Keen’s Picks: Top 10 MMOs

This is circulating as a very trendy thing to do lately so here goes.  Most people will have all these games on their lists so it does no good to include the game without my reasons.  In order from greatest to still pretty good, these are the MMORPGs that I rate in my top 10.

Dark Age of Camelot.  I rate this as my favorite all time MMORPG.  I played DAOC for about 2 years and can’t think of a time that I had more fun in an online world.  The PvE leveling in the game was somewhat a grind and it did get rather stale after a while but what makes DAOC shine above all others is the RvR.  Inventing ‘realm vs realm’ combat, Mythic allowed for a sense of purpose in PvP like I had not really experienced before.  RvR was the first time I enjoyed PvP and was actually excited to participate in in a grand scale.  Their keep system was way before its time.  Siege weapons and breaking down/upgrading doors coupled with archers shooting off battlements have never been replicated quite the same.  Guilds claiming keeps and being responsible for their defense.  Alliances forming to strengthen the bonds of community within each realm.  It will be tough to ever top this game’s impact on my gaming career.

Everquest.  My first 3d MMO.  Had it not been for DAOC’s RvR this would have been my first pick.  It was epic.  It was new.  Never again have I felt the sense of fear that crossing the karanas gave me when my level 6 Barbarian encountered a gryphon.  Entering Freeport for the first time it felt like I was so miniscule compared to the rest of the world.  Entering The Desert of Ro and exploring the dangers with my friends for the first time is beyond my ability to explain in words.  It was great.  I played EQ for many years.  I leveled several characters and was always exploring and eager to see more.  Looking back the game had severe flaws but none of those were apparent to me at the time.  MMO gaming was different back then.  People didn’t look at it for what it lacked but for what it was introducing.

Star Wars Galaxies. *Before Jedi were introduced.  Probably would have been #2 if not for the crap they pulled with the Jedi.  It’s STAR WARS!  Storm Troopers patrolling Mos Eisely and the Cantina Band playing.  The ability to play solely as a Musician or Dancer and entertain in a Cantina rocked.  Having your own house in the world right outside a spaceport that you could double as your shop and have people people actually visit was so cool.  I really enjoyed the crafting system in SWG more than any other game.  I had factories and resource gathering machines scattered throughout the galaxy.  The combat system was crap but the scope of gameplay was enormous.  I remember hunting Krayt dragons with a group and watching our exp just explode.  Graev was a Doctor for a good period of time and he would have patients come in and remember him.  Graev was also a droid Engineer and I remember the first time he made a droid and how proud he was.  That’s what it’s all about.

Read more for the rest of my Top 10 MMOs.

World of Warcraft.  Yeah, I know I’m a tough critic when it comes to WoW.  I’m very vocal about my dislike for the end-game.  It took a nearly perfect experience and destroyed it by forcing the raiding upon everyone.  For years the only option to compete in PvP or PvE was to raid.  You simply could not get anywhere without gear gear gear and it was an infinite loop of crap.  Raid for gear to raid for more gear.  Complete rubbish.  But, with those flaws came a very polished leveling game.  Every level held quests and dungeons that were fun to explore and conquer.  I enjoyed the game for a long time.

Lord of the Rings Online.  It’s the Lord of the Rings… I really shouldn’t have to say more but I do.  This game had enormous potential.  Being the game based on the ip that possibly started most hype for a fantasy mmo genre was a huge door for awesomeness.  The story and world are beautiful.  The downfall for LOTRO was that they tried too hard to be like WoW.  No, WoW didn’t invent half the things WoW gets credit for but LOTRO did feel like it was constantly trying to be as similar as possible.  The leveling process felt exactly the same; stack quests and complete them all for uber exp.  The raiding was the same even down to the set armor drops.  It was still fun though and very deserving of a spot on my top 10.

Everquest II.  It never had the fair chance it deserved.  Very different from the original but still very near and dear to what made the original EQ so great.  The world in EQ2 is the support system for what is now a massive collection of content.  I can’t really think of a game that has as much content as EQ2.  They throw so much of it at you that you can almost level up completely differently twice.  When you combine the ‘fluff’ with the character choices this game becomes a shining beacon of what most MMOs should offer their players.

The Realm.  My first ever graphical MMO and quite possibly THE first.  The Realm reached beta before Meridian 59 so some contend that it was first.  This is where it all began for me.  The game was so simple yet so complex at the same time.  Offering PvP, PvE, loot drops, dungeons both public and private, towns, customization, enchanting gear, and a close community.. ahh the memories.

City of Heroes.  I think this is Graev’s favorite MMO.  Neither of us played it long but the character customization and complete lack of any real loot was somehow a load off our minds.  I enjoyed flying around a city or super jumping over skyscrapers.  Graev still pesters me to go play it again.  The character customization was amazing but it had to be to justify the lack of equipment.

Pirates of the Burning Sea.  It’s so close to release and I’ve been beta testing it for some time.  The NDA is down and the only thing we’re waiting for it the marketing gimicks to finish so we can start playing the game for real.  I’ve seen enough of the game and I know enough that I can include this on my list.  A big reason for my including this on the list was because of how different FLS’ approach has been.  Levels play no part in the combat mechanics of this game.  It’s simply your skill at the game that matters.  PotBS incorporates RvR and a player run economy and then twists them into eachother.  Character customization and gear are very similar to CoH.  It’s just a lot of fun.

Planetside.  It’s a MMOFPS and the first of its kind that I played.  I didn’t play it long at all but it stands for all the cool things I’ve wanted in a MMO.  I want the real time combat, vehicles, drop ships, and the adrenaline.  I think Huxley is going to bring a lot of similar feelings back.

  • […] December 21, 2007 by mrrx It started at something called the F13 forums (via the Raphster); then Tipa went ahead and did her list of “best MMO’s”.    Rao followed next.    Keen took a break from WOW to post one too.   I sense a theme developing. […]

  • You made it a pretty nostalgic list, versus what’s the best stuff out there at the moment.

    I guess that makes sense for a guy who plays everything all at once !

  • Never played Planetside, but I’m looking forward to trying Huxley. We’ll see if The Agency, Darkfall or Warhammer can squeeze their way into my top 10.

    I really wish I had known about DAoC when in its first couple years. It’s too late to go back and try, but I guess Warhammer will be a suitable substitute.

  • i miss The Realm. still glad it is still going though, I hope it never dies. just makes me feel better that it still exsists. i remember the game before trading windows were even invented. you had to go into a trading hut and put the item on the ground to be picked up LOL

    let’s go start up an account and play it! 🙂

  • I remember that people used to build reputations so well known that they became “middle men” and were used in trades. These middle men would be used instead of trade windows. Simpler times for sure.

    I don’t think I could ever go back though. I would hate if it didn’t live up to the memories.

  • I just started playing PotBS. I really like the ship to ship combat so far. I am not sure yet about the other parts of the game.

  • Where’s Anarchy Online, despite it’s awesome release it’s one of the best MMOs ever made. Where else will you find a MMO where players shrink or grow using powers (Enforcers & Agents). Granted it’s launch and the ensuing 3 months or so made it into a extended beta. The game has a high degree of fun that’s inserted into many of the MMOs today. Namely instancing, repeatable missions.

  • “Everquest. My first 3d MMO. Had it not been for DAOC’s RvR this would have been my first pick. It was epic. It was new. Never again have I felt the sense of fear that crossing the karanas gave me when my level 6 Barbarian encountered a gryphon. Entering Freeport for the first time it felt like I was so miniscule compared to the rest of the world.”

    Spot on, i remember my 1st trip from Qeynos through the Karana’s and into High Hold Pass(i think that’s what it was called) and it was such a rush, as you said getting attacked my Gryphons was really scary heh, this being my 1st graphical MMO(prior to that MUDs for around 7/8 years) Started up on Lanys the day the server went live…great sense of community, tailors doing their bit making armours…some very sexy Cured Silk for my Monk(which is my fave class of any game ever, EQ had it spot on for this one at least imo)

    My top 3 would be slightly differen, GuildWars for the best PvP by a mile, and it’s PvP which does it for me. DAoC, i started in the beta, and prior to this i had little PvP experience but from the moment i tried it on a whim i’ve never looked back and any game i’ve played since has HAD to have decent PvP…so yeah i didn’t really play WoW because it sucks in that department. Then i guess it may be EQ purely because it being my 1st graphical MMO, and had a stunning time there a lot of the time. But, Planetside rates WAY up there also, such a rush and a superb game…and i don’t even like FPSs. But this had something different, just grabbed me big time.