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Great at First, Then Grows Very Tiring

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 8 / 11
Date: April 13, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I agree with many of the other 3-star reviews of this game.

As a new player, I downloaded the demo and instantly got hooked. I zoomed to level 30 (level 150 seems to be the current cap), and had a wonderful time exploring new systems, trading supplies, and fighting weird mobs. The universe is immersive, and the NPCs have interesting tales to tell and missions to give you.

However, after a week of playing, the game began coming to a real grind. Those once fascinating, far-off systems have already been explored, and the trade routes are now routine, and you have to do those routes twenty or thirty times over to gain a single level. Once explored, there is little risk trading or travelling, as you simply warp between waypoints and most mobs can't interfere. You just wait until you reach the next waypoint, gate to a new system (which are always protected by high level friendly mobs), and warp again to your destination.

When you dock at a starbase, you now approach those interesting NPCs only to break the monotony, hoping you're in the mood to do whatever roundabout, 30-minute, across the galaxy mission they're currently offering (usually for a tiny bit of extra EXP).

It's an expensive monthly payment for a game that isn't half the multiplayer quality of Dark Ages of Camelot or even Everquest. Different genres, but basically the same type of game.

Combat and grouping is very awkward, and even after weeks of play I still have trouble targeting mobs or "healing" groupmates. There is no Player-vs-Player combat and the faction system is very difficult to break away from - unless you have a powerful, high level ship you'll always be a Good Guy. You won't become a true pirate anytime soon.

The game shows promise, with continual additions to the universe and a sort of ongoing storyline (which just kicked in the past few months, but so far has no real impact on gameplay).

Player to player communication is especially difficult, and hopefully the weird chat system will be fixed soon. You can't see levels or class of other characters (even in your own guild) unless they happen to be in the same Sector as you, and the chat windows have difficult to read fonts and non-adjustable screen positions and transparency... regardless of what resolution you run the game at. Inside starbases, I found myself constantly facing gray or black walls just to read my conversation windows.

Graphics are great (but lag even on high end systems), sound is good, and the interface - once you get used to how it works and what icons mean what - is servicable. Beware that the perceived fun of zooming through levels wears off after the first few days of gameplay. Then, the dreaded "grind" sets in. Not the best MMPORPG out there, but definitely worth the free month EA offers you.

Amazing graphics and great fun for space fans

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 11
Date: December 17, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Earth & Beyond is an on line role playing game that involves space exploration, ship building and character development.

I was a beta-tester for Earth & Beyond, which came out just when other 'first round' on line role playing games were getting revamped. Even with the other games trying to spiff up their graphics, Earth & Beyond was just amazing with the environments you explored.

Think of this as Wing Commander on line. You get to choose one of six different kinds of characters - from explorers to warriors to tradesmen and more. The amount of character customization is simply PHENOMONAL. You get to customize hair color, style, eye color, facial features, you name it. Then your ship gets customized too! You can change the colors of the various parts of it and even add a name and decal to it.

The game is very vocally based, so make sure your sound card is working properly. You get a very nicely done tutorial to help you through learning how to pilot and fight with your ship. Then you are set loose to explore your new world. You can team up with other on line players or just roam around on your own. There are missions to take on, and rewards if you do. If you don't want to, you can just explore and have fun.

You spend most of your time in your ship, but you can also dock at bases or on planets and walk around in character. You can buy new items, customize your ship, take on missions, chat with fellow players. Each type of character gets bonusses for various types of activities. So for explorers, flying around to far-off areas and learing about them gets you your bonusses.

Did I mention the gorgeous graphics? Your character and ship are greatly detailed, from the shadows on the ship to the trails from its engines as it spins through space, to the planets and space docks and everything else. If you don't have a GEforce 3 or 4, grab one! It's simply amazing how good the graphics look on a game that active has thousands of people playing in the world at once.

Highly recommended for any space flight fan. Those who are looking for wizards and dwarves delving in caves might be better off with one of the other more traditional MMORPGs.

E&B ROCKS!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 9
Date: September 15, 2002
Author: Amazon User

After reading some of the reviews, I couldn't help but put my two cents worth in. Since being selected as a beta tester, I have been glued to my computer when I wasn't working or sleeping. The game offers all kinds of challanges and you have to use your head once in a while to advance. Some of the problems or complaints about the game have been addressed but people that were testing the game needed to be reminded that it was a beta, not the full release. I imagine as time goes by that the game will steadily improve and new challanges will be added. Lots of stuff to see and do as it is now.

EnB, I like it and husband likes it, too

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 6
Date: September 13, 2002
Author: Amazon User

We've been playing the beta for awhile and tried 5 of the 6 avatars in the game. All different and all challenging. Very fun. My husband even likes it, that's why we decided to buy the game and continue playing. Monthly subscription price on par with other games but you get a great discount for paying some months ahead.
I've seen so many changes in the past few months and looking forward to all the new things they will add in the future.
The game is basically quest driven with a story line but it succeeds at hiding any linear gameplay. Some people won't like the game because there is no PK in it. We don't like PK, and trust me, you get enough battle with the multitude of mobs in the game.

Might be the biggest waste of time....

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: January 09, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I beta tested, I played, I tested some more, spoke out on the message boards along with 100's of others saying it was not ready. Then to keep my FF account bought the game. They tweaked, messed with and took away, yet I stayed. Now months down the line I have not played in weeks and it does nothing more then add to the endless amount of [junk] that comes out of EA as of late. The idea to the game, the thought of the game and what the game is are very different. If you enjoy grouping, if you like to be FORCED into having to play with others then you have yourself something you might get into. Solo play is really not what this game is about, so it does take away from the "RPG" side of it. The lag is VERY bad. I ran off cable and DSL, both systems with different rates of speed still can not handle the lag that the servers are under. Persona and ship creation are good, but the bugs, the camping and the other mindless problems with this game, which should have been released months later then what it was put this game into the discount bin. Don't pay to play this junk. Other games are comming out that will hopefully add to what this game SHOULD have been. Check out E&B message boards, look for yourself at what people talk about before you buy this.

Unlimited Potential

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 11
Date: August 28, 2002
Author: Amazon User

This game rocks! It's in the beta stages so they are fixing and changing things daily, but this game is pretty huge already! Grab your buddies and meet them online! As a group or guild you can make even more progress in the game! 5 guys hacking on a Red Dragon makes life easier and best of all you can share the experience and money!!

What's not to like? You get to customize your character(s), your ship, and you can play the game any which way you like! Fight, explore or trade - tons of weapons, shields, engines, accessories, etc are available to each race and you can even make your own items and sell them!

Want to earn experience? Just warp out into Beta Hydri to your favorite sector and kill some bad-boys for some money and goods! Need some titanium or copper ore for that weapon you are making for your buddy? Head out and find some crystals or rock to mine! Just like to pick Point A and Point B and go exploring and check out everything in-between? ...

Enjoyable Game

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 6 / 9
Date: September 11, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Earth and Beyond is a great, innovative game. It's a RPG set in space. I love RPGs and building up characters as high as possible. E&B gives players 3 different ways to build up character levels, although all 3 are required to get your character to the highest level. Some character race/class combinations have a harder time getting to max level than others.

My favorite characters are the Jenquai Defender (JW) and the Jenquai Explorer (JE). The JW isn't as powerful as the Progen Warrior, but the Defender has a number of great skills that make it a tactical character. I believe that the extra tactics involved make it more fun to play. The JE is also fun for a while when it comes to prospecting, but for me it got boring after a while. JE isn't good at combat against high level enemies either. Combat does get old after a while too.

My biggest concern with E&B is that after playing in the beta for about 6 months, the game got boring to me. I just hope that they will continue to release new content and systems that will make the game fun to play for years. It is indeed a great game and worth buying.

Visit EBPortal website and IRC for any questions or help with the game that you may need.

Feydrex

Not ready for prime-time

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 4 / 5
Date: October 22, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Westwood needed to get this on the shelves before a couple of big hitters hit the stores - most notably Star Wars Galaxies - and it shows. There is the foundation for a decent game here, but its not ready yet. After a couple weeks of play, the game feels 'incomplete'. My hunch that it will take them three months to iron out the service issues (LAG is horrid right now in some popular stations) and then content will follow. By then SWG, AC2, the Sims Online and perhaps even EVE will be eating their lunch. As for me, I'm going back to DAoC until SWG comes out.

At this moment, not very good

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 4 / 5
Date: November 15, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Sorry, but this game is not very complete even with the latest patch

I waited for the latest patch that was supposed to save this game and it just didnt pan out. Its a boring, tedious online game that has none of the emotion or character of EQ, DAOC and AO. It's fanbase is woefully inadequate and full of griefers and whiners that PVP should be allowed, while the majority of the content suffers due to a nazi like PVP following.

Pass on this one now, as most people playing it are simply waiting for Eve or Star Wars anyway.

Promising, but sadly not that good

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 4 / 5
Date: January 14, 2003
Author: Amazon User

When I first started playing Earth and Beyond I found it very fun and extremely addictive. I tried to convince other people who said the game was boring to keep playing and the game was fun, you just had to find ways to make it fun. But as I become stronger it got pretty boring and I understood their negative comments regarding the game. The highest level you can reach in the game is 150. I stopped at level 130 because it simply became too much work. The only way for me to advance in the game was to do trade runs over and over and over and over again. It became very time consuming and meaningless. I tried to start a guild to help others hoping it would make the game fun, but that proved pointless and time consuming as well.

I think once Star Wars Galaxies comes out E&B and The Sims online(which I heard was HUGE FLOP) will fall. In my opinion I feel that SWG will have more content and provide the players with more things to do. Instead of doing the same things over and over again to advance. In the mean time E&B is an okay game, but it needs more content to "spice" up the game and bring the community and all classes together to fight a common enemy. Rather than making big guilds simply to improve one's level.

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