Review: EQ2 - The Shadow Odyssey

There has always been controversy among the playerbase on whether or not the graphics in Everquest II are great or horribly ugly. I have always been on the side of great, but I do agree that the graphic setting must be completely turned up, or instead of beauty you will get the beast. The graphics in The Shadow Odyssey look similar to the rest of the game, although the look and feel of the expansion is nothing short of drab. The greys and the browns are utterly boring, and I feel myself wanting to take a nap while hanging out in the Moors of Ykesha. This has been the problem with most of the zones in EverQuest II, although there were a couple expansions that were a bit more exciting to look at, such as Echoes of Faydwer.

The Shadow Odyssey has brought back the MM in MMO. Yes, finally grouping is a must once more. When the game first released it had a strong, tight-knit community because people had to play and work together to advance in the game. People were polite to each other, they helped one another, and they even dared to venture outside of guild groups. Solo play has been a recent and scary trend among MMOs. More and more they cater to the solo crowd, yet what’s the point of playing an MMO to play solo? I may as well go play an RPG. I applaud the EQ2 team for kicking the trend to the curb and remembering what it means to be an MMORPG.

The new dungeons not only encourage coordinated teamwork, making them especially fun for raiders who are used to working together, they also scaled to group levels making the dungeons and option for all who wish to enjoy them. Let’s not forget the new timeline. By far the timeline quests are the most enjoyable of any quest types that the developers put into the game. As for those complaining about working together as a team, I think I hear the Xbox calling you. The console is your friend.

While game play is indeed looking up, sadly the much anticipated addition of the unicorn, and the opening of the castle doors is a huge let down. The unicorn for some odd reason has crafting stats. The most magical creature to ever grace the earth, or in this case, Norrath, has crafting stats. Yes, I feel your disbelief, and I feel your pain. What were the developers thinking? It would have been better to have never added the unicorn at all.

As for the castle, we didn't wait 5 years to see the queens bedroom. To be rewarded for our valor in the world of Norrath by being permitted free realm of the castle is ludacris. To wait for a moment for so long to only have it be so disappointing is disheartening at best. We can only hope that with time both the unicorn and the castle will be avenged.