Welp, I broke down and purchased this game tonight (curiousity). I told myself a long time ago that I wouldnt buy this game, especially after betaing it for a very short time.
After reading some of the Gamespy posts and the gross indecision by the editors to come up with a definitive position, I thought it would be worth a shot again.
All in all, I actually really like this game... main reason, just the way it "feels". It's highly rewarding being able to go from quest to quest, dungeon to dungeon with your guildies and conquer not just MOBS, but an actual PROBLEM that needs to be solved. This game causes you to actually think.
During play, I found myself not even worrying about what level I was, what neat toy I might get, etc. I found myself worrying about HOW I was going to tackle the next problem without getting me and my buds killed. This to me is a good quality in a game. As well, I found myself actually FEARING the dungeons and wanting to complete the quests. Most other games, it's just a grind.. even in the instances, just kill a whole bunch of mobs and leave. DDO has purpuse to its play.
As well, I like the combat system a lot. It combines the die roll with good reflexes and common sense. You can actually block, counter, tumble and slide out of the way. If you're not facing the mob, u obviously cant hit him. Juggling this aspect with other usable skills and spells is quite interesting.
Yes, the game is un-polished in the sense it doesnt have all the bells and whistles of
WoW. But I believe what they were trying to do is really focus on the party questing atmosphere the original DnD had. Sure, there are a few quirks and balance issues that have to be solved, but EVERY MMO goes through this, even
WoW (heck, they're still foolin with the formula). I will say this, the game is silky smooth... unlike most other games at release.
Graphically, the game is very, very nice and will reward you if you have the hardware to crank up the juice. Musically, it feels very "bardish"... like you're in a medievel tavern. It actually is a pretty soothing soundtrack, which makes it easier to spend lots of time in-game. During combat sequences it could be a bit more exciting and varied though.
In conclusion, it's a nice "little" game. I dont agree with the pricing however. It's not a $50, $15/month game. It's a bit too simplistic to command that much fee. I can justify it if the Devs are really good on future content, but if not... it's a waste. In the short term, to me, it's a very entertaining game and I definitely plan on playing.
