The Consensus: Aion Review

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If you're interested in understanding Aion's narrative, you're better off visiting the various websites that provide expansive wikis on the lore; that's all quite outside the scope of this Aion review. While I don't really know what exactly has led the game's two playable races into a never-ending war against one another, I can attest to how much fun I've had playing Aion since it launched. From its abnormally good graphics and highly customizable character creation, to its innovative tutorial elements and innovative aerial combat mechanics, Aion does enough to make a strong first impression. The problem comes during the long haul, when that initial luster fades, and you're left going through routine, repetitive tasks in order to gain meaningful character progression.

That great first impression really is worth experiencing. Aion's initial character creation, your first exposure to the game past that lovely sign-in screen, is a new benchmark for avatar customization. While there are only two races (Elyos and Asmodean) and four classes (Warrior, Mage, Priest, Scout) you have a wealth of different options to choose from to make your character a unique individual. The best part is that the tools are simple enough that you can create attractive, visually appealing characters with ease. You're not stuck in a situation -- as you are in many games -- where it's impossible to make something that looks nice, or even remotely human. I made the cutest little knee-high mage as well as a tall, lanky elf-like creature with unnaturally long limbs, both of the same race despite their unique appearances. Sliders let you manipulate all the details, from the length of your limbs to the jut of your chin down to the smile (or grimace) on your face. There are plenty of interesting hairstyles, distinct body types, and color palettes for hair, eye, skin, and lips. Now maybe all those years you spent in beauty school can be put to good use!

Once you're ready to venture into this world, you'll see that Aion's developers implements many of the features that gamers added into World of Warcraft through third-party add-ons, and then some. I was impressed by the built-in tutorial videos for how to manage the UI, and now that I've played an MMO with a quest log with clickable links to a world map GPS locator I don't know if I want to go back to referring to third-party sites to locate NPCs and quest objectives. In real life I use Google Maps to find directions to wherever I'm going, and I appreciate that Aion allows me to do the same from within the game.

With MMOs it's not so much about your goal but the journey getting there. Exploring is what I enjoyed most in Aion, thanks to its breathtaking vistas, unique flora and fauna, and the ability to take it all in from high in the sky thanks to the game's thrilling (if limited) winged flight mechanics. While I loved the idea of having your flying mount strapped to your back, I didn't appreciate that you couldn't fly in most of the questing zones, where I always ended up.

Whether you're looking to join an endgame PvP guild or just want to explore this world of Atreia on your lonesome, the lion's share of your play hours will be spent traveling from zone to zone and killing its denizens ad nauseum, due to a shortage of quests. With many of the game's quests it just doesn't make as much sense to travel around the world via teleporter and flight master when it's more efficient, if more boring, to simply find a nice quiet spot to grind. Aion's colorful zones are mighty attractive, but there's simply not enough to do to keep you occupied for the long haul without sinking into repetition. It doesn't help that I would fall into the same patterns when killing critters either. Three, maybe four abilities in a row, in exactly the same order to take advantage of skill chains, followed by a short rest, then repeat. To break up the monotony I'd try and take on multiple enemies at once using my character's paltry crowd-control options, if only to ramp up the difficulty unnecessarily. It may be that I would tire of these hunts after a short while because it takes quite a bit longer to kill an even-conned mob in Aion than it does in most other games of its ilk. The action is slower and more deliberately paced than you might be used to if you've been playing lots of MMOs, though the endgame PvPvE experience promises more tension and excitement, should you choose to delve into direct competition against the opposing faction.

So why do I recommend Aion, despite its shortcomings? It's a well put-together package that only falters in that it sticks to the same formulas that I've seen in MMOs since their inception. It's a highly polished experience that will satisfy if you're looking for yet another MMO, albeit one with a few more bells and whistles.

The Critics Agree

Other critics have also lauded Aion for its production values and polish, while also being quick to criticize it for sticking to a formulaic approach to MMO design.

"Without a doubt, Aion is an incredibly polished experience that refines the best aspects of the genre and creates a spectacular new world. As a fan and critic of the genre, I wholeheartedly recommend Aion to both casual and experienced gamers." -- Stephen Harris, RPG Fan

"Aion is a beautiful, well-polished, well-presented game that introduces a new combat mechanic in fantasy MMOs, fighting on wings. In fact, it's such a lovely game that we wish there were more of it." -- Marissa Monera, IGN

"Aion's particular vision is built on a rock-solid if uninspired foundation, a meticulous mastery of the traditional MMORPG form. It might as well have been made by Toyota or Volkswagen. It won't let you down." -- Oli Welsh, Eurogamer

The Critics Disagree

Some members of the gaming press couldn't get past the repetitive grind that Aion eventually devolves into, unable (or unwilling) to continue playing the game long enough to get to the endgame that awaits.

"If you play MMORPGs for the journey and the storyline, then Aion: the Tower of Eternity is not for you. There aren't enough quests to engage you in the story, and spending days grinding mobs just to level is not something many people relish doing." -- Toni Schwartz, GameShark

"Because of the relatively short amount of time I've had with Aion, and, to be honest, a general apathy toward playing any further, I've not yet experienced the so-called "PvPvE" endgame that lies in the central Abyss zone." -- Dustin Quillen, 1UP

Source: Gamespy