Aion Beta Anticipation Grows

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Written by ReesyCup

Monday, 07 April 2008 20:49

Aion Beta Anticipation Grows

With Aion Beta around the corner, online gamers are anxiously awaiting the release of Beta Keys. Anyone that spends a few minutes looking at this upcoming mmorpg will quickly agree that Aion will certainly be able to hold its own against any competing online game. Currently, Aion is in Beta testing in Korea further increasing the anticipation for its North America Beta introduction. Obviously the next generation of the Lineage series, Aion draws from familiar characters and world set up. If you were impressed with the graphical display of Lineage 2 when it was released, you will be even more impressed with the breathtaking scenery, and attention to detail of Aion Tower of Eternity.

Aion is being published by NCsoft, a company that hosts major mmorpgs like Lineage, Lineage 2, City of Heroes / Villains, the Guild Wars Trilogy, Tabula Rasa, as well as the acclaimed free mmorpg worlds of Exteel and Dungeon Runners. NCsoft certainly is no new kid on the block, and Aion is proof that the many years of NCsoft experience has been beneficial. At first glance of the pre-beta info, it would appear that NCsoft has taken the highly successful Lineage 2 and given it a serious helping of game steroids.

The first thing you will notice is the character customization, a complaint in the Lineage series, but certainly improved for Aion. Almost every aspect of the characters face and body and be adjusted with a scroll style interface, giving a far more unique appearance between other characters. Eye detail, cheek width, muscle size, are all managed by the player when they create the player. And although it is not specifically mentioned for Aion Beta, Lineage 2 eventually offered the ability to edit your character later in the game via specialty potions.

Another key feature of Aion is the gathering skill, not new to mmorpg titles, Aion puts a bit of twist on it with the introduction of the winged skill that will allow the gathering of floating materials. Characters with the distinction of Daeva will be able to reach elevated areas including elevated materials that normally would not be reachable. This skill is timed and required some strategy so you don't lose flight and fall to the ground in death.

These are just a few examples of what Aion Beta is looking like, and so far it looks superb. The truth is that Aion without a doubt can get through Beta into a huge retail debut; NCsoft just has to bring a few things to the table. Lineage 2 set the bar for a mixture of amazing graphics and an unmatched political system.

Where Aion: Tower of Eternity can improve is in questing as well as maintaining the grind balance between Hardcore and hopeless. Let's face it Aion needs to be able to allow the majority of players to reach the level cap before reaching 2 years of consistent game play. And even more important is the introduction of quests that pay out high xp rewards that are comparative to hunting xp rewards. Of course many of the quests can and should include hunting, but today's gamers need a plentiful selection of quests that don't make the gamer feel that they are wasting their time, or getting burnt out on the grind.

With Beta Testers already lining up for their chance at an Aion Beta Key, NCsoft will certainly be looking at the Beta feedback very carefully. Will Aion be the next Smash hit? We think so. As long as the 3 key player types are all focused on (grinders, questers, crafters) then Aion will have nothing to worry about. The beta is looking remarkable and with new features continuing to be disclosed by the NCsoft Camp, it just keeps looking better.