Introduction

Overview

Asheron’s Call 2 is the first of the sequel MMORPGs. Unlike Anarchy Online, Earth and Beyond or other recent releases, it has not just the experience of other titles to build on, but that of its predecessor. Having prior experience is a huge benefit, just ask any developer. But with games as simple in style as MMORPGs, does it really make a difference?


Judging by our early experiences with the game, at the very least we can say that Turbine has made some ballsy decisions. Certainly the most shocking one is the complete absence of NPC characters. A MMORPG without NPCs is like a car without a steering wheel, or so we thought. What do you do with the loot? Where do you get quests? Sure you can play, but what direction is the game taking?

Funky in-game cinematic

Check that water

Yes I have a javelin

Contrary to all our expectations, it works. Turbine does cheat a bit on the NPCs and quests. While you can’t get a quest from an NPC, there are veritable quest dispensers all over the place. Players go up to a statue or other object and inevitably it’s always broken, so they get a broken piece and must go find a fountain in a dungeon or an item off a monster and bring it back.

Why is everything broken?

The reason why all these statues and symbols are broken is because the land of Dereth went through a dark age. A great evil came after the golden age, driving everyone into shelters created by Asheron. Every once in a while, scouts would be sent out to see if the world is habitable, but they’d never return. Finally, one day scouts came back and said that while the world is wild, it is safe to return. The playable races of Humans, Lugians and Tumeroks escape their shelters and set about restoring the world. Players unlock the history of the world by finishing the Vault quests, which add a lot of depth to the story.

Like Tribes 2!

Desolate and foreboding

Beat that punk up

Dereth is littered with relics of the former civilizations like ancient, ruined cities. In these cities are forges which are fueled by resources. Forges are (obviously) useful for crafting, and become hubs for trade. On Kingdom War servers, they and the mines that feed the crafting industry also become strategic resources.