https://massivelyop.com MMORPG news and opinions Mon, 24 Apr 2023 12:45:39 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.1.1 https://massivelyop.com/2023/04/24/vitae-aeternum-analyzing-new-worlds-disappointing-first-season/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/04/24/vitae-aeternum-analyzing-new-worlds-disappointing-first-season/#comments Mon, 24 Apr 2023 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=435940 It’s now been a few weeks since the launch of New World‘s first season, Fellowship and Fire. I wanted to give it some time to settle, but I think I’ve now had enough experience of it all for my opinions to crystallize, and overall, I am sorry to report I do feel more underwhelmed than […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/04/24/vitae-aeternum-analyzing-new-worlds-disappointing-first-season/feed/ 11 https://massivelyop.com/2023/03/29/not-so-massively-second-impressions-of-diablo-iv/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/03/29/not-so-massively-second-impressions-of-diablo-iv/#comments Wed, 29 Mar 2023 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=432949 My initial impression of the Diablo IV open beta was lukewarm at best, but I did hold some hope that the second beta weekend might change things. This second beta opened up two more classes, the Necromancer and the Druid, and those also happened to be the classes that most appealed to me on paper. […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/03/29/not-so-massively-second-impressions-of-diablo-iv/feed/ 42 https://massivelyop.com/2023/03/27/not-so-massively-wolcens-endgame-is-one-of-online-gamings-all-time-worst-blunders/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/03/27/not-so-massively-wolcens-endgame-is-one-of-online-gamings-all-time-worst-blunders/#comments Mon, 27 Mar 2023 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=431559 Speaking as a long-time fan of the game, I think the post-launch management of Wolcen: Lords of Mayhem has been an absolute mess. There have been long content draughts. The game moved to a seasonal content model called Chronicles, only to never release a second Chronicle. Wolcen Studio went years without concluding the cliff-hanger the […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/03/27/not-so-massively-wolcens-endgame-is-one-of-online-gamings-all-time-worst-blunders/feed/ 16 https://massivelyop.com/2023/03/20/not-so-massively-diablo-ivs-beta-brings-the-horror-but-not-the-fun/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/03/20/not-so-massively-diablo-ivs-beta-brings-the-horror-but-not-the-fun/#comments Mon, 20 Mar 2023 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=431569 I have been pretty critical of the direction of Diablo IV so far, but franchise loyalty and professional obligation nonetheless led me to accept the offer of a press invite to this past weekend’s “early access to open beta” event. Based on Blizzard‘s recent history, I had expected D4 to have a very bland, derivative […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/03/20/not-so-massively-diablo-ivs-beta-brings-the-horror-but-not-the-fun/feed/ 58 https://massivelyop.com/2023/03/15/wolcen-launches-endgame-update-with-new-story-chapter-and-massive-progress-reset/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/03/15/wolcen-launches-endgame-update-with-new-story-chapter-and-massive-progress-reset/#comments Wed, 15 Mar 2023 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=430912 More than three years after its launch, multiplayer Wolcen: Lords of Mayhem has at last provided a conclusion to its main story with its new Endgame update. This update includes the long awaited Chapter IV, which sends players face to face with the Blind Prince Ahriman for a final confrontation. Rather than a traditional campaign, […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/03/15/wolcen-launches-endgame-update-with-new-story-chapter-and-massive-progress-reset/feed/ 4 https://massivelyop.com/2023/03/13/the-soapbox-hating-on-the-competition-is-no-way-to-promote-an-mmo/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/03/13/the-soapbox-hating-on-the-competition-is-no-way-to-promote-an-mmo/#comments Mon, 13 Mar 2023 14:30:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=430334 Recently, RIFT was back in the news, offering free subscription time to new and returning players. While I salute Gamigo’s generosity here, whenever the topic of RIFT comes up, I can’t help but think of the spectacularly ill-advised “we’re not in Azeroth anymore” ad campaign. In my opinion, RIFT was about as close to a carbon copy of […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/03/13/the-soapbox-hating-on-the-competition-is-no-way-to-promote-an-mmo/feed/ 31 https://massivelyop.com/2023/02/27/not-so-massively-impressions-of-century-age-of-ashes-new-pve-mode/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/02/27/not-so-massively-impressions-of-century-age-of-ashes-new-pve-mode/#respond Mon, 27 Feb 2023 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=426183 Back in 2021, I took a look at an early version of dragon-riding arena shooter Century: Age of Ashes. I found that its core gameplay held promise, but the game was at the time far too unfinished to deliver on that promise. Since then, Century has launched out of early access, and it’s recently added […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/02/27/not-so-massively-impressions-of-century-age-of-ashes-new-pve-mode/feed/ 0 https://massivelyop.com/2023/02/22/vitae-aeternum-previewing-new-worlds-first-season-and-updated-2023-roadmap/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/02/22/vitae-aeternum-previewing-new-worlds-first-season-and-updated-2023-roadmap/#comments Wed, 22 Feb 2023 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=427765 Last week, Amazon Games invited members of the press to a presentation where it unveiled its plans for a new seasonal content model for New World. Season one will launch next month, and new seasons are planned to roll around every three months, delivering new content and a seasonal pass for additional rewards. The inaugural […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/02/22/vitae-aeternum-previewing-new-worlds-first-season-and-updated-2023-roadmap/feed/ 14 https://massivelyop.com/2023/02/13/not-so-massively-voidtrains-next-fest-demo-leaves-a-terrible-first-impression/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/02/13/not-so-massively-voidtrains-next-fest-demo-leaves-a-terrible-first-impression/#comments Mon, 13 Feb 2023 18:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=426193 It’s hard to find a survival game with an original premise these days. Dinosaurs? Done. Alien worlds? Done. Zombies? Done to (un)death. But how about a survival game where you pilot a steampunk freight train through a surreal transdimensional nether realm? That… that sounds interesting. It was that intriguing premise that led me to check […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/02/13/not-so-massively-voidtrains-next-fest-demo-leaves-a-terrible-first-impression/feed/ 5 https://massivelyop.com/2023/02/09/not-so-massively-dark-envoys-demo-is-where-rpg-meets-rts/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/02/09/not-so-massively-dark-envoys-demo-is-where-rpg-meets-rts/#respond Thu, 09 Feb 2023 18:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=425741 A while back I stumbled across the Steam page for co-op CRPG Dark Envoy and had the thought it could be fun to play with a gamer friend of mine. I’ve kept it on my wishlist ever since, and when developer Event Horizon offered Massively OP a demo code ahead of the demo’s public release, […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/02/09/not-so-massively-dark-envoys-demo-is-where-rpg-meets-rts/feed/ 0 https://massivelyop.com/2023/01/30/vitae-aeternum-obsessing-over-new-worlds-population-numbers-is-a-waste-of-time/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/01/30/vitae-aeternum-obsessing-over-new-worlds-population-numbers-is-a-waste-of-time/#comments Mon, 30 Jan 2023 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=424288 New World is a bit unique in that it is the only major Western MMORPG that is playable only through Steam. The others are also available through other platforms, such as a developer’s own launcher, or even consoles. This means that we can see what New World‘s population is at any given time with 100% […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/01/30/vitae-aeternum-obsessing-over-new-worlds-population-numbers-is-a-waste-of-time/feed/ 13 https://massivelyop.com/2023/01/20/digital-ccg-eternal-launches-new-behemoths-of-thera-card-set/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/01/20/digital-ccg-eternal-launches-new-behemoths-of-thera-card-set/#comments Fri, 20 Jan 2023 22:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=422943 This week saw the release of Eternal Card Game‘s latest card set, Behemoths of Thera. Set in a world ruled by gigantic beasts, Behemoths of Thera adds over 200 new cards to the digital card game, as well as two new keywords. Units with the Hunt keyword cause the enemy player to discard cards from […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/01/20/digital-ccg-eternal-launches-new-behemoths-of-thera-card-set/feed/ 1 https://massivelyop.com/2023/01/16/vitae-aeternum-new-world-should-do-more-with-its-housing/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/01/16/vitae-aeternum-new-world-should-do-more-with-its-housing/#comments Mon, 16 Jan 2023 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=422241 I find the history of player housing in New World a strange one. Prior to launch, I had the impression housing was being treated as one of the main selling features of the game. Since launch, though, it has received very little attention. Given the game’s post-launch struggles, it makes sense to backburner housing for […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/01/16/vitae-aeternum-new-world-should-do-more-with-its-housing/feed/ 8 https://massivelyop.com/2023/01/02/not-so-massively-why-im-not-playing-lost-ark/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/01/02/not-so-massively-why-im-not-playing-lost-ark/#comments Mon, 02 Jan 2023 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=420671 Back at launch, I played Lost Ark quite heavily for some time, eventually racking up over 100 hours in the game and generally enjoying myself as I did. When I left to do other things, I thought it was likely a temporary break, but months have gone by, and that break is starting to look […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/01/02/not-so-massively-why-im-not-playing-lost-ark/feed/ 25 https://massivelyop.com/2022/12/19/vitae-aeternum-the-uncomfortable-truth-of-new-worlds-lax-monetization/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/12/19/vitae-aeternum-the-uncomfortable-truth-of-new-worlds-lax-monetization/#comments Mon, 19 Dec 2022 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=416357 I have a pretty laid back approach to monetization in online games. Bar mandatory subscriptions and a few egregious outliers, I am generally fine with any mainstream monetization systems in online games. But not everyone feels as I do. Monetization remains a deeply controversial topic, and developers often face harsh criticism for how they try […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/12/19/vitae-aeternum-the-uncomfortable-truth-of-new-worlds-lax-monetization/feed/ 49 https://massivelyop.com/2022/12/05/vitae-aeternum-a-measured-response-to-new-worlds-2023-roadmap/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/12/05/vitae-aeternum-a-measured-response-to-new-worlds-2023-roadmap/#comments Mon, 05 Dec 2022 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=417113 When New World released its roadmap for the first half of 2023 a few days back, the initial reaction from fans was… not great. I can sympathize; my own reaction was along the lines, “That’s it?” However, having sat on it for a bit, I find my mood has mellowed somewhat. I think there’s some […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/12/05/vitae-aeternum-a-measured-response-to-new-worlds-2023-roadmap/feed/ 17 https://massivelyop.com/2022/11/21/vitae-aeternum-the-storm-clouds-on-new-worlds-horizon/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/11/21/vitae-aeternum-the-storm-clouds-on-new-worlds-horizon/#comments Mon, 21 Nov 2022 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=415030 New World has improved considerably since launch. I’ve had a lot of praise for the changes Amazon has made, and I’m looking forward to seeing the game continue to evolve. That said, there is still the potential for further stumbles. There are a couple of issues I see within the game or brewing on the […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/11/21/vitae-aeternum-the-storm-clouds-on-new-worlds-horizon/feed/ 11 https://massivelyop.com/2022/11/07/vitae-aeternum-tackling-new-worlds-endgame-as-a-solo-player/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/11/07/vitae-aeternum-tackling-new-worlds-endgame-as-a-solo-player/#comments Mon, 07 Nov 2022 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=413088 After nearly a year of stopping to smell the roses, I finally made it to level cap in New World shortly before the launch of Brimstone Sands. Having now been level 60 for a several weeks, I’ve decided it’s time to take a look at my experience with New World‘s endgame. New World‘s endgame is […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/11/07/vitae-aeternum-tackling-new-worlds-endgame-as-a-solo-player/feed/ 7 https://massivelyop.com/2022/10/28/the-secret-world-classic-wont-have-a-halloween-event-this-year-thanks-to-player-feedback/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/10/28/the-secret-world-classic-wont-have-a-halloween-event-this-year-thanks-to-player-feedback/#comments Fri, 28 Oct 2022 14:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=411904 Over summer, fans of the original version of The Secret World were delighted to see the game’s anniversary event activated for the first time in years, as part of a fan-created event for the 10th anniversary. Ever since, players have held out hope the Halloween event will also see a resurrection. Sadly, those hopes have […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/10/28/the-secret-world-classic-wont-have-a-halloween-event-this-year-thanks-to-player-feedback/feed/ 30 https://massivelyop.com/2022/10/25/vitae-aeternum-first-impressions-of-new-worlds-greatsword-and-world-revamp/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/10/25/vitae-aeternum-first-impressions-of-new-worlds-greatsword-and-world-revamp/#comments Tue, 25 Oct 2022 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=411073 We come now to part two of my early impressions of New World‘s sprawling Brimstone Sands update. Previously in our Vitae Aeternum column, I covered the Halloween event and Brimstone Sands itself. Today, I’ll look at a new weapon and some sweeping changes to the open world experience. The greatsword I’ve only briefly tried the […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/10/25/vitae-aeternum-first-impressions-of-new-worlds-greatsword-and-world-revamp/feed/ 7 https://massivelyop.com/2022/10/24/vitae-aeternum-first-impressions-of-new-worlds-brimstone-sands-and-nightveil-hallow/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/10/24/vitae-aeternum-first-impressions-of-new-worlds-brimstone-sands-and-nightveil-hallow/#comments Mon, 24 Oct 2022 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=411065 It’s finally here: New World has launched its fall update, and the Soulwardens of Aeternum now venture into the wastes of Brimstone Sands. This is a massive update, featuring not just the new zone but a new leveling experience, a new weapon, a holiday event, and more. There’s no doubt in my mind that if […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/10/24/vitae-aeternum-first-impressions-of-new-worlds-brimstone-sands-and-nightveil-hallow/feed/ 17 https://massivelyop.com/2022/10/11/not-so-massively-eternal-card-game-is-a-solo-friendly-hidden-gem/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/10/11/not-so-massively-eternal-card-game-is-a-solo-friendly-hidden-gem/#comments Tue, 11 Oct 2022 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=404875 Over the past year or so I’ve developed what you might call a bit of an interest in collectible card games. Mostly I play with physical cards, but sometimes I don’t have the energy to track all the game effects myself. On those days, a digital card game would be welcome. I’ve dabbled with Magic: […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/10/11/not-so-massively-eternal-card-game-is-a-solo-friendly-hidden-gem/feed/ 3 https://massivelyop.com/2022/09/26/vitae-aeternum-the-new-secret-world/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/09/26/vitae-aeternum-the-new-secret-world/#comments Mon, 26 Sep 2022 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=404886 Comparisons between New World and The Secret World have existed pretty much since the earliest teases of NW. It’s what put the game on my radar in the first place. Now that the game has launched, we know that it is a starkly different sort of game than TSW. And yet… it’s a comparison that […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/09/26/vitae-aeternum-the-new-secret-world/feed/ 26 https://massivelyop.com/2022/09/13/vitae-aeternum-the-best-solo-armor-and-magical-weapons-in-new-world/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/09/13/vitae-aeternum-the-best-solo-armor-and-magical-weapons-in-new-world/#comments Tue, 13 Sep 2022 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=402716 I now return to bring you the second part of my analysis of weapon and armor choices for the solo player in New World. If you’re just joining us, know that last time I covered ranged physical weapons and melee weapons. Today, I’ll finish the coverage by discussing magical weapons as well as armor choices. […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/09/13/vitae-aeternum-the-best-solo-armor-and-magical-weapons-in-new-world/feed/ 5 https://massivelyop.com/2022/08/30/vitae-aeternum-previewing-new-worlds-brimstone-sands-leveling-revamp-greatsword-and-more/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/08/30/vitae-aeternum-previewing-new-worlds-brimstone-sands-leveling-revamp-greatsword-and-more/#comments Tue, 30 Aug 2022 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=402708 New World is gearing up to unleash its largest patch since launch, and members of the press were recently invited to a virtual event to preview the massive autumn update. We viewed a short video outlining the major strokes of the update and then sat down with the devs for a Q&A session about all […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/08/30/vitae-aeternum-previewing-new-worlds-brimstone-sands-leveling-revamp-greatsword-and-more/feed/ 8 https://massivelyop.com/2022/08/16/vitae-aeternum-the-best-solo-ranged-and-melee-builds-in-new-world/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/08/16/vitae-aeternum-the-best-solo-ranged-and-melee-builds-in-new-world/#comments Tue, 16 Aug 2022 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=400627 One of the main things that keeps me coming back to New World despite its many rough edges is the fact it’s one of the few MMOs on the market with a genuinely challenging open world solo experience. But to survive the wilds of Aeternum, you’ll need the right equipment, as in this game your […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/08/16/vitae-aeternum-the-best-solo-ranged-and-melee-builds-in-new-world/feed/ 5 https://massivelyop.com/2022/08/01/vitae-aeternum-the-hits-and-misses-of-new-worlds-summer-update/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/08/01/vitae-aeternum-the-hits-and-misses-of-new-worlds-summer-update/#comments Mon, 01 Aug 2022 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=398822 Last week saw the release of New World‘s big summer update, including an extensive music system, the Medleyfaire event, and various endgame tweaks. This update is a mixture of solid wins and significant blunders, which increasingly seems to be just how New World rolls. The bad First, let’s look at the bad news. The patch […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/08/01/vitae-aeternum-the-hits-and-misses-of-new-worlds-summer-update/feed/ 12 https://massivelyop.com/2022/07/28/vitae-aeternum-new-world-interview-on-summer-medleyfaire-solo-play-housing-and-more/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/07/28/vitae-aeternum-new-world-interview-on-summer-medleyfaire-solo-play-housing-and-more/#comments Thu, 28 Jul 2022 15:00:34 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=398540 With the launch of New World’s Summer Medleyfaire patch and event this morning, we naturally had questions about the new systems and the future of the game. Multiple developers from Amazon – World Experience Lead Mike Willette, Creative Director David Verfaillie, Senior Game Design Manager Phil Bolus, and Social Experience Lead Daniel Henuber – kindly filled […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/07/28/vitae-aeternum-new-world-interview-on-summer-medleyfaire-solo-play-housing-and-more/feed/ 7 https://massivelyop.com/2022/07/18/the-soapbox-wows-talent-trees-dont-deserve-your-nostalgia/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/07/18/the-soapbox-wows-talent-trees-dont-deserve-your-nostalgia/#comments Mon, 18 Jul 2022 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=396689 As World of Warcraft‘s Dragonflight expansion marches into alpha testing, we’re getting more glimpses at its new/old talent system, which harkens back to the talent trees of yore. Some have welcomed this return to WoW‘s roots, but I see this as nothing but a step backward. Nostalgia can cover for a lot, and I think […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/07/18/the-soapbox-wows-talent-trees-dont-deserve-your-nostalgia/feed/ 47 https://massivelyop.com/2022/07/05/why-i-play-what-keeps-me-coming-back-to-the-secret-world/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/07/05/why-i-play-what-keeps-me-coming-back-to-the-secret-world/#comments Tue, 05 Jul 2022 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=394694 Now and then I’ll allude to being the weirdo who’s still playing The Secret World — not Secret World Legends, but the original. I’ve even submitted some of my gameplay to our Backseat Streaming segment. But it occurred to me I’ve never really dived into what precisely keeps me coming back to this ghost town […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/07/05/why-i-play-what-keeps-me-coming-back-to-the-secret-world/feed/ 33 https://massivelyop.com/2022/06/20/not-so-massively-enduring-space-punks-sensory-onslaught/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/06/20/not-so-massively-enduring-space-punks-sensory-onslaught/#comments Mon, 20 Jun 2022 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=392613 I’ve been meaning to check out Space Punks, the new isometric shooter from developer Flying Wild Hog and publisher Jagex, since it launched its free open beta, but I’ve been distracted by other recent releases, the grind in Lost Ark, and the surprisingly addictive new mode in Iron Harvest. At last, I found some room […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/06/20/not-so-massively-enduring-space-punks-sensory-onslaught/feed/ 9 https://massivelyop.com/2022/06/06/not-so-massively-first-impressions-of-diablo-immortal-on-pc/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/06/06/not-so-massively-first-impressions-of-diablo-immortal-on-pc/#comments Mon, 06 Jun 2022 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=390963 There was a time when the release of a new Diablo game might have been a big deal for me. But I’ve never been much of a mobile gamer, so Immortal wasn’t initially very high on my watchlist, and by the time the PC version was announced… well, [gestures vaguely at every Blizzard headline for […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/06/06/not-so-massively-first-impressions-of-diablo-immortal-on-pc/feed/ 49 https://massivelyop.com/2022/05/30/iron-harvest-1920-teases-single-player-world-map-mode-ships-kickstarter-rewards/ Mon, 30 May 2022 21:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=390032 It’s been quite a while since we heard from co-op RTS Iron Harvest 1920. After the excellent Operation Eagle expansion, the team largely went dark, but developer King Art Games has at last emerged from hibernation with the promise of a major patch “in the next month or so.” The flagship feature of this patch […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/05/17/not-so-massively-hands-on-with-v-rising-early-access/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/05/17/not-so-massively-hands-on-with-v-rising-early-access/#comments Tue, 17 May 2022 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=388391 I’m still searching for a survival game that fits me. I enjoy a lot of the survival experience, but the games as a whole never really deliver what I’m looking for. Enter V Rising, a new survival sandbox with the twist that you are playing an ancient vampire come to retake their dominion over humans […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/05/17/not-so-massively-hands-on-with-v-rising-early-access/feed/ 28 https://massivelyop.com/2022/05/09/not-so-massively-nothing-can-prepare-you-for-craftopias-weirdness/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/05/09/not-so-massively-nothing-can-prepare-you-for-craftopias-weirdness/#comments Mon, 09 May 2022 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=382701 While I like many survival mechanics, I’ve struggled to get into actual survival games. Despite that, I’ve kept one eye on the early access title Craftopia, as I was impressed by its broad feature list and attractive art style. Thanks to yet another free month of Game Pass for PC (they give those out like […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/05/09/not-so-massively-nothing-can-prepare-you-for-craftopias-weirdness/feed/ 8 https://massivelyop.com/2022/04/26/not-so-massively-dune-spice-wars-targets-a-very-small-niche/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/04/26/not-so-massively-dune-spice-wars-targets-a-very-small-niche/#comments Tue, 26 Apr 2022 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=385138 Unpopular opinion time: I never liked Frank Herbert’s Dune novels. I do, however, acknowledge that the setting has a lot of cool ideas, and I did play an awful lot of Westwood Studios‘ Dune RTS games back in the day. Based on that vague tingle of nostalgia, I accepted the offer a preview code for […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/04/26/not-so-massively-dune-spice-wars-targets-a-very-small-niche/feed/ 21 https://massivelyop.com/2022/04/11/interview-lost-arks-regional-parity-genderlocking-and-the-amazon-smilegate-collaboration/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/04/11/interview-lost-arks-regional-parity-genderlocking-and-the-amazon-smilegate-collaboration/#comments Mon, 11 Apr 2022 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=382710 A few days before the western release of Lost Ark, we posed questions to the Amazon Games team, and franchise lead Soomin Park was kind enough to answer us last week. While it’s a tiny bit belated given the time lapse here, many of the questions are still just as valid here in April. We […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/04/11/interview-lost-arks-regional-parity-genderlocking-and-the-amazon-smilegate-collaboration/feed/ 7 https://massivelyop.com/2022/03/28/vitae-aeternum-new-worlds-slow-march-to-redemption/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/03/28/vitae-aeternum-new-worlds-slow-march-to-redemption/#comments Mon, 28 Mar 2022 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=380633 In the rushes of excitement over Lost Ark and End of Dragons, New World seems to have fallen off the radar a bit. As a result, there has been very little discussion around the game’s recent updates and planned roadmap, and that’s a shame because there’s some genuine cause for hope here. It’s not everything […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/03/28/vitae-aeternum-new-worlds-slow-march-to-redemption/feed/ 16 https://massivelyop.com/2022/03/14/the-soapbox-swtors-legacy-of-the-sith-is-bad-but-not-for-the-reasons-youve-heard/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/03/14/the-soapbox-swtors-legacy-of-the-sith-is-bad-but-not-for-the-reasons-youve-heard/#comments Mon, 14 Mar 2022 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=378824 I’ve never been a big Star Wars fan, but I am a big BioWare fan, and after many failed attempts to get into the game, Star Wars: The Old Republic finally won me over after Knights of the Fallen Empire brought the game much closer to the story-driven RPG experience I expect from BioWare. Since […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/03/14/the-soapbox-swtors-legacy-of-the-sith-is-bad-but-not-for-the-reasons-youve-heard/feed/ 38 https://massivelyop.com/2022/02/28/not-so-massively-lost-ark-is-junk-food-gaming-in-a-good-way/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/02/28/not-so-massively-lost-ark-is-junk-food-gaming-in-a-good-way/#comments Mon, 28 Feb 2022 15:30:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=376969 Having originally played the alpha and the beta, I thought my plan for Lost Ark would be to play other things for the first few weeks and return once the launch rush had died down. And yet there I was on the first day of early access thanks to an Amazon press account, and since […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/02/28/not-so-massively-lost-ark-is-junk-food-gaming-in-a-good-way/feed/ 18 https://massivelyop.com/2022/02/14/not-so-massively-the-anacrusis-is-nowhere-near-ready-for-launch/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/02/14/not-so-massively-the-anacrusis-is-nowhere-near-ready-for-launch/#comments Mon, 14 Feb 2022 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=374965 The Anacrusis is a four-player co-op shooter intended to be a spiritual successor to Left 4 Dead. I was never a particularly big L4D fan, having only dabbled with it briefly several years ago, but the unique retro-futuristic aesthetic of Anacrusis caught my eye enough for me to give the early access version a whirl […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/02/14/not-so-massively-the-anacrusis-is-nowhere-near-ready-for-launch/feed/ 5 https://massivelyop.com/2022/02/08/hands-on-lost-ark-is-a-solid-mmo-that-falls-just-short-of-true-greatness/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/02/08/hands-on-lost-ark-is-a-solid-mmo-that-falls-just-short-of-true-greatness/#comments Tue, 08 Feb 2022 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=373830 After years of waiting, the MMOARPG Lost Ark launches in the west today, at least for those who bought founder’s packs. The rest of us will be waiting a few more days for the full launch on the 11th. I already previewed the beta of the game, but publisher Amazon Games was kind enough to […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/02/08/hands-on-lost-ark-is-a-solid-mmo-that-falls-just-short-of-true-greatness/feed/ 57 https://massivelyop.com/2022/01/31/vitae-aeternum-the-rent-in-new-world-is-too-damn-high/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/01/31/vitae-aeternum-the-rent-in-new-world-is-too-damn-high/#comments Mon, 31 Jan 2022 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=372836 The wonderful thing about video games is that they let you experience impossible things that could never happen in the real world. Like buying a house as a Millennial. Yes, it may have taken me a while, but I have finally earned my first home in New World. I waited so as to save my […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/01/31/vitae-aeternum-the-rent-in-new-world-is-too-damn-high/feed/ 15 https://massivelyop.com/2022/01/18/not-so-massively-making-the-case-for-dungeon-siege-iv/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/01/18/not-so-massively-making-the-case-for-dungeon-siege-iv/#comments Tue, 18 Jan 2022 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=370839 Dungeon Siege is not the biggest name in ARPG field, but the franchise has always been dear to my heart. It’s now been more than 10 years since the release of the last game (gods, I feel old), and I think that’s long enough. Today, I’d like to reflect on what made these games great […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/01/18/not-so-massively-making-the-case-for-dungeon-siege-iv/feed/ 12 https://massivelyop.com/2022/01/03/vitae-aeternum-explaining-new-worlds-level-30-wall/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/01/03/vitae-aeternum-explaining-new-worlds-level-30-wall/#comments Mon, 03 Jan 2022 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=369079 If you’ve been paying any amount of attention to New World, you’ve probably heard of the dreaded “level 30 wall” – the idea that people seem to bounce off the game at around the time they hit level 30. It’s quite real; many members of the Massively OP staff fell prey to it, and I […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/01/03/vitae-aeternum-explaining-new-worlds-level-30-wall/feed/ 19 https://massivelyop.com/2021/12/21/not-so-massively-godfalls-challenger-edition-is-a-flawed-introduction-to-a-flawed-game/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/12/21/not-so-massively-godfalls-challenger-edition-is-a-flawed-introduction-to-a-flawed-game/#comments Tue, 21 Dec 2021 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=367535 I’ve been keeping one eye on Godfall for a while. I didn’t want to take a chance on a game from a new franchise with a triple-A price tag without some way to try it first, but the idea intrigued me. Enter the new Challenger Edition, a funky not-quite-demo that boosts you to max level […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/12/21/not-so-massively-godfalls-challenger-edition-is-a-flawed-introduction-to-a-flawed-game/feed/ 6 https://massivelyop.com/2021/12/06/vitae-aeternum-new-worlds-travel-problem-is-also-a-storage-problem/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/12/06/vitae-aeternum-new-worlds-travel-problem-is-also-a-storage-problem/#comments Mon, 06 Dec 2021 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=365424 Today, I’d like to discuss the recent change that increased the experience needed to level crafting in New World: It’s terrible, and it should be reversed. In fact, leveling crafting was already too slow before the patch. It should be made faster than it was then. Boom, problem solved, happy players, you’re welcome, Amazon. Hmm? […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/12/06/vitae-aeternum-new-worlds-travel-problem-is-also-a-storage-problem/feed/ 29 https://massivelyop.com/2021/11/22/vitae-aeternum-analyzing-new-worlds-storytelling/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/11/22/vitae-aeternum-analyzing-new-worlds-storytelling/#comments Mon, 22 Nov 2021 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=363546 I’ve been wanting to write this column for a while, but it’s been a struggle to find the words. I’m never sure of how to talk about New World‘s storytelling. I don’t want to oversell it… but I also don’t want to undersell it. New World‘s story has gotten a lot of criticism, and I […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/11/22/vitae-aeternum-analyzing-new-worlds-storytelling/feed/ 27 https://massivelyop.com/2021/11/08/not-so-massively-lost-ark-is-a-promising-mmoarpg-with-a-poor-first-impression/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/11/08/not-so-massively-lost-ark-is-a-promising-mmoarpg-with-a-poor-first-impression/#comments Mon, 08 Nov 2021 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=361039 Like many ARPG fans, I have long-awaited the Western release of Smilegate‘s MMOARPG, Lost Ark. Though the launch has been delayed to next year, I, alongside MOP’s Chris, was recently granted access to an early beta preview of the Western version of the game. I did play in a previous alpha test for the Western […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/11/08/not-so-massively-lost-ark-is-a-promising-mmoarpg-with-a-poor-first-impression/feed/ 39 https://massivelyop.com/2021/10/25/mmo-burnout-arkham-horror-the-card-game-scratches-my-secret-world-itch/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/10/25/mmo-burnout-arkham-horror-the-card-game-scratches-my-secret-world-itch/#comments Mon, 25 Oct 2021 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=358963 After enjoying some video games with deck-building mechanics, I’ve been motivated to spend more time playing actual, physical card games. Following a fair bit of research, I’ve settled on Arkham Horror: The Card Game to be my focus for the time being, as it’s one of the few card games that’s focused on playing cooperatively […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/10/25/mmo-burnout-arkham-horror-the-card-game-scratches-my-secret-world-itch/feed/ 15