Horizons: Empire of Istaria Review

Right after the launch, the first server wide event set in motion a series of quests that lead to the recovery of a journal and the information that the Withered Aegis had enslaved an entire race of Satyrs and are somehow controlling them to mount attacks on the recovering Empire! It was also learned that there are four collapsed tunnels somewhere in the Empire that once reopened, lead to portals. Where these portals lead is unknown but it is clear the Empire will have to come together to reopen these passages. So this is where we are currently in the game today. The crafters are working like mad to gather the resources needed to open the first tunnel. The fighters are guarding the tunnel entrance so the runners carrying resources for the crafters can come and go without falling to monsters that guard the entrance.

As we have progressed and opened more and more of the tunnel, the Withered Aegis has not been sitting idle. As the players work to undo their fiendish plans coordinated groups of high level undead have been assailing the tunnel as they try to wear down the defenders and kill crafters and resource runners alike.

So what is the payoff you ask? First, it brings together two kinds of players (the fighter and the crafter) that normally only interact when one needs to buy an item from the other. Second, each type of player is doing what they enjoy, getting experience in the process, while working towards a common goal: opening the tunnels. Third, players who are not high level enough to defend or lend crafting skills can act as couriers as they transport resources. Fourth, the rumor mill has produced the biggest payoff yet: If we free the satyrs, there will be a new player race that people can create characters with and play.

Most other MMORPGs add new races through an add-on you purchase; I prefer the idea of being able to unlock other races or affect the game world by my actions and endeavors in game. While world events themselves are not new (Asheron's Call had server events) they were nowhere near as cool as what Horizons has offered up so far, and this is just in the first month!

As with any MMORPG at launch, you are going to have problems. Horizons has had its share with login and patching issues, problems with account setup, crippling lag in some areas and during peak times, ability and spell button not refreshing after use and substandard feedback from Artifact Entertainment on problems and their estimated fix schedule. Also during the first two weeks, server over-population caused people to get messages that the server was full and they could not log in. While this prompted players to migrate to less densely populated servers (myself included), it pissed off quite a few people.

To their credit, Artifact has made huge strides in keeping the community informed on what current problems they are aware of and of actions they are taking to fix them. Also, the server density issues seem to be a thing of the past (knock on wood) and I have not gotten a 'Server is full try again later' message since mid December.

Were Artifact Entertainment's efforts enough to cut the MMORPG mustard? Horizons takes a two handed battle axe and cuts the mustard, the plate holding the bread, and continues right on through the kitchen table leaving it in two pieces! They have created a game that allows the player to create the type of Player vs. Enemy or crafting game they like. Even with its current short comings, I am having a great time in the game and cannot wait to jump online whenever I have a chance.

What remains to be seen is if Artifact Entertainment can continue to squash the bugs that have become (mostly) par for the course on launch of a MMORPG. Also, we will see if they are able to deliver the caliber of server events that add the sense of community and excitement that we have seen so far. If they are able to do this on a consistent basis, they will have an engaging and rewarding MMORPG experience and will be able to go toe to toe with three highly anticipated MMORPG titles advancing on the market this year: World of Warcraft, Lineage II and EverQuest 2. Only time will tell if any of these three titles can steal the thunder of Horizons' unique crafting system, prestige classes and clever world events.

One thing is certain: Horizons has done a good enough job so far to win subscriptions from myself and four other players I know. We all agreed that the features Horizons offers are enough to warrant canceling our Dark Age of Camelot subscriptions. Now excuse me, I must get back to the Bounty server as the first tunnel is nearly complete and I want to go through the portal and greet whatever awaits us on the other side. Somehow, I know it will be undead, have many teeth and will be pissed as hell to have company. I can't wait!!