Vanguard: Saga of Heroes

Since this game is now owned by Sony Online Entertainment (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanguard:_Saga_of_Heroes for more information) I didn't really like it, Sony Online Entertainment always screw up on their games, just look at Star Wars Galaxies and The Matrix Online, both seem like good ideas, nein? Then SOE come along and now they are lowly rated, I wouldn't bother with anything, even Pirates of The Burning Sea because of SOE.

Vanguard offers a huge world to roam and a seemingly endless number of things to do. With the distinct spheres of gameplay you're never going to find yourself bored unless you blatantly ignore all the game has to offer and just stand around and kill the same monsters over and over.

Diplomacy is the feature that Vanguard is alone with. They've set it up like a cardgame, reminiscent of Magic The Gathering and similar games. It works well and the fact that you have several different "sets" of equipment means that you can aquire (either by questing or by crafting) gear and items specifically for Diplomacy.

Adventuring is what you would expect from a game like this. They have some new "reactions" you can use during certain conditions in combat that I haven't seen in any other game but apart from that there's really not much new. That isn't to say it's bad, though.

Crafting is a big divider in game. Basically you either love it or hate it. It's like nothing I've ever seen before and the number of items you can make is astounding. I've played since just before launch and I can't say I've even begun to grasp the depth of this crafting system so I'll just leave it at that. Suffice to say I'm happy there's a lot to learn and master.

All in all I'm very happy and content in the world of Telon and bar some major changes I don't see myself switching to another MMO any time soon.

I beta tested this game from phase 3 through to the end. The changes I saw were amazing, I was initially a little disappointed because of the hype I had read differed somewhat from the game I saw in beta 3, but then I realised no game could live up to my imagination, and as I watched this game evolve, and saw the amount of depth and complexity it had to offer - I realised although it can look like a standard type MMO with pretty graphics it is much, much more than that. The diplomacy is a whole game in itself, as is the crafting. Only real downside is the need for a fairly decent computer to run it. Especially a decent video card. But there is no better reason to upgrade than this game.

This game is awesome! I suggest you do a bit of research into it, there is SO much to it.
Judging the game from early beta....pure genius, that's like saying dinner was terrible, I ate it before it was cooked though.

If you are looking for a new challenge in the world of MMORPGS, this game may be for you!

A massive, immersive world & a return to the 'effort=reward' ethos that games like WoW did away with. If you still remember the thrill of the 1st time you killed Fippy Darkpaw and no game has felt as good since..then Vanguard may be the game your waiting for!