Zero Punctuation: Eve Online

[Meshakhad_v1legacy]

Well, I wasn't entirely surprised that you went and savaged one of my favorite games. But that's what they pay you for and what we come to see you for. And I couldn't object to most of your observations.

My only disagreement is your statement that "If you think EVE is fun than you are provably wrong." The thing is, many of the features that attract people to EVE are ones you disliked - the skill system helps people who don't play every day keep up. Also, the game is slanted towards those who DO join a player-run corporation.

But you weren't entirely wrong when you said that EVE feels like a game that doesn't want to be liked. EVE doesn't try to appeal to a wide audience. It has instead cultivated a dedicated fanbase - and it's these people that the devs listen to, communicate with, and fly out to Iceland at CCP's expense to discuss game balance.

Finally, I've noticed that you don't like multiplayer, given how when reviewing a game that has both singleplayer and multiplayer you focus on the singleplayer exclusively. You've stated that you don't like other people in general, which is probably why you don't like multiplayer. But the attraction of an MMO is playing with other people. Therefore, if I were you, I would write off all MMOs for good, and stick to single-player games.

 

[SomeBritishDude]

I've never been much of an MMO man myself, I had a brief stab at WoW but pulled pritty quickly seening as friends were becoming a thing of the past. I give this one a much wider birth than WoW I think

 

[zombielifecoach]

When I first found the wonders of The Escapist, I would see the banner add for EVE and at first was like, "meh".


Then I played Mass Effect and thought, what if I'm missing a Mass Effect-esque MMO. I mean, I love RPG(even if it IS in space). The grind and all...


After watching this review and reading the comments, I feel that I just was saved a tremendous amount of time, and more importantly crushed expectations. I'm sure there is something to be said for sticking with a game to see where it 'goes', so to speak. But I enjoy my free time and call me a terrible person, if I have to endure through a FEW weeks of suck to get to the gold mine that IS EVE online(or ANY MMO for that matter). I'll Pass. Thank you Yahtzee and commentors for your weekly insight. This time I will take another's word.


Raisin bread dragon was awesome!

 

[Tyrant55]

Great review, I'm waiting for a Mercenaries 2 review.

 

[Wordsworth Fireheart]

Pve in eve is like playing battlefield only against bots, you can do it...

 

[VMerken]

Yuss.

 

[the big kahuna]

Although many of my friends do say that EVE is nothing like WoW, I disagree, but not entirely. EVE brings several new concepts to the table yet still has that Warcraft stench to it. I myself have never played WoW, but form the story my friends tell me about it, the two games are quite similar.

For example: During my two week trial I decided to unofficially integrate myself into a small mining fleet several systems from the edge of Caldari-controlled territory. The fleet consisted of ten ships, one super tanker, two large miners, two medium frieghters, and five frigates. We were about to wrap up the whole operation when out of nowhere a group of cruisers appears and proceeds to start picking us off. While only me and the tanker survived to sell off our cargo, the other person told me that what had happened was similar to when in WoW you and your group are ambushed, killed (and T-bagged) by bandits.

Also there are the same blocks of grind when it comes doing missions for NPCs who ut only stand around with their thumbs up their posteriors.

I could go on listing all of the things EVE and WoW have in common, but I (unlike many EVE players) have a job to go to today.

 

[PedroSteckecilo]

I love the "and the advertise on The Escapist, which makes it feel like a challenge."

 

[insanelich]

Calling Eve the best MMO ever is more than a little stretch.

Eve is, frankly, boring for the majority.

Eve fanatics use the term "theme park" for normal MMOs. If WoW is a theme park, then Eve is an empty parking lot. Sure, you can do whatever you want, but you need a lot of people and if you don't get along with those people you ain't having any fun.

I have no idea how I'm supposed to enjoy grinding for things and then losing them in PvP, just for blowing someone else up occasionally. If I want to blow things up, or get blown up myself, I go play Team Fortress 2. If I want to grind, I go seek psychiatric help.

 

[Ubikvitaarinen]

I've been laughing me tits off for ten fucking minutes. Not, that I agree, mind you, but its simply too bloody funny to let it slip by.

 

[KiiWii]

I played the demo version and saw the "allow two to three hours for tutorial" and instantly knew what i was getting myself into. So i played it anyway, and the baffling amount of statistics there are crushed any soul it had. Ok so this was at like, 1am.
So the next morning i tried again, but still got the same tired, bored feeling in the pit of my stomach, so i went to party and got trashed with my friends instead. =P

 

[spatuluk]

I kind've agree with this review, despite having been playing EVE for 4 years. The game improves if you've played for over a month and if you've got friends in the game, but if you haven't got either of those, it's gonna be a boring and rather futile experience.

The comments about whining make me suspect that a visit to the EVE forum was made, and I can only apologize to anyone who's experienced it. It is a truly depressing place.

 

[lord667]

An Eve review that focuses on single-player PvE is like...well, it's like a Soul Calibur review that focuses on single-player PvE. You have to see Yahtzee as more of a videogame-based comedian than a proper reviewer, really. Coming soon on ZP: See what crazy antics result when Yahtzee plays Spore in the style of someone reviewing a space combat simulator!

 

[KiiWii]

An Eve review that focuses on single-player PvE is like...well, it's like a Soul Calibur review that focuses on single-player PvE. You have to see Yahtzee as more of a videogame-based comedian than a proper reviewer, really. Coming soon on ZP: See what crazy antics result when Yahtzee plays Spore in the style of someone reviewing a space combat simulator!

I completely agree with you, he's a laugh but people enjoy different games. however, there are those that suck ass, and then there are those that are awesome, to everyone.
I mean, i bought psyconauts on steam on his recommendation and its freakin' awesome.

 

[Jaxolith]

Been playing eve for years now, and I think he just hit the nail on the head about eve - the 14 day trial is pretty crap.

I dont like them, but the in game alliance goonswarm had a thing (dont know if they still do it or not) where you could join them while on your 14 day trial, theyd give you a free frigate to come along and pvp with them. THAT, would probibly hook some people in 14 days.

but when they stick you in highsec and you hear horror stories about daring to enter lowsec; your pretty much stuck to pve, and few corps would hire anyone thats on a trial account anyways.

Eve has ruined me for other mmo's, honestly. I cant begin to enjoy "pointless" pvp like in wow - and having played the warhammer beta, im not sold on it yet either. THAT game is a wow-rip-off. Eve is the furthest thing from a wow rippoff you can get for a graphical mmo.

But, if you want to Solo pve, what are you doing playing an MMO in the end? seriously?

 

[Melaisis]

Love it. Slower pace, but the jokes were far better and I was able to appreciate it more.

Also: Note the fact that The Escapist has turned into in-WarCry ads now.

 

[Alleged_Alec]

I see a lot of people saying that Eve is one of the best MMO's ever. On the other hand, I see a lot of people saying that the first few weeks suck, and somehow, I can't put those two 'facts' (?) together. A game which isn't fun for the first weeks you play it, isn't worth to be called the best MMO.

Really, those first days should make you want to play the game more. I don't know if you guys have ever played WoW, but I know that when I did for the first time, I was blown away. I was amazed by the lore behind everything. I had a great time. I'm not going to play a game if the first few weeks, I don't enjoy it.

 

[Flayra]

From someone who does play EVE regularly, I must agree with Yahtzee on a lot of points. EVE has a learning curve that is steep as f*** and it takes at least 1-2 months to get properly into what is what. But once you get into the advanced part of the game (which might take up to 6 months or more, another con against EVE), it really starts to light up.

The idea behind EVE is great, the implementation is less-than-stellar, but still really damn cool once you get the hang of it. I wish someone would rip it off blatantly and improve on all the flaws

 

[Archedgar]

I keep taking offense to Yahtzee referring to WoW as the quintessential MMORPG, when it is actually a rip off of already existing MMORPGs of the past.

Me having played EQ(1), Lineage 2 and other such games, realize this, but it drives me crazy that he kepts referring to them , indirectly I'll bet, as "WoW clones" when WoW itself is a major(and horrid I might add) clone of other MMORPGs.

I suppose an accurate comparison would be, he keeps referring to "FPS" games as Quake clones when Doom/Wolfenstein did it WAY sooner.

 

[Veloxi]

Thank you for such an excellent review. As a space game fanatic, I'll play anything with a spaceship in it, and while I can handle most games, EVE bores the CRAP out of me.

If you want to try a space-based MMO wherein actual skill does matter, try Jumpgate -- wherin you actually have to fly the spaceships rather than simply pointing and clicking. Far, far superior, IMO.

EVE has a number of older players and players who do not enjoy twitch-based gameplay, including myself.
Looking over the page of features for jumpgate, it seems to have many of the same features as EVE (plus what looks to be a PVP flag).

I don't see anything on the scale of EVE's player-made corporations and alliances and those are where much of the best content is.

JG is much more of a niche title due to the space-simmy elements, so it doesn't have as wide an appeal as more sedate, easier-to-play games such as EVE, in my opinion. This means it has less players as well, sadly, and while it doesn't have corporations, it does have squadrons which is somewhat similar.

Jumpgate Evolution -- the sequel to JG Classic -- is on its way and will hopefully have more of the elements you discussed, but I'm unsure if it will at the moment.