Lords of EverQuest

by Sony

Product Features

• Each faction has their own special units and strategies -- master their ways to master the battlefield
• Command any of 15 Lords as they each other on 36 unique & challenging single-player maps
• Manage your troops wisely -- help them gain abilities & experience, and carry themover from mission to mission
• Unique spell ability for system for added tactical & strategic abilities
• State-of-the-art 3D graphics bring you 3 levels of zoom & intense color -- you'll feel like you're right in the action

Product Details

• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B00009OY80
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.5 x 1.2 inches ; 8.8 ounces
• Media: CD-ROM
• Release Date: October 20, 2003
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #26,672 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)

Product Description

Game Informer Review

The last couple of months have seen a whole slew of new RTS titles hit the market. Some good, some bad, but none with the gargantuan EverQuest franchise attached. Expectations for this title were pretty high, and for the most part Lords of EverQuest doesn't live up to them.

The gameplay is classic RTS, and thus a bit simpler than the current favorites. Resources in particular are dumbed-down – there's only one, and you can harvest it much faster than you can spend it. This makes for a different flow of play from similar titles, and cheapens strategy in the process.

Though there are three very different factions, the depth of units, upgrades, and spells isn't anywhere near what can be found elsewhere. Also, the skills are pretty weak – when I cast a spell with a 60-second cool-down, I expect it to lay down the law. In LoE, it'll maybe kill one unit. Also, even Lords (the LoE equivalent of a Hero in WarCraft III) only have four skills total, the second two of which you won't see in most games since it takes so long to get to the required level. The combat just never reaches the level possible in the big-time RTS titles.

With multiplayer significantly less user-friendly than in other titles and a lame single-player mode, LoE falls well short of the genre's top dogs. The fact of the matter is that this is the first RTS title from Rapid Eye, and they simply don't have the experience in smooth gameplay, balanced factions, and online support that Blizzard and Ensemble can bring to the table.

Concept:
Combine EverQuest with real-time strategy and try to give the big boys a run for their money

Graphics:
Nothing that pushes the envelope too much, but high-end for the genre

Sound:
Nicely orchestrated score. There could be a lot more unit voiceovers

Playability:
Having full control of the camera is cool, but doesn't really add much. Trying to click on units during battle gets frustrating

Entertainment:
EQ fans will likely eat this one up. Without the EQ license, it's merely an above-average title

Replay:
High

Rated: 7.5 out of 10
Editor: Adam Biessener
Issue: February 2004

2nd Opinion:
I used to be a hardest of the hardcore EQ player. So in regards to the people and places in the universe, I know more about it than any normal person really should. Coming into this game, I was expecting to find myself enveloped in the universe and experiencing it in a whole new way – RTS-style. Sadly, while there are certainly parts of EQ lore to be found here, it isn't as interesting as I had hoped. As a WarCraft wannabe, the game is certainly competent, but it doesn't do anything you haven't seen before. Don't get me wrong, there is some fun to be had with this title, especially in multiplayer, but it never quite delivers like a Command & Conquer or WarCraft.

Rated: 7.25 out of 10
Editor: Andy McNamara


Subscribe to Game Informer

Product Description

Your battles will be epic.  Your victorieslegend.Product InformationTen thousand years ago three powerful factions battled for control of thecontinents of Antonica.  Using forces and strategies as unique as theirdiverse races the mighty Lords of the Elddar Alliance Dawn Brotherhood andShadowrealm launched an epic war that would live forever in the legends and loreof EverQuest.War calls!  Answer the force!  Heed the call of war My Lord and leadwell - for your actions will forge the future of this world!  In the lostage of Norrath three powerful factions will join in battle!  Only one willemerge victorious from this epic war so choose your strategies wisely. Leave your mark and become legend in the lore of EverQuest.Product Features 3 Diverse Factions:  Lead the powerful Elddar Alliance the defensively oriented Dawn Brotherhood or the merciless Shadowrealm into war.  Use their distinctive strategies and strengths to achieve victory. 3 Epic Campaigns:  With more than 35 single-player missions steeped in EverQuest Lore. Persistent War Lords:  Control 15 different Lords that grow in power and ability as you progress in battle. Build a Powerful Army:  More than 60 unit types with ability to gain levels learn abilities and transfer from mission to mission. Fierce Online Combat:  Challenge up to 12 players online through the SOEG site.  Compete in various custom multiplayer games including Last Man Standing Body Harvest and many more. Powerful Weapons Skills and Magical Artifacts:  Hundreds of items from the rich fantasy world of EarthQuest. State-Of-The-Art 3D Engine:  Adjust camera with almost unlimited levels of zoom and rotation. Customizable User Interface:  Resize adjust transparency and display what is important to you. Game Design Editor:  Create maps and missions with customized scenarios.  Windows Requirements Win

See all Product Description

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not the Greatest, but Still Worth a Look, December 23, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Lords of EverQuest (CD-ROM)

In the already overcrowded Real Time Strategy game genre, can Sony offer a fun, competitive product that meets or exceeds the standards set by it's contemporaries?

The answer is a rather uninspiring yes and no.

Developed by Rapid Eye Entertainment, a group of former New World Computing programmers (responsible for the Heroes of Might and Magic series), LoE tries to take the Everquest MMORPG experience and squish it into the confines of RTS wargaming. The game centers around your "Lord", which, like the "Hero" unit in Blizzard's Warcraft III, is the leader of an army of creatures you work to upgrade and develop into a conquering force. Lords are members of several different "factions" which determine what kinds of armies you can raise. As with both Warcraft III and Everquest, you need to level up and advance your Lord by defeating other enemies and obtaining experience points as well as complete mission objectives in order to advance in the game. Unlike WCIII, however, you can actually level up your troops and even "knight" up to two troops to give them powers nearly equivalent to your lord. This feature alone is what sets LOE apart from any other RTS on the market today and presents some very interesting and unique gameplay strategies.

As with all other RTS games, you accumulate resources to build buildings and purchase upgrades to train and outfit your army. In this case, there is only a single resource: platinum. The "money" system is simpler than in other RTS games in that the challenge lies in budgeting your platinum on buying the right buildings and units rather than trying to acquire a wide variety of different resources.

But with the leveling system, it's quite possible to take a group of basic troops up to very high levels without ever needing to create specialized units.

There are two primary modes: a single player "campaign" which involves completing a series of scenarios with some light RPG elements interspersed in between, and a multiplayer mode where you can fight other players online. The single player game is servicable at best, with an only casually interesting storyline (disappointing, given the amount of history and lore in EQ). Many of the maps seem somewhat linear in design and the objectives are nothing any RTS gamer hasn't seen before.

In fact, many will argue that besides the leveling aspect, there isn't much in LOE that hasn't been done already, and implemented better. In particular, the AI/pathing is irritatingly bad with units often taking the longest, most baffling route to get to whereever it was you wanted them to go. They also have an annoyingly short attention span and will sometimes disregard orders to stay put and go run off and attack things when you don't want them to.

This alone is what really hurts the game in the long run. The RTS field has reached maturity to where these types of problems simply aren't acceptable anymore and most players will pass on the game because of it.

Which is somewhat of a shame, since underneath the rough elements is a relatively intriguing RTS game. The graphics and animation in the game are quite good, with realistically-drawn 3D models and cool spell effects. In addition, one of the most entertaining aspects of Everquest, the level up "Ding" sound, is retained here and is just as satisfying as it was in the MMORPG.

Also, the idea of leveling up troops does create an extra dimension of strategy, especially in multiplayer, where you can try to kill NPCs to gain more experience before attacking your enemies.

Unfortunately, many reviews have complained that there aren't enough differences between the units of each faction to make battles interesting. Those people inevitably rely on the obvious warrior-healer strategy for their army, but more inventive players will likely find other ways to develop their forces.

So here's the rundown:

Pros:
Graphics & Animation are solid--the zoom feature is nice.
The level up system is entertaining--all troops can advance!
Some RPG elements to break up the monotony.
Buy and register the game with an EQ account in good standing before Jan 3, 2004 and you will be invited to EQII Beta

Cons:
Atrocious AI and Pathing algorithms
Units don't always respond to commands
Game balance: there is little incentive to find different strategies to win
Units can seem too similar no matter which faction you play

Overall, this is an average game with limited entertainment value. I thought most of the reviews of the game so far were too harsh, but agree there are enough issues with the game that prevent me from making a recommendation (especially at the retail price that Sony wants you to pay). I would recommend obtaining the demo first, then purchasing the game at a discounted price if you decide you really want it.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Sony did this?, December 21, 2003

By 

Cody Hayden (San Antonio TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lords of EverQuest (CD-ROM)

First off let me just say that the only reason I bought this game was for the invite to EQ2 beta... Now then, after loading it up and playing it for all of maybe 8 minutes, I turned it off and went back to CoD. I have been playing EQ since 99' and i have to say that in 4 years I have never really been disapointed at Sony. That changes today. I can't for the life of me figure out why a company that is making as much as they are on EQ, would waste so much time and money developing a title such is LoEQ... Playing it has made me anticipate EQ2 more, for the fact that I need a good game to wash out the vile thoughts I have had about how to best get rid of it. One thought was throwing it off a building, although I would feel for the people at the bottom, having crap rain down on them from above..

This game was a waste of time, not so much money for the fact that there is a beta invite in the package, but this game is by far the worst game I have played since "Real War". And another thing..dont you think that if you can only register your product for the beta one day, 23 hours and 59 minutes, that the site will be lagged out or down most of the day? That sounds like a trap, like a gamble, they say you are sure to get a slot when you register, but whats to stop them from saying " The server was up, but you thousands of people just forgot to do it, no, this is a gamble, be warned... There is no guerantee anyone will get into the Beta of EQ2 this way. I hope they take into account long time users of EQ, I'm still playing it, even after all these years.

3.0 out of 5 stars A decent RTS game, but better if you're an EQ fan as well., September 28, 2011

By 

Anthony M. Sass (Burbank, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:3.0 out of 5 stars 

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Lords of EverQuest (CD-ROM)

I really wanted to give this game a shot, since I'm a long-time fan and player of Everquest 2. It seemed interesting, and came out right before EQ2 did, so it seems to be based more on the time period of EQ1. It is your basic RTS game - somewhat of a Warcraft-clone. It definitely has its own flavor, which is pretty much its blessing and flaw. Being able to do 3 different faction storylines is pretty cool for the most part, and each faction plays out relatively different. This is definitely the blessing part. Sadly though, the game feels very dumbed down from something like even Warcraft 2. You mine only one thing - money. Also, mining locations are very limited, causing you to up and leave camp constantly. While this is what makes it differ from other RTS's, it's also what kills it. You don't really get to have that ultimate fortress-camp, you are always ditching your old camp to move along on the map, then eventually creating troops waaaay back at the main base gets irritating, so you have to build repeat buildings closer to where you are. Rinse, repeat. Not that tough of a concept, which ultimately makes it a bit boring. Having love in EQ lore will definitely raise your interest in the game, but even that doesn't justify playing this game for too long. It's definitely something to play through for kicks, but definitely had a reason for not doing too well on release.