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Dungeons & Dragons Online : Stormreach (DDO)Reviewed by Everett Fitzgerald
Turbine has developed DDO as an on-line adaptation of Dungeons & Dragons. DDO is based on the new D&D 3.5 rule-set and placed in the Eberron campaign. It attempts to change some of the tried-and-true formulas of RPG gameplay. This game basically eliminates many aspects of what gamers have come to expect from large scale on-line gaming. Gone are the long travel times, and monster pops on your way to the hollowed cavern of ‘Get-Fat-Loots'. The storyline mainly focuses on the city of Stormreach and the nefarious underworld dealings below. Gone is the need to have (* gasp*) 39 friends to slay the ultimate monster boss. DDO returns to the essence of old-school six-party members gaming… This is a good thing!
Let's start with the usual. How does it look? I'd have to say it is almost ‘next-gen' as far as graphics go. It definitely looks better than most RPGs on the market, and makes this reviewer giddy for next year's offerings, as the graphical scale has been raised. Shiny particle effects, style out the ‘wazoo', lighting and shadows, and colorful armor models and weapons, all make Stormreach a fabulous place to visit. Add the top-notch audio quality voice work, effects, and use of panning and one gets sucked into the world. Who would have thought hearing a virtual GM would make me giggle. The gameplay has a fresh approach as well. Can I say that the dungeons have redefined for me what to expect in a fantasy world adventure? No one does dungeons better, period. Most would wonder how they could combine real time movement, dice rolls, and tactical vantage points into one model. Well they have done it. DDO combines all the elements of some older type games such as Diablo, the D&D Gold Box series, and even some FPS controls. What a fun experience. How I previously hacked and slashed and fought mobs that never moved parried or fled is mind boggling to me. DDO offers a blend of standard RPG mechanics with new tweaks, while tip toeing that fine line between sticking hardcore to the rule set, and making a fun game. I have a new mantra. I will not play any RPG until 6 months after release. The cons listed by game players for DDO are things they have improved and/or are working on. The initial complaint players have is the equation between content and pricing. Literally the game has a limited amount of quests, 100+ and a quick reaching of the level cap. With the oncoming release of their 2 nd module, more raid bosses, improved UI, and of course more quests; they are just starting to hit their stride. A recalculation will be in order. It will be important to get the word out that the game will have changed and will offer new elements not seen before. Especially at a time when the end game model of raiding is becoming tired and forcing gamers to pick their consoles back up. I will be back soon with an updated review as well once the Twilight Forge module drops which shows some new open areas and interface improvements. Pick the game up is my advice. Also, do not grab a pick up group of veteran gamers who are re-rolling and working their way back up to level cap. Find new gamers who can explore and learn the game right alongside you, so you don't miss out on the beautiful environments, puzzle elements, and storyline.
DDO retails for $49.99 with a $14.99 monthly fee. This is the standard for most MMO games today, but it seems a bit pricy for an Action-Adventure On-Line RPG (AAORPG?!). At the moment the content really doesn't justify the price tag, and I believe they could increase the population on their 14 servers if they adjusted those amounts a bit. More Screenshots (click image to enlarge):
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Developer:
Turbine
It's very close to being the next-generation game, but the lack of features to make it feel massive holds it back.
