The Force is strong with this one…
I’ll make no secret of the fact that I’ve never really gotten on with your typical MMO, and this is largely due to a complete inability to put up with the traditionally lifeless point-and-click combat, tragically essential level-up grinding and uncomfortable monthly fees that accompany them. World of Warcraft, The Lord of the Rings Online, Final Fantasy 11, Star Trek Online, Champions Online… they all have the same attractions, but all of the same problems as well.
However, my stubborn abstinence is about to be put to the very real test; LOTRO is going free this Holiday season,
WOW is getting a rather attractive facelift come November in the form of the Cataclysm expansion, 2010’s DC Universe Online will finally allow me to join ranks with the best wardrobe malfunctions the world over and in 2011, one little Star Wars title looks set to help me put aside my differences for good. Why? Well, Bioware’s The Old Republic means to bring real storytelling to the MMO, and as an RPG fan I’m completely hooked upon the idea.
Believe it or not, Bioware could well be giving the MMO a heart.
Crafted by the ridiculously talented developers of the masterful Dragon Age and Mass Effect series’, The Old Republic will of course feature the familiar trappings of online adventures with multiple worlds to explore, ludicrously deep and tactical real-time combat to enjoy, numerous factions with whom to swear allegiance and myriad classes, societies and sub-sects to choose from (including smugglers, Sith, bounty hunters and - naturally - Jedi), but the true selling point will be a deep and multifaceted plotline for each and every class available to you. Littered with branching scripts, multiple choices, moral dilemmas, NPC travelling companions and even your own star-ship with which to see and fight through the galaxy, this game is far busier than most single-player RPGS could manage after even a lengthy development cycle. But hey, why not find out for yourself? Run over to The Old Republic’s website and you may be able to nab yourself a position on the current beta. Meanwhile, I’ll be waiting for that 2011 release date with bated breath.
Now, where’s that can of Mountain Dew and level seven Mage…?
I’ll make no secret of the fact that I’ve never really gotten on with your typical MMO, and this is largely due to a complete inability to put up with the traditionally lifeless point-and-click combat, tragically essential level-up grinding and uncomfortable monthly fees that accompany them. World of Warcraft, The Lord of the Rings Online, Final Fantasy 11, Star Trek Online, Champions Online… they all have the same attractions, but all of the same problems as well.
However, my stubborn abstinence is about to be put to the very real test; LOTRO is going free this Holiday season,
WOW is getting a rather attractive facelift come November in the form of the Cataclysm expansion, 2010’s DC Universe Online will finally allow me to join ranks with the best wardrobe malfunctions the world over and in 2011, one little Star Wars title looks set to help me put aside my differences for good. Why? Well, Bioware’s The Old Republic means to bring real storytelling to the MMO, and as an RPG fan I’m completely hooked upon the idea.Believe it or not, Bioware could well be giving the MMO a heart.
Crafted by the ridiculously talented developers of the masterful Dragon Age and Mass Effect series’, The Old Republic will of course feature the familiar trappings of online adventures with multiple worlds to explore, ludicrously deep and tactical real-time combat to enjoy, numerous factions with whom to swear allegiance and myriad classes, societies and sub-sects to choose from (including smugglers, Sith, bounty hunters and - naturally - Jedi), but the true selling point will be a deep and multifaceted plotline for each and every class available to you. Littered with branching scripts, multiple choices, moral dilemmas, NPC travelling companions and even your own star-ship with which to see and fight through the galaxy, this game is far busier than most single-player RPGS could manage after even a lengthy development cycle. But hey, why not find out for yourself? Run over to The Old Republic’s website and you may be able to nab yourself a position on the current beta. Meanwhile, I’ll be waiting for that 2011 release date with bated breath.
Now, where’s that can of Mountain Dew and level seven Mage…?
