EverQuest 2

I remember the old days … days of sneaking through Blackburrow with my cleric, trying not to be seen by a pack of gnolls; laying my life on the line for that epic quest item. I remember playing EverQuest. Things have changed since then my friends … sort of. Here we are with our shiny new copies of EverQuest 2, ready to once again raid the Blackburrow encampment. I wonder what kind of new innovations they have made with their second installment. I wonder what new wonders lie in wait for me.

EverQuest 2 plays very much like the original, only this time your video cards actually get a workout. The world has been entirely rebuilt with a beautiful and stunning new graphics engine. Foliage, Shadows, and superior lighting are a few things that SOE (Sony Online Entertainment) have done very well for this title. Characters and monsters appear more lifelike, and the terrain and skies are very much improved. Spells are accompanied by beautiful particle effects as well. In fact, out of all the MMOGs I have played lately, I can safely say that EQ2 has the best graphics available so far … Ominous!

Character customizing is very fun in EQ2. With 16 races and a sophisticated class tree, players can make their avatars their very own, with full customizing of the face, adornment, height, and even the bone structure! There are tattoos, earrings, and body piercing; several skin types and faces. It’s VERY hard to make two of the same.

Several unique races are available such as Frogloks, Kerra, Trolls, Ogres, and of course filthy humans.

Players will start out on a newbie island, which, as the name suggests, is all about helping new players figure out how to play the game. SOE has done a very good job putting the island together to make it easy to learn and fun to play. Players can even learn to craft on the island, which helps them know what to do when they actually go hit Norrath. Players are generally willing to help, and because of the easy new social tabs, communicating with other players has never been easier.

SOE has brought some interesting things to the table such as player housing. Players can spend in-game money to rent an apartment or even a house. Houses can have several rooms including an upstairs, fireplaces, bathrooms, etc — it all depends on how much you want to spend. While under your care, you can go inside and furnish your house with furniture, pictures, trophies and much more. Players can even craft their own furniture if they are so inclined. You can even go so far as to upgrade the woodwork and the floors and ceiling with higher quality wood. Nothing better than a customized pad to use for your guild meetings. You also regenerate health and mana faster when in your own home. But you had better not forget your rent payments or you will be evicted … shameful!

Crafting is a very integral part of EverQuest 2. Players can create anything from swords, axes, armor, clothing,  and baskets, to furniture, as long as you are willing to put in the time. You can even become a cook! Crafting is a very time consuming ordeal, taking several hours to gather the required ingredients to finish out your recipe. However, you can join a crafters guild, which can help you with many of these tasks. Crafters guilds are large buildings full of looms, smelting pits, enchanting tables, and basically anything you would ever need to craft. These facilities are usually packed with other players with your same goals in mind, making a great market environment. Trade is encouraged, and having a player make you what you need while you do the same for them is faster than going out to harvest your components. Teamwork at its best! While crafting is hard and very time consuming, know that the very best weapons, armor, and furniture for that matter, are crafted. So get your grinding stones out and get to work.

The fighting system is pretty basic. Mouse click to attack, with a spell book hotbar at the bottom. Pretty standard MMOG gig as far as battle is concerned. There is a very good coloring system, so you know how hard a mob is going to be, and if you are going to need a group. Damage numbers show above the mobs head, and your health and mana bars are clearly visible. Nothing really new to see with the fighting system this go around. Maybe next time?

The world of Norrath is quite large with several hundred unique zones to explore. Mounts may be purchased at level 40 to make travel a little quicker, but you cannot fight from your mount. Until level 40 you are on foot or you are catching a ride on a griffon to take you cross country (for a price). Zones differ, from Snowy mountains to lava filled crags. Monsters in each zone each have a unique feel, and come with a variety of special abilities and unique drops. While all of this is very pleasing to the eye, there is not a whole lot of new material.

SOE is taking steps to adding new material with the release of an expansion pack: Desert of Flames, scheduled for release late 2005-early 2006. The Expansion pack promises a higher level cap of 60, a new voice feature, 30 new creatures, and all new vertical movement, meaning you can climb walls … exciting. Desert of Flames also introduces a new arena mode where players can face each other and bet for the winner via PVP combat. A fight to the death with greedy patrons looking on hoping to score big with your demise. The gambling aspect of it is interesting and it will hopefully be as good as we all want it to be. All this is part of a new city named Maj’Dul, which is the hallmark of the expansion pack, offering new places to explore and allowing you to make friends and enemies. EverQuest is famous for having several expansion packs, so hopefully lack of content won’t be an issue for very long.

Interestingly enough, SOE has introduced an experimental auction system they are calling Station Exchange, where players pay cash for virtual weapons and other such goods used in game. While most publishers have banned virtual exchanges, unauthorized ones are still abundant on the Web. Instead of fighting this, SOE is making it work in its favor, with Station Exchange becoming the first authorized sales point of in game items. After pulling in $180,000 their first month, I’d say it’s proven to be very successful. While the idea of buying in game gold or items disgusts me (not that I haven’t done it mind you), SOE made a smart move.

EverQuest 2 has appeal to both new players and veteran alike: people who just want to grind all day, and even women (or men) who want to sit around and make baskets … or quilts will enjoy it. Like the Sims? Rent a house and you can have a heyday designing your home and furnishing it with a wild imagination. Like to fish? Pull up a chair and cast out to sea, fishing can be a very lucrative business in EQ2. With something for everyone, the casual player can’t go wrong with EverQuest 2. Enjoy!