Lineage II is a massively multiplayer online role playing game published by NCSoft. For those not familiar with the history of the franchise, here are the highlights. The original Lineage was an ultra hot isometric title running rampant throughout Asia and specifically, Korea. Fast forward to E3 2001 and we find Richard Garriot and the brain base behind Origin systems and the Ultima series making a major announcement that they will be partnering with Korea based NCSoft to bring Lineage stateside and continue to produce games for release world wide.
Which brings us to Lineage II. A beautiful, fully 3D, 3rd generation successor to a hot global property. So how does the new breed stack up against it’s predecessor? Not too badly at all.
Due to the fact that Lineage II has been out for quite a long period of time, this article will not focus on an in-depth review of the entirety of the game, but rather as an overview of the game and specifically the features included in the DVD Collectors Edition.
The fist thing everyone notices about Lineage II: The Chaotic Chronicle is that it is a beautiful game. The graphics are by far the best I have seen in a release MMORPG, and I’ve played every one. Released in April of 2004, this title holds its graphic ground against even the latest competitors to hit the market, such as EverQuest II. The environments, effects, materials, textures, models, all of it is fantastic and state of the art. Which begs, the question, if the E&G and NCSoft can develop and produce an MMORPG with such stunning graphics, why can’t everyone else? The answer is simple. No, I mean simple is the answer. One of the many departures from that of other MMORGS is that Lineage II focuses on doing a few very simple things really well instead of allowing for a great variety of mediocrity.
Take character creation for example. There are five races to choose from in Lineage II, Human, Elf, Dwarf, Dark Elf and Orc. Elves and Dark Elves are basically the same model with different coloring and animations. Graphically speaking, there are only 8 character models, Human, Elf, Dwarf and Orc, males and females for each race of course. When you compare that to a game like EveryQuest, it’s a really trim list. Once you’ve selected you base model, it’s time to tweak your character into something truly unique right? Not really no. The options for customizing the appearance of a model are paltry at best. Depending on the race, you may have an option of 4 hair styles, 4 hair colors and 4 face styles.
Basically in Lineage II, everyone looks the same.
I personally believe that there are multiple underlying reasons for the creating of such generic characters. The graphic engine is kept trim and highly optimized, which is a tremendous boon to the killer feature of Lineage II, Sieges. A good siege is a massive event attracting hundreds of players of all varieties from every corner of the world. The real world, not the game world. I can state unequivocally that I have never felt such an adrenaline surge from any MMORPG as I have when participating in a Siege. The next closest experience are some of the massive battles between the Rebels and the Empire in Star Wars Galaxies, and they simply do not measure up.
And so, by keeping the character models lean, the engine can handle these massive battle with alacrity, allowing for an excellent experience. But this simplicity of form is also the major downfall of Lineage II. People simply do not care about there characters. There is not personally identification with this digital persona because it simply does not have a persona. A good ten percent of the player population sports an incrementing moniker such as JoBlo019 and Bob00178. Essentially, the online character lacks…character.
This attitude permeates every facet of the game as well. In most respects, you aren’t even a decent character until you’ve ground your way through 20 levels. And even then you’re not a threat or real “player” in the world until you hit level 30 or 40. And because you can pass your equipment and money to other characters in your account, this simply breed “farmers”. When I first played Lineage II I was confused as to why seemingly decent characters would willingly engage in suicide by attacking the town guards. Not only that but they didn’t really try to fight. And they would repeat the action several times. Truly an insanity. Until I died a few times myself and managed to solve this mystery. The Jumpers (perhaps it isn’t politically correct, but this is how I think of this group of suicidal maniacs) are simply working the system to produce loot. Find a particular create type that drops a certain amount of loot for a certain level of character and then start “farming” (I’ve heard these called Adena Farmers). Churn up a bunch of cash and other loot, gain a few levels then run die and go back to a village. Have the guards kill you a few times and drop your level and experience back down to just the right area so your “farming” output is kept to the maximum. This isn’t exactly a new idea in MMORPGs, but the setup of Lineage II really encourages the practice.
But the things that most exemplifies the lack of character in Lineage II characters is the absence of the one thing that makes all other MMORPGs so successful, community. Not necessarily a group of people with similar goals working in concert to achieve those goals and protecting each other from danger, there is plenty of that in Lineage II. The clans in this game are tight. Too tight. It’s tough to break into a clan. It is far easier and often more worthwhile to find a bunch of single players of common goals and create your own clan, and keep it tight. Community in Lineage II is an atomic affair. It lasts only as far as your immediate, trusted group and no further.
Again, I believe this primarily stems from the lack of “character” each in-game character has. Distrust is the name of the game. It is usually the first thing you learn about Lineage II. Trust no one. In many ways it reminds me of Ultima Online. Griefers just wait outside the starting villages for players to attempt to actually play the game, kill them off and have a laugh about it. But in Lineage II, this behavior is much more insidious, and realistic.
Since it was the first lesson I learned when I played Lineage II in April, I thought it would be a good exercise to see if the only lessons still applied. Perhaps the user base had matured somewhat. Perhaps there were now safeguards in place to prevent such behavior and somewhat protect the new players. Yeah…not happening.
Here’s the setup. I created a new Orc (Orcs are my favorites) and consequently they seem to be the least used racial type due to their lack of skill with a bow, so I was actually able to take on some of the starting quests and work up a few levels. About the time I reached level eight I began to feel the level grind starting and thought it was time to test the community. There were plenty of players in the area so I asked if anyone could spare a weapon better than the newb sword. I promptly received a reply of Viper17 to meet him outside the south gate. As soon as I initiated a trade request, a character named Prince Arthas, a dark elf and clearly tagged red, runs out of the bushes and starts making me look like a pincushion. In most other MMORPGs, players actually help players and this scenario is very common. In Lineage II however, it is a prelude to a trap. The red tagged character stays out of site and hidden by trees, rocks and whatnot so his red tag (denoting a player killer) can’t be seen. When his partner gives him the sign, he simply steps out and uses his bow at maximum distance. In most cases you’ll have three arrows in you before you even know what’s happening.
