Asheron's Call 2: Fallen Kings

by Microsoft

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00006IJO5
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.2 x 1.2 inches ; 8 ounces
• Media: CD-ROM
• Release Date: November 21, 2002
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (230 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #41,226 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

From the Developer

Asheron's Call 2: Fallen Kings is the next-generation fantasy massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) where the world dynamically evolves around you. Enter a land devastated by a magical disaster, where players must rebuild the world.

Asheron's Call 2 combines state of the art 3-D graphics, innovative combat and gameplay, and a dynamic monthly update system that immerses players in a lush, living world filled with danger and challenges. You and your fellow players must venture forth and shape the course of this ever-evolving world.

Asheron's Call 2 takes place hundreds of years after the original Asheron's Call, in the wake of the Devastation--a great magical disaster. Little is known or understood of the Devastation, only that it has reshaped continents, razed the land, and dangerously mutated those creatures that remain.

You and your fellow survivors emerge from underground shelters to reclaim the land and help rebuild the world. As you battle across this beautiful but dangerous land, you will discover the ruins of once-great cities. Together, you can help decide which of the old towns to explore and perhaps rebuild. You will influence the rise of new cities and affect the future of this world.

Will you become a great warrior or mage, or perhaps a skilled crafter of magical items? Will you help others rebuild and unravel the mystery of the Devastation or follow your own path? Will you join with an allegiance and align with one of the great Kingdoms, or strike out far from the politics of the Fallen Kings? Truly the choice is yours.

Product Description

Asheron's Call 2: Fallen Kings is an online role-playing game where the world dynamically evolves with you. the land of Dereth has been devastated by a magical disaster. Now you and other players will reclaim and rebuild the land while encountering conquest, adventure, and fellowship!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars no longer playable, July 17, 2006

By 

A. Forsythe "laconic" (St. Louis, MO) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:3.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Asheron's Call 2: Fallen Kings (CD-ROM)

this is an online game. it is no longer playable. do not buy this and expect to play it.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars AC2 has grown up, and the future looks even brighter!, January 23, 2004

By 

P. S. Mangus "Sword & Sorcery Meets Cthulhian... (Newton, NC, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Asheron's Call 2: Fallen Kings (CD-ROM)

I am not exactly sure what happened with the launch of Asheron's Call 2. It was a game that had everything going for it. The graphics were (and in many ways are) unsurpassed. The ideas presented were very fresh to the MMORPG community. The implementation of a class based system over a point based open ended system brought a whole new dynamic that the original Asheron's Call seemed to lack. I would say, all in all the game had a very bright future ahead of it... then reality hit, and no one bought the game.

It's hard to say why. I think the fact that Asheron's Call has never been a "typical" fantasy setting put some people off. The setting isn't your typical Tolkien rip off - it is a breath of fresh air IMHO. I also think that a lot of the original players from Asheron's Call 1 were unwilling to "restart" their characters in a new game, and leave behind the high levels and the notoriety that goes along with all of that. Plus, the new class based system was so different that the old players felt betrayed in some way. Some people just hate change.

I played AC2 during beta and several months after launch. I ended up dropping the game because I couldn't get my online buddies to leave Everquest, or Dark Age of Camelot, or even Asheron's Call and join me on my adventures on Dareth. So I gave in and moved on - back to AC, then to DAoC, then to Star Wars Galaxies. Then recently I decided to download the free trial and give it another shot. And I wasn't the only one. After the Star Wars Galaxies debacle and the decent but mediocre arrival of Horizons my online pals were finally ready to try something different. So they also downloaded the trial. Now we are all hooked!

The changes that have been made to this game are amazing. The classes are finally balanced the way they were intended to be. With the addition of a hero level island the level cap has been raised from 50 to 150. The quest system in AC2 is the best I have ever seen in a MMORPG. It sort of reminds me of Morrowind in the fact that there are so many quests available. Actually there is so much new content in the game that I can't believe that the additions were part of the monthly updates, and not as a high priced expansion pack. The graphics engine for the game was / is so far ahead of it's time that the technology still hasn't caught up to it, so even after all of this time the game still looks fantastic. Also, Turbine is in the process of beefing up the crafting system, which is already great. I really can't say enough in praise of this game. I have done a ton of quests, and already seen many sites around the world of Dareth, but I haven't even scratched the surface.

To end I will say this, I have played them all (ok, most of them). You name the MMORPG and I have probably played it. I realize that everyone has different tastes, but what do you have to loose? Download the 15 day trial, and see for yourself. I think you will have a lot of fun, and I think that is something that has been missing from this style of game for a while now - FUN! Finally, Turbine has recently bought back the rights for AC1 and AC2 from Microsoft, and they are promising big things for both games, so the future is only getting brighter. I can't wait!

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful, November 25, 2002

By 

D. B. - See all my reviews

This review is from: Asheron's Call 2: Fallen Kings (CD-ROM)

First this review is by a 30 year old who has played since release Ultima Online, Everquest, Dark age of Camelot, Neverwinter Nights,and Earth and Beyond (along with all the multitude of single player RPGs) which means I have a different slant and perspective than some. I have graduated from one to the next always critical yet trying to have fun and enjoy each game. I believe any MMPORGer realizes that each of the above have had many faults that detract from gaming experience.... faults unique to online gaming that are not present in single player offline games. But... to get the community experience we forgive and tolerate.

I don't think any release has been completely smooth and without bugs or dilemma. The current "9 countries only" and heavy system requirements seem to be the worst related to this game. The "lag" within game is fine, and as with all games, will improve in time. I have found personally this game the most ready and smooth of all the above releases. There has been some server downtime.

Turbine has done their homework. There are most definitely recognizable elements of other games put into a fascinating and involving epic storyline. The lifestones are like EQ or DAOC "binding", the gate travel is like UO's moongates (but much more fun), and certainly easier to get around than EQ "porting when you can find a druid or wizard" or DAOC's horse travel. Certainly bettter than waiting for the EQ boat.... but not quite as easy as UO's runes or new gates where you click on your destination. EQ's and DAOC's quests are sort of there.. but seem much less involved (but that's ok because killing a hundred clockworks to make my trueshot bow kinda ... and took a week.. heard some people were lucky enough that they didn't need 10 attempts). There is most definitely UO's faction system (although with an actual reward ... control of a town and its mines), and the typical group and guild systems. No reputation that I can see yet like UO or EnB.

Differences: Mounts, banks, vendors, npc's, are presently non existent. Towns are empty ruins. Being one who has created/been involved with story lines and roleplaying events within MMPORGs via player base (haven't been a programmer) I'm enthralled with the atmosphere we are in and feel part of a story. If Turbine does as they have planned we're in for a good time roleplayers. Hack and slashers and "dewdz" however probably will not like this game. It takes patience to get to this element (although it is present). In the way are many elements I've felt lacking in other games. The people early on in UO who spent all day mining and smithing and hitting themselves in the head with ebolts to move .1 in magery won't have to work quite as hard... but the element is still there. I assume you could last simply on looted weapons... but crafted are better in this game.

A massive involved skill tree with the potential of UNLEARNING skills, and suitable crafting where I know we're not going to have GM's over night (like UO does now). And with a player based economy where there are no NPC vendors... there will be a demand for crafters. UO did have "unlearning" where if you don't use it you lose it... but it took a long time to lose the points to make way for another GM skill. Your character WILL be unique.

The graphics are better than any.... certainly a step forward from EQ or even DAOC (but not quite Morrowind...). Very realistic and planned. Going into the wasp den I was genuinely scared by the background sounds and eerie moving of trees. Running through the Cauldron to Unrest had its moments of haunting... but not quite like this. MOB's are fine... although not a huge leap forward from EQ or DAOC. Haven't had a train yet..... that's good because there's no zone to run away to (realism). Don't know what's going to happen on the next two continents. For now we all started by coming out of the caves on one "easier" continent. There is sufficient challenge and the dungeons are much more "Neverwinter Nights"... with a plot and an involving storyline (that in NWN someone would have crafted). There's a reason to go into them... unlike UO where the reason was simply to get find more money and harder monsters to move your title.

Personally I'm dropping all the other games to stay in this one and know I'm not making a mistake. AC1 certainly was fine and equal to EQ(although either it or EQ were going to win the battle... like beta and VHS or MAC and PC or PS2 or Xbox or Gamecube). Until EQ2 next year and if and when Shadowbane I know this will be more than a satisfactory step forward from any of the past fantasy MMPORGs. Scifiers are probably fine with EnB (and upcoming Eve Online or Star Wars).... but I'm more for the fantasy storylines and AC2 most certainly has that.

Bravo Turbine. I'm a fan.