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Played from Beta to Live and Still playing

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 14 / 16
Date: January 31, 2007
Author: Amazon User

This is NOT just an amalgum of other SoE games, and I'd like to point out that SoE does not have all of the rights to change the game like they do for other titles. SoE is only the distributor for the game, not the owner of the game. The owner and creator of the game is Sigil, and they are doing all of the updating and tweaking and creating, NOT SoE.

Vanguard is visually RICH. Low-end or value systems will have to run it in it's lowest settings, though game sites like 10TonHammer already have a guide out on how to tweak it so it still looks good. I have a higher-end system and can turn up the graphics, and they are very nice.

Jumping right in and starting to play the game is easy for people who've played World of Warcraft (since the User Interface takes quite a bit from WoW's), and it's intuitive enough to pick up quickly for players of similar games. While there's a couple other small similarities to WoW, they mostly end at the UI. Where WoW looks like a playable comic, this game is visually intense enough to keep you staring at the scenery half your playing time. Combat is fast-paced, including reactions and abilities that can be chained together to perform special moves. The quest system is detailed, and meshes with the game's storyline very well.

You've got 18 playable races to choose from, and 15 adventuring classes. There are quite a few options for making your character look different. There are intense crafting and diplomatic professions to pick up, and you can advance along the game gaining titles and gear from these without adventuring a bit if you wish. The world is large already, spread over three main continents, and at launch there are STILL realms present in the game which you can see, yet are locked for future content. Playing your character's class to the fullest and utilizing all it can do takes a little extra skill, which may be intimidating for some players (since you need to do a little more than mash buttons), but it keeps you glued to the screen.

Overall, an enjoyable game, and nice in that it is NOT like playing other games out there.

A note about subscription

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 12 / 14
Date: February 04, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I preordered this from another provider with the assumption that the collectors edition came with 3 months subscription to the GAME, infact it comes with 3 months subscription only to SOE's premium web site features, and just one month to the game like many other titals. You need to ask yourself if the extra 40 bucks is worth it for the art book, soundtrack, map and in game hero cards.

Average Game

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 10 / 17
Date: January 31, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Not a ton of fun, but fun. Its very buggy and laggy but this is to be expected for the first few weeks of any MMO. Its a kind of melt of all other Sony MMOs into one game. It has elements from SWG & EQ2 as well as little things from several other Sony MMOs. I was really expecting better, but it is still an ok game. So unless you already have a Station Access Subscription I would suggest you wait until April 24th for The Lord of the Rings Online (Which is a much better and polished game even at this stage of development), and if you have Station Access I would suggest you get the regular edition instead of the limited/collectors edition. So in conclusion:

- OK Game
- Tons of Lag
- Buggy but to be expected early in any MMO
- Collectors/Limited edition not worth it unless you are a hardcore gamer with
a Station Access Subscription

If your looking for THE MMORPG...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 9 / 15
Date: January 31, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Been playing since early Beta. This is the undisputed holy grail of MMOGs for the hardcore and casual player alike. If you want more challenge than what Wow gives you... If you want more character customization, housing, mounts, better graphics, etc, this is it. You need a good PC for it, but is worth upgrading for. Brings back the newness and overwhelming feelings we once had in EQ1. The world is huge!

Pretty Decent

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 5 / 7
Date: March 23, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Ifyou started the game on launch day you could tell that SOE pushed Sigil into releasing this game before it was ready. It really needed bout 2-4 more months to review the feedback of the final beta and polish and balance things.

The game is now over a month old and has grown alot since launch day.

This game is definately not for those whom want instant gradification or fast leveling. It is designed to be a challenge. This game is not solo-play friendly and is designed more for those whom like group play. If you try this game out, I highly recommend that you level a toon to at least level 16 to get a feel for hwo things are. Most races dont get good skill sets till level 15.

Still buggy, but what a complete experience!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: July 22, 2008
Author: Amazon User

I avoided this game when it was released, like so many people, due to the widespread reports of near unplayability due to bugs and incomplete features. Now, over a year later, the game is having a renaissance. All of the major bugs have been fixed, all of the major features are in, and the game is such a complete experience.

Few MMOs have as many classes as this game while still maintaining class (and race) balance. Every class is fun and unique to play. When you don't feel like adventuring, you can do some diplomacy, which is a (fully optional) card game within the game, complete with its own set of levels and quests. Crafting is also a very complete third option, with crafting quests and levels as well. You can play the game for hours without killing a single monster and without getting bored.

Honestly, if you're bored of the other MMO's out there, I would strongly recommend giving Vanguard a look. The game has really shaped up to be the revolutionary experience they promised us pre-release.

Finally something different in the MMO realm

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: May 28, 2008
Author: Amazon User

If you're bored with the never-ending grind of most MMO's, then Vanguard is the game for you.

Unlike any other MMO out now, Vanguard has three DISTINCT arenas in which to focus and level your character. Adventuring is the well-known grind of kill quests featured in every MMO. You have 15 classes to choose from and about as many races and starting areas. I think this is more than almost any other MMO.

However, if you're over the killing grind (as I am), then you'll really appreciate the other two ways to level (completely independant of your Adventure level): Crafting and Diplomacy. VG crafting is one of the most fun and challenging out today. It offers you choices during the actual crafting that effect the outcome, quality and possibly even your ability to finish a crafted item. Having the correct tools or utilities handy effects your choices.

Diplomacy is something not found in any other MMO. It's a social arena, and you 'combat' by playing cards, much like Magic the Gathering. Higher level diplomats can even grant city buffs, for Adventurers, Crafters or Diplomats, by winning enough parleys (the diplomatic combat) in a given city.

Either way, Vanguard offers pretty scenery, tons of classes to choose from (with not nearly enough character slots unfortunately), and something to do when you're sick and tired of just killing things.

vangaurd

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 3 / 7
Date: March 09, 2007
Author: Amazon User

even with all the bugs in this game it is still far superior to any mmorpg i have played, including eq1, eq2, wow, daoc, ao, uo, swg

Beautiful indepth game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: August 20, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Great game, massive, beautiful, best mmo out currently, just needs a little more content which they are adding in each patch.

This review is just for this edition.

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: October 13, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I'm not even going to talk about gameplay. I put that review on the regular version of this game. I will just talk about this package.

It's a very nice box, looks great on your shelf.

The art book is too small, I was let down. The art is great, but it's on tiny pages and half of the book has lore written in it. Less text, more art on bigger pages please.

The in-game cloak was cool at first but is a waste. The cloaks were originally decent at lower levels but the stats dropped. You will randomly get a cloak out of 3 possible options, adventuring, diplomacy or crafting. Overall the cloak was a let down like the art book.

The guild trophy, who the heck knows as it's barely getting added next week! Look at the date I wrote this and look at the date this game launched! Right now it's an ugly wooden trophy board that can't be dropped. It WILL have 3 different buffs, unlike the cloaks you are supposed to be able to choose which sphere the guild buff helps. It will be a small buff for all of your guildies that are online. It can go in a guild house, no guild HALL required. That's a good thing, guild halls are a lot of work. I think this trophy might actually work out for us!

Trial keys...well the game was very unstable at launch so everyone I gave a buddy key to quit. I still have some saved, but they are working on a free trial now. It was never really worth it.

Three months of station access was cool. It lets you look at certain stats on their vgplayers site. It's cool, but the stats are often incorrect. In the end this isn't anything special. Another let down.

The audio CD is great, but there were more audio tracks released on fan sites pre-release that couldn't fit on the disc. Slightly let down by that, but it's a great CD! You'll like it!

Cloth map is cool, but it's stiff cloth with cheap print. It's not impressive, but it's cool to have. I've never used it for anything, but that's me. If you were hoping for an in-depth impressive cloth map you'll be let down by it, but it's still decent.

Honestly, I regret purchasing it at launch. I rated the stars for the gameplay because it specifically asks about the GAME. I'd rate this package as 2 stars.

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