“Hyborian Adventures:” Conan was never known for his table manners.
No, the Cimmerian wouldn’t know what to do with a salad fork, other than perhaps stab someone with it. So you can imagine that the universe in which he dwells reflects the same amount of visceral bloodlust he is famous for.
This became evident as my opponents head came flying off.
Age of Conan dares to go where World of Warcraft and other titles go, a more adult-themed and darker game that is specifically tailored to an adult audience. Player-versus-player combat shines in this title. Unlike the button mashing of other MMOs where your attacks succeed or fail due to your agility, attacks begin to fail in Age of Conan due to mobs learning the attack and defending it, making combat much more intuitive.
This, if nothing else, makes combat and PvP much more fun. Not just because you can lop off your opponents head and fashion it into a decorative fruit bowl, but because it has taken PvP combat to the next level. If only they could have done that for the rest of the game.
While fans of the Conan universe will appreciate the tailored universe rendered into a beautifully textured game, at times it feels like nothing more than a bloodier, more graphically violent and sexualized version of World of Warcraft. Quick-travel, mounts, maps; Age of Conan isn’t shy about borrowing from its fellow MMOs.
All in all, Age of Conan is a gory cousin to its older brother World of Warcraft, and while the similarities are apparent Perhaps it deserves its own name. But like WOW, it will have to continue to grow in content and player satisfaction before it earns it.
Rated: M for mature
Cost: $19.95 for the PC
Justin Arnold, Big Game Hunter
jarnold@heraldnet.com
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
