Aion available!!!

[Game Nurse]

Hey gang!!

Well Aion is availble for preorder. and you all know me...I jumped on the bandwagon and bought it! The game is downloading as we speak. Well, as I type anyways *grin*

But seriously, I will report back to you guys as to what I think if it.

If ANYONE of you gets it, post it on here!! I wanna join with you guys!!!

Sooooo excited! I want wings!! And just THINK of all the cute new **** suits I get to try on!! Yay!! Happy day!!!!

n

[Game Nurse]

Hmmm it seems the forums do not like naughty words, like slutt. Cannot say as I blame it *smile*

At any rate, you are right Andrew, I got the preorder so that means I can play the beta sessions, which are starting this weekend, or I should say going on again this weekend since they have had a couple others a few weeks ago I guess.

So far the opening screen looks lovely. It really reminds me of GW though. I wonder if they took some of the stuff from GW2 and morphed it into this...

I am not even sure if I am gonna play the Beta to be honest, I only bought it because, well, it was available! And I love buying things! And I also get extra fancy special wings!! Yay!!

Yes, I am shallow. So sad.

n

[Game Nurse]

And here is a review written about Aion that I came across.

I am not trying to sell this game to you guys. Really.

Really Really.

I am just posting this for general information and because I am always looking around the corner for the next new thing *smile*

here a review from someone who has played the game

Overall Score:4.72 or 95%

Peer Mash up:1.Aion
2.Vanguard
3.WoW
4.Eve
5.GuildWars/Lineage

Overview: I’d have to say my over all experience was one of delighted fun. Every nook and cranny of this game showed of care and detail. In a day and age where its hard to one up the last guy. It is these small details that make a game great. With beautiful environments, a great combat system, also being Korea’s number one mmo in sales and subscriptions it’s hard not to like this game. So you ask your self, is it hype or is this a sound game. In the following review I will try to help you sort through that.

I.Presentaion Overall 4.5:

a.Story 4.0: The fact that this mmo even has an actual story is something that was something surprising for this genre of late. Yes lots of mmo’s have fragmented story bits that are usually not connected in any way of form. This game has a unfolding story line that progresses as your character evolved and matures. Strung together with a main quest line and cinematics (that seem to be cut short in beta to conceal story line)which is a nice touch. The bad news is that though amazing looking and well deviled its the same RPG story that has been around forever. You are some powerful lord that in some conflict of one kind or another has lost your memory and abilities. You job is to reclaim those abilities and find out what happened through cryptic flashbacks, and finding people along the way who know who you are. I’m sure the storyline go deeper then that, but that it all summed up. It is still nice to have a story when most mmo have forgotten what use to make RPG’s great.

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b. Graphics 4.6:Well I could not give Aion a 5 because of those of you that would expect fully 3d rendered graphics. On the other had I could not give graphics 4 because of the ingenuity and artistic value put it the Aion graphics. The graphics engine used is a painted matte hybrid mixed with the Crytek Engine. The best way to explain this is if you were on a movie set with a painted back drop but had real props and real actors. So ground and far sky the are hi-res painted textures with layered 3d environment effects and object. With the way they implement the to together it’s hard to notice unless your looking for it. With all the other aspects mixed in if you did notice it you soon forget. Why did they do it this way you ask. Well they have big plans to make sever vs. server PVP of a supposed 200 players. It has be confirmed that there is 54 man raid content consisting of 6 man groups. Also during the course of beta there were times when the was over 100 players around me with max settings on and no leg, going at 56 fps on my laptop. So the consensus is if you can play vanguard on a computer on any capacity you can play this maxed out just about.

c.Animations 5.0: This Is another one of the many areas of Aion that shines of attention to the small details. So you standing in a pond with fish what do yah do? Why not try to grab one.
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Or say you outside and it starts raining. Why not cover your head with something. These are some of the many context sensitive things you toon does just sitting around. When you type certain words in a sentence the game picks up on it, which cause an emote. Like typing “lol” makes your tune laugh or putting “here” in a sentence makes you toon say a verbal “hey” and motion over with his had. This a first caught me off guard but then I started noticing patterns and thought it was a very nice touch. You still have you regular cued emote. My two favorites being /wings witch make you show off your wings, and /sleep in which you produce a cloud and relax on it. The fun doesn’t stop there. It is mesmerizing to watch the stings of skills go off fluently like the game almost knows which skill you will cast next. Also when you knock someone back they actually knock back and have to stumble to there feet. Same is true if you interrupt someone they go it to a frustrated emote. This cohesiveness of skill along with the level detail in each skill makes this a real treat.
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Here’s a mob that got knock on to his knees where other frailer mobs might fall to there back.

d. Sound & Music 5.0: Aion has got a plethora of sound effect that are just as they should be. The sound track is great and dynamic at that. Not just in the normal if you in this or that spot it plays a particular music. But also has a battle music unique to every spot. Again above the norm.

II. Gameplay Overall 4.8:

a. Combat 5.0:
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Watch closely and see all the skill lighting up in there tree, and toward the middle right the combo branch choices going off.

The combat in this game is fun to watch and amazing to play. It is base of a chain system. You start off with base attack that is part of a combo three. When you activate a base attack it both light up other skills of that tree that are on your bar or the UI can pop them up around your enemy. Usually two or three skills per branch after that. This gives a very strategic feel to battle. If these a particular skill you want that down a skill tree you have to commit to it. If you cast another base attack other then that skill tree it lock it out till the base timer has reset. Also you have to know your timers on different skills. The higher up on the tree the longer the reset timer so if you didn’t wait long enough to cast the base skill you might of gone up that tree for no reason and wasted time. This rewards skill over button mashing, and makes very immersive combat. For those that just want to mash buttons the game also has default branches that it will go to when picking a base attack. So you pick a base attack it then will be replaced by the icon of the next default skill on your key bar you can click this key again to activate that branch or click a different branch in that tree to go a different direction and then back to button mashing. It has been made so that you can make it as challenging or easy as you want. The more effort you put into it the more you get out of it. And example of this is there was a tank of my type 3 levels above me. We dueled and I went carefully through my skill trees vs. him that was obviously mashing. I beat him with 20% health left from the combo trees and skill I got up.

b. Character Development 4.5: They have taken an old school approach with a new twist on a few aspects in this game. This area is one of them. Instead of allocating your attribute point. you get them dependent on: one what class you are and two what abilities you perform the most. As you perform skills you get experience in them, leveling up their effectiveness. Also there are socket s in allot of the armor pieces for a very Diablo feel but just a little different. It may not be what you use to but its balanced out and enough customization in attribute to where you can stance out, but also does not let you stray to far.

c.UI & Interactoins 5.0: The implementation and organization of this UI is incredible. There is a windows for just about everything from crafting to emote even a macro making window that has tools and tips to help you out. The UI auto arranges all windows as they pop up and go down (this can be turned off). Log book is very cool. All your mission have key people places or things that are hyperlinked when you click them they lead to more info, and sometime even more info. You can also have it mark on your map where these thing are. Very useful if you missed something in quest dialog. It’s Like having a wiki-logbook.
If you pop open your character it will open you inventory with it and attach it to the bottom or you can open inventory by its self. It even has a sort button that sort items in your inventory by type. When you go to vendors there a button for sell all cash loot and it take it out of your inventory. All the shops have an hopping cart type motif where you pick all the item you want to buy or sell. It ring up a total. If you over pick witch items you want off double check them and then do your transaction. Skills are bought achieved through books. You can by them in advance if you want to have them when you level and click them out in the field.

Side Notes: Gold is like copper in VG so don’t be shocked when you see high prices. Also know that this games text system is case and text sensitive. So be careful not to put a space accidentally on the back of your name or make a name like this “KoMaNcHu HikOMan ” because now one will add you or be likely want to ad you before they give up.

Summary: This is one of those game that because of the great care put into it you get spoiled and it’s hard to play any other game after you have played it.

Please if you have any questions I missed or would like more info about something. Don’t be afraid to ask. There are thing I just did not put in because it would be going on about a certain area to long. Like I said everywhere I turned there was something that caught my eye and there is just too much to right about and a lot of it is better delivered when experienced. Sorry if the review is a little rough. I haven’t written anything of this scale in a long time. Chatting has been the extent of my writing for the last 2 years. Hope this helped.

[Di Daanq]

Nice review Nursey!

Actually I played the last beta weekend and leveled a mage and warrior each to level 10 without many problems (beta limits you to level 10). I spent a little time with my wings and was having trouble fighting from the air, a skill I guess will come with practice. My spell caster had the easier go of it but I spent about the same time leveling both toons.

I really liked the game and may be splitting my time between GW and Aion. I have limited experience with online games (GWs and a couple of free games like Runes of Magic). I tried WOW and Lineage II but did not continue past my initial time that came with the game. I wasn't inspired. This game was fun, has awesome graphics and animations and the story line makes sense so far. It is different for me to be interacting with other players while exploring but it is mostly a positive experience.

The next beta event is this weekend and i will get to explore the dark side (Asmodian race), last event was the light side (Elyos race). I am looking forward to the event.

The only way I know of to get into the closed beta is to pre-order Aion, details are at NCSOFt. I received mine as a gift. There are 3 more beta event sheduled before the September debut. Preordering also gives you a 48 headstart on the rest of the world and a couple of bonus items.

This is a pay to play game but I am hoping some of the guild members will take the plunge, maybe it will renew the enthusiasm that some us seem to have lost.

Thanks again Nurse for the awesome review.

PS I am also not trying to sell you on the game, I like it and will for a while be paying the monthly fee to explore its possibilities. I will also be continuing with GWs.

[Game Nurse]

Dan!!

You sneaky old man! I never guessed you were cheating... ahem...trying out another game on us!!!

And here I thought you were a one game kinda guy. Just goes to show, never trust the quiet ones...

Yeah, that is a neat a review, just to clarify, I did not write it. I have not even gotten a chance to play the game yet! But it really makes me excited to try the game!!

Did you know that this next beta weekend will have us going to level 20???

Noon tomorrow buddy. Be there or be square...

(Well noon to me anyways. And it is ALL about me *grin*)

n

[Di Daanq]

I will be there, but I do not know my server or how to contact you in game. And I wasn't...ahem .....aren't cheating, just exploring my options. I gave my son one of my GW accounts and he gave me the pre-order thingy.

Do you know the jerk got Survivor on his first toon....show off.

Anyway I will be on tomorrow after doctor's visit. It is my second home these days. The nurses all know me by sight .....not always a good thing.

Hope we can hook up in Aion.

[TIll KIll]

Well guess I'll be leaving this 1 up to you guys I still have a hard time with the pay to play idea and I'm sure I'll catch flack for that but I look at it this way in GW I have spend about $200 for 2 full acc and can't see spending more to play every month but I also haven't played wow and some of the other pay as you go games so .... I can't really say anything other than for me and my cash think we are going to stay at home and let the big dogs play so best of luck to all that do and hope that you don't forget us cheapskates back here at the hall will miss you all when your not here and will welcome you when you are besides need someone to keep a eye on me when I'm tanking a nero .... but that maybe why nurse is looking for somewhere to bail out too there has been a time or two that I may have been known to but a few gray hairs in her poor head


Till Kill

[Pampered One]

Bought the presale version and installed it. Only one copy. Krist, Ann and I will each try to take a few minutes to check it out this weekend.

If I were to foray into this game, it would more then likely only be 1 month every couple of months. Just not that gung ho when I still have so many free servers I can play on in other games.


Pampered

[Game Nurse]

rofl Till - I will monk for you anytime. You keep things exciting!!

Gunter!! How can you possibly go only 1 month every few months??? You are too funny. $15 a month is nothing! I mean really, a dinner and a movie out will pay for an entire year almost!!

But either way, I really hope to see you all there and I shall report back after this weekend what I thought about it!!!

With FULL update of the clothing and hair possibilities, naturally....

*smile*

n

[homework19]

if many of you go to aion I hope you really enjoy it. I always said I would NEVER pay a monthly fee to play games online. I have been hooked on LOTRO. All the crafting options, horse travel, quests - just too much to name. I still hop on GW just to roam about, but I hope aion is to you guys what Lord of the Rings is to me. Hope things are going good for all of you, i still stop by the forums everyday. Sometime I will have to catch you all online!

[Game Nurse]

Ah I LOVE LoTRO.. it is really really super fun!!

I will always subscribe to that as well.

I quit WoW. Got bored. So I am no longer playing there, have not for a few months actually. I will sub to LoTRO and Aion I think...until the star wars MMO comes out. Then I will have to up my monthly tally to 3!!!

n

[HeavyMetalHead]

With the way it's looking...Aion may be my first long-term pay-2-play. Would go with the beta, but the depending on the size of the download, it would probably reek havoc on my internet usage. AT&T is being lazy as hell about expanding the DSL internet to as far out of town as I live.

Anyway, I might go with what Dan did for WoW just to see how ridiculous that game is. Not about to do that with Warhammer Online, since the WoW has been out longer and is now 20 bucks for the base game, whereas Warhammer costs 40 bucks. Would be better if the local Wal-Mart still had the 2 buck 15-day trial disks. The only place that still has the things is the Best Buy the next town over.

[funky]

Saw the pre-sales version of AION at my local store but didnt get it. Shop owner told me its for the US server even though Taiwan, Korea or China is closer to home

Haven't decided whether to go for it.

Standard version about U$53 while collecter's edtion is about U$66.66

Didn't ask about the monthly sub but was told it might be the same as WoW (U$15?)

BTW, can't remember whether it is Warhammer Online or Age of Conan being offered at 50% off at some game shops here

[Game Nurse]

I heard it was to be $15 as well, which makes sense, since that is what most games are. Except Lord of the Rings is only $9.99 and, in my opinion, the best of the bunch so far...

Except for GW of course. Man, I cannot WAIT for GW2!!!!!!

One day....One day... *sigh*

n

[tamuril]

Been looking at this and got chatting to a lot of folks from guilds I belonged to from MMO's way back.
General feeling from those who've been doing the beta's is 'Leave it alone'!!

Some frightening stories coming out about the PVP and that NCSoft doesn't give a crap about pve players leaving in droves!!

I know it's early days, but concerned about this one if this stuff is not sorted before going live.

Tam