posted June 11 2008 10:58 AM
So I bought a copy of this WoW-killer, and I have to say, I don't think it's all that. While the graphics are superior, the gameplay is pretty much exactly the same as WoW.
The biggest difference in the battle structure is that it's slightly more complicated. In WoW, you click on one button and you swing your weapon, pretty much in auto-mode, and during the battle, you can click other buttons to perform a special move. In AoC, each swing requires a decision and a button push. Your basic attack can be straight on (2), to the left (1), or to the right (3). There are visual indicators on your foe that tell you which area he is blocking. If you repeatedly bash the 2 button, your foe will move his defences to block your attack, making it less successful. To do that, though, he has to remove defenses from his left or right side, so you can switch to attacking there instead.
In addition to your normal attack, you have special moves, which require a key combo, much like the arcade fighting games. And these moves usually have overpowered results.
All of the same character classes that are in WoW are available in AoC, with a few specialized subclasses thrown in.
The big deal about AoC is the adult-oriented storylines. Admittedly, I didn't play enough to get off the noobie island you begin with, but I didn't find the stories particularly erotic. There were some especially buxom NPCs to deal with, but from what I could tell, the mature content seems extreme enough to titillate a 14-year-old, and maybe not even that.
In the end, my account will close when the 30-day free trial ends. I didn't find the gameplay, storyline, or playing experience worth enough to pay $15 a month for it.
posted June 11 2008 10:58 AM
