 The general gaming public regularly argues that World of Warcraft is the definitive MMORPG experience. The economic incomings and subscription base presents a damning argument that it’s the most popular, but is it the best. It may have user friendliness on its side, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the finest role playing experience. It can’t exactly be called innovative because it’s only been around since early 2005. Ultima Online has recently celebrated its 10th anniversary and it puts World of Warcraft to shame. Back in 2002, the original Everquest was released and it built on the concepts that Ultima Online had founded. It had a huge, detailed fantasy world that let players play the characters they wanted to play. It was so popular that it spawned several expansions and evidently a sequel. Just before World of Warcraft burst onto the scene, Everquest II was released in November 2004. Using the success of the previous title, it rebuilt the game world, promising a refined, fun experience. Everquest II had the traditional fantasy realm, while World of Warcraft had its own lore and history.
 Both were going directly head to head and only time could tell of the conclusion. If we fast forward to 2007/8 then the outcome can be plain and simply seen. World of Warcraft won. It brought many new gamers to the MMORPG scene and steadily increased its customer base to phenomenal levels. Despite this, Everquest II never truly died and it’s always been in the sidelines, ready to offer an alternative to the World of Warcraft grind. Like its parent, Everquest, it’s had several expansions and large content updates, a loot-card system and finally a re-release compilation game; Everquest II Rise of Kunark. The guys over at Sony Entertainment Online were nice enough to supply us with a copy and a free month’s subscription to see how the father of modern MMORPG’s is faring up in its middle age. With Rise of Kunark you get 3 adventure packs, four expansions, a new starting zone, a new race and in-game items. The subscription is the typical £8.99 and is payable via the usual means. The package is bountiful in terms of content and is priced competitively meaning that it’s a fantastic choice if you were thinking about delving into Everquest 2. There’s a lot on offer and it can be slightly daunting for those that are typically new to the genre. Once in game the depth is still overwhelming because of the amount of races and classes on offer. 19 races range from humans, elves, dwarfs, to more unique animal / fairy classes. There are even more classes, 24 in totals encompassing every conceivable profession known to fantasy games. Luckily, this means that you’ll be able to create exactly the play style that you want and it’s a benefit over the limited choice seen in World of Warcraft.  Once you’ve chosen your race and class, customized your appearance, given your avatar a name and chosen a starting zone you’re greeted by the tried and tested ‘tutorial quests’ that guide you through the game. They’re there to teach you the fundamentals of combat, casting, crafting, and navigation, social and questing. It leads you (generally) by the hand but successfully hides the fact that it’s doing it. From then on, it is quest and fight your way level by level finding magical gear and wealth. It’s hard to describe the gameplay of Everquest II because it’s been copied so many times since. The easiest way to convey its appeal is by describing its unique features; what sets it apart from its rivals. First off and probably most noticeable is the fact that every line of dialogue is spoken. It brings the quests, NPC characters and game to life, adding a sense of charm unseen in other games. The voice acting is great and it’s fluid and believable. On a more gaming-central sense, the inclusion of ‘mini-ding’s’ is definitely a welcome enhancement that keeps the boredom away. Every time you reach a tenth way through a level you regain your health and energy meaning that you don’t have to sit around waiting for it to return. Furthermore, the fact that food and drink regains statistics without the need to sit and wait adds to the game’s faster pace. You gain skills every level and there is no need to find a trainer to receive them. Tie that in with a hugely deep and interesting crafting system and you’ve got a game that rivals any other MMORPG out there.  It’s not just the gameplay that is on par with other games. Everquest II (despite its age) is by far one of the best looking MMORPGs on the market. World of Warcraft may have its art-style and LOTRO may have dx10 but Everquest II reeks of splendour. If you whack the settings to max on everything (and there are a huge amount of customizable graphical options) then my machine struggles to get a solid FPS. It looks stunning even with a lot of the fancy effects turned off. The engine is obviously catering for the future and it’s great to see that the developers are always hard at work. There is just so much to do, see and enjoy. The scale of the world is humongous, and you really feel as though you’re a part of the fantasy realm. It’s a definite recommendation for those who are getting tired of World of Warcraft or those looking for something more traditional. The lore can be found everywhere and the game engrosses you greatly. It may not be the most original or the most popular but without Everquest I and II the MMORPG scene wouldn’t be what it is today. It yearns your respect and you should give it what it deserves. Score: 7/10 Be sure to check out our Q&A with the developers.
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