AUTHOR: Geek Woman | PUBLISHED: Dec. 19, 2007
First Impressions:
Lineage 2 is one of the most popular MMORPGs in the world because of the huge international subscribership that it has had for years. It was preceded by Lineage which had a rabid following overseas but took longer for US gamers to get into it. I returned to Lineage 2 after reviewing the game for the first time in summer of '05. There were many improvements and exciting new territories. Lineage 2 continues to be a forbidding, frightening and fun open-ended experience. This time the dark elf female even had underpants.This is the game that reviewers agree "isn't for everyone". There aren't any stop gaps in Lineage 2 to prevent Player-versus-Player anarchy. Your character could get killed, or robbed at any time and you aren't supposed to expect any sympathy. Getting anywhere takes lots of hard work. At every turn the game is an unrelenting challenge.
Interlude introduces elements from the game's next evolution, The Chaotic Throne, as well as adding dinosaurs. Recently in this free - to - subscribing - players expansion they opened a new territory called the Primeval Isle. The new location has new creatures such as Wild Striders, Pachycephalosaurus, and Tyrannosaurus rex. For mid-level players and advanced Lineage II players there is access to more than 150 new bonuses to enhance and customize weapons. Starting players are able to use the Shadow Weapons feature which is a "try before you buy" service.
For solo players there's a new dueling system implemented in Interlude. The good thing about this is that it doesn't give out penalties whenever your character loses a battle. It can be used on one-on-one fights or party-versus-party battles.
The box art on the Lineage 2 the Chaotic Chronicle Second Anniversary Edition DVD ROM and Game Time Card featured a bright orange dragon. Later I would get to know some of the Dragons of this world a little too personally. The installation process and the setups that had to be performed were streamlined with the use of the DVD Game Client Installer. Instead of swapping out five CD's and waiting for for four hours of updates, it went by smoothly and quickly.
Graphics:
The graphics are beautifully detailed. There are many improvements which I noticed throughout the game. Inside the deep tunnels of the dark elf village the stone work looks more refined. Where there once was a plain obelisk there is a tall sculpture of a severed hand. The backgrounds are unusual and varied. In the Sea of Spores a pink rain of mushroom spores falls and creates a strange quiet in an odd atmosphere. The graphics have many moods depending on the area you are in. It is as if the different territories themselves are unique worlds. It feels uncohesive.
The interesting fantasy graphic art-style isn't limited to the dark beauty inside the cloisters of black magic alone. In the village of the light elves the holy trees sparkle from the flight of fireflies. Diaphanous Pixies, transparent Liren and tiny glittering globes float around mystically. There are more usual looking trees, flowers and grassy plains around the elven village. In many places the environments seem more average. The terrain on the roads can be endless and a bit plain.
The water effects lacked reflectivity and were choppy. Wandering offers little to look at unless you venture off the road. Occasionally something outstanding will sidle up next to you and stomp its feet. There are of course unfathomably old talking trees, but there is still a twist of something different. In the territory of dark elves there are more spiny plants and huge trees that display macabre jewelry made from rattling skulls. Their cracked maws hoot and howl when you hunt in the swamps. Transparent Dark Horrors swim up from the swamps and envelope a character with it's smoke - like body and hack it with twin scythes for hands.
The armor styles are unbelievably fanciful. They range from too cute on the dwarves, to very sexy in the case of nubile dark elf females. The designs look a bit like the costumes of harlequins or pirates. This time around the dark elf female started with an actual pair of panties that covered her, front and back. The first time I played, she was only wearing a belt like contraption. After the character leveled up, and got 'better' armor - a thong. Buying items such as 'tunics' and 'leather pants' were found to be loosely interpreted in the description. The 'tunic' was more like a mostly see - through bustier. The 'pants' were a skirt that was held together at each side by cords. If the expensive magical jewelry was able to show on the characters that would be a good addition.
The graphics in Lineage 2 are continually improving. The characters and the architecture are very carefully crafted, if the natural environment is lacking some finesse it doesn't matter much. Even though Guild Wars still looks the prettiest, Lineage 2 might be a close second. It is an example of art taken in a different direction. Or many different directions...
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