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 I
can hear the question rumbling around your mouths like amphetamine addled
moths looking for a light. It’s what everyone wants to know: how does
Asheron’s Call compare to Everquest? Which one should I buy? I’ve
killed forty thousand rats in Everquest, is it time for a change. But I’m
afraid that sort of speculation and review will have to wait for Asheron’s
official release around Christmas (what better time to addict the kiddies
and extend Bill Gate’s Evil Empire). Instead, I’m going to simply tell
you about the game and how it plays: a sort of critical advertisement. For
the perceptive, my pre-release opinion might peek through my rigorously
objective prose.
For those of you familiar with online RPG’s (Role-Playing Games), Asheron’s Call has a fairly typical set up: you begin as a simpering loser on the island of Dereth, start killing rabbits, gain experience, find shiny equipment, meet new people and kill them. It’s just like the army.
Requirements: Windows 95 or 98. Pentium 166 MHz or faster processor. 32MB RAM. Microsoft DirectX 6.1 or later. Microsoft Internet Explorer version 3.02 or later, or Netscape 4.x or later. 150 MB of free hard disk space (25 MB of additional space may be required during the installation process). A quad-speed or faster CD-ROM drive. A 1 MB SVGA video card capable of displaying 16-bit color at a screen resolution of 800 x 600 pixels. 28.8 modem. Internet access. |
But
who are you? Asheron’s Call provides a delightful character creation
system. You have the option of being one of three races, each with its own
advantages and vaguely corresponding with Germanic, Middle Eastern and
Asian cultures. Unlike other games, however, there is not any set class
structure. Instead, players are able to choose/manipulate a wide variety
of skills and physical attributes. You have the option of selecting
pre-generated skill/ability sets, professions such as Blademaster, Life
Mage, or Rogue, but not required. In essence, players may create any type
of character they wish. As experience is gained, players can increase
their skills and attributes without restriction.
The
game’s handling of magic is also innovative. Rather then having a set
series of spells, players are given a plethora of spell components. Spells
can be invented/discovered from experimentation or through the observation
of other more experienced magic users. Being a spell slinger is tough in
Asheron’s Call because every successfully discharged spell takes
components and mana. You have to truck around lots of stuff, but the
versatility and role playing potential make up for it.
Game
play itself in Asheron’s Call is Tomb Raider third person style with a
maneuverable camera with player’s controlling characters via mouse and
keyboard. The graphics aren’t as good as other games, but the player
interface more than makes up for any losses. Available at anytime during
play is a compass/radar that displays all interactive elements, other
players, NPCs, monsters, portals, within a limited distance. Also,
everything from toggling 3D acceleration to character information is
available via a series of tabs located across the bottom of the play
screen. Most common actions have predetermined hotkey, eliminating the
need to search through a series of screens. Almost the entire keyboard is
taken up this way. If I can break my vow of objectivity, I’d say that
Asheron’s interface will be its most serious advantage in a comparison
with Everquest.
The
thrill of the online games really rests in playing with other people, and
Asheron’s Call comes pre-equipped with an allegiance and fellowship
system. Players can swear allegiance to another player of equal or lesser
level. Players who have allegiance sworn to them become patrons and
receive experience bonuses from their vassals. Vassals get whatever advice
or protection their patron decides to hand down. The end result of the
allegiance system is a pyramid scheme (a fantasy Amway, so get on earlier
and start recruiting), but one which allows a player access to different
items and a chat function with all other players in your allegiance chain.
The
only problems I had with the beta version of Asheron’s Call were playing
through Microsoft’s Gaming Zone (