Archeage is monstrous in possibilities
ArcheAge is one of the best free-to-play games to be released this year, with a near endless amount of content awaiting eager adventurers. While ArcheAge could strongly benefit from further guidance on more advanced gameplay mechanics, the overall experience -- from completing numerous quests and crafting tasks to sailing a boat or flying a glider -- are simply too entertaining to miss with the game being free-to-play. ArcheAge has managed to scratch an itch that’s been ignored for over three years. It's a pirate-fantasy MMO with a sandbox playground between two warring factions; three if you count the pirates. It was the likes of the sorely missed Star Wars Galaxies and the original Everquest (back when it launched) that have ever made me feel truly alive inside an MMO, and ArcheAge has invoked a lot of nostalgia. Everything you do inside ArcheAge requires some level of interaction with another player, whether that’s passive or active.
Archeage’s world is fantasy-themed with an East-meets-West flavor, along with the smallest dash of steampunk. That’s a vague description, but really, that’s all there is to it. There’s a storyline going on in this world, but I didn’t really care about it when playing the game because it quickly became clear that the developers didn’t care all that much either. All you need to know is that there are two factions with (currently) two starting races per among them, they’re perpetually at war, and the outlaw take-no-prisoners pirate faction (which can and likely will freely attack anyone from the other two factions, and probably other pirates as well) serves as the all-important spoiler to keep any one side from getting too comfortable. The short of it is, if you want a tremendously deep world laden with fascinating lore and a compelling story, Archeage is not for you. This is a game where the players are meant to make their own stories, and most of them will involve tales of how they slammed a dagger in the eye-socket of the unsuspecting adventurer they came across five minutes ago.
One of the things I enjoy in an MMO is the ability to create my own experience and enjoy a massive game world that is always at my disposal. Unfortunately, I found most MMOs released recently to be quite restrictive, with few of them actually bringing ease of use and a fleshed-out gameplay in front. ArcheAge is one of those games, and what makes it great for me is the fact that it takes an interesting game world, puts some Everquest aroma into it and mixes it with ideas from other popular MMOs, then calls it a day.
With my experience with ArcheAge, the largest conflict I run into is that of ambition vs. execution. On paper, ArcheAge is monstrous in possibilities. The game runs into some free-to-play model issues. Those who pay (Patrons) who have a ‘fast-pass’ into servers still suffered at first. Those without were plagued by hours of wait queues. In a system where PvP means loss or gains, those who pay have an advantage which non-payers have suffered from. The more appealing features such as housing are extremely limited and without instances, are only experienced by a percent of the audience. On top of that – only Patrons can have plots. ArcheAge suffers from a Roman Empire type effect, it’s a good game but too big to contain its borders. If the various features were better refined, perhaps the execution would be better? There is still more life to breathe into this game, more levels to grind out, and time for my complaints to be recognized; we shall see.
Overall, this is a $150 well spent for me. After buying the Archeum Founder’s Pack I have gotten more out of this game than I would have ever thought, and certainly have received more than $150 worth of enjoyment out of it. If you read this entire review I applaud you and your skills of reading and patience. There is so much more to this game that I have not covered, and those items that I have discussed were barely touched on to their fullest. ArcheAge is a game with a lot of potential, and I am happy to be here to see it blossom. It’s been quite awhile since I have enjoyed myself this much in an MMO. It makes me reminisce about sandbox games of old. ArcheAge is a game that thrives on its player interactions. It will live or die by its community, but the PVP and extensive freedom of choice might just keep you playing for a long time to come. There are some minor setbacks. The PVE content is mundane, User interface feels clunky and the setting feels a bit cookie cutter. Even with its pitfalls ArcheAge is a game that exhibits massive potential. Those who have been looking for a rewarding sandbox might find that their search has come to an end. It might be too early to tell, but this could very well be the title that harkens in the age of the sandbox.
