EverQuest II Review

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(More customer reviews)This peview is intended for an audience of some experience in online gaming, though inexperienced readers may find some good stuff in it as well.
The original EverQuest was a phenomenon. A game for the ages, quite literally. It's lasted for years, and for some people, it's never been boring. Has another online game ever come close to receiving the same acclaim as the original EverQuest? No way!
I had my hopes up for Star Wars Galaxies, and I gave into much of the hype. Unfortunately, for me it turned out a bust. The second I entered the SWG world I was awed by the graphics and the incredible detail. And I even became entranced for a time . . . well, more precisely, a week. The problem with Galaxies (and the success of EverQuest) is game play. SWG has no loot off dead creatures, no experience hook (it didn't take much time to reach master of any one profession). It was eye candy with no core. EverQuest has the "hook". It has the content. This old game has yet to meet its match.
So what about the sequel, EverQuest 2? Will it take the crown from its predecessor? Question marks arise, but I will provide some answers. Reading the developer comments on various forums, I can reveal some interesting details.
- There will be zones, just like in the original EQ
- There will be a "consider" option (con) that shows possible experience gains and follows the original EQ color scheme
- Luclin, Kunark, Velious, Odus and Fadywer will be absent from the original game. Antonica will have split into continents of it's own. The game takes place an age after the original EverQuest
- There will be no kill-stealing or power-leveling, enforced by a "lock" rule. Kiting will be absent
- There will be no twinking, and buffing "newbies" will not be allowed
- There will be item decay on death
- There will be 50 levels to attain originally, with a game engine that supposedly allows up to 200 if the developers choose to have expansions
- There will be standard groups of 6, and raid-groups of 24
- There will be solo-content and group-content
- There will be 47 classes, designed in a "tree' fashion. Everyone will start as a Commoner until level 5, and then choose a basic profession. At level 10, a new sub-profession will become available, and so on.
- There will only be 2 starting cities, Freeport and Queynos (rumored to be 17 zones each!)
- Roughly half of the original EverQuests zones will be remade and included in the sequel
- There will be player housing, and guild housing, but only in the cities
- The minimum requirements will be:
Operating System: Windows 98/2000/ME/XP
Processor: 1GHz
RAM: 512 MB
Video Card: DirectX 9 compatible. Pixel shader and vertex shader compatible hardware with 64 MB of texture memory
Sound Card: DirectSound compatible audio hardware
- The recommended requirements will be:
Operating System: Windows XP
Processor: 2 GHz or greater
RAM: 1 GB
CD-ROM: 16x CD-ROM or DVD-ROM
Video Card: DirectX 9 compatible. Pixel shader and Vertex shader compatible hardware with 128mb of texture memory or greater
Sound Card: Sound Blaster Audigy
Some problems that may arise with EverQuest 2 are graphics and solo-play, and cities.
Grouping is practically enforced in some cases (in dungeons), and soloing may be time-limited in some cases (ridiculous). There will be solo-content, specifically designed by the developers, but they want to suggest grouping most of all. Make no mistake; this will be a "group-oriented" game.
Graphics are an online game's "One Ring" (referring to Lord of the Rings) concerning the development team. Games that get carried away with graphics tend to lack in other areas. I hope that this is not the case with EverQuest 2.
I've read numerous articles where the developers are bragging and taking great pride in their graphics system, completely unaware that most people couldn't care less. If it's not a fun game, people will not play it, period. This was the case in SWG, which has lost a large quantity of its subscribers.
What the EQ 2 development team should do is concentrate on balance between their 47 classes (wow), balance between their variety of species and (of course) bug testing. They should concentrate on improving the game from the original (game mechanics), which they have done marvelously so far, and most importantly, game content and depth.
Cities may also be a problem in the new EQ. There are only 2 cities (albeit massive ones according to the dev team). What does this mean? Elves, dwarves, humans, frogloks, ogres and trolls all living in the same city. I find it ridiculous, and a complete step back from one of the thing's that made the original EQ great: cultural differences.
Cities may also be problematic for those who remember the original Freeport and Queynos. The developers were bragging about making the cities ten times bigger than the originals. My God! I couldn't find my way through Freeport in the first EverQuest, how the heck am I going to do it now? In addition, Freeport in the original EverQuest was devoid of players, completely, unless you were at the bank or the zone entrance. Keep this in mind. These new cities will be empty ghost towns, and far too big to navigate without an overlay map of some kind (which brings you out of the game).
EverQuest 2 is slated to come out in June, but Beta hasn't even started yet. It will NOT come out in June, which I'm sorry to say. With experience, I can tell you to expect the release around fall or winter of 2004.

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Scheduled to launch in winter 2004, EverQuest II adds significant improvements over the original massively multiplayer online role-playing game. EverQuest II uses a completely new, cutting-edge 3-D engine developed in-house with a host of technological features allowing the development team to generate an unparalleled, visually stunning 3-D world. Other features include the ability to own real estate, ride horses, command ships, and experience all-new enhanced spells, quests, and events. EverQuest II takes place in the culturally diverse world of Norrath in the future of the original EverQuest, with a greater size and better graphical detail than ever seen before.
Larger in scope than its predecessor, EverQuest II will be able to host hundreds of thousands of simultaneous users from all over the world. And, due to increased localization features including real-time translation in English, French, German, Japanese, and Korean, as well as localized servers in select countries, players from every corner of the earth will be able to explore familiar areas and new, undiscovered territories of Norrath. With innovative in-game creatures, weapons, and items, EverQuest II promises something new for all online adventurers.
EverQuest II is a multiplayer online game you play via the Internet. A stable Internet connection is required to play. Sony Online Entertainment charges a small monthly subscription fee for this game, separate from your Internet service provider access charges. The first month of this fee is included in the purchase price of this package. You must provide a valid credit card to register and play. After your first month, you can use your credit card to continue your subscription.

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Empire Earth Review

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(More customer reviews)I can still remember when I played the original AGE OF EMPIRES, wondering to myself if they would be able to make the same general strategy game using modern weaponry. As I loved the original AE, I held out hope that they would someday be able to pull it off.
Well, there is no reason to wonder anymore: our friends at SIERRA have done it. EMPIRE EARTH and its expansion set (both included in EE GOLD) takes us all the way from the dawn of mankind up thru the modern age and even into the future with spaceship and robotic battles and the like.
For myself, the most satisfying component of the game is being able to play with modern-day weapons. Build tanks, artillery and various troops for huge land battles. Build air-forces with fighters and bombers. Build navies with submarines, aircraft carriers, battleships and frigates.
Your civilians form the backbone of your military apparatus as they're the ones who collect the necessary resources (i.e.: wood, food, gold, stone, iron, etc) for your campaigns. You're the one in charge; how you utilize your resources is up to you. If you fail, you're the one who is accountable. If you are victorious, you're the one who deserves all the accolades and glory!
The most remarkable thing about the game for me is its symmetry. There is no one single "unstoppable" weapon in your arsenal. The most powerful weapon is the B-52, with which you can nuke your enemies. However, you had better protect it with great care; send it by itself on long-range bombing sorties and it's sure to be shot down by enemy fighters, anti-aircraft batteries or soldiers with STINGER missiles.
You may create TRIDENT submarines with powerful cruise missiles that can strike targets deep inland. However, these submarines are also the easiest for your enemies to sink: protect them at all costs!
Apache helicopters are devastating against tanks and other land targets, but are highly vulnerable to STINGERS and are downright helpless against enemy jet fighters. Jet fighters are susceptible to the fierce fire of anti-aircraft batteries. However, anti-aircraft batteries are hapless against tanks.All units have their strong points, and all units have their weaknesses, be they ground, sea or air.
If you like strategy games, I cannot recommend EE enough. If you like building armies, blowing stuff up and upgrading the prowess of your military, this is certainly the game for you. Just beware: it's about the most addictive game you will ever play!

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Rewrite history with the ultimate strategy collection!Mastermind a civilization's glorious rise to power throughout any period of human history.This is real-time strategy on a truly historic level.Includes:Empire Earth,Empire Earth: The Art of Conquest Expansion Pack, and Empire Earth: Gold Edition Prima Official Strategy Guide/

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Rise of Nations: Thrones & Patriots Expansion Pack Review

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(More customer reviews)Like many who have been eagerly anticipating the arrival of Thrones and Patriots, I played a social-life crippling amount of Rise of Nations when it debuted in early 2003. That's why when my co-junkie CIO barged into my office yesterday with this expansion pack I was both elated and petrified at the potential darkening of my social life that might occur if this follow-on was half as interesting as press has made it out to be.
I went home, and savagely thrust the CD into my eager drive, loading....anticipatory sweat began to bead on my backhair....loading...
Fast forward 20 minutes, and if you asked me "how is it", I wouldn't answer you. That would be my answer. Now, sitting here in my office, I'm jones'ing to run home and play again...the crackling of US Marine Machine Gun fire, screaming Persian Elephants....
So much has changed, yet thankfully, for RON lovers, the gameplay is still comfortably familiar. There are however some notable differences in this game.
First off, there are 6 new nations, 20 new unit types, and 4 new maps. But so far, the biggest difference is the ability to choose a government type...
At the Classical Age you establish a Senate and choose a government. Your choices are: Despotism, Socialism, Capitalism, Monarchy, Republic, and Democracy. Your Government gives your nation military and non-military bonuses, and each government type allows you to create a Patriot. The Patriot is a special unit that acts as your leader. They are produced from the Senate and give certain bonuses to units and buildings within a proximate radius of their location. What's interesting is that each of the six governments produce a Patriot unique to their type.
So in choosing government type (which give you global bonuses), you also need to balance that governments value against the unique set of Patriot bonuses. As if there weren't enough choices in Rise of Nations to begin with. But really, as I expressed in my review of RON, that's what I love so much about this game. I know of no "one way to win". Much like chess, there are counters to every efficacious strategy and tactic, "rushing", "turtleing (holing up defensively)", "age leaping"...every game must be played dynamically against your partners strategy. A "thinking mans RTS".
Needless to say, I'm thrilled. I haven't been this excited to game since I was learning Rise of Nations a little over a year ago. If you love RTS's like Civilization, you'll should pick up this habit. If you're already addicted to RON, well, your next fix is on the shelf...
I hope this was helpful.
Enjoy.

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Expansion Pack; requires Rise Of NationsAlso includes four new single-player campaigns -The rise of Alexander the Great, the career of Napoleon Bonaparte, the conquest of the New World, and the Cold War

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Age of Empires 2 Official Expansion: The Conquerors Review

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(More customer reviews)the expansion pack features 5 new civ's, maya, aztecs, huns, koreans,and spanish.each with its own unique buildings type(imagine mayas and aztecs builduings, cool)There are 3 campaigns and one pack of scenarios named battles of the conquerors, the campaigns are atilla the hun where you get to conquer gaul and then maybe even the whole rome, in el cid you must join forces with moors and fight against castilla and fight against fanatical berber horsemen, and last but not least, in montezuma you get to fight off thje invaders that are much better armed and shielded, can they defeat them, or will they fall before the invaders, in addition to that the game will have 11 new units,conquistador,jaguar man,tarkan and 26 new technologies including a special technology for each civilisation. The villagers are now smarter,for example they'll start gathering wood after building a lumber camp, farm queing, you just give enough money to it, and villagers will build farms untill money run off.
Ram's are now transports, garrizon units inside it to increase speed and defend units inside. ship formations,you can also send commands to friendly computer players. and finally new temperature zones including tropics, and ice. That is a very interesting game...

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Age Of Empires II: The Conquerors takes you int the heart of warfare as you fight to buils a new civilization! Several new interfaces and features let you concentrate on tactics and resource managementNew multiplayer games like Wonder Race(see who builds a Wonder first) and Defend The WonderRelive the time of the conquerors with this exciting strategy game!

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Medieval II Total War: Kingdoms Expansion Pack Review

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(More customer reviews)Okay, first off about the multi-player hotseat thingie..don't really know about it and not my cup of tea so in this review I won't touch on it because quite frankly this is a game I really wouldn't want to play with anyone else. It's a "me" game.
With that being said, this is a nice addition to the Total War franchise. Sure, there are mods you can pick up to tweak it, but nobody makes a mod better than the folks that actually designed the game. In each of the campaigns you have cool triggers that add a dynamic flavour such as Richard and Philip II reinforcing the crusades in the Holy Lands and the Baron's Alliance in the Brittania campaign.
I had some preconceived notions about Kingoms, in that I fully expected some dinky little maps and about 5 hours playtime per campaign. Ohhhhhh no sir, these are full fledged campaigns with lots of territories and tons of time to eat up. They are all quite large, but the Americas campaign map is vast and was extremly fun playing the Apachean tribes. Nothing says "yippie" when your apache dog soldiers are charging and doing that Indian war cry you've heard in every John Wayne movie.
There is no big upgrade over Total War II...ergo, there is no major graphic or engine overhaul, it's simply more campaigns to play - a lot more. One of the nicest things I liked on the new campaigns is that you get a few of the top end units to start so you don't have to wait years to see how that Greek Fire Thrower works or get the uberest Templar Cavalry.
I have had no technical problems on Vista 32-bit with Dual core 2.13ghz, 2gb RAM and NVIDIA 7600 video card.
Not much more to say that hasn't been showcased in previews and you can read from the description up top (which is accurate except the multi-player thingie which I really don't care about) other than if you liked Total War 2 then you are going to really love Kingdoms.
Pros:
- Same good looking graphics as Total War 2
- Sound is amazing with new songs for each of the factions and campaigns
- Tons more units
- Very big campaign maps
Cons:
- Ummm...perhaps the multi-player capability which apparently isn't that great.


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Medieval II: Total War Kingdoms is the official expansion to last year's award-winning Medieval II Total War, presenting players with all-new territories to explore, troops to command, and enemies to conquer.Kingdoms is the most content rich expansion ever produced for a Total War game, with four new campaigns centered on expanded maps of the British Isles, Teutonic Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas. In Medieval II, players wereonly given a tantalizing glimpse of South America, but in Kingdoms, vast tracts of land in both North and South America have been opened up for players to conquer.All-new factions from the New World are also now fully playable, including the Aztecs, Apaches, and Mayans.Along with the new maps in Britannia, Teutonic, Crusades, and New World Campaigns, there are 13 new factions to play, over 110 units to control, and 50 building types, adding up to 80 hours of new gameplay.Kingdoms also offers new multiplayer maps and hotseat multiplayer, allowing players to play one-versus-one campaign games on the same computer.

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Operation Mania Review

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(More customer reviews)I never understood what it meant to get butterflies in your stomach or water in the knee. Worse yet I couldn't imagine how these strange conditions could be treated. Well thanks to the game Operation, I now know how to treat these conditions. You see, you really do have butterflies in your stomach and doctors use a net to scoop up all the butterflies (don't ask how they get it in there). Water in the knee? Easy, just grab a bucket and wait for all the water to come flying out and be careful not to miss a drop. These and many other fun minigame "maladies" are what you are treating when you play the game Operation.
But playing games isn't the only part to Operation. You see, like a hospital, you have to manage patients and get them where they need to go in a limited amount of time. Each patient has a special condition and some may require and x-ray, some may need to lay in a hospital bed for a while, and others may need surgery. As doctors know, the patients don't stop coming in and time is limited so do as much as you can and send patients to other hospitals if necessary. Don't let them pass away in your hospital or the patient dies which will affect your rating and end-of-game bonus. Collect enough bonus money and you can upgrade your hospital to accommodate more patients and treat them quicker. Treat enough patients and you'll start collecting trophies.
I liked the game and the beginning was extremely easy, almost geared toward young children, yet the final stages could barely be completed by the most hardened gamer. Frankly, I was getting so tired of all the whiny patients that I wanted them all to die. Some doctor I'd be, right? For a casual game it's too tough at the end and it'll make you rip your hair out. The minigames at the beginning are fun but get extremely repetitive and aggravating as you progress. The theme song is so annoying you want to gouge your eye out with a spoon and, finally, there are no instructions whatsoever. I know there's something to do with extra bonuses if you treat the same color patient in the same nurse station and bed, but the other bonuses I'm unaware of because I probably missed it somewhere in the game and there are no instructions to refer back to.
All in all the idea was transferred to the PC in a remarkable way. I'm sure you didn't want to move funny bones out of a patient, did you? Oh wait, that's in there too. Also, if you are a member of the Pogo site, you can accumulate tokens and badges that you can upload to your online account. There seem to be many badges available but even though the game is almost finished I seem to have collected only one. Again, would have been nice for some instructions.
Hope the review helped.

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Once a world renowned surgeon, the doctor's career has been in critical condition in recent years. He's been offered a lifeline though -- if he can prove himself at a small, out-of-the-way, and somewhat run-down medical facility, he can revive his career and move on to better and more prestigious hospitals. Help the doctor manage the mayhem of a wacky emergency room and successfully treat patients with funatomy ailments like "butterflies in the stomach," earning money along the way to upgrade the hospital equipment. You're in charge of everything, from admitting patients to diagnosing and performing surgeries by completing micro games... and the clock is ticking. If you can help him provide top-notch care perhaps he can reestablish himself as the worldclass tweezer-wielder he is! But if you flounder -- your patients will lose their patience! Either way, OPERATION Mania will have you -- and your patients -- in stitches.

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