(5 votes, average: 4.8 out of 5)
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DDO

Description: Former pay-to-play MMORPG that now offers free play.

Dungeons & Dragons Online: Eberron Unlimited Review by Dan Edgely

Game play: 10/10
Graphics 9/10
Community 9/10
Audio 8/10
Overall: 90%

Dungeon and Dragons Online was first released in 2006, its release was extremely anticipated and had high reviews from the first day it was released to the public. However up until September of this year, it was Pay for Play. Turbine’s decision to make it free to play with a cash shop was a great decision, and what makes it so unique is that it was doing rather well as a pay per play, and making it free to play was not a last resort decision like the recent explosion of games coming to the free side. Hopefully this helps the community grow, and keep a strong game going for may more years.

The gameplay of Dungeon and Dragons (D&D) is simply the best I have played on a game of this scale. It does have its cons but they are minuet compared to the awesome style and well thought out battle system. This is the first game I have played that does not use the”click, click, click, done.” battle scheme. Instead, you have side to side movement attacks with the left mouse button, while the right mouse button uses your defenses, either your shield or weapon (Which you can duel up on weapons, I am not a big fan but I know some of you are). This is all played from the 3rd person view, and gives you a console like feel to it, but it still plays great on a keyboard and mouse. I can’t stress enough how smoothly this game plays. The AI is very smart, although I did find some of the lower class minions to be smarter than they should be, the game should also be a bit more ‘dark’ as I felt like I was tip toeing around in broad daylight for no reason. If your sole reason for picking a game is on the gameplay, then stop reading and download it.

The graphics, are top of the line as well, they probably won’t win any awards but they will not distract you in anyway, well except one. The shadow system is very odd, and did actually distract me in some ways I’m not a ‘shadow’ expert but none of the shadows felt like shadows, its hard to explain, but once you play it, its quiet clear the shadow of the character needs to be overhauled. However movements are fluent, smooth and believable. The game immerses you very well, making sure the character doesn’t look like a puppet pivoting on an axis.

The attacks and defenses are not the best in the genre but do well, the attacks come with a variety of swoosh effects and looks, things glow and give off an ambient light were they should. The defenses just simply put the weapon or shield in the air, and are assumed to be blocking the attack. However an character with a high dexterity and other maneuvering tactics is a bigger benefit, because unlike most MMORPGs, you can actually completely dodge attacks! This was a huge asset to anything but the heavily armored warriors in the game. Even in the start, with little but a pocket knife and towels a weapon and armor, you still can rely on YOUR ability not the roll of the dice.

The community is by one of the best and will not disappoint. But you must be expected for some quest and missions to be joining with others, it’s mandatory. The game may not make it seem like it is, however you will not have much of a chance without others. This should not be a burden, and should be one of the best features that the game has to offer you. You simply cannot be everything; you need the trap finding ability, but also the brute force of stronger grunts of a group. And you realize that not having them within your group is a bad idea, 2 hours into a dungeon.

Dungeon and Dragons also incorporates a hireling system, so if you do not want any live members, you can ‘rent’ some pre-made hirelings. And I also believe you can purchase some in the cash shop system. I never tested them out but heard good things about them in-game and should provide good ‘filler’ spots where you can’t find a certain class to go on missions with.

Overall this has to be one of the strongest free MMORPGs, a solid community, solid gameplay and graphics, along with a good, well done change of the genre usual. If you are looking for solid role playing game with massive multiplayer, this is one to try.