As if it weren't bad enough that NCsoft's E3 2006 line-up was somewhat lacking in quality titles, their most promising MMO project - Aion: The Tower of Eternity - was first announced for the Asian market only. Fortunately however, even though the game is being created by NCsoft's Seoul studios, it will actually be aimed at a worldwide market. A most logical decision, given that none of their other titles managed to attract an excessive amount of attention: nor Dungeon Runners (give me a break), nor Tabula Rasa (a second re-design wouldn't hurt), nor Exteel (mecha just ain't my thing), nor even Soccer Fury showed any big potential, like the titles they presented a couple of years ago (Lineage II, City of Heroes, Guild Wars). And so, all we're left with is the high-fantasy, oriental-styled MMORPG, Aion.


Which is not bad, at all! You'll understand just why, once you see these superb screenshots and E3 trailer, if you haven't done so already. Whether you're into gorgeous landscapes or gorgeous female characters, you really can't help but take a moment to drool over these visual goodies, as the game's "Crytec" engine (no, not Crytek) draws some truly impressive imagery. And it's not just the graphics that promise to make a difference in this game. Weather effects, although present in other MMORPGs as well, will have a real impact on Aion's gameplay. Casting water spells under a pouring rain, for instance, will give you a nice little bonus, while fire-based attacks will be less effective in these conditions.


On a much larger scale, the devs are cooking up some ambitious things like "user-driven storylines" (EVE Online?), or "PvPvE" gameplay (as the player-controlled Angels or Demons start to gain control over one another, the computer will automatically unleash Dragons upon the winning factions, attempting to even the score). Angels? Demons? Hell yeah! And they can even fly, as seen in the trailer - although only on a strict path, much like the flight-paths from World of Warcraft. Hopefully the devs will reconsider this, to allow more aerial freedom of movement (since it won't even be a novelty anymore, once The Burning Crusade unleashes upon our WoW addicted souls).


Finally, if numbers are your fetish, then rejoice at the sound of 2 (playable factions - Angels and Demons), 4 (classes available at the moment - Wizards, Rangers, Warriors and healers), 8 (total classes planned for the final version), and 6 (members in a party, which in turn can be grouped to form raids). Oh and 2007 - Aion's planned realse timeframe, after a closed beta phase scheduled for late 2006.

Now sure, this may not be the most innovative MMO title in the making, but when all's said and done, neither was World of Warcraft. And I don't hear it complain!

(N.B. Archive text, links removed)

Tags:  PC, fantasy, mmo, role-playing, NCsoft