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AC2 - Fallen Kings: The Next Evolution Of MMORPG

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 31 / 56
Date: August 16, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Asheron's Call 2 is the next generation Fantasy massively multiplayer online role playing game (MMORPG) where the world dynamically evolves around you. Enter a land devastated by a magical disaster, where the players must rebuild the world. Asheron's Call 2 features an all-new graphics engine, combat system and dynamic content system to deliver a rich, engaging fantasy world where world-shaking changes sweep you along an epic story-line.

* Dynamic content: The world of Asheron's Call 2 will continue to change around the players as the story unfolds - natural disasters, discovery of new lands and more keep the world alive and fresh.

* Players will have the opportunity to change the face of the land by helping to rebuild towns and restore natural resources.

* Amazing visuals: Asheron's Call 2's all-new graphics engine enables stunningly realistic visuals that are far and away superior to any other MMORPG on the market.

* New combat system: Features a new engrossing combat system where real-time decisions make a difference and players have hundreds of combat and magic skills available to master.

In the distant past, the land of Dereth enjoyed a golden age. The Humans, overcoming their history of dislocation and enslavement, slowly built their strength, tamed the threats to their peace, and claimed Dereth as their home. Guided by the wizard Asheron, the Humans mastered the ways of steel and magic to hold in check their nemesis, the insect-like Olthoi, and to stave off the encroachment of the Lugian and Tumerok civilizations. Though the unpredictable tides of magic surged all around them and new foes seemed to spring up endlessly, the Humans carved out a happy existence on Dereth.

However, this golden age was not fated to last forever. Bitterly opposed foes of unthinkable might struggled with one another to control the primal source of Dereth's magical power. Struggle turned to war, and war invited a horrible cataclysm. The denizens of Dereth fled deep underground into shelters created by the protector Asheron. The land above them twisted under dark waves of chaos for three hundred years.

Now, after generations of hiding in fear, the three civilized races--the Humans, the Tumeroks, and the Lugians--forge an alliance, setting aside their past enmity to work side by side. As you play Asheron's Call 2, you fight alongside the first brave adventurers to emerge from the shelters. All of the races strive to reclaim their ancestral lands from the evil that has flourished in the ruins left by the cataclysm. Together they rebuild the world, and face an uncertain future.

In time, you will learn more about this world. On this Asheron's Call 2 Web site we will reveal more of this story over the coming months. As you play, you will uncover secrets from the past and witness firsthand the world-shaking changes yet to come in our epic story.

AC2 Minimum System Requirements:
Processor: 733MHz or better
RAM: 256MB or more
Video: 32MB T&L supported (Geforce, Radeon)
DirectX 8.01b

Incredible depth and balance with mind-boggling graphics!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 9 / 27
Date: August 19, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Asheron's Call 1 entered the MMPORPG scene just about 3 short years ago as the new kid on the block. Since that date, when they entered with a very well-made gaming experience.. Microsoft and Turbine have learned and actually listened to the players. AC2 looks to be the result, and playing the Beta version of AC2 reveals that not only is this the best MMPORPG out now, but also is the best RPG ever made for any console. Period. Look out Everquest. Roll over and give it up DAoC. The graphics here [draw] you into a fascinating world where the breeze blows softly and you can actually see the blades of grass individually swaying. The monsters have intelligence beyond that of ANY game I've ever seen. No more are the days of attack and run behind a wall or jump on a wall to avoid their attack while you heal and go back to finish them up. These monsters are SMART. They WILL find you and get to you one way or another! Perhaps while you're on that wall trying to heal they will surprise attack you ON THE WALL as they found another way to get up it, or maybe they'll just throw a boulder ot shoot an arrow through the back of your head! I am amazed. AI creatures that are actually a challenge intellectually. Hundreds of other players. A devastated world that needs the players teamwork to rebuild the fallen towns. No more running to towns or NPCs to sell loot. There are NO npcs! All player world with players crafing and selling and minging the needed armor, weapons, raw materials and supplies. Any RPG or MMPORPG fan should NOT dare miss this one. It will blow you away. Oh, and one more thing: Forget "having a night life" after purchasing when it comes out! You'll have to plan ahead just to make it to real life things like "work" or "school". It really is THAT immersive. Great job Microsoft & Turbine. You have created a true "virual reality" that it nothing short of awesome in every sense. Talk about a BANG for your buck! I think my ears are ringing from the explosion of this bang!

Pretty Paper Doesn't mean your getting a Great Gift.

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 18 / 27
Date: September 05, 2002
Author: Amazon User

I played Asherons Call (original) and I loved the game. I have play many online games. Ultima Online, Anarchy Online, Dark Age of Camelot.

AC2 is very pretty. The graphics are very nice, but all the new games coming out will have the same quality graphics. I played the Beta Test of this game and all I can tell you is this... BORING. It is very boring. There is little to do but level your character. The combat is simple minded and the number of choices you have for delveloping your character smacks of Diablo. It is just too simple a game to be worth much to me.

Online games like this should be a challenge. There will not be a big user base for this game after it turns retail. Simply because it's boring.

If you want simple game play, you probably will be better off with The Sims Online. If you want adventure and character development in a roleplaying environment, wait for something else to come along. Ever Quest 2 maybe. I haven't played it, but I will give it a try. Sorry to say it, but they should have done more with this game. It could have been great.

Don't take my word for it. The beta test is open to the public. Download the game and see for yourself.

Signed,
Long time Asherons Call Fan.

Well I'm a AC2 Beta Tester as well...

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 35 / 51
Date: September 20, 2002
Author: Amazon User

...and I love the game, so don't assume negative feedback from a beta tester is the only feedback out there. I've spent plenty of time in MMORPGS, and here is my opinion: no, I will not write a post that uses nothing but superlatives and says AC2 is the best game ever in the history of mankind. I can't tell you that yet, its still BETA.

What I can tell you is that I liked what I saw, and I believe it has a lot of potential. The basic concept is AWESOME. The main reason it is "boring" to another reviewer is because there's hardly any CONTENT at this time -- Turbine is stress testing and working out bugs. But the basic system is great, I'm very happy with it. If you came from AC1 and expected AC1 + better graphics you will be disappointed. This is a very differnt game from AC1 (thank god). If your coming from DAoC or EQ or a host of other more popular games, you will very likely find AC2 to be a bigger better improvement with more possibilities and more fun factor than any of those previous games.

As a beta tester, my opinion is that AC2 has a great foundation and shows enough potential to convince me to but the game retail! So now you have two almost opposite opinions -- it means you're going to have to check it out for yourself. :)

Asheron's Call 2 disappointment at beta

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 24 / 48
Date: September 21, 2002
Author: Amazon User

I have been a long time customer of Asheron's Call 1. I was recently invited to beta to play Asheron's Call 2. AC2 is a dummied down clone of Diablo and Dark Ages of Camelot. When I first encountered this game I was extremely disappointed with the content and skill/trades/armor system. I'm hoping that before it is released to retail that some of the kinks are worked out. It is impressive graphics wise, but we all know graphics do not make the game *cough Dark Ages of Camelot cough*.

Boring....

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 19 / 52
Date: September 27, 2002
Author: Amazon User

I play Asheron's Call, and I love the game. So when offered the beta test for Asheron's Call 2, I jumped at the chance to try it out. One word describes the game....BORING. I have never been so bored when trying to play any game. The graphics are pretty but....the game play is horrible. I gave up on playing the beta because I saw it as a complete waste of time. I know it is definately not worth the price they have set for it for when it comes out.

Excuse me

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 28 / 49
Date: October 03, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Ok, now...I have never played AC before but I have kept in touch to most of what is going on through other sources and by reading some of the reviews posted here by some beta testers I just wanted to point out like another reviewer did; that this game is still in the BETA stage so therefore it isn't meant to be a version that is going to be highly enjoyable (most beta's aren't simply because it is an extension of the development process in that many aspects of the game are still being implemented and improved) or highly accessible activity.
So basically all I am stressing is that visitors to this review page not see the negative reviews (which in my opinion are ridiculous since the actual game has not even been released yet) and think that this game will not be that great. I am sure from the experience of AC this game will be capable of making some outstanding improvements in a number of areas.

I am just defending the fact that this game is still in its Beta stage. Like I said, I have not played AC and I cannot really talk about actualities here. I am an AO player and in a few months I am looking forward to trying out some more MMORPGs to see if I would care to move on or not. Thanks

Improved graphic but nothing new

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 21 / 54
Date: October 03, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Nothing new here really compared to Dark Age Of Camelot except for better graphics.
If you like running around in a "dead" world wasting your life beating on monsters day out and day in just to get xp and a higher lvl that no one cares about anyway, this game is for you.
Otherwise wait for another more creative and intresting mmorpg game to come out and do something else during that time.

A person who is happy with the Beta

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 7 / 12
Date: October 11, 2002
Author: Amazon User

I have been an avid fan of MMORPG's for over 3 years now. I understand that does not make me an expert in the field, but I played AC for 2 years, and DAOC for a year. I loved AC because of the constantly evolving storyline each month. I really loved the interfaces and a whole bunch of the game mechanics of DAoC, but the story line was stagnant and nothing really ever changed.

I started to play the AC2 beta again about a month ago, and I think that things have really changed into Phase 2 of it. The gameplay still does have issues, but it is still in beta.

The story is that war broke out on the face of Dereth and to escape the Great Cataclysm, Asheron lead the people into underground caverns. After a few centuries, all of the people started to re-emerge. The elders knew this because they sent out a scouting party once a generation; this time they came back.

Once the humans (all one race now) emerge, they find the landscape twisted and many of the places they one knew gone. So, it is our job to rebuild and reclaim that which was ours once and is now over run by monsters who were changed by magic into nightmarish creatures.

A good many people who played AC will recognize that many of the creatures are from the original, just got a face-lift.

But, in keeping with a good story, not only humans were able to seek refuge in caves. Our once enemies, the Tumerok's and our some-times friends the Lugians were spared as well. We have an alliance in effect now, but that might change in a future update.

Starting out the game, you have a choice of the three races. Each race is geared towards a specific class (Tumerok - magic, Human - missle, and Lugian - melee) but this is not a requirement and you will have a change to learn what each class can do. Also, with the classes, you have a change for prestige classes. Example: your a 15th lvl Tumerok Missle character and you wish to take one of the prestige classes which would give you the title of Claw Bearer, or Hive Keeper and more specialized skills. It is possible to not take one, but more difficult in the higher levels so I've heard.

You are able to boost your character based on earning experience and putting skill points into skills you take. Once you have spent the required skill points to take a skill, you simply highlight the skill, and click on the arrow to raise the skill. The amount of experience to raise the skill increased porportionally to how high the skill is.

Crafting is the only thing in the game that is really boring sometimes. It is not nearly as cumbersome at the DAoC crafting methods of money, and items. To craft, you merely pull up your crafting window, drag and drop the required items in (every loot item has a salvage rating on it whether it's wood, or stone, or iron), and then hit craft. There is a failure chance, a craft a poor item chance, a success chance, and a craft a superior item chance. The player crafted items are MUCH better than most drops for that tier of crafted items (there are currently 6 tiers of items). The only thing is that they degrade with use. My tier 2 stuff would decay in 3 days. I can't remember Tier 3 or higher.

It is enjoyable in that you are not tied to a town, or a mule anymore. It's all about you - crafting, hunting, going to the vaults and getting the lore slideshows to see the original downfall of Dereth. (I can't wait to see the monthly updates to find out more about the fall of Dereth.)

Also, there is a player vs. player element and a Kingdom vs. Kingdom element much like in DAoC :) Kingdoms are Order (a neutral good order founded by Asheron to promote good - a typical hero would be here (I have to be good), but has room for evil under the guise of good), Dominion (a lawful society that was founded by the Virindi - think totalitarian) and lastly Shadow (a chaotic society that was founded by Bael'Zahron and is now run by Isin Dule - anarchy in the sense of no rules; can be good(free spirit - solo player) or evil (random killer). Each kingdom has room for good and evil. These three kingdoms will fight on the Kingdom vs. Kingdom servers.

The game play has it's share of lag times, of times when the servers are down, but all-in-all, a very fun enjoyable game and I can't wait for retail especially since I've been able to save my name now ;)

AC2 - Great game - I cant wait for it to come out!!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 5
Date: October 12, 2002
Author: Amazon User

I am a LONNNNG time Asheron's Call 1 player...

Strong Points of AC2:

* Crafting your own weapon / armor
* Several classes (Lugian, Human, Tumerok)
* CLosely matched LVL of player vs monsters - no more LVL 50 players killing a LVL 300 Tusker.
* Skill Point Sell Back - UN-Train skills you no longer want or need.
* Quest Logs - Keeps track of your quests and their status - and can watch a movie/storyline for furture reference.
* Cross Server Chatting - You on Thistledown can chat with a friend on Frostfell
* Intense Graphics - especially for GeForce 4 owners
* Amazing EAX support - supurb 3D sound
* The Monthly Patches - will MAKE this game!!

...Darth Bow

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