lazuris
10-28-2005, 08:35 AM
UO has hit it's 8th anniversary and released a box set (doesn't include it's brand new expansion that has elves as a playable race and more dungeuns). I decided to return as I'll explain in another topic, to my amazement the un-updated graphics were a pleasentry to me, like running into an old friend at your local game store (2D, 3D graphics were an experiment that went horribly wrong). The new skill advancement made the game much more enjoyable, but still very challenging especially to newer players (my wife started an account, I'll explain below...her first true geeking out), The PvP is centralized and easily avoidable or attainable depending on your preference. The armor and weapons received a massive overhaul, but because all loot, with the exception of the new artifacts, is randomly generated when a monster dies, there is NO "best" gear. If you're a good player you can solo basically every encounter in the game or you can find a good group of friends and make it that much easier. There's no downfall really to grouping and no pain in soloing. The housing is outstanding, find a flat plot of land, buy it up and customize your house from floors to walls, add balconies, doors, buy up some dressers or beds or any of the countless "rares" and make it your own (this is what got my old lady hooked by the way). Crafters are a HUGE part of the game, as with monster loot, magic effects on crafted items are also fairly random so a crafter can make some the best gear in the game. Roleplayers are all over the place some of which have no combat skills because you can "progress" through the game as a solid crafter, animal tamer, or musician without ever picking up a weapon. There is no constant questing and you can't screw up a spec. Sure some things make you better soloer and others better for groups, but isn't that the point? I have played nearly every MMO that has released since Ultima from AO, EQ, DAoC, WoW, earth and beyond, COH, shadowbane, and a few others) UO has all the elements that made me go to these games and this new release made me go back and try it again...I'm happy I did. 8 out of 10 (mostly for the age of the game yielding a declining amount of current information available for it)