Anarchy Online Reviews

[h1]Anarchy Online - What's Different?[/h1] First things first: Anarchy Online is still largely the game it was when it was first released in 2001. However, a lot of the rough patches have been smoothed away. Let's have a look at the important parts that've changed: [list] [*]There is a new starting area that explains [i]everything[/i] much better, and gives new characters items every new character actually wants to have. [*]There's a new central hub (ICC) that has practically everything. [*]Neutral-aligned automated stores received an overhaul, making them the most convenient stores available. [*]There is a new Engine that actually uses your graphics card. It's not perfect yet, but functions well enough for most situations. [*]The game has daily missions (at least two per day) on an 18 hour clock that means solo-levelling is viable. This is good because, [*]there is only one server now. AO is still a game with niche appeal. [*]The in-game auction house is simple and easy to use - but is for paying customers only. [*]A lot of the unnecessary grinding/camping from the early-years has been removed or side-stepped by providing alternate avenues for advancement or the items have been superceded with easier-to-obtain new stuff. [*]Battlestation teams are no-longer divided across faction lines. Pick a side, red or blue. [*]End-game raids are all instanced now (except those that were designed to be PvP). [/list] [h1]The Appeal of Anarchy Online[/h1] What is the appeal of Anarchy Online? There seem to be two types of players: those that have terrible computers and can't run any other online game, and those that appreciate the unique challenges that Anarchy Online provides. For the uninitiated, picture this: There exist dungeons that are level-capped. Those dungeons have unique loot, and to get that loot you either need to be in a competent team or very over-geared for your level. Some of that loot can be traded, meaning you might want to sell it in the economy, other times it's not tradable, but [b]could[/b] be equipped on a much lower-level character. [b]Here's the key part:[/b] You have the option to [i]stop[/i] (or start) levelling up at any time. Therefore, you can spend as much time as you like improving your level-locked character with improved items. Becoming over-geared ("twinking") is a long, involved and extremely rewarding process. Items you obtain at endgame could just as easily go into making your level-capped character more powerful, or you might just need a much higher level character to be able to craft those items. You're soon in a position where you have characters at breakpoints such as 25, 60, 100, 110, 150 and 200. They're all feeding resources to each other, either items or credits made from the market. Not just that, but there are level-locks to the PvP battlestations too. Excelling in PvP allows you to sell your rewards for further profit. The difference between a character in normal levelling gear and one that you have spent hours or days working on can be absolutely incredible. And it's all completely optional. If you have a reliable friend, they can take care of a different level range and purpose than you, and both can benefit. So the appeal of Anarchy Online is, quite simply, [b]depth[/b]. There's more to it than can be covered in a review, but that is the key point.

When you really want to be positive, but you can't. Yes, I am one of mentioned old timers that might have something negative to say. Only that I have a lot of negative to say, that's not to say there aren't anything positive to find with Anarchy Online. Cons: Yes, AO did get a new rendering engine. But you're not gonna see it unless you download it manually. Then you need to find the community fixes as it crashes rather often. Instead enjoy this 16 year old rendering engine set to 1024x768 fullscreen instead. Exploits, and lots of exploits. GMI (auction house), PvP, leveling, duping, NODROP transfers, ability boosting, dmg exploits. Yes, AO has them all. In its heyday AO was less prone to extended damage from exploits. More developers and money allowed for swift fix and ban of exploiters. These days AO barely has 1 developer, severe exploits can go on for weeks before they are fixed. Input multiplexing, yes AO allows for input multiplexing. You can use 3rd party software to control multiple accounts. People have their merry band of 6 accounts and farm PvM content and sell loot rights, PvP or anything else under the sun. Open world PvP, I noticed that was one of the selling points mentioned in the AO on steam email FunCom sent me. Well yes, we do have open world PvP. Yes, you can defend and attack land. It is fun, a lot of fun! But developers have refused to look at level ranges, meaning that your lvl 165 can be smashed by someone 205-207. The difference in comparable power is off the charts. Oh and yeah that 205 can have endgame 220 heals as backup. Sounds fun right? Level ranges is just one aspect, I mentioned input multiplexing above. Its super fun when your Organization has 4 people online at an akward timezone to defend vs 1-2 guys running 12 toons killing your towers. Soon(tm), we hear that a lot from the developers. Updated engine was to be released soon, it took years. Profession balance soon, still not anywhere near complete. The list goes on. PvM, with the recent years total focus on 6-man instanced raids, it seems that the benefit of being in a clan (Org) is gone. Many large Orgs died and the playerbase is fractured. Why be with 23 people when you and your buddy can dual log and do all the content and sell lootrights? AO used to be a very social thing, I think a lot of that is gone now. PvP, well there is none. Not really, not anymore. Exploiters and multiplexers rule openworld PvP. Sure you can do duels (fun) or battlestation (sometimes fun), but the mayhem such a name as Anarchy Online implies is long gone. Leveling, oh so you bought the game? Expansions and all? Looking forward to go shoot stuff with strangers? Just don't it's not going to happen. Leveling in AO (as a paid player) mostly revolves around sitting on your ass from level 7 to 205+. Endgame tanks will pocket tank mobs, an NT will AoE nuke said mobs from safety and you profit. As a veteran I use this, because when I make my 5th tl5 PvP twink, I just want to get to level 150 asap and twink. For new paid players though, well I hope you like doing daily solo missions and running around alone. Endgame 220 players have their 160 alts on follow, or sit on a designated rock while they kill monsters. So yeah.. Froobs might have more fun, if there is a healthy community. Lack of new content/updates. AO has 1 deeveloper, sometimes. Sure for someone completely new to the game the amount of content is huge! For veterans it is rather meh, you might hear a lot of negativity regarding that. Pros: Extremely complex character development, you are for the most part free to do whatever you want as a player. It might end up being horribly bad, but you are allowed to use daggers on your soldier if you please. For new players there is extreme amounts of content, I mean really really much to do. I would have put more here, but they are hampered by the issues I listed above. I truely love AO, but I can not recommend a game that has developers/marketing so far into space. You might have heard how much AO's launch got slammed, well.. the madness continue.

Anarchy Online is an old game. But honestly, MMOs aren't what they used to be. This game gives those same feelings, you just have to give it a chance and look past the graphics. The depth is insane.

Probably one of the best MMO's I have ever played. You will either love it or hate it, within the first 15 minutes. but it is most definitely worth it. The community is extremely genuine, far better than most others. Players are always ready to help eachother out. There is so much depth to this game, there is ALWAYS something to do. ALWAYS something to upgrade. Heavily based on community/group activities. So much more can be said about this. i'll probably post up another comment attached to this to go into more detail.

AO is a MMORPG from a time when Steam did not exist and when multiplayer was new and exciting. And this game brought me a story that no other game could provide. Rosy tinted nostalgia aside, let's evacuate the elephant of the room : the game is [b]free to play[/b]. Sure, there is a subscribtion that give access to new content and powerful equipment and sure there is an ingame shop, but the free content is really large (2/3 of the game) and the shop is half cosmetic, half shortcuts for rerolls. The game was created before the f2p scheme existed and as a result you get a full game. Now the part that will give you trouble. [b]This game is from 2001[/b]. The graphics are outdated at best, butt-ugly at worst. We also learnt to make better games in the last decade and you'll realize that your character move and plays like crap. Servers easily desync, visibility and hit distances are always wrong and you can forget about concepts such as 'skillshots'. It's a primitive 'tab and auto attack' game. Also it is important to understand the game's mindset from another age. It is complex and there is no quest chain that will guide you to level max here, you get to explore, hunt instead and more importantly, get social. Talking to other players is vital. Ask them questions, ask for help and augmentations and you'll have the time of your life. Even if you solo, it is worthwhile to listen to the OOC channel and occasionally chat in there. Either way, this game is 13 years of my life well wasted. PS: Neutral 4 life

If I'm not wrong, Anarchy Online was my first Massive Multiplayer Online RPG game I have played. I still remember it was added as bonus in GameStar magazine in 2005 year, with subscription for a whole year. I decided to try it and it was cool. I wasn't a big MMO-addict back then, so I didn't spend much playing it. Probably gave up pretty quickly, since it wasn't an easy game for the young me. Still, I remember how cool it was - unique atmosphere, graphics, music and everything. I'm really glad to see it's still alive and works just fine. I'm not sure how many things have changed - I remember that starting location was different, and few other stuffs. If it's for better, or worse, I cannot say. It's kind of sad that when I was younger I didn't had enough patience to stick with it and now that I would love to give it a little bit more time, there isn't enough of it in my life. Give it a try, that's if you are fan of this kind of games. Sure, the graphics aren't fancy for today's standards, but this game have to offer something more than MMO games nowadays.

Is it possible to simply "review" a game experience spanning 16 years for me ? My time in AO began in 2001 and I am still here now, I have been away from time to time, tempted away by the promises newer titles made and yet I always found my self back here on Rubi-Ka There must be a reason right ?. In fact there are several, ... several thousand that is. Too many to list just here. Not least the still unmatched complexity of the skill systems, oh yes there are a few; if your excited at the prospect of mastering several systems and interlinking them together to weave your own characters unique tapestry, then welcome friend, welcome home. The communities, as diverse as those in the real world and just as extreme in all areas, do you want to involved yourself into the deep lore of Rubi-Ka on voyage of self discovery ? Because you can if that's your thing. Or are you PvP'er a hard-nosed, smack-talking player killer ? Oh then I think you'll make friends here too... just watch your back. The world is huge, larger than any other game I know of, MMO or RPG and divided up into three distinct sections. Rubi-Ka the original planet were the conflict rages on between omni-tech the clans and the neutrals, dungeons, instances and different play-fields, swamps, desserts, wild lands and some the are hard to describe abound here, it is vast and at time really quite beautiful it also ranges over many levels. Shadow-lands, the alternate side to Rubi-Ka they seem familiar but quite different, each is unique and will require different levels and gear to master, in the end something is linking this strange land to Rubi-Ka. The Alien Play-fields, starting for mid level characters and quickly becoming a desperate fight for survival can you stand with your companions and hold off the invading aliens ? (bring plenty of ammo and med-kits) The social aspects of the game are really quite surprising. There are friendships formed in AO since it's launch have accounted for 17 marriages and 22 children that I know of personally and those friendships never would have existed if those individuals had not met here on Rubi-KA. Is Anarchy Online perfect then? ha-ha oh gawd no, am I is anyone or anything ? Anarchy Online is a flawed diamond that you can't help but admire, and nothing truly nothing compares.

My absolute favorite MMORPG ever released. Main catch is unique skill/equipment system that no game has ever surpassed or offered. Scifi world is also very nice change from the usual fantasy affair, a fight between good corporation and evil terrorist. Also some further fantasy setting with Shadow Lands exist.

I used to love this game. Great community, amazing atmosphere, several really original concepts, some of them unsurpassed to this day (hot-swap twinking anyone?). But that was decades ago. Literally. It is a miracle that the game is still running today, but is it really worth it to revisit the nostalgia? Honestly, I don't think it is. The very first thing you see after you create your character and enter the world is a message to pay money for power leveling. With more messages offering more shady services following. The once-great community is long gone, the whole place seems to be hijacked by annoying bots. I wasn't even able to finish the first quest (the very first quest!), since the spawning area is being camped 24/7. Maybe if you are a ranged character armed with an insane amount of patience, you would be able to finish it eventually and continue on your journey. But honestly, why would you want to waste your time in such toxic environment? It is quite sad to see the game in this state, but I guess it's time to move on. It was fun while it lasted. R.I.P. Anarchy Online.

Love this game, but steam uses the old engine. Recommend going to the website and downloading the new engine for newer computers.