Everquest Evolution – PC – Review

The world of massively multiplayer online role-playing games
blossomed in 2003, evidenced by the plethora of titles released and pending
release.

But maybe, before launching into the fantastic realms of
tomorrow’s games with upgraded and state-of-the-art graphics,
full of adventure and danger, it is wise to look backwards and revisit an old
friend.

Sony Online Entertainment is gearing up assaults on both the PC
market (with EverQuest 2) and console market (EverQuest Online Adventures
Frontiers), but before either of them hit the market, the company is giving
online enthusiasts the chance to revisit the original EverQuest and expansion
packs.

EverQuest Evolution is a remarkable package of the games, taking
the original title and five of the expansion packs and bundling them into one
package. Players won’t have to worry about installation sequences, or not have
access to the worlds that expanded upon the original title.

This package includes the original EverQuest title, plus The
Ruins of Kunark, The Scars of Velious, Shadows of Luclin, The Planes of Power
and the Legacy of Ykesha.

For looks and reviews of each title, please see:

EverQuest:


http://gzdev.wpengine.com/gzreviews/r12068.htm
Shadows of Luclin:


http://gzdev.wpengine.com/gzreviews/r18534.htm
The Scars of Velious:


http://pc.gamezone.com/gamesell/reviews/r15772.htm
The Ruins of Kunark:


http://pc.gamezone.com/gamesell/reviews/r13609.htm
The Planes of Power:


http://gzdev.wpengine.com/gzreviews/r20062.htm
Legacy of Ykesha:


http://pc.gamezone.com/gamesell/p21450.htm

For the uninitiated, EverQuest takes place in the land of
Norrath, which is populated by 15 races, from the typical human and elf, to the
more exotic, such as the catlike Vah Shir, or the lizardly Iksar. Players create
a character, pick one of the 15 skills to specialize in, and then enter the
realm. There are a variety of quests which will help you level your character.
The idea is to complete the quests, interact with other players, and advance up
the ladder to power. You will have the opportunity to earn the coin of the realm
and buy better equipment to add to your cause.

This package is a rehash of these titles, that much is certain.

The player interface is the same as in the latter incarnations
of the game via expansions, the audio is the same and nothing has been done to
the graphical content.

What this is, and what the focus of this review is, a packaged
deal. In that regard, this product scores heavily. For those playing the
original, who have hesitated buying all the various expansions, this is an ideal
package. The expansions represent a 300 percent increase in explorable
territory. There is also the financial consideration. Rather than purchasing the
various expansions, this gives players an all-in-one option that is an excellent
value.

EverQuest is one of the older MMORPGs in existence. The game has
been a steady experience, expanded with new content in the form of its various
expansions. While Evolution does not advance the gaming experience, it does
provide value and depth to the newcomer to the genre, or for the veteran who
seeks to affordably expand upon the worlds available.

This game is rated Teen for blood and gore, violence and
suggestive themes.

Gameplay: 8.2
This product keeps the more streamlined interface from Planes of Power, but does
little to advance the game. This is a compilation, not a different game.

Graphics: 8
The environments are still as colorful and lush it has been and the animation is
well done.

Sound: 8.4
EverQuest has a big, bold theme, and the environmental effects are very well
done.

Difficulty: Medium
Be prepared to invest time in this game. It takes a while to level your
character, and you may even get into that treadmilling cycle of doing the same
thing (hunting) over and over again to gain the experience necessary to skill up
your character.

Concept: 8.7
All these expansions in one slick package is a terrific value.

Multiplayer: 8.5
The game does lean toward cooperative play, especially with the Planes of Power
expansion, and what more would one expect from a MMORPG.

Overall: 8.3
This game is a great package of a rock-steady MMO and its various expansions.
Combining them all into one disk and installation is a great idea.