Q's Aion Review

Review isn't finished, i'll come back and finish it later but its up for questions for people who want to ask about what i have typed so far.

 

TL;DR at end!

 

Introduction

 

Pretty recently ones of my friends turned me on to a new MMOG(They have it listed as an MMOG, but their is plenty of storyline built in during questing and such for the RPG fans) coming out named Aion. After some researching and youtube surfing i decided the game looked pretty interesting so i went and spent 5 dollars on a pre-order so i could get a beta code. Overall i LOVED the game so i thought i would write an in-depth review to maybe recruit some people to this game when it releases Sept 22.

 

All of this information was gathered in a 10 hour session of this game leveling the Scout-Assasin Class (Rogue) to lvl 13. So im basing all of my information on this time played.

 

Performance Review

 

One thing that i really liked about this game is how much varability they give you in graphics levels. At max setting my computer runs 70-90 fps in normal areas (Pretty populated at the time due to lots of low levels in beta) where i did 40-60 at max settings in WoW. But if i cranked everything down as low as possible i was running at 300-320 FPS (only able to hit about 120-150 with lowest in WoW.

 

Visuals Review

 

One word... Beautiful. Everything from spell animations to character design to landscapes. Slight-Anime feel but i actually like that aspect of the game. As i said in performance... fully cranked lookes beautiful. Lowest settings obviously don't look as nice but it doesn't drop the graphics so low that it defers you from gameplay.

 

Questing Review

 

Very similar to WoW. Basic Gathering/Killing quests that move you along the way. Some of the larger quests have short cutscenes similar to the entry cutscene to WoW when you first create a character. Another awesome aspect of questing is that they split the quests into two categories Campaign and Basic. Campaign quests seem to be your main questline. These quests took me from each little mini-quest zone to the next and was my main supply of quest gear through these levels. The side quests were just their along the way for extra experience needed to carry you towards the next Campaign quest.

The game also has a built in Questhelper which is totally awesome and i wish i had this when i first started playing WoW. This Questhelper works a lot like wikipedia. You open your questlog to your quests and the important creatures/items/locations/players will be highlighted in blue. You click on one of these blue links(usually 1-2 per quest) and it pops open a little sub-window with a description of the thing you selected, and the option to locate the object on your map. And as long as it isn't a "go search this area for someones lost watch" quest... it will usually tell you directly where to go.

 

Combat Review

 

Don't even know where to start here, but its basically the best combat system i have come across yet. Again, it bares many similarities to WoW where you walk up and start using your abilities and such, but they added a bunch of aspects that bring it from good to great.

 

Basic Combat

 

First i'll start with what i feel makes this game the next generation and possibly a WoW-Killer. This game in a way has an anti-idiot system while not taking away from the high-level gameplay of the more advanced players. First is the auto-direction/approach system.

The game has an auto-direction system so that if you are not targeting your target when you attempt to use your ability, it will auto-face your target before doing so. This makes it really easy for say a Ranger (WoW Hunter without a pet) to turn and run when a mob gets close, and than just click your ranged ability and your char will turn around and shoot again(but your camera doesn't follow).

Auto Approach on the other hand is nearly exactly what is says... i target a mob and cast my basic slash attack. The character will than face the mob and run towards it until i get in range to slash. Pretty basic... but i turned this off because it bugged me but many more casual players will enjoy this.

 

Many might be thinking... these aspects make this game ezmode and set a very low skillcap. But most of these "anti-idiot" functions have a short .2-.5 delay that make mouse-turning and QWES moving superior in aspects of the game like high-end pvp where my true interest lies So basically... these aspects can make bad players better without holding back the masters of the game. And when bad players get better they usually have more fun + it means less absolutely terrible players for groups due to the incresed difficulty to be absolutely terrible lol.

 

Advanced Combat/Skill Chains

 

This is what has made me love this game. Beyond the fact that fighting just looks cooler, it is actually more advanced yet simple at the same time.

 

Transportation/Movement Review

 

Random Tidbit Review

 

Overall Review

 

TL;DR Performance - Easier to run than WoW for those with older computers. Only issue may be video card.

TL;DR Visuals - Beautiful to Decent based on settings.

TL;DR Questing - Nearly identical to WoW with built in Questhelper. Super EZmode.

TL;DR Basic Combat - Auto-targetting/Auto-Approaching to make bad players better in combat without restricting skilled players.

 

Video Links - Make sure to watch in HQ!!!

 

Many people may know/heard of a Night Elf Warrior named Swifty that has made lots of videos and has pretty decent E-Fame in WoW. Well this is his video-commentary review of Aion, it is from a Sorceror(mage) Point of view and is my favorite youtube video describing the similarities of WoW and Aion.

 

Swifty WoW Review:

 

This video shows a ranger describing some skill chains. This is a really good video of showing how skill chains work and what the actual gameplay of Aion Looks like.

 

Ranger Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruQV2LrNmsc

 

I'm also opening myself up to any questions anyone might about the game or its similarities to WoW. Ask away so i can convince as many of you as i can to transfer to this sick game .

Edited July 20, 2009 by Wintress

Wow - are they paying you Q cause that was a pretty in depth review!

 

I always sort of cringe when I hear people say it'll be a WoW-Killer, cause I doubt anything will in the near term, other than another blizz game.

 

Are there things like Talent points?

i've heard good things about aion also.

Haha like i said, im trying to get you guys to come play with me so i figure i'd give as much info as you guys wanted.

 

About being a wow-killer... i've been playing wow for 5 years and have done nearly every aspect of the game. This has taken everything fun wow has so far and just made it better. The only complaint i have so far is semi-limited camera viewing while running... and only while running lol...

 

As for talent points, this is what i have gotten from research. Instead of talent points they are using something called stigmas... which is kinda like having 4 glyph slots... except each of these glyphs is a brand new ability

 

So in theory the only thing that will be separating classes from each other is specified abilities. Like i remember two of the early ranger abilities are a sleep arrow on a longer cooldown and a powerful arrow that explodes on contact to do aoe damage to all around them. You get 1 stigma slot at lvl 20,30,40,50 to equal the 4 slots.

 

I'll prolly finish my review tonight, it's only about a quarter done atm . Just SOOOOOOO many cool things that i want to describe to you guys haha

Edited July 20, 2009 by Wintress

Screenshots!

The 4th Closed Beta Weekend ended while i was in class this morning and i totally forgot to do screenshots last night I uploaded 2 of my favorite videos so you guys can see what the gameplay/UI looks like. Also the ranger video is a nice way to get a visual look at skill chains.

 

I hope they do another beta weekend and if they do i can't wait!!!

Matt - My roomates are in the beta for this, I watched Azshi play some. It looks cool, the graphics are not as cartoony, but very similar gameplay to wow. It looked neat

ffxiv or bust

Do they still have a beta open? I'd be interested in trying this

Generally open betas comes after closed betas so you should eventually be able to play it before launch.

ffxiv or bust

 

\m/

after reading about it and watching movies for a few hours, i'm definitely gonna give this game a shot.

after reading about it and watching movies for a few hours, i'm definitely gonna give this game a shot.

 

No!

 

Amishu!

lol, join us matt, join us!

 

i think it's worth a try, im having trouble getting into any game as of late anyways. except sf4...

I plan on trying out Aion at some point in life. I love the way it looks I've been watching it since they showed the first korean videos. I'm excited that it's getting such good reviews that excites the shit out of me.