Free Anarchy!

TheYak · Mon 20/12/2004 01:05:01

Well, knowing how often people 'round here jump at free stuff, I thought I'd mention (for those who haven't heard) that Anarchy Online is doing a play free promotion. Specifically, the download of the full game and online play for the next year is free. This doesn't include any of the add-ons but they're available for download and 7-day free trial. I haven't played the game but have heard mostly good things about it. I don't want to get in a habit of paying for online gaming but I think I'll check this one out.

Anyone interested can surf to here. Except for Boyd, he can go here.

Lazy Z · Tue 21/12/2004 14:07:38

Yeah I heard about this a few days ago. So I downloaded the game, played it for a while and I can't say I was pleased with it... I may give it another chance, since MMORPGs need more than a couple of hours of playing to really lure you in, but still, I don't see myself choosing this over Lineage II or Phantasy Star Online as far as (M)MORPGs go.

TheYak · Tue 21/12/2004 22:55:59

I gave it a shot last night and found it to be very similar to Everquest (with nano in place of mana, of course). However, I think it's a tad more unfriendly to newbies and would be a much more enjoyable experience with friends playing (what isn't?). I don't think I'd pay for it after this next year is over but after a year of playing it now and again, who knows?

AgentLoaf · Tue 21/12/2004 23:38:28

Have they removed the everyone-is-stuck-in-a-wall-and-can't-move "feature"?

Squinky · Wed 22/12/2004 03:42:13

I've checked this out in the past when I had dial up and quit downloading it because of the insane patches.....now I have to wait on a slow ass bottorrent....bummer...

Mr Jake · Wed 22/12/2004 12:02:18

at first try it seemed very very boring -_- also there is alot of whining over the chat channels :/

Nacho · Wed 22/12/2004 16:24:18

Actually, I am very interested in this kind of games, specially since I saw "Star Wars galaxies" in the lucasarts website. There are some questions I'd like to make, so, for answering myself I am dowloading the game, for knowing more or less what is it about.

If somebody feels to answer me anyway... Here they go:

Is the game totally useless if you don't want to play in internet? There is no "single mode"? If so, how funny are that single mode games?
What are that games about? Can you simple lurk there, chatting, getting a life? Is it necessary to join the rebellion or participating in the epic war is it going on??? I am terrible at arcades, and, to be honest, I don't want to participate in a game where a group of wankers who better knows the hotkeys and the hints that the name of her mother is going to kick my ass.

Thanks in advance. Star wars Galaxies is not cheap. You could help me a lot!

LazyZunplugged · Wed 22/12/2004 19:45:17

Well, generally these games don't have a single player mode (the only exception that comes to mind is Phantasy Star), so if you have to play on the internet all the time.

Now as for what the games are about, in most you're relatively free to do whatever you want. Since you mentioned Star Wars Galaxies, I'll use that as an example because I've played it for a short while. In SWG, you may either choose to join the Rebels, the Empire or just do your own thing. You may become a smuggler, or a Jedi-hunting bounty hunter (and if you do that, prepare for receiving a lot of whinning

), or even a dancer or a doctor. So it's ok if you're not that good at arcade games, and you're bound to find a few nice people to play with so you can have fun regardless of your skills. My only problem with the game was the lame enemies you had to fight while you're "leveling up" (there are no levels in the traditional sense of the word) your character, but things do get progressively better.

That's all that comes to mind, hope I've helped you a bit.

Nacho · Wed 22/12/2004 20:54:01

More than a bit! Thanks a lot!

Mr Jake · Wed 22/12/2004 22:33:26

I was a long term player on SWG, and I didn't really enjoy it that much, its fun for a while, then its all grind grind grind, also something that I dont like in MMORPGs and why I think the best MMO games I have ever played are City Of Heroes (MMORPG but with no PvP - heavily team based) and PlanetSide (MMOFPS - possibly the funnest MMO ever) is the lack of 'Skill' required for PvP, its just how long you have been grinding for exp.

Squinky · Thu 23/12/2004 00:09:19

Yeah, I got addicted to City of heroes for a few months, that game seemed to rock pretty well....But it lacked anything beyond fighting ( no trade skills etc.) Does Anarchy have trade skills and how is it for missions? Do you actaully have plenty of little quests to do or is it just a grind?

TheYak · Thu 23/12/2004 00:19:40

Anarchy's got plentiful missions but (so far) all optional. There are trade skills but I haven't fully figured out how everything works. There's the equivalent of magic using sci-fi terms instead and the character classes are pretty close to their fantasy-based counterparts. Most missions seem to prefer teams, so it's either recruit, join up, or build up stuff until you can go solo. The only skill I've mucked with is weapon modification. Weapons are varied: Martial Artist, Melee, Blunt weapon, magic-only, ranged weapons.

The world seems pretty open and there's quite a bit to do on the small, beginner's section. However, it looks to be a lot less limited if you've got some of the expansions. It's got its tedium and character-building but I've advanced quite a bit in 7 hours or so of gameplay. I haven't seen much of Everquest but I'd say it's rather similar except for the setting and the main plotline.

Mr Jake · Thu 23/12/2004 08:56:21

I kinda liked the lack of trading in CoH, it mean't you didn't have to worry about dieing, you didn't lose any money or any rare items, plus it mean't there weren't any annoying people trying to scam each other out of items.

If anyone likes space flight sims and MMOs they should check out www.mightygames.com this is another fav. of mine I forgot to mention - its probably one of the only MMOs where you can really do basicly anything - even be a 'pirate' and demand money off actual players (or steal their cargo)

Squinky · Thu 30/12/2004 23:21:29

Yak, you still on this thing? I can't ever seem to progress past lvl 2o ish with my chars before making an alt....

TheYak · Thu 30/12/2004 23:23:53

I've only gotten up to level 8. I actually haven't played in a week. I blame work. Well that, and Half-Life 2. Is the lack of progression due to a lack of stuff to do after 20 or boredom with the characters by that point?

Squinky · Thu 30/12/2004 23:31:05

I think its just how I play online games, I play Characters till their doing good and try another archtype...I did kinda reach a point of dullness when they got higher but I think there are some better places to go I haven't heard of....

TheYak · Thu 30/12/2004 23:38:21

It does get a little frustrating when you hear that certain quests or game-paths are determined by what expansion packs you own (like not being able to be 100% neutral without expansions). I went clan-style and am still exploring West Athens but I've yet to figure out what the advantages of a "Fixer" are. Apparently you're weaker and slower than an adventurer but you get the advantage of having a smaller nano pool and no skills whatsoever.

Squinky · Fri 31/12/2004 00:35:00

Whelp I played a fixer for a bit and an adventurer till past twenty....The fixers strengths are his burst attack ability, it recharges faster and is easier to up per lvl than others, also they are supposed to be good at traveling on that grid thing which would be nice later on but I never tried it out....

The adventurer is just fun and rocks though, so I'd probably go with adventurer over fixer....They can heal and all that good stuff and the dual wielding is sweet also....

Free Anarchy!

AgentLoaf

LazyZunplugged