A good implementation of the traditional Swords and Sorcery style of gaming.

Adventure Quest starts out as a very simple, and very common base where adventures fight wielding weapons, magic, or both. The important part of this game is how they build upon it. With over a dozen classes, eight different elements to balance and choose between as well as a interesting way to increase your character’s skill combine to make a game that is fun and challenging to play.

One of the best things about Adventure Quest is that player’s action affect the Universe. During the major events, the storyline doesn’t move forward until the horde of monsters have been taken down, or enough energy is gathered, or the player’s have successfully between back an attacking force. This adds a realism and a sense of urgency to the world that many games lack. There is even an island that is devoted to battles between various clans that players can attack or defend and the game moderators work with whatever outcome appears out of the war.

One of the major problems I see with this game is some of the logic in being able to choose certain paths. After taking five levels in necromancer I walked into the Paladin’s tower and wasn’t immediately destroyed. Darcomancers (Dragon Wizards) and Dragonhunters get along which seems odd unless you play the one singular mission in which the two sides come to a truce. I could beat members of a certain clan into the ground for an hour, then turn around and defend it against my clanmates WITHOUT LEAVING MY CLAN. Also, you can take levels in basically every class as long as you meet the requirements. At one point I had over twenty different class levels spread out over about seven different classes, and I could still work at most of them and improve my level.

One of the other things that I don’t like about the game is the many restrictions without becoming what they call a Guardian (someone who pays a one-time fee of $20). Without being a Gaurdian, many items, spells, pets, places, and class levels are unavailable. For someone with a very low budget, this can be a bit annoying, but the game is still worth playing if you can’t become a Guardian.

Overall Rating: (3 1/2 stars)

Link