Age of Conan remains one of the most
visually stunning games available to MMO players. (See
screenshot of tiger mount
below!!!) At PAX 2009 we were able to get an up close look at the new expansion
that will expose AoC players to a new world unlike anything they've experienced!
In the new expansion the immortals of Hyboria will embark on an adventure to the
land of Khitai. The new expansion will be dubbed: Rise of the Godslayer.
This new wave of content will take players to the mysterious country
of Khitai, an Eastern-inspired land full of mystery and wonder. The world of
Khitai was never fully explored by Conan author Robert E. Howard before his
death; however, Funcom is striving for authenticity with this expansion. Khitai
and its people are based on descriptions Howard included in his letters with
friends and family. Rise of the Godslayer is shaping up to be the real deal.
The
game itself has been vastly improved over the already-impressive Age of Conan.
Different zones are now easier to traverse between: instead of teleporting via
an NPC, players can simply explore the massive plains of Khitai and cross the
border between areas themselves. Khitai is designed to feel like an even more
believable world than the Hyboria that was explored in Age of Conan. There are
twelve different factions dotted throughout Khitai, and each of them have their
own distinct culture. Visually, each faction is striking, and the groundbreaking
Age of Conan graphics engine really shines within these new areas. Towns are
filled with intricate buildings and lively characters, as well as dazzling
sunlight, and Funcom says it are striving to make these places feel alive by
opening up as many doors as possible. Players can wander through wonderfully lit
shops, inns, temples, and other establishments, without having to pass through a
loading screen. The exploration appears to be some of the smoothest in any MMO.
While
no new classes or races will be playable in Rise of the Godslayer, the amount of
new content is still huge. Each of the twelve factions will have their own quest
lines, with exciting rewards for players who make it to the top. Special new
armor will be available, including a fourth tier of equipment for high-level
players to seek out. New special skills will also be trained, although the exact
details of these are still up in the air – suffice to say that they will be
exciting and powerful.
The
various warring factions of the game will tie into the player's relationship
with the world. Beating up thugs from one group won't make you too popular with
their superiors, leading to possible future scuffles with NPC enemies looking
for revenge. Interestingly, it's possible to betray the people you call your
own, and ally yourself with a rival faction – just another line of quests to add
to the massive array of new content! However, making your way to the very top of
a faction's quest line without betrayal definitely has its perks. For example,
one group trains tigers. Stellar players will be given the opportunity to have
their very own tiger as a mount or a pet. In true Conan spirit, they must
venture naked into the jungle and fight the beast with their bare hands!
The original Age of Conan struck a
chord with gamers looking for a darker MMO. It was intense, brutal, and steeped
in Robert E. Howard's Conan lore – a major plus for fans of the classic works.
Rise of the Godslayer seems to be on the right path to continue that spirit of
exciting action, whisking players away to a gorgeous open world full of risks
and adventure. The massive realm of Khitai and its promise of new quests, new
gear, new friends, and new foes looks to be a worthy successor to the throne of
Conan.
