The best WoW clone I’ve played was RIFT, hands down. That game was surprisingly well-polished. But unfortunately the last time I had returned to play it, they followed suit with other popular MMOs and nerfed the overworld content into oblivion, effectively ruining the experience.
I did appreciate their angle on the class system, though. By combining Pyromancer and Elementalist, I was able effectively mimic a Fire Wizard from DAoC, but with a bad-ass greater earth elemental as a tank pet. One of the most satisfying characters I’ve ever played in an MMO.
Still, Classic/Vanilla WoW was a better experience overall.
My first real MMORPG was Dark Age of Camelot, and it was fantastic until they decided to protect cheaters who paid. After that was Guild Wars, which was almost as great. I bounced around between a handful of smaller ones until I came across RIFT, and instantly loved it. So much borrowed from the previous games, but the idea of rifts was really damned cool.
About once a year I log in, and realize that it’s turned into an unplayable disaster. Then I log out, feeling sad.
Same with DAoC. I have so many vivid memories from playing that in my adolescence. It was extemely influential, and the way it made me feel was unmatched. The various town jingles still pop into my head regularly. Especially Cotswold and some of the little Hibernian villages.
I miss sitting out in Salisbury plains during the night cycle with a group of random people, casually chatting and listening to the chattering of insects. Game had great ambience.
The best WoW clone I’ve played was RIFT, hands down. That game was surprisingly well-polished. But unfortunately the last time I had returned to play it, they followed suit with other popular MMOs and nerfed the overworld content into oblivion, effectively ruining the experience.
I did appreciate their angle on the class system, though. By combining Pyromancer and Elementalist, I was able effectively mimic a Fire Wizard from DAoC, but with a bad-ass greater earth elemental as a tank pet. One of the most satisfying characters I’ve ever played in an MMO.
Still, Classic/Vanilla WoW was a better experience overall.
My first real MMORPG was Dark Age of Camelot, and it was fantastic until they decided to protect cheaters who paid. After that was Guild Wars, which was almost as great. I bounced around between a handful of smaller ones until I came across RIFT, and instantly loved it. So much borrowed from the previous games, but the idea of rifts was really damned cool.
About once a year I log in, and realize that it’s turned into an unplayable disaster. Then I log out, feeling sad.
Same with DAoC. I have so many vivid memories from playing that in my adolescence. It was extemely influential, and the way it made me feel was unmatched. The various town jingles still pop into my head regularly. Especially Cotswold and some of the little Hibernian villages.
I miss sitting out in Salisbury plains during the night cycle with a group of random people, casually chatting and listening to the chattering of insects. Game had great ambience.