The big Fantasy MMORPG Roundup

Part 3: Depth

FINAL FANTASY XI -> D+

Again, I must write a cruel thesis for the horrible adventure of Final Fantasy XI. Because Square-Enix looked too much toward the PS2 version, Final Fantasy XI came out a little shallow and repetitive, to the point of being mundane and slightly stupid. Unlike PC based MMORPGs that feature complex item systems and long lists of jobs, quests, and abilities, it seems as if Final Fantasy XI simplified these into somewhat bland, boring concepts that feel more like busywork than icing on the cake.

One good example of this is the equipment setups, which, unlike PC game renditions, actually end up being very shallow. Beyond the basics of crafting and working, normal players will find that equipment comes “packaged” (that is, all together, no mix-and-match), boring, and generally not unique- so, yet again, everyone looks the same.

Another boring part of it is the lack of fun quests on the side. While quests and missions DO exist in the game, they do not exist to the level of standard MMORPGs and, as the game tends to be, are very group oriented in nature. Joking with a friend, I had to put it simply- normal gamers could not STAND the game if they had to play it alone, that's why the game stresses grouping so much. That's sad.

WORLD OF WARCRAFT -> B-

As I put in my World of Warcraft review, WoW is deep and entertaining, but the buck stops after a while. Trades, quests, and levelling all become very similar after about level 35, and the game, much like Final Fantasy XI, becomes somewhat group/raid oriented. That's fine for some, but loners may pay the price.

But let me rather focus on some better points of World of Warcraft- and that is the fact that no matter how you look at it, the game is deep. Equipment lists are seemingly endless, trades can be worked for years to completion, and there are always new areas to explore. There is always something for someone to do on WoW, so long as they have the drive to do it- and that's a refreshing thing to realize.

EVERQUEST 2 -> A

Here's where daddy comes to spank the other little games raw. Everquest 2 may be one of the most complex games to ever hit shelves due to the HUGE list of quests available to even new players- that makes anyone shrivel in fear at the time one could spend playing the game. Fresh out of the newbie area, a gamer can be assaulted with up to 50 quests in one town- and that's a lot of game time.

Everquest 2 also features a very nice equipment list that, while sometimes not as extensive as World of Warcraft, is huge and very interesting to tinker with. Equipment is very rare to be found, and the addition of housing in the game (as well as a very cool ability to add stuff to your house) can't be beat.

Of course, there is also depth in the adventuring side, with Norrath being almost as big as it's original counterpart- which scares me, to some degree, as I fear what will happen in the future, pending it gets bigger. Tit-for-tat, if you were to spend about 5 hours every day on any given MMORPG, you would get more to do and more activities through Everquest 2 than any other MMORPG out there, hands down. This may be stifling to some players- but hardcore gamers will have their appetites satiated.

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