sydius wrote:This game really does seem to have been released before it was finished. That, in my opinion, is bad for two reasons: it drives many potential players away who try the game before all the promised features are implemented, and secondly what is implemented seems rushed. Ive heard that they did indeed release it before they intended to because of funding issues, but it worries me that such a great game might be forgotten by a good many players who tried and moved on during the initial few months while all of the features are being finished.
Yes it was, but patch2 will answer all the promises of content.
The history behind the world sounds extremely interesting and intriguing, but is lacking in volume its as if you get a short paragraph summery of everything that has happened thus far. I realize that a large part of the history is supposed to be pieced together in-game, which is a great idea, but as of yet I have failed to see any of this (beyond the basic obvious stuff). The lack of history makes the world feel empty and makes me have a difficult time understanding why I should hate the giant bugs other than because they eat people.
http://ryzom.com/?page=story
http://ryzom.com/?page=story_coriolis
http://ryzom.com/?page=story_swarming
http://ryzom.com/?page=story_kitin
http://ryzom.com/?page=story_exodus
http://ryzom.com/?page=story_beginning
+ page 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 of the manual
Which brings me to my next point, the war with the Kittins
it doesnt feel like a war at all. Sure, there is the occasional quest, and a million of the critters around, but they dont seem to be doing anything and, indeed, seem even more boring than the more traditional wander around and kill things stand-ins, the trolls and ogres. Dont get me wrong, Im as sick of trolls as the rest of you, but how much interest can there be in watching groups of annoying-sounding bugs compared to a humanoid that your imagination can at least picture having a life? They look like giant, brainless, lifeless bugs, which is scary enough if youre a Starship Troopers fan, but doesnt seem very deep at all. Im not saying humanoid monsters should exist, Im just saying that maybe the bugs need more AI and a makeover to give them some kind of life. Having a mindless enemy that relies on sheer numbers is boring to me.
Hummanoid monster exist : Primitive tribes and dissident tribes
Kittins are not at war, they may occasionnaly attack cities but we are refuges of the Kittins big war...
Now since Kittins arent breaking down the doors of any town, and since I dont see any point in killing them as opposed to killing anything else, I wonder what there is to do in the world besides walking around, killing stuff, leveling, and repeating with the occasional harvesting and crafting thrown in just so you can make better weapons and armor so that you can kill bigger things, level more, and repeat more often. It reminds me of the early FF series, but without the story.
I think I already showed the story is more present then you think. You could say the same thing about any other mmorpg. Im currently testing patch2 on the ATS, the game will answer all of its promises. It is very frequent to have to wait for content in a mmorpg.
Indeed, it seems, all there is to do in the world is kill things or create better things to use while killing things. How is that so different than every other MMORPG out there? The only difference is the setting and the (albeit very awesome) action system. I admit I like the increased challenge in this game, but I fail to see any dramatic differences beyond the above.
Well thats true, like any other mmorpg but with a different and refreshing story and gameplay.
In fact, not being able to craft non-combat items and the pure and simple lack of every-day role-playing items and interactivity in the world would put this game many levels below sub-par when it comes to depth and emersion as an RPG. Youre forced into going to war with a mindless enemy. Dont get me wrong, the gameplay is much better than any other game Ive played in a good many years, but as an RPG, it falls short in many areas.
You can roleplay without having the object, use your imagination, i remember playing D&D.... Roleplaying is all about using your imagination. Name one RPG where non-combat related items are availible and usefull... dont say Fable, its one of the worsed attempt at a RPG ive played (i wish I could have this time back).
All of the above having been said, I think this game has an awesome potential if they ever finish it completely and still have enough players by the time they do so who havent moved on never to consider looking back. They really need to work on the story, finishing the features (and doing them right), and adding more depth/non-combat options to the game.
Patch2
Of course a good many of you will consider me a lunatic whos just complaining like the rest, and maybe I am, but this is my opinion at the present regardless. Great gameplay, no depth.
****
