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How Metascores Are Calculated
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Age of Pirates 2: City of Abandoned Ships
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games. |
 GAMES: 
NCsoft brings a whole new experience to the fantasy role playing game genre with Lineage II: The Chaotic Chronicle. This all-new game, developed and published by NCsoft, is a prequel to their blockbuster hit, Lineage. Set 150 years before Lineage, as the kingdom of Aden becomes a unified state, Lineage II: The Chaotic Chronicle is designed to show the struggles that take place during a time where several provinces come under one rule. Old loyalties must change, new structure must be established and national sovereignty and pride must be formed. However, a group of lands coming under single rule doesn't equate to immediate peace... In this world, many players fight for control over any and every piece of the new kingdom. [NCsoft]
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more... 93
Just RPG
Lineage II will be as revolutionary as "EverQuest" was for its time, and we are looking at the benchmark that all other MMORPGs (retail and free) will have to hold a candle against.
 90
Gaming Illustrated
The graphics are absolutely stunning and the characters are well designed.
85
Jolt Online Gaming UK
With such a high investment of time needed in order to see any real gains, it’s more likely to grab the attention of the hard core of MMORPG players.
84
Gamer's Hell
Brutally Hardcore would be a good quote I think. Lineage 2 is an unforgiving game and makes no apologies, a laudable stance in the dollar-whipped, weak-willed world of MMO Live Teams.
82
GameZone
If Lineage II has one main problem, it is that it is a treadmill supported by an economic system that is inane.
77
Gamezilla!
A game that grows on you, the more you play it the more you will like it, unfortunately there are enough missteps early on to dissuade many players from sticking with the game and realizing its full potential.
75
GameSpy
There have been a few MMOs that have tried to build stable gameplay structures based on universal PvP/guild play system -- "Shadowbane" being the most high-profile example. Almost none, however, have done it as well as Lineage 2.
73
IC-Games
One part that really sparkles however is the graphics; the Lineage world is one with a stunning backdrop, large, sparkling cities will surely take your breath away.
73
Game Informer
The potential sweetness of participating in a globe-spanning conflict between thousands of players is huge. [July 2004, p.122]
72
Xequted
Low-level players have very little guidance if they can’t form relationships with other people or clans. They will be lost and confused.
70
Loaded Inc
Pretty, very pretty but PvE gameplay is one long level grind.
70
Armchair Empire
Sure it starts to build up interest when you reach level 40 but it takes forever just to get to level 20.
70
AtomicGamer
Lineage 2 is a brilliant game with a few very brutal rules that will wind up being its undoing.
67
IGN
I can't simply go through the motions, grinding out level after level in anticipation of greater fun to come. I want something fun now, not twenty levels from now.
67
PC Format
It lacks enough of a hook for existing MMORPG fans to sink into, and there’s many, many competing titles that offer a more exciting holiday in the land of orcs, elves and shrieking demons with gold up their bottoms.
66
Gamers' Temple
There’s just too much of a time commitment, too repetitive and slow advancement to recommend the game to anyone other than those who really, really want to be a part of a game that supports a clan war system.
65
1UP
Once its player-versus-player elements are fully implemented, Lineage II could become the tense, harsh, and Darwinian experience it's supposed to be. At this point, it's basically an occasionally chaotic, and aesthetically attractive level-grind.
65
Game Chronicles
Despite the fact that the whole purpose of the game is to sock it to your fellow players, Lineage II is accomplishing something that other MMOGs have been trying to do for years, it gets the players to actually work together. To me, that fact is pretty huge.
65
Gamers Europe
Pros for Lineage 2 include the good graphics, castle sieges and the sound. Cons include the interface, the blatant lack of interesting quests (especially for low level characters/delivery boys) and the soul sucking experience grind.
62
My Gamer
The Chaotic Chronicle has its positive elements, but you don’t really get to them until after level twenty. The lower levels aren’t terrible, just dull.
61
PC Gamer
My biggest complaint is the excruciating grind, where you hunt creatures for experience points and money. [July 2004, p.66]
61
Computer and Video Games
The way I see it, the only reason you might want to carry on playing is because you've already invested so much time in getting to where you are - which sounds like a lot of hard work to me. [PC Zone]
60
Frictionless Insight
Briefly, as good-looking as it is and as interesting and novel as its character skill/profession system is, Lineage II feels much like yesterday’s MMOG. To the extent you’ve enjoyed such games all along, this may not be an issue. But many of what seem like minor advancements in the genre are missing here, such as a centralized market system for selling goods.
60
Play.tm
Eventually the grind is going to get you.
60
GameSpot
Depending on how you look at it, Lineage II offers either a repetitive grind or a stiff challenge. In any case, the game isn't suited for more casual players who may only have time to play for 30 minutes to an hour.
58
Game Revolution
The monotonous gameplay, unrealistic economy and slow leveling keep it from ultimately adding much to this ever-crowding genre.
58
Strategy Informer
If you’re a casual MMO gamer and like the nice quiet solo life then look elsewhere – co-operation is vital in the later stages for increasing wealth and your characters power, it’s just too bad the chat and group system makes that too, a chore.
50
GMR Magazine
This MMORPG is so difficult, long, and slow that playing it feels more like work than a game. [Sept 2004, p.85]
50
Thunderbolt
So that's L2 "PvP" for you -- seemingly dangerous at first, but then a disappointment and apparent breeding ground for grief and exploitation. Under any other name, it would just be consensual duels. And other companies were doing those competently years ago. The catch is that this is supposed to be the main draw of this modern MMOG. Without it, there's nothing but a steady stream of intolerably slow-moving experience bars and arrogant, immoral players.
50
GameShark
My vote for funkiest feature included in a collectors edition has to go to the 3D paper figure included with Lineage II. It stands at just about 22 inches tall, includes 32 sheets of paper and 128 pieces. [DVD Review]
50
Computer Games Magazine
The worst abuse of all are the 'bot macros, that allow high-level character "bots" to farm areas for loot and experience, automatically attacking anyone who trespasses into "their" zone. [Aug 2004, p.68]
50
Cheat Code Central
A derivative, persistent online RPG that is trying to compete with older and much better games in the genre. Lineage 2 is too little, too late.
50
PC Gameworld
A more significant problem, though, is that the gameplay just isn’t much fun. You’ll spend a lot of time running (slowly) from place to place, undertaking repetitive quests, such as fetching a list of items, killing all the undead in an area, or retrieving a large number of wolf pelts.
40
Adrenaline Vault
For anyone new to the genre, this isn’t the best place to start due to the technical flaws and PvP griefing. Even veterans of the online role-playing genre will find the many errors impeding their fun.
40
G4 TV
A gorgeous boilerplate game with little innovation and many sections of tedious play.
40
GamerFeed
This one is only for those who need clan-based pvp warfare very, very badly, as they will have to go through twenty levels of the most monotonous gameplay ever experienced.
40
Computer Gaming World
There isn't much variety in character appearance, which is disappointing, since other games are offering an incredible amount of customizability. [Aug 2004, p.74]
Dan gave it a2: Andrew H. gave it a10: Manu R. gave it a10: [Anonymous] gave it a0: Adam gave it an8: [Anonymous] gave it a10: Erik gave it a7: |
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