Reviewed by: DNM
Developer: Sony Online Entertainment
Publisher: Sony Online Entertainment/Ubisoft

As I awakened aboard the ship bound for Qeynos, I was reminded of vivid memories of my previous life here. Those were the days of harmony and peace amongst the people of Norrath, where Freeport dwellers were at perfect ease with their fellow Qeynos folk. The ship Captain had me performing a few simple tasks, some sort of proof of my worth to enter the Shattered Lands. Even in spite of my tales of Norrathian past, the man simply wouldn't budge an inch.

As I disembarked onto the Isle of Refuge, a place to further acclimatise myself with the very different world I had found myself in. I gazed through the eyes of a novice Priest, in awe at my new surroundings, with everything set under a beautiful star-lit night sky, with the only other light coming from the gentle flickering of flames from castle-like buildings. I could have been a Mage or a Fighter, but those are paths I have trodden many times before. I could tell dawn was coming, as the black of night, slow and tranquil, ebbed away. I wanted to meet my guide, impatient to see the Qeynos townsfolk once more. My guide recommended that I stay a short while on the Isle of Refuge and reluctantly I had to agree, after all, it has been a long while since I've raised a sword or cast a spell in anger. There were but a few simple tasks to perform, cumulating in a fight with a nasty Orc that I simply had to gather help from two kind accomplices for. This task performed, I could now feel safety in my knowledge, and have the desired level of ability to take on the lesser foes of Qeynos.

I arrived at the Starcrest Commune with just the few items I had on me, namely my paintings of Cazic Thule and the like, and my faithful pet dragon Fido. These items were given to me by virtue of a limited edition ticket to these worlds. My landlady was gracious and helpful, offering me advice as to where I can go for work to earn some much needed money, or how I can learn a trade skill and earn my living that way. The loner in me quickly ignored all this and as soon as I was able, I left the building in search of folk with odd jobs to do. Having done this in my previous life, it felt safe and comfortable to be doing it again. I was somewhat taken aback at the sheer volume of people with tasks for me, that at some stages I had such a long list to fulfill that it became overwhelming. Fortunately my quest journal makes it very easy to keep track of everything. I was also pleased that the people actually talk to you now, it was always so anti-social to have to dig them in the ribs for the slightest bit of information!

Fetching and carrying is all very well, but one has to get into the nitty-gritty of combat to truly feel like one's self again! I chose The Peat Bog to flex my hammer arm in, and to throw my mighty Smite spell down. It felt just like it always has done, with my foe hitting or missing me, and myself doing the same*. I found the spell casting to be a lot easier, with no interruption at all, but I was soon to find that this merely makes the opening encounters easier, things get far more familiar in the harsh lands of Antonica. This time round, however, the enemy were far easier to tell whether they would solo, or group together to fight you. Not only this, but strange markings above their heads would denote that the enemy was tougher than your estimations had reckoned! Still, at least I no longer need to sit down for my health and power to recharge, instead I make sure I eat and drink at regular intervals. In not very much time at all though, by virtue of mainly questing, I had reached my ninth level, finding myself more and more Antonica bound where the beasts are fierce and darkness overwhelming.

It is at this ninth level that I hit upon a crossroads I'd not discovered before. As a Priest I now had three further career choices to decide upon. Upon a meeting with a kind Elf in North Qeynos it was decided that I must perform a few tasks for him that are pertinent to all three career roles. I was however allowed to continue on into my tenth level, but not rewarded with the level status until I had performed these tasks and decided upon my chosen path. Even then I had to defeat a nasty foe to fully establish myself in the role! I chose the nature driven path of the Druid.

Travel around Norrath has noticeably changed too, and is lot easier than I remembered. Griffons, once the feared winged foe of Karana, are now tamed and carry you throughout the lands, and the mystical Mariner's Bell ferries you around within or outside of Qeynos via the open sea. It feels all too modern to me now, whereby I used to use the time waiting for a ship to come in, to fish or to knock a few back in the local tavern! You can even locate people or your deceased body via a magical waypoint, it's all rather bewildering for an old fashioned Norrathian like myself. I must admit that locating your life spirit, or Shard as I've heard people call it, is a lot easier and less stressful an affair. No longer do you lose levels either, but instead have to regain the experience you've lost from your previous hard and weary travels.

This is where I am now, a Druid making his way in a new EverQuest life. It is a familiar pair of fluffy slippers, comfortable to the feet and hard wearing too. The old world of Norrath has now been replaced by an intricate and beautiful one, but nothing much has changed in lifestyle terms. I sit here in my room in Starcrest Commune, full of excitement of my future, with new and splendid lands to discover, people to meet and enemies to slay. What do you reckon Fido? Think we're going to like this place? Dearie me, would you get me, talking to a dragon of all things. I am Dhineram of Kithicor, proud member of the guild Ancients of Moo.

* - aka Whack-a-Mole(TM)

Presentation	9
Absolutely stunning. You'll need a hefty CPU and graphics card to fully appreciate it though. Chat interface is woeful, however, and really needs a LOT of work!
Gameplay	8
Tried and tested formula, same old frustrations there-in. Still amounts to a whack-a-mole treadmill.
Value	9
Once you're into it you're hooked. Plenty to do quest wise, huge zones to discover and get yourself into a guild you won't be putting it down anytime soon!
Benchmark	4
The only real criticism really. The new stuff like idiot proof mob targeting, mob difficulty indicators, group combination moves and class selection at certain levels, have all been done before in other MMORPGs. Little else new here.
Score	8
The old favourite just got a new lick of paint and it good man, it good! Not enough innovation to be classed as a true classic though.

Buy 'EverQuest 2' from GAME!

Minimum Spec	Reviewed on
1GHz processor 512MB RAM 64MB DirectX 9 compatible graphics card Internet Connection	Athlon 64 3200+ 1Gb RAM 128Mb Radeon 9800Pro ADSL