What is the very first thing you notice about a game?  For me it is the graphics, but as we all know graphics are not everything.  What really sets aside any game from another in the end is what you remember about it.  How intriguing it was and of other characteristics the like.  For me Age of Conan – Hyborian Adventures (AoC) was an excellent game with a great backing story.  The best part about it for me was their battle system.  Its not the standard hack and slash or FPS type game, instead it required a bit of skill.  Relying on brute strength alone would get you killed in a couple seconds flat.  Instead if you take the time to learn your character and the interface you can do rather well against any foe.

Have you ever watched a HD movie?  Well, this is something like that.  The game itself has a very high level of detail to everything.  This game will push your video card to do what it was intended.  Infact, I had to go get a new video card just to play this game at my native Windows resolution without lag.  The beautiful landscapes are accented with highly detailed water (+ripples) swaying tree’s, various vegetation, and did I mention furious beast?  Prepare yourself to see a truly epic visual and immersing audio game.

There are 4 base class categories: Soldier, Mage, Priest, and Rogue-types. Each category has 3 unique classes each, creating a total of 12 playable types in the game. You will create  your own unique character with an overwhelming array of sliders and pull downs until you find your final avatar. Then its off to the pirate town of Tortage where you’ll spend your newbie  levels getting a feel for the unique combat system and navigation.

The first 20 or so levels are equipped with a very detailed story line with voice-over actors giving out your quests. After that the game really begins as you’re set off into the wider world to adventure freely in the one of three  major territories. From there you can swing from quest to quest to the level cap of 80.

The battle system within AoC is probably the aspect of the game that has the most appeal.  Each swing of your sword or axe requires a stroke of the key, so you’re not only clicking an  “attack” button and watching your avatar do all the work for you. Each class has its own combo’s and abilities where you have to hit certain attacks in order for them to successfully activate. This makes for very immersive gameplay and a very addicting game.

One of the best parts about AoC is that you have the choice of which type of server to join.  You have PvP(Player vs Player) or PvE (Player vs Environment) servers.  PvP is obviously the most liked as you can play against other players causing any player encounter outside of city walls to be a possible skirmish to the death.  But if you want to simply play the game through its intended storyline before you join the ranks and start fighting other players, then the PvE server is where you belong.

Did I mention that this game was intended for mature players?  This game comes complete with plenty of blood, decapitations, and body parts being flung all over.  Granted it could have alot more gore, but when the blood splatters on your screen when you finish off a Pict (Goblin like being) it just gives you a rush.  Literally, you start to gain more stamina for dealing blows such as this.  This of course, only makes the system more appealing to me.

The good news about this game is that as it has been on the market for a couple of years now, most of the content is complete and bugs squashed.  As long as you are on the lastest updates for Windows and your drivers, then this game plays like a dream.

So in summation, I would like to say: go play it, give it a shot.  However be warned that as with any online game, that it will take time and effort and hence marriage issues if you pay more attention to it than your spouse/girlfriend.  My rating for this game overall is 8/10.  Its complex and has a steep learning curve, but once you get there it is just awesome.

About the author

I am me. Just a single person amungst the masses searching for something more out of life.