MORPGs are infamous for placing the real meat of the gameplay and the most exciting rewards at the end of a long, arduous gaming journey. Lineage II, however, goes the extra step and makes the early levels so tedious that it really does feel more like clerking at Wal-Mart than honing your skills with blade and bow. I’m more than willing to put up with some low-level wankery in order to become an invincible engine of destruction when I finally get to the later stages of an RPG, but Lineage II takes it too far.

On the technical front Lineage II is above average, if not stellar – the Unreal engine is popular for a reason, and NCsoft clearly has an extremely talented team of artists bringing the world to life. All of the models and scenery are crafted with exquisite precision, and the different areas of the world each have a distinct feel. Character creation and development leaves a bit to be desired, however. Initially faced with a paltry five races and two classes to choose from, players won’t be able to customize their online persona very much at all until at least level 20. At that point things get somewhat more interesting, but never reach the level of diversity available in other MMORPGs.

All of these issues are merely icing on the cake of what makes a massively multiplayer game great, though: interactions between players. Lineage II certainly delivers in this department, offering loads of goodies including player-controlled land and castles, alliances between clans, and clan warfare. The potential sweetness of participating in a globe-spanning conflict between thousands of players is huge. The flip side to these many features, however, is that Lineage II has a much more chaotic game world than similar titles due to the mostly-unrestricted PvP aspect. With few safe zones to be found, player-killing is a major part of the game. There are some rudimentary mechanisms in place to curb griefing, but the PvP is largely player-policed.

Whether or not you enjoy PvP combat should be the determining factor in any decision to purchase Lineage II. Its only distinguishing feature is the PvP content, which in itself makes for a unique experience which some gamers will no doubt fall in love with. Be warned, though – that level 63 Orc Fighter standing outside the town gates probably isn’t there to group up for some casual hunting.  

MATT MILLER   7.25 With gorgeous presentation and an artful execution, Lineage II is hard to ignore. But the maddeningly slow progression along with the potentially irritating PvP system will very possibly make you wish that you had. Without a doubt, the title boasts a superior graphical presentation. The character models are simply stunning (Who knew orcs could be hot?), and the breathtaking orchestral soundtrack is as captivating as a fine film score. Here’s my gripe: I was kind of bored. Take out the pretty pictures and the ear candy and I’ve played this game before – lots of times before. Have you played another MMO? Then you have, too. When you have to look forward to leveling your character high enough to fight fungi then something is wrong. Seriously. Plus, the one thing that makes this game unique just aggravates me: The uncontrolled PvP system means you can get assassinated at any time. Consequently, leveling is not about advancement – it’s about revenge. Does that appeal to you? Then this is your game. I guess I’d just rather befriend online gamers than murder them.