EDIT: While my initial impression stands true, I hadn't experienced enough of the game to make an educated statement, so I retract everything I said about the game. Granted the first 20 minutes of the game did put me off, I went back and played the game again, this time more fully, and all my fears were allayed. This game is definitely introducing some very original gameplay mechanics to the MMORPG genre and I find it extremely fun to play. I preordered. Thanks for all the responses, see you at launch!

Happily, you are the only one. It is impossible to please everyone all the time, every time. They wanted you to experience something other games don't offer. By giving you a look into the future. If you don't like this game there are plenty of other games out there. While there aren't different starting zones, in my experience of playing many MMO's with different starting zones, it was rather lacking in terms of the population. It felt as if the world was empty. The isle of dawn was a good decision. Because after that the world only gets darker.

Quote: Karnifexx on 04/21/2012, 09:58 AM - view
And you know this how? Don't start off an argument with conjecture, it only discredits anything you have to say that follows.

Quote: Karnifexx on 04/21/2012, 09:58 AM - view
I'm all for taking a different approach, lord knows I've played almost every MMO to be released since EQ in 99. However, all I am saying is that if they wanted to go this route, they should have eased us in just a little bit and offered a much more intuitive interface coupled with a far more informative tutorial. There is just no excuse in this day of age to simply throw people into a game with little direction and information on how to play.

Quote: Karnifexx on 04/21/2012, 09:58 AM - view
Maybe if you create a character a year or two after the game is released starting zones might be a little underpopulated, but never when a game is fairly new, starting areas are always heavily populated during this time (especially if the game is successful). Later on after expansions are released game developers can choose to change where characters start out (think Everquest and the Gloamingdeep Mines/Plane of Knowledge).

If the Island of Dawn is dark and dreary, you are either thinking of a different map or need a better graphics card. The Island of Dawn is filled with pink leaves, light blue skies, light clouds, green grass and shrubbery, peach roads, the sun is shining, and glare from the sun reflects off of crystals and leaves of plants.

You are not the only one. I was also REALLY excited to play on beta. When I logged on I saw the abilities, I had no idea how to use them or even how to change the key bindings. F1-f2 etc my keyboard doesn't have it, as for numlock I've been having trouble running without attacking and I don't know how to fix that. It does seem like it would be to play with a controller but considering I already bought it for my pc.... I don't see that as an option. If I had not bought it for my pc, I don't think I would purchase it compared to the beta.

Kam, I agree with you I would have rather started of at level one, in the starting zone. I am having to much trouble figuring out how to change the keyboard actions to what I want them to be. I have no idea how to use my abilities and set up my computer to my liking for this game. I logged out within 10-15 minutes because of frustration.

ZGrunty, I started the same place as Kam, it was dark and dreary, raining, nothing beautiful at all.

Hey OP and any of those that might not understand. The dark and scary starting area is something new they added to the Open Beta to allow new players to have a taste of level 20 fights and BAM's. It's like a future-glimpse/prologue.

The actual game and leveling starts after this preview and you are level 1 on the bright and shiny version of the Island of Dawn.

It's weird, and confusing at first, but if you can get through the preview portion (which is only about 15-20 minutes or so) after you fight a couple of huge bosses you'll be in the game proper.

You can also skip the prologue, and go straight to the newbie zone at level 1 like normal, by logging out and back in your character. It will ask if you want to enter the prologue or the Island of Dawn.

The prologue was just recently thrown in, likely because of the feedback from CBT players that the real meat of the game was only seen when you get to level 20 and you fight BAMs. EME is now offering you an early glimpse of this, rather than making you wait 20 levels. But you do have a choice. I do think that there should be some kind of pop explanation or choice given whether you want the prologue experience though, as I can understand the confusion from a new player. But the idea behind it is good at heart.

I like the starting zone. It's one of the many changes this game has that actually make me feel like I am not playing just another fantasy clone.
The prologue was great. It gave me a feel for the game. My first thought was there are way too many keyboard buttons to remember, but I picked up on it rather quickly. Once your first character goes through the prologue you do have the option to skip it with your other characters.

The starting zone didn't seem confusing to me, it was just ineffective at its intended purpose - a tutorial. Outside of combat, it doesn't really teach you a whole lot of the game mechanics. Pretty worthless, I think - they'd have been better off just adding a BAM of some sort in at lvl 5 or so, with an NPC healer to assist you.

My main frustration with this game was the immobility, actually. For a game that lauds its inventive and fast-paced combat, I found it surprising that I couldn't move while attacking in any way. And each class has some sort of dodge move, but they're not created equally. The archer's is just a jump backwards? That's going to suck if something throws a fireball at me.

I know I didn't get deep enough into the game (only lvl 8)...maybe some of these gripes are addressed at higher levels. But MMOs usually polish lvl 1-10 to a high sheen, so I don't feel completely irrelevant with my reaction. More of my reaction here, if you're interested: http://thirdpinion.com/main/?p=201