FullReviews Index
Wizard101 Review (PC)
You're a young wizard being trained in the ways of magic at the Ravenwood School of Magical Arts under the watchful eye of headmaster Ambrose. As you learn to harness mystical powers, you'll be tasked with saving the school from the evil Malistaire Drake. Wizard101 is an online game for kids that has many of the trappings of an adult MMORPG built around an unusual card-based combat system, and it has been capturing the imagination of people of all ages.
World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King Review (PC)
World of Warcraft is poised for another lucrative Christmas season, regardless of any economic slowdown. The second expansion for the game, Wrath of the Lich King, is now filled with players working their way up to the new level cap of 80. If you're a World of Warcraft fan, you probably won't be taking time out from exploring Northrend to read this review, but here it is anyway.
Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning Review (PC)
In light of the market domination that is World of Warcraft, it takes serious guts to release a MMORPG these days, let alone one that is tied to the Warhammer franchise, which inspired the Warcraft series many years ago. Orcs, Dwarves, and Elves abound in Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning's Order vs. Destruction conflict, so at first glance it may look like the same old /dance we've been doing in MMORPGs for ages. Or is it?
Exteel Review
In Exteel, you are the pilot of a high-tech fighting machine called a Mechanaught, which has customizable weaponry and rapid movement capabilities. Your mission is to take a big gun and slaughter other Mechanaughts in PvP arenas, capturing a few flags along the way. Story? We don't need no stinking story! Go on a killing spree and earn yourself a bigger gun, then pwn some noobs - there's your story.
Pirates of the Caribbean Online Review
Disney isn't just about movies and theme parks anymore, they've become a serious contender in the online games market, with a variety of titles aimed at youngsters. Pirates of the Caribbean Online is their latest effort, based on the famous movie series, and it lets you skirmish with scurvy dogs and plunder ships on the high seas.
Pirates of the Burning Sea Review
Few MMORPGs use historical settings, and fewer still allow you to play a pirate cruising the Caribbean in a wooden ship, seeking gold and glory. Pirates of the Burning Sea is just such a game, and despite the title, it isn't just about pirates. Players join several different nations in a battle over the ports in the region. I've spent several weeks sailing by the seat of my pantaloons, and this game definitely offers something out of the ordinary.
Tabula Rasa Review (PC)
When it comes to MMORPGs, sci-fi fans have always had less to choose from than people who prefer elves, dwarves, and wizards. Now there is another alternative for gamers who would rather pack a laser beam than a magic wand, and it comes in the form of Richard Garriott's Tabula Rasa. Humanity is engaged in a war with hostile aliens, and auto-attack isn't an option, so you'll have to put down your sandwich to fight your way out of this one.
Team Fortress 2 Review (PC)
Many of you probably remember the famous Team Fortress mod for Quake that helped popularize online gaming back in the 90s. Valve has given the franchise a new life in the form of Team Fortress 2, and they've done it with a style that is both instantly recognizable and humorous. It's not the most complicated shooter out there, but that hasn't kept it from being a whole lot of fun. This is one that online FPS fans won't want to miss.
Hellgate: London Review (PC)
The year is 2038 and London has been reduced to rubble by hideous demons that came through the Hellgate. Humans have taken refuge in the city's Underground stations, where they do their best to fight back against the unholy invaders using all the high-tech weaponry at their disposal. Here's a look at Hellgate: London, a new action RPG from Flagship Studios.
Guild Wars: Eye of the North Review (PC)
With three successful stand-alone titles under its belt, Guild Wars won over many RPG fans with its fresh approach to the genre. Eye of the North is the first actual expansion for the series, designed for characters at the level cap who are ready to take on the Destroyers. It's an impressive addition to the games PvE content, and it paves the way for the sequel, Guild Wars 2.
Auto Assault Review (PC)
MMORPGs that feature pimped-out cars and fast-paced shootouts with rogue mutants don't come along every day. Auto Assault is centered on a 3 way conflict between humans, mutants, and biomeks in a post-apocolyptic world. As the driver of a high-tech, heavily armed assault vehicle, your job is to destroy almost everything in sight.
The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar
Tolkien's famous trilogy, which has served as inspiration for countless roleplaying games going back several decades, is now itself a MMORPG. Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar brings Middle-earth to life in an online world, which just received it's first major content patch as I finished this review. If you've ever longed to be a Hobbit on an Elf running around The Shire, you should take a closer look.
World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade Review (PC)
Ever since it's release over two years ago World of Warcraft has dominated the MMORPG market, particularly in North America and Europe. Now that players are romping through The Burning Crusade, the game's first expansion, interest is on the rise again. It's hard not to get caught up in the excitement that comes with thousands of fans pouring into the new zones with all sorts of hopes and expectations, but I've pulled myself away long enough to put together a review of this burning hot expansion.
Vanguard: Saga of Heroes Review
MMORPGs have come a long way in the last few years, and Vanguard: Saga of Heroes has set out to add some depth to this increasingly popular genre. With relatively complex crafting and diplomacy elements, the game is as ambitious as they come, but is it accessible? Here is my assessment of what I've seen of Vanguard so far.
Guild Wars Nightfall Review (PC)
Guild Wars is an online RPG that has attracted a large following with engaging cooperative missions and a highly refined PvP system. Nightfall is the latest stand-alone addition to the series, offering a new campaign to explore and introducing NPC Hero units that level alongside your character. Here's a closer look at this popular title.
City of Villains Review
It's time to don your darkest cape and give those goody two-shoes heroes of Paragon City a slap upside the head. City of Villains extends the no-nonsense fun of City of Heroes into the nefarious Rogue Isles, where you can pursue the life of a master criminal. The best part is that players can now build their own bases and brawl in the new PvP zones.
Boundless Planet Review (PC)
Boundless Planet is one of only a handful of games attempting to take the real-time strategy concept into the massively multiplayer realm. The challenge isn't just a technical one - there are a lot of potential pitfalls in designing a game of this kind. Boundless Planet launched in early November, and I had a chance to see how this new MMORTS comes together.
Battlefield 2142 Review (PC)
Another game has joined the Battlefield series, and this time it takes us over a century into the future when war is fought with battlewalkers and floating airbases. Battlefield 2142 has a lot in common with its predecessor, Battlefield 2, but it also introduces a new gameplay mode and a deeper unlock tree. Is it a "must have" for FPS fans?
City of Heroes Review
Superheroes and computer games are a natural fit for each other, yet you really only have one choice if you want to play a superhero in a graphical MMORPG. City of Heroes has earned a reputation for focusing on combat and forgoing the more tedious aspects often associated with this sort of game. It has now had over a year's worth of updates and content additions, making the crime fighting fun more appealing than ever.
Dungeons & Dragons Online Review (PC)
Given the success of pen-and-paper D&D and the numerous video games that have since worn the title, it was only a matter of time before someone turned Dungeons & Dragons into a massively multiplayer game. Dungeons & Dragons Online: Stormreach is Turbine's virtual recreation of the Eberron campaign, with a heavy emphasis on the dungeon crawls that made this franchise famous. Will it be able to hold it's own in a very competitive MMORPG market? Let's see what DDO has to offer.
EverQuest 2 Review (PC)
Although the first EverQuest went a long way toward putting MMORPGs on the map, EverQuest 2 faced some serious competition when it launched. Since then there have been adventure packs, expansions, and an assortment of other significant changes, not least of which has been the addition of PvP servers. The prospect of an all-out war between Qeynos and Freeport was tempting enough to draw me in for a better look.
Eve Online Review
Eve Online gives you a chance to build an empire in space and rise to the pinnacle of galactic domination. Almost 2 years old, the game continues to grow. The recent free Exodus expansion added a long list of new features, and shortly after its release Eve set records with over 12,000 concurrent players in a single online world.
ToonTown Online Review
There aren't a lot of massively multiplayer games designed for young kids. Along with the obvious safety concerns, many MMORPGs take a considerable effort to learn to play and they often feature violent content that isn't appropriate for children. Disney has taken a different approach with ToonTown, resulting in an online game that isn't just squeaky clean, it's easy to learn and entertaining enough that the adults in the family will likely want to play along.
Battlefield 2: Special Forces Review
Since it's release about 5 months ago, Battlefield 2 has quickly become a favorite for fans of multiplayer military shooters. The first expansion, Special Forces, takes some of the emphasis off the game's vehicles, and brings night-vision goggles, flashbang grenades, tear gas, and grappling hooks into the fray. Could it be that Battlefield 2 is trying to take a page from Counter-Strike?
World of Warcraft Review
No game has done more to make MMORPG a household word in North America than World of Warcraft. Since its launch in Nov. 2004, the game has been breaking records and receiving stellar reviews. Here's my review of this incredibly popular game.
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