League of Angels

Game Review

Rift is both technologically innovative and highly polished. When it comes to terms of gameplay, it may not be far from tradition, but what it sets out to do it does exceedingly well. Here we are, living in an age where a large amount of gamers are becoming impatient with unfinished products … it’s something we see all too often. Rift, on the other hand, has received a warm welcome for being a stable MMORPG.

Rift just so happens to be a title I would highly recommend to any player that is on the lookout for a new, yet familiar game. However, for those that are searching for something unique, this game may not be for you. Rift isn’t exactly “flawless.” Questing, combat, and crafting function amazingly well, but they are bland due to the fact that they have been done before. However, this fact doesn’t stop thousands of gamers from going to it on a daily basis!

The Visuals

As long as your computer can handle it, Rift is a very “pretty” game. It is capable of running on a pc/laptop that can run Champions Online, but it doesn’t perform that great. To get the most out of Rift’s visuals, you’ll need a fairly decent video card and speedy CPU.

When you step into the game, you’ll be stepping into an amazing fantasy setting. You’ll find dwarves, goblins, elves, and much more. Yes, this game may look “familiar,” like many of the other games in this setting, but it seems to stand out and that, in my opinion, is what counts. The surrounding world is affected by an open rift and that is amazing.

The Expansion

As a side note, if you get the first full expansion for Rift titled “Storm Legion,” you’ll have even more content. Through the expansion, new environments, such as the forests of Cape Jule, has been added. There are also further atmospheric effects that you can enjoy, like how the trees sway in the wind.

Through the expansion, the armor went through some changes - the armor went from being bland to being unique. However, unfortunately, the player characters have been made the same.

Also, through the expansion, the level cap has jumped up to 60. It has also brought us 7 new dungeons and a new PvP Warfront.

The Sound

Rift’s soundtrack is attractive – listening to the sweeping orchestra score, it become obvious that Rift takes their sound seriously. Of course, you’re probably not going to hum along with the tunes, but the audio cues are peaceful.

The goblins sound like what you would expect a goblin to sound like and wolves … well, they sound like wolves. That is exactly how the sound in a game should be!

I also like the way a rift sounds when it opens up … the aural tone changes. If you actually take a minute or two to really listen to the sound, you will see just how much attention was put into it.

Character

The class-based character system is catchy. You have DPS classes, tanks, and healers, but Trion gives gamers the freedom to swap and build out their own combination, making it unique. It’s referred to as “Ascended Souls.”

Rift classes have been split into four archetypes. You have:

• Rogue
• Warrior
• Mage
• Cleric

These four classes cover the roles you would expect. However, within each one of these archetypes, you have variations that are referred to as “Souls.” These “Souls” offer their own abilities and skill tree.

Here, let me give you an example … let’s say you choose the Shaman … this is a melee-focused DPS character, while the Sentinel is an AOE and single target healing master. If you play as a Cleric the Cabalist, you’ll have a damage over time DPS soul.

When it comes to your skill points, it is all up to you where you put them. You can mix and match up to a total of three souls in a single build. You can have up to a total of four builds (you have to purchase the extra slots). You can switch between the builds at any time.

Crafting

With Rift, crafting is basically the same as every other MMORPG, but it works well. Skinning, mining, foraging … it’s all there. You can make weapons, armor, runes, and potions.

Conclusion

In the end, this game may not be for everyone, but in my opinion, I believe this game is unique in its industry. This game is packed to the top for every small feature you could wish for in an MMO. As time goes forward, I believe Rift’s success will only grow.

Game Screenshots

Game Trailer

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