Vanguard: Saga of Heroes

The world that it all takes place in is amazing on terms of size and beauty. However, this is a hardcore MMO designed first and foremost for devoted players with lots of time to invest - just to get to level 10 will take you a few days, whereas you can hit that level in "WoW" in a long afternoon.

It has certainly impressed me in many ways: Beautiful design, convincing environments, and depth of play.

This game will be worth revisiting in a year to see what progress has been made and how it has evolved.

Your everyday MMORPG with its own unique world and atmosphere. It only has one neat and unique feature called Diplomacy and what it lacks in terms of sound effects, it makes up for in quality writing.

The slower progression, group focus and huge world all set the game apart from the current MMO behemoth, World of Warcraft. Whether those differences are positive or negative is largely a matter of taste.

A game with a lot of potential, but isn't quite where it can be. With a team constantly working on improving the experience, though, things look bright for its future.

Experienced role players will enjoy the engaging combat and fascinating diplomatic gameplay, in spite of Vanguard's litany of bugs and singular focus on group adventuring.

If a slower-paced, more complex title in the vein of EverQuest is what you’re looking for, Vanguard will serve you well. A lack of polish in several areas and strong competition keep this game from being particularly special, though.

Vanguard is flawed but has exceptional potential to offer a satisfying long-term experience.

Naturally, nothing can currently compete with the current industry leaders, but with a little time and a lot of bug spray, Vanguard will surely rise far enough through the ranks to challenge the titans for their crowns.

With its faults, Vanguard: Saga of Heroes should be passed by on the shelf without even a second glance. With the immersive multiplayer gaming experience and its in-depth complexity, Vanguard: Saga of Heroes offers a challenge that any old-school player, or a newcomer to the genre, can't pass up.

While we can’t look into the future to predict how Vanguard will turn out over the coming months, the early signs are promising that this could be more than just the real next generation of "Everquest."

Class balance is currently way off but is slowly being put back in line - this is mostly evident on the game's two Player vs. Player servers (one of them is a race-based team server, while the other is a free-for-all between any players).

While free of crash bugs, problems in interface, gameplay, and content abound. But if you're an old-school player, or a WoW player who's ready to delve deeper into a more complex MMORPG, then Vanguard was made for you.

People willing to put in the effort will certainly be rewarded, since each level in every mode feels like a major accomplishment. Vanguard, with vast opportunities and size, requires time to grow on players. Patient gamers who enjoy tons of options will find many riches and glory here.

Despite some bugs, Vanguard: Saga of Heroes still remains instantly accessible for those with some patience, and you will need a great deal of patience, because although WoW showed everyone how fun MMORPGs can be once you design them to be accessible to all, Vanguard is a game geared towards the hardcore players who crave more of a challenge.

Though Vanguard is a solid enough title, it’s up to Sony’s marketing department to pull in subscribers and strike the right balance. [Apr 2007, p.122]

Sigil says "The only limits are your own." I'd suggest that most players will reach the outer limits of their patience very quickly. [Apr 2007, p.68]

Sadly, I can't score the game based on what it might become. Right now, Vanguard requires that you turn a blind eye to too many nagging issues to fully enjoy it. [May 2007, p.68]

Ambitious, but too flaky and cold. [Apr 2007, p.70]

There is clearly an audience for this sort game, and the base design certainly has its share of interesting (and fun) concepts, but it was clearly not ready for public consumption.

It’s a nice alternative to a play style that some feel is getting a bit stale already, and if you were a fan of the old school, it’s worth checking out for the free month at least.

Overall, Vanguard is promising. With some tweaking over its lifespan, it may be able to provide some fresh MMORPG action, with some elements new to the genre. However, currently many issues hold it back from being great.

Overall Vanguard isn't a bad game, but it doesn't really bring anything new to the table of the MMO industry.

There's potential for a very good game here, and we've had our share of both highs and lows with the gameplay, but the sheer number of gameplay bugs, graphical issues, and poor technical performance make it difficult to recommend in its current state.

For now, Vanguard is a game which has plenty to offer a brave adventurer with a stunning PC. Aside from any design or content problems we've identified with the game, potential buyers need to be aware that they're entering a world which, as a prominent WOW character would have it, is not prepared.

The run-of-the-mill level grinding in Vanguard is no better or worse than any other MMO. It’s a little disappointing that we still have to deal with crap like this. But there are some neat ideas in Vanguard.

Vanguard: Saga of Heroes might be a far better game in a few months time, but coming from the company that questionably destroyed one of its most popular MMOs ("Star Wars Galaxies"), nothing is guaranteed.

There is no reason to buy this game for at least 6 months, unless you are a glutton for punishment. Hopefully by six months the majority of the bugs will be taken care of and Vanguard will resemble a game instead of a proof-of-concept.

A hollow, mind-numbingly dull MMORPG grind that stretches the boundaries of good taste and sensible design decisions.