MaximumPC 2004 04

Reviews

Lords of EverQuest

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t’s not that Lords of EverQuest is a particularly awful game. It’s just a

blindingly, grindingly mediocre one. In a PC scene positively bulging with

quality real-time strategy games, there’s no reason for it to exist other

than to create another box adorned with the EverQuest logo. If you have

even a passing interest in RTS games, chances are you have at least two

or three titles (some of them possibly several years old) that are more chal-

lenging, more fun, and more complex.

The particulars of this RTS are not particularly important if you’re

familiar with the genre. The “three diverse factions”—Elddar Alliance,

Dawn Brotherhood, and Shadowrealm—all feature units derived from the

MMORPG, and are in fact little more than standard fantasy boilerplate

characters like dwarves, humans, trolls, and the rest of the ersatz Tolkien

pantheon. And frankly, these factions aren’t all that diverse; one side plays

pretty much like another.

The titular “Lords” are hero units that can level up and achieve new

powers by gaining experience. Unfortunately, the Lords are a little too pow-

erful, and begin to unbalance the game rather quickly, which reduces the

strategic complexity.

Compounding these flaws, combat units possess horrid AI and limited

control options. Typically, they’re either charging across the map willy-nilly

or getting in each others’ way. Not that this matters, because the missions,

spread across three intertwining and rather tedious campaigns, are mostly

bland mass-and-attack or mass-and-defend affairs. Even the single-player

skirmish option demonstrates the limited old-school nature of Lords of

EverQuest: You can only create a skirmish by starting the multiplayer game

and adding computer-controlled units.

It’s hard to find a reason to

recommend this game beyond

the EverQuest setting, and

even that adds little since the

story is boring and the units

are largely generic.

—THOMAS L. MCDONALD

It doesn’t crash. Much.

HECKA

HELLA

Routine and bland, with rotten unit AI and controls.

MAXIMUMPC VERDICT 4

$50, http://www.lordsofeverquest.com

86 MAXIMUMPC APRIL 2004

Visually, Lords of EverQuest looks just fine, with a decent

3D engine and fairly attractive character models. But the

gameplay feels horribly outdated.

Beyond Good and Evil

4he First sleeper hit oF the Year has arriVed

D

oes this game’s name ring a bell for you? It didn’t for us either, so

we looked it up. Turns out it’s from a book by Fredreich Nietzsche,

Beyond Good and Evil: Prelude to a Philosophy of the Future. Yeah.

Kooky name and heady intellectualism aside, Beyond Good and Evil is a

console platform title that’s been ported to PC. This is evidenced by the

absence of the mouse cursor in any of the game’s menus. Although other

signs of console-itis are plentiful, the game is so good we’re overlooking

such minor nuisances.

The story has you playing as a feisty action photographer named Jade,

whose hometown is under siege by a faceless corporation that has begun

abducting her fellow citizens. It’s up to Jade to save her village—and

humanity—by uncovering the conspiracy and putting an end to the evildoing

once and for all.

This is typical platform fare, but dull moments are few and far between.

In addition to the standard puzzle navigation, stealth missions, and hand-

to-hand combat, Jade also gets to compete in a series of hovercraft races.

The best part: no jumping puzzles! Like any platform title, Beyond Good and

Evil is centered on exploration; but as an added incentive to explore, Jade

is tasked with cataloging the world’s life forms by photographing them and

uploading them to a science center. She gets paid for each picture she

takes, and can use the money to buy healing items, hovercraft upgrades,

and so forth. It’s an interesting and unique twist that makes exploration not

only fun but ultimately rewarding. The only flaw is that the clunky console-

based interface makes it difficult to manipulate the collection of maps and

goodies Jade gets her hands on.

Throughout her adventure, Jade is accompanied by a wacky cast of

characters who help her in

combat and assist her in com-

pleting some of the puzzles.

Overall Beyond Good and

Evil — which we found reminis-

cent of the cult classic MDK

2 — is an excellent game. Even

if you’re not a fan of platform

games, it’s a kick.

—JOSH NOREM

Jade gets ready to break off the end of her Dai-Jo staff in

this insect’s behind—if she can find it. It’s always tough

telling the front from the back with insects.

Interesting story, great characters, lots of fun

action elements.

PLATFORMS

TRAP DOORS

Confusing inventory-management system,

console-based menus.

$40, http://www.beyondgood&evil.com

MAXIMUMPC VERDICT 9