I started playing MMO's in 2003 with Planetside 1.
Two years later I was bored with PS1, I didn't like the art direction of WoW so I searched the internets for a sci-fi MMORPG. That web search brought me to this site. So I looked at the game list on this site and I sorted by player rating and EVE Online sorted straight to the top. So I started playing EVE Online and I've never stopped. I have subbed my first two accounts non-stop since 2005 and judging by my skill training plan, I'll be subbing for at least another year on both of them.
For me, EVE has everything. It has great PVE with Incursions, Drifters, LVL 5 missions and farming Sleepers in Wormholes. It has the deepest and most intelligent PVP I've ever encountered. It has easily, no contest, not even close to any other game, the best crafting system ever developed. It is also the best social game I've ever played as there really isn't any EVE without players generating content for each other.
Not only that, but the EVE Alliance tournament every year and the EVE Online o7 TV show and FanFest every year in Iceland.... party at the top of the world baby!
I think for me it will always be WoW. I always keep going back every now and then. My sub is still open. For me, it's the only MMO which does ambiance best. I love the real-time day/night cycle. The shadows, dusk and dawn. The epic music. There is so much atmosphere. Nothing has come close since.
I played Everquest when it was first released in March 1999 until Fall 2004. Everquest has been my favorite MMO experience so far, and I can explain why without referring to nostalgia as the source. Ultima Online had been out since September 1997 and Asheron's Call would be released in November 1999. The genre of massive online RPG games was still defining itself and there were not many games out yet for there to be a strong sense of what these games were and how to play them.
What made playing Everquest so unique during that time was the expectations and assumptions the players had while adventuring in this new genre and online world. Because the genre was so new, we had no anticipation of immediately rushing to max level and preparing for endgame raiding - sure we began hearing rumors of massive dragons and giants in the high level areas that needed several groups of people, but the point is that our expectations from the game were not entirely centered around this - leveling and adventuring was still a huge undertaking. There were no maps, no quest markers, no fast travel or mounts - and we didn't have any expectations that these should be there to help us, because the genre had yet to set that as a standard. So playing at the time meant working with the systems the game had given us to experiment with - buying teleports from other players, using a high traffic tunnel as a general trading area, self made maps with landmarks and many others ways we were adapting to the game.
So Everquest is still my favorite MMO experience because the player base had yet to have tons of expectations and assumptions they would later bring into the MMO genre about what systems should be in place and what endgame play should be like. We would feel accomplished spending the evening with our friends adventuring to some obscure lake on a quest, even though it wasn't the best gear in the game or the highest level monster. The leveling and adventuring process was in itself the game-play.
We would feel accomplished spending the evening with our friends adventuring to some obscure lake on a quest, even though it wasn't the best gear in the game or the highest level monster. The leveling and adventuring process was in itself the game-play.
I didn't start in March; I found out about while at the first Star Wars Celebration in Denver at the end of April, where I used to live. I met some guys in the line for the toy store who were talking about this new game called EverQuest, and it sounded so amazing that as soon as the convention was over I went out and found a copy and then promptly turned around and got a cable Internet connection and the the rest is history.
Vanguard had many components that I really enjoyed, and I also played EQ2 for many years until it became a watered down shadow of its former self. I stuck with EQ1 until the GoD expansion and the launch of EQ2, then switched over until Vanguard beta. I was one of the lucky early ones and spent 18 months in the Vanguard alpha watching it go through the iterations before launching as a completely different version than what we had all played in the earlier stages of the alpha/beta, but even so, the live game had its moments, despite the flawed launch.
Age of Wushu tops my list. The number of times my heart was pounding, the number of times I said "HELL YEAH", the number of times I was pissed off are unmatched. So many times I looked at Wushu gamplay systems and thought "This is fricken brilliant". Add in that during that time it was the most immersed I had ever been, plus talking to a community of people from all over the world, Wushu is tops.
WoW would have to be number two. So many awesome memories. From reaching 1800 arena rating for the first time then going on to 2400, to server first kills and world ranking as a guild and individual player.
ESO is number 3 right now. ESO made me understand why graphics are important. I have not played a more visceral mmorpg. The character customization/development in ESO is unparalleled. When you put these two things together and add in an incredible combat system, you get some awesome pvp. Heart pounding fights that create bitter rivals and great friends. All this wrapped in possibly the most lore rich world ever created. I expect ESO to rise on my list as features get continually added and time spent grows.
While not my first MMORPG, DAOC was my first favorite, WOW my 2nd, EVE my third and still current all time favorite which I've played for 6 years sub time.
Just trying to live long enough to play a new, released MMORPG, playing New Worlds atm
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Pvbs 18:2, NIV
Don't just play games, inhabit virtual worlds™
"This is the most intelligent, well qualified and articulate response to a post I have ever seen on these forums. It's a shame most people here won't have the attention span to read past the second line." - Anon
I'll throw my hat in for SWG with Jump to Light Speed. It was a really fun game in my opinion. Shortly after the CU hit, it became less fun for me and a number of people I played with at the time. I went back after the NGE to check it out, but it just didn't recapture the 'magic' for me.
After that I played, and enjoyed, EvE and WoW. Both fun in their own ways. I'm not playing either right now though. WoW: because I just burned out on it and have not had the urge to go back. EvE: I flirt with the idea of returning, but know that I would put more time into it then I should and may end up neglecting other things, so until I have more free time, I just try to keep an eye on it.
These aren't the only games I've played (or enjoyed). These are just the three I probably spent the most time in or which were the most memorable for me. Neat thread though and cool to see all the different opinions being expressed fairly rationally.
-mklinic
"Do something right, no one remembers. Do something wrong, no one forgets" -from No One Remembers by In Strict Confidence
I started SWG the day it released and played until NGE. I went back a few times but it had lost the community, which was the absolute best part about that game. The worst part was the forums where the whiners went to ultimately destroy the game.
I beta tested L2 and played that until it went F2P. Once it went F2P is just got too easy and the community took a real nose dive. Lineage 2 got me hooked on mass warfare and siege mechanics and I am still looking for a game to do this right. (Betting on The Repopulation at the moment).
Rift was 3rd on my list and the game I started playing and not caring if I did anything or got anywhere in it and it turned out to be incredible. Until it went F2P then the community went to the toilet and I left.
If you want a new idea, go read an old book.
In order to be insulted, I must first value your opinion.
Can't say I have a best... Though a solid top 100 that reorganizes itself every few seconds. At this second I would say all of them that don't use tab-target...
For longevity and content I am going to say World of Warcraft. There are many others that probably would tie for my favorite, but WoW is the one I always turn to for something to do when the others become stale. For the most fun combat I would choose Wildstar. For the best story and community I would choose Lord of the Rings Online. For the most immersive I would go with GW2. For the most unique or origianal I pick The Secret World. For the best PvP I would say Warhammer Online when my son was playing by my side. (Choppa + Shaman are/were awesome times).
Death is nothing to us, since when we are, Death has not come, and when death has come, we are not.
I dont remember when i started play mmos sadly, but i started with Ragnarok online than Lineage 2 C1 till C4, and after that play a lot other mmos(include WoW, EVE...etc.). So my Best mmos where i have happy times(and not because they better than ohters): - Ragnarok online - Lineage 2 - Everquest
Age of Wushu tops my list. The number of times my heart was pounding, the number of times I said "HELL YEAH", the number of times I was pissed off are unmatched. So many times I looked at Wushu gamplay systems and thought "This is fricken brilliant". Add in that during that time it was the most immersed I had ever been, plus talking to a community of people from all over the world, Wushu is tops.
Are you still playing this game? I remember you were beating everyone over the head with it when it was being developed and right after it came out.
Age of Wushu tops my list. The number of times my heart was pounding, the number of times I said "HELL YEAH", the number of times I was pissed off are unmatched. So many times I looked at Wushu gamplay systems and thought "This is fricken brilliant". Add in that during that time it was the most immersed I had ever been, plus talking to a community of people from all over the world, Wushu is tops.
Are you still playing this game? I remember you were beating everyone over the head with it when it was being developed and right after it came out.
Just trying to live long enough to play a new, released MMORPG, playing New Worlds atm
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Pvbs 18:2, NIV
Don't just play games, inhabit virtual worlds™
"This is the most intelligent, well qualified and articulate response to a post I have ever seen on these forums. It's a shame most people here won't have the attention span to read past the second line." - Anon
While I absolutely loved Lineage 2 and played it for years, I have to say my favorite was Vanguard. It was the closest to what I thought an mmo was going to be before I had actually jumped into mmo's.
LOTRO at the start definitely captivated me but I never liked what Turbine did with it thereafter. As much as I like the design of Moria I don't like how they implemented it (there should be no dwarves there taking it back at that time). I hated how they implemented Helm's Deep.
So yeah, Vanguard.
Like Skyrim? Need more content? Try my Skyrim mod "Godfred's Tomb."
Best MMORPG - I would still say WoW. I stopped playing before The Burning Crusade expansion but I still remember how much fun I had.. ESO is really really close though.
Best Online RPG - Legends of Kesmai with Kingdom of Drakkar close behind.
It depends. Different MMO's were great for me in different ways.
Overall though, I'd have to say WoW, that's during vanilla / tbc / wotlk. I had some amazing experiences with both PvE and PvP in the game. Was a part of great guild communities (along with a few not-so-great) who managed to compete with the very best despite not catering to the "hardcore" exclusively. Etc.
For PvP, it would definitely be Age of Wulin. Amazing competition and rivalry between different player factions on the server, and that while PvP didn't really have inherent rewards for gear or anything. Also amazing combat system where a veteran or true master of a style could be leagues better than a newbie, even if they both had the same gear. It wasn't appreciated by many, but that's usually cause they didn't get it.
For PvE, again WoW. Just the best dungeon design I've ever seen, especially during the aforementioned period (not a fan of the EZ-mode now). Close second would be SW:TOR, competent dungeons overall plus very fun leveling. Suffered from poor itemization though, especially at the start.
Best sandbox / simulation experience, would be SWG. My first MMO, great living, breathing world. But suffered from lots of grinding and a hardcore community that put walls in place for newbies.
Thread needs a poll for: If your favorite MMO was one of your first 3 MMOs you have played. I'd guess 60% or more would agree to that. Even though Neocron would be my favorite, it isn't one I'd still play. The graphics and gameplay hasn't aged well and I've completed all there is possible to do. Back in it's time, the players in the community were a lot of fun to interact with and live with in that cyberpunk virtual world. Beyond singleplayer games, nothing has come close to recapturing that. Open world, Mega cities, Lore infused with runner gameplay, Immersive atmosphere (audio&visuals in first person view), Optional PvP, Open world PvP with Clan owned and capturable Outposts with bonuses, City Street PvP, Arena Sim PvP, Lots of vehicles for a variety of uses, Lots of player apartments that could be decorated, Several classes with a skill point progression system ,...yeah there was a lot possible in that sandbox.
Comments
Two years later I was bored with PS1, I didn't like the art direction of WoW so I searched the internets for a sci-fi MMORPG. That web search brought me to this site. So I looked at the game list on this site and I sorted by player rating and EVE Online sorted straight to the top. So I started playing EVE Online and I've never stopped. I have subbed my first two accounts non-stop since 2005 and judging by my skill training plan, I'll be subbing for at least another year on both of them.
For me, EVE has everything. It has great PVE with Incursions, Drifters, LVL 5 missions and farming Sleepers in Wormholes. It has the deepest and most intelligent PVP I've ever encountered. It has easily, no contest, not even close to any other game, the best crafting system ever developed. It is also the best social game I've ever played as there really isn't any EVE without players generating content for each other.
Not only that, but the EVE Alliance tournament every year and the EVE Online o7 TV show and FanFest every year in Iceland.... party at the top of the world baby!
1. DAOC
2. Vanilla WoW
3. Darkfall Online
Especially this part:
We would feel accomplished spending the evening with our friends adventuring to some obscure lake on a quest, even though it wasn't the best gear in the game or the highest level monster. The leveling and adventuring process was in itself the game-play.
I didn't start in March; I found out about while at the first Star Wars Celebration in Denver at the end of April, where I used to live. I met some guys in the line for the toy store who were talking about this new game called EverQuest, and it sounded so amazing that as soon as the convention was over I went out and found a copy and then promptly turned around and got a cable Internet connection and the the rest is history.
Vanguard had many components that I really enjoyed, and I also played EQ2 for many years until it became a watered down shadow of its former self. I stuck with EQ1 until the GoD expansion and the launch of EQ2, then switched over until Vanguard beta. I was one of the lucky early ones and spent 18 months in the Vanguard alpha watching it go through the iterations before launching as a completely different version than what we had all played in the earlier stages of the alpha/beta, but even so, the live game had its moments, despite the flawed launch.
2. UO
3. EQ2
"If I offended you, you needed it" -Corey Taylor
WoW would have to be number two. So many awesome memories. From reaching 1800 arena rating for the first time then going on to 2400, to server first kills and world ranking as a guild and individual player.
ESO is number 3 right now. ESO made me understand why graphics are important. I have not played a more visceral mmorpg. The character customization/development in ESO is unparalleled. When you put these two things together and add in an incredible combat system, you get some awesome pvp. Heart pounding fights that create bitter rivals and great friends. All this wrapped in possibly the most lore rich world ever created. I expect ESO to rise on my list as features get continually added and time spent grows.
2. Guild Wars
3. WoW vanilla
Started with Diablo 2 as a hardcore pvp player.
Lots of others along the way that weren't for me.
"True friends stab you in the front." | Oscar Wilde
"I need to finish" - Christian Wolff: The Accountant
Just trying to live long enough to play a new, released MMORPG, playing New Worlds atm
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Pvbs 18:2, NIV
Don't just play games, inhabit virtual worlds™
"This is the most intelligent, well qualified and articulate response to a post I have ever seen on these forums. It's a shame most people here won't have the attention span to read past the second line." - Anon
After that I played, and enjoyed, EvE and WoW. Both fun in their own ways. I'm not playing either right now though. WoW: because I just burned out on it and have not had the urge to go back. EvE: I flirt with the idea of returning, but know that I would put more time into it then I should and may end up neglecting other things, so until I have more free time, I just try to keep an eye on it.
These aren't the only games I've played (or enjoyed). These are just the three I probably spent the most time in or which were the most memorable for me. Neat thread though and cool to see all the different opinions being expressed fairly rationally.
-mklinic
"Do something right, no one remembers.
Do something wrong, no one forgets"
-from No One Remembers by In Strict Confidence
2. L2
3. Rift
I started SWG the day it released and played until NGE. I went back a few times but it had lost the community, which was the absolute best part about that game. The worst part was the forums where the whiners went to ultimately destroy the game.
I beta tested L2 and played that until it went F2P. Once it went F2P is just got too easy and the community took a real nose dive. Lineage 2 got me hooked on mass warfare and siege mechanics and I am still looking for a game to do this right. (Betting on The Repopulation at the moment).
Rift was 3rd on my list and the game I started playing and not caring if I did anything or got anywhere in it and it turned out to be incredible. Until it went F2P then the community went to the toilet and I left.
If you want a new idea, go read an old book.
In order to be insulted, I must first value your opinion.
At this second I would say all of them that don't use tab-target...
For the most fun combat I would choose Wildstar.
For the best story and community I would choose Lord of the Rings Online.
For the most immersive I would go with GW2.
For the most unique or origianal I pick The Secret World.
For the best PvP I would say Warhammer Online when my son was playing by my side. (Choppa + Shaman are/were awesome times).
Death is nothing to us, since when we are, Death has not come, and when death has come, we are not.
So my Best mmos where i have happy times(and not because they better than ohters):
- Ragnarok online
- Lineage 2
- Everquest
If you left, then why?
"True friends stab you in the front." | Oscar Wilde
"I need to finish" - Christian Wolff: The Accountant
Just trying to live long enough to play a new, released MMORPG, playing New Worlds atm
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Pvbs 18:2, NIV
Don't just play games, inhabit virtual worlds™
"This is the most intelligent, well qualified and articulate response to a post I have ever seen on these forums. It's a shame most people here won't have the attention span to read past the second line." - Anon
LOTRO at the start definitely captivated me but I never liked what Turbine did with it thereafter. As much as I like the design of Moria I don't like how they implemented it (there should be no dwarves there taking it back at that time). I hated how they implemented Helm's Deep.
So yeah, Vanguard.
Godfred's Tomb Trailer: https://youtu.be/-nsXGddj_4w
Original Skyrim: https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/109547
Serph toze kindly has started a walk-through. https://youtu.be/UIelCK-lldo
I had fun once, it was terrible.
Best Online RPG - Legends of Kesmai with Kingdom of Drakkar close behind.
Best Online Shooter - Magestorm / Aliens Online.
Best ARPG - Diablo Series.
Best MMOFPS - Planetside 2
Overall though, I'd have to say WoW, that's during vanilla / tbc / wotlk. I had some amazing experiences with both PvE and PvP in the game. Was a part of great guild communities (along with a few not-so-great) who managed to compete with the very best despite not catering to the "hardcore" exclusively. Etc.
For PvP, it would definitely be Age of Wulin. Amazing competition and rivalry between different player factions on the server, and that while PvP didn't really have inherent rewards for gear or anything. Also amazing combat system where a veteran or true master of a style could be leagues better than a newbie, even if they both had the same gear. It wasn't appreciated by many, but that's usually cause they didn't get it.
For PvE, again WoW. Just the best dungeon design I've ever seen, especially during the aforementioned period (not a fan of the EZ-mode now). Close second would be SW:TOR, competent dungeons overall plus very fun leveling. Suffered from poor itemization though, especially at the start.
Best sandbox / simulation experience, would be SWG. My first MMO, great living, breathing world. But suffered from lots of grinding and a hardcore community that put walls in place for newbies.
It did. Both the european (Wulin) and NA versions (Wushu) went hardcore P2W when they brough the games more up to date with the Chinese versions.
I too would still be playing it if not for that.
Feel free to use my referral link for SW:TOR if you want to test out the game. You'll get some special unlocks!
The most immersive and magical feeling were with Fallen Earth, SWG pre-nge, Eve Online in that order.
The most time spent would be DaoC, Warhammer Online, Atlantica Online.
Best ever though, Horizons. Well that is jk but it had a ton of potential to be. Anarchy Online is most special to my heart.
Even though Neocron would be my favorite, it isn't one I'd still play. The graphics and gameplay hasn't aged well and I've completed all there is possible to do. Back in it's time, the players in the community were a lot of fun to interact with and live with in that cyberpunk virtual world. Beyond singleplayer games, nothing has come close to recapturing that. Open world, Mega cities, Lore infused with runner gameplay, Immersive atmosphere (audio&visuals in first person view), Optional PvP, Open world PvP with Clan owned and capturable Outposts with bonuses, City Street PvP, Arena Sim PvP, Lots of vehicles for a variety of uses, Lots of player apartments that could be decorated, Several classes with a skill point progression system ,...yeah there was a lot possible in that sandbox.