Okay, I've heard so many different opinions on this game, I don't even know what to think. I tried the trial version about three years ago and instantly decided I disliked it with a fiery passion.
For one thing, it doesn't exactly teach you how to play. Plus, it didn't have the different realms (RP, PvP, and RP+PvP) then (it only had RP+PvP), so I kept getting killed by this one female player.
Again.
And again.
And again.
I finally decided to haunt her with my ghost after a while, because I couldn't find my body. I also got killed by a wolf once or twice.
After that I decided I didn't like it. Not a bit.
I basically dropped any hope I had for the game then, and when anyone asked me what I thought about it I told them my story and ended with: "I really don't like it."
Now, after doing a little bit of research and watching the super awesome trailer for Mists of Pandaria, I decided to download the trial version again and give it another try.
And so far, after two days of gameplay, I've decided I like it. A lot.
No, not better than W/P101, but let me get out my review on it thus far.
Quick info: I'm the race Blood Elf (BE) (a Hoard race), and my vocation is Hunter (so I fight with a bow and I have a red flying fish-bird hybrid thing that fights with me).
So I found it really cool that it gave me an intro specifically to the BE race, how everyone thinks we're evil and kidnap people to preform gruesome magic on them, etc. However I, as a BE of Sunstrider Isle, am there to help stop the Wretched (BE's who are bad), and restore my empire to its original glory.
Unlike in W101 (I'll use this as the comparing example through out the post), in WoW the monsters hang out just outside the "safe" zones. There isn't a specific Field (as most video games call the areas where monsters roam). Safe Zones seem to located within the Field, not behind high walls and gates, but merely marked by a set of stairs. The monsters then just mind their own business.
Some monsters attack you if they sense you (such as wolves or zombies {I HATE ZOMBIES, THEY HAVE KILLED ME THREE TIMES}), but most just chill out and only attack you if you attack them. Battles are relatively short, the longest one I've had is about 45 seconds (honestly). You also have a certain amount of space in your backback (I've got a total of about 20 slots right now), and you also have a hot-key bar.
For those of you who don't know what a hot-key bar is, it's basically when certain items or abilities (e.g. attack) are assigned to a key on your keyboard, commonly the number keys 1-9 (sometimes 1-0). Press the key to activate its assigned ability.
For example in WoW, my regular attack is 1, Steady Shot is 2, and food regeneration is 5, 6, and 7. (I really want to get the food out, but I have no idea how to get things off the hot-key bar. If you know, please tell me!! It would be so helpful!).
I also really like the fact that you can travel to so many more places. The biomes and cities are much bigger than W101. In W101 you also have very specific areas you quest in at a time. In WoW you can take on several completely random quests at once that take you all over the continent. There are also the main line quests that bring you further along.
However I do miss the people you meet. The aspect of community in W101 is a lot bigger and more welcoming than that of WoW. However I do like, like in Eden Eternal, that you can choose a race rather than sticking with human. I also like that you can actually jump in WoW (and EE), where you can't in W101.
Okay, enough about the gameplay, lets compare the graphics and music.
Now this will be difficult to say. I have to say that when comparing graphics of the Field and cities, WoW wins.
Those are screen shots from when I started my second character, the race of Pandarean. That's how the graphics look in the game. Beautiful, am I right? Breath taking scenes of mountains and flowers and trees and the buildings.
The best graphics I've seen myself, through the game plot, thus far are those of Silvermoon City. GORGEOUS.
Take a look at where I'm hanging out right now. Nowhere specific. Past the East Sanctum.
Cool right?
Currently, I guess you could say I'm working on the area of Fairbreeze Village.
As for music, I have to say W101 wins. I love listening to the musical instruments of different video games, and W101 wins in music hands down (especially the Avalon soundtrack, AMAZING). In WoW there's only short bits of music that go off randomly or depending on where you are. There good bits of music, though eerie, I'll give them that, but I wish they were longer.
WoW, however, has sound effects for birds off in the distance. Now that is really cool.
Oh, and here's another tid bit:
YOU CAN FALL DOWN MOUNTAINS AND SURVIVE!
:O
Seriously, I only lost 271 health falling down a mountain (half my health but whatever).
Health and energy (magical energy if you're a mage or warlock or any sort of magic user) restores automatically, faster if you sit down; whereas in W101 you collect wisps. Certain foods also restore one or the other, but in my current spot I find them inconvenient.
The only thing I have to say about what I dislike about the game is that there isn't a rest zone. Like how in W101, the Field zones have sidewalks, where you can hang out after a battle to restore health or chat a friend. In WoW you really have to make a run for the buildings, there you'll be safe. You're also safe if you're in an area where monsters don't just attack you.
There's this one area called The Dead Scar, which is this long trench that spans the continent. Within it are zombies (to use the categorial term) that like to sense you a mile away and gang up on you when you get close (hence how I've died). I really hate that area, I take the long way around on purpose so I don't die -_-
Here's a map of the place I've been so far. The uppermost area is where I started (by the way).
The stuffs on the right are the two quests I'm currently working on. Places you need to go to in order to complete the quests are also marked on the map, which I find very helpful :)
Over all, a very good game! As it does have its pros and cons, obviously all video games do. The trail run only lets you level to level 20, and I know I'll be disappointed when that comes around.
§Emma
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