -- the rampaging Kunarkian Rhino. Dozens of new NPCs as well as a host of new weapons and armor await players as they explore and unravel the mysteries surrounding the beautiful yet dangerous continent of Kunark.Note: This expansion pack requires the full version of EverQuest II to play.Format: WIN 2000XP Genre:ENTERTAINMENT Rating:T UPC:814582412225 Manufacturer No:41222

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