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I've been following this game since Oct. 2008.
I remember giggling like a girl during my first battle with my training saber. I loved it. I thought, "This is it... the game I've been waiting for." As a new player, you will be swinging the training saber for several hours. As you find more powerful training sabers, you start to feel even more anticipation for that glowing lightsaber you will eventually have - a major goal, IMO.
I finally obtain my lightsaber. I nearly fall out of my seat when I hear the iconic blade activate and swing. It was fantastic - especially during your first 200-500 fights. However, after the hype died down, I felt like I had no goal to look forward to. The story was nice, but it began to get tiring. I started to feel that I had zero control. I did what I was told to do the entire time. The game felt way too linear.
The negative aura hit me hard when I got to Tattooine. The more I ran around Tattooine, the more I started realize that there is nothing to do other than what you are told.
My review:
Combat & Animations: The combat is extremely crisp. It's probably the best combat I've ever experienced in any MMO. The animations are much more fluid with a hands-on experience.
Story: The story / leveling was extremely entertaining. It was like watching a great movie to be honest. There was, however, an element of individuality that was missing. I never felt like I got to think for myself. It's pretty much the same "collect bear claws" type quests that we've experienced in every other game. The scripted voice work and anticipation of, "what's going to happen next" did make it a bit more exciting, though.
Companions: I've always hated pet classes. However, they did a great job with companions. They performed to the point where you thought an actual player was playing them. They never got caught up on anything, did what you told them to do, and were very powerful when compared to "pets" from other MMOs.
Character Creation: Probably the worst I've seen to be honest. It's much like WoW's creation system, but with options that are so over the top and silly that it REALLY makes any realistic choice more narrow.
Warzones: Certainly the worst I've seen. At the beginning of the round or upon revive, you are in a protective area. This is where players buff up, hop on the flight-path speeders, and then listen to the scripted voice work in the background while they fly you to your little battleground arena. After the first few rounds, I already felt the fatigue from the endless / redundant Battlegrounds from WoW. PvP was exactly as I imagined it: people traveling in groups, throwing snares, and spamming their best attacks in order. It was so predictable - everything about it. I logged off after a few rounds. There was no element of surprise. It felt like an extremely dumbed down version of Counter-Strike - one I would have to pay monthly for.
As I started before, I've been following this game since 2008 (when they announced). I remember Fridays being especially cool, as those were the days for the small reveals. However, most of everything being revealed was about their epic story and iconic functioning. I always thought, "Yes! We know it has fantastic story. But what else do you offer?".
After experiencing SWTOR, I now realize why story was their main point of interest: SWTOR offers very little innovation outside of story. I find it to be a MUCH more linear version of WoW.
I personally can't imagine paying monthly for it past 2 months. This is my honest take on the game.
Comments
If you think there is nothing to do but what you are told you didn't look hard enough.
Tatooine wasn't a very good example of a planet with nothing else to do but quest. There is a FFA pvp zone on that planet, which I'm pretty sure you're never "told" to go to. Datacrons are hidden on every planet and they give you a permanent stat boost (pretty good incentive to explore).
It is a linear themepark game that guides you down the path, yes, but there are other things to do as well. Furthermore, how the heck can you be surprised by the fact that this is a linear story based themepark game.
Shadow's Hand Guild
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http://www.shadowshand.com
Did I miss the part where you talked about crafting? Flashpoints? Open World PvP? FFA PvP on Tatooine? Operations? World dungeons in heroic areas?
No wonder you didn't find much to do.
The game started for me when i got the lightsaber.
^
and it sux to wait 1 more month to release.... >.>
I'm a pretty harsh critic of SWTOR and overall, i agree with your conclusion that it's about 2 months worth of fun.
I have to say though, that for me, the "Story" version of getting my lightsaber was pretty lame. I didn't really have to do anything for it and i couldn't even pick the colour. On the flipside, the act of acturally MAKING my first lightsaber using the game's crafting system was totally awesome. Not only was I able to quest for that cool (red!) crystal, but i was also able to make my level 7 lightsaber suddenly become a level 15 sword of death. mwhahahaha...
in short, for me: the story of making my first lightsaber sucked giant round things belogning to cattle. the act of making my first lightsaber was an awesome experience and something i look forward to experiencing more of on live
(if only BioWare had tied the two together, we probably would have had a better game)
"Id rather work on something with great potential than on fulfilling a promise of mediocrity."
- Raph Koster
Tried: AO,EQ,EQ2,DAoC,SWG,AA,SB,HZ,CoX,PS,GA,TR,IV,GnH,EVE, PP,DnL,WAR,MxO,SWG,FE,VG,AoC,DDO,LoTRO,Rift,TOR,Aion,Tera,TSW,GW2,DCUO,CO,STO
Favourites: AO,SWG,EVE,TR,LoTRO,TSW,EQ2, Firefall
Currently Playing: ESO
I agree with the OP on this. The game is basically KoTR 3 that you can play with friends....I loved the fact everything was voice acted and so much dialoge because i've been known to be called a lore whore. However other then a lengthy single player game....you really arent left with much.
I do admit the flashpoints were fun...but again...its just a single player game with friends...quick dungeon crawl that is very well done...but thats it.
Anyway...this is just my opinion...I continue to wait for a great game..and I really hope guild wars can deliver what I am looking for.
Perhaps nobody told him to do them?
Sounds like every MMO I have played since SWG.
Quests are totally taken from the single player sphere of gaming, which is why multi person dialog quests are cool. Or at least I hope they are:)
lol for me this game is over a yr of content on just the pve side. And thats because im gonna level every class in game to max level.
Alt rolling is a huge reason for mmo sucess. its nto raiding or end game pvp and things what makes the mmo wheel go around is getting peopele to roll alts and tor has the biggest reason to do so.
Story. Im sorry the story for me was worth it as far as i played. I cant wait to test while grouped with gf this weekend. that way i dont ahve to give up comp or anything. I had to share with her last weekend as was actually her beta invite.
Ill admit i havent seen all this game has to offer but after testing 4 class stories i can honestly say if the stories remain as interesting to me as they did first 4-10 levels ill play this game for a long time and that doestn include doign flashpoint or the other things just due to story.
i was going to say the same thing... maybe he just doesnt liek grouping.. or doing regular quests.. or space combat...well i can understand the space combat, lol...... to each his own.if the main things that attract you to a game dont work for you, then your not gonna like it no matter what.. but i have to say that this is the first game that ive played where i know there are so many different ways to level, that i dont even have to think about it.
@OP: I took the liberty of looking up other posts of yours, what I saw was solely SWTOR/themepark MMO bashing for months and months back, how you'd never end up subbing to a themepark MMO, how SWTOR was and would be fail because it wasn't a sandpark, how immensely you loved SWG... shrug, to me it seems your mind was already made up before you had any playtime at all with SWTOR, in fact I'm stunned and amazed that if it's really the case that you beta tested like that (which was recent thing, I guess?), that you even spend an hour or more in SWTOR given how intensely you dislike themepark MMORPG's.
Well, it shouldn't be a surprise to anyone who has grown to dislike themepark MMO's that much that they'd never sub to one, that if such a person ends up playtesting one he comes - surprise, surprise - to the conclusion that he still doesn't like themepark MMO's
But those are my 2 pennies.
I corrected that last part for you to something that's closer to the truth.
SWTOR has crafting which is more entertaining than in some other AAA themepark MMO's, it has flashpoints, warzones, FFA PvP, RvR-style PvP, operations, all the stuff you'll encounter in themepark MMO's, and more. If people regard that as 'little', then clearly they dislike themepark MMO's or have little insight in themepark MMO features.
The ACTUAL size of MMORPG worlds: a comparison list between MMO's
The ease with which predictions are made on these forums:
Fratman: "I'm saying Spring 2012 at the earliest [for TOR release]. Anyone still clinging to 2011 is deluding themself at this point."
This^
I have to admit that this is the first player review that got me worried.
The long term play is the real problem with games like this, nothing else. If the story gets boring after a few weeks then this wont be a game for me at least, I have the same worry about any new MMO, many are fun in the beginning buts gets boring after a months play.
Now, I am not OP so hopefully will I feel different about the game a month after release but there is the chance that it will be the same for me and many other players. KOTOR werent really meant to be played for years so the question is if TOR can hook people long term or not.
All whining about graphics, grindy quests and similar doesn't worry me one bit...
Where is the mention of Heroics? flashpoints? open pvp? companion crafting? dark and light choices? there is so much more going on in this game. How can one just pick on one feature and define the entire MMO on basis of it? wow.
Why even bother testing a themepark game if you prefer sandbox games?
Some people like the OP will never like themepark games, which is just natural, but they also can't grasp the fact that others might just love these themepark experiences. I can tell you this, i still love six flags after visiting them over ten times.
Best MMO experiences : EQ(PvE), DAoC(PvP), WoW(total package) LOTRO (worldfeel) GW2 (Artstyle and animations and worlddesign) SWTOR (Story immersion) TSW (story) ESO (character advancement)
Exactly, and you'll never find me in the sandbox playing with a bucket and shovel.
The game opens up alot after the starter Worlds, they made the starter Worlds noob friendly so players can get use to the game, after you get out of those starter World things change alot.
I think you may have overhyped yourself and in the process burned yourself out of Sw:tor before it even launched lol, it can happen.
And the post below, I think MMO.Maverick has already answered the question which his first post.
Funny .. i dont see anywhere in his post .. him telling you that you shouldn't like the game. He's simply stating why he didnt like the game (and the things he did like about the game) .. and convieniently we will get 100 replies about how he has no business testing a themepark game (despite him not testing it would result in "never judge a book by its cover" rhetoric)
but continue overacting and pretending sandbox games actually have sand, boxes and shovels. heaven forbid someone doesn't love your precious game.
LFD tools are great for cramming people into content, but quality > quantity.
I am, usually on the sandbox .. more "hardcore" side of things, but I also do just want to have fun. So lighten up already
@ OP
You beat the game. All the rest is free expansion fluff that they added since alpha...
Yeah, maybe I should have checked up OPs post history... But the long term question is still valid, will this game be one of those that are fun for years or will it be a month like WAR?
It is rather hard except unless some people here have gotten that much closed beta play time (if you have, please enlighten us).
Actually OP judged the book by its cover a long time ago so this post doesn't come up as a surprise. What is surprising is that he left majority of features out of his review giving an illusion that linear questing is the only major thing that makes or breaks SWTOR. I knew he will post negaive about it but atleast have decensy of giving a fair review by touching on all the features.
Yeah, maybe I should have checked up OPs post history... But the long term question is still valid, will this game be one of those that are fun for years or will it be a month like WAR?
It is rather hard except unless some people here have gotten that much closed beta play time (if you have, please enlighten us).
im right there with ya. I have my doubts. Especially after Rift. Which was a great game .. for a couple of months.
of course now someone will look through my posts are realize I would love to play an AAA sandbox game .. and completely ignore the fact that maybe .. just because I like the ideas of sandbox games .. doesn't mean I can't also enjoy a good themepark .. assuming it offers something beyond a linear story where I am being told what to do for 50 levels.
All of that said, it's going to be a great game .. I just have a sneaking suspicion I wont be playing it past February.
LFD tools are great for cramming people into content, but quality > quantity.
I am, usually on the sandbox .. more "hardcore" side of things, but I also do just want to have fun. So lighten up already
Look i dont think they ahve an issue he doesnt like tor. But to try to give the impression they are being unbiased when in fact they wanted tor to be galaxies 2 wanted tor to be a sandbox hates all themepark games in general means he was biased going in and after reading review u can see the bias everywhere.
Im not saying he has to like tor i lvoed it but i am saying if u give a review at least do so with out the bias.
Say i cant tell u how pvp and flashpoints or crafting worked as i didnt try them but the parts of the game i tired were to linear and not my cup of tea and since i perfer free form games tor just wasnt the game for me . That woudl of been alot more honest then there review.
So blast us if u want for taking them tot ask for acting like it was an unbiased adn true review when it had bias everywhere.
I know one thing i dont like sandbox games its why i dont like skyrim. That said i can admit skyrim is a well made game that plays pretty well i just didnt enjoy it or have any fun in it. Doesnt mean others houldnt or wont love it to death i just perfer bioware rpgs to skyrim.
thats my taste and his is obviously sanbox style of games. Fine i didnt have an issue with teh guy who reviewed this game and admited up fromt was a sandbox game and why he didnt like tor i respected his review cause he was honest and upfront with his taste in games.
Agreed, a friend of mine and I were talking about this today. I respect that Bioware for putting together a great story, I really do. They've tried to give the pvpers what they want to, but lets be honest...the pvp is basica battle grounds, a few open world objectives...basically stuff that gets boring quickly. Iit would make me happey if we could build clan bases for our clan to live out of, and the rebels could attack them, siege them, etc. Something like that would be the perfect end game. I think that many will love the game for a month or two, then be done...I also think some will like the game a looonnnnggg time. I get what you are saying though, and I agree totall.
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