Follow the white bunny...

As Oblivion fades... something entirely different takes its place...


Well, to be completely honest, two things have replaced the behemoth that it Oblivion: Planetside Reserves (PS) and The Matrix Online (MxO).

For those of you who know me, you might be quite surprised to hear that I'm now playing MxO after being part of the Beta and giving it a major thumbs down before it was even released. I don't do that very often but it was, at the time, particularly painful to play... even for a Beta!

It's not been an easy ride for MxO since release... plagued by all of the usual problems that come with MMOs, but lacking in the support and features to keep people happy, it doesn't look like it's managed to hold on to more that the hardcore Matrix fans. Since SOE have taken over however, they appear to be making changes to try and turn the tide. As a relative new-comer to the MxO scene it is difficult to judge how effective SOE's steps are... or whether it will be enough. Certainly, after spending some time checking out some of the fan sites, there appears to be a very dedicated following that I doubt will give up the fight easily!

So... what got me to jack-in? Curiosity above all else. Having spent around 150 hours playing Oblivion (and completing quite a number of the quests, including becoming head of all of the guilds) I needed to find something different and while investigating the Planetside Reserves stumbled across details of the new combat system for MxO. After then finding out that I could pick up MxO for just a £5, it seemed rude not to at least give it a go!

My thoughts so far? Well... actually... I quite like it! I've not played very much so far, I've just finished my 5th or 6th mission for Zion and I'm about level 7. It reminds me (a lot) of City of Heroes. The graphics, the 'wandering' mobs, door missions and even the combat... but this is a GOOD thing as CoH is an easy game to play. MxO can be a little confusing at times as it's not always clear what you should be doing but it is not exactly a show-stopper. The combat is actually quite cool to watch and does remind you of the films. It's going to take a while to get to grips with the game as a whole and give a proper verdict but with 30 free days for just a £5 I can't really go wrong!

Planetside Reserves? I'll come back to you on that one... I've got a rabbit to catch...

Oblivion Oblivion Oblivion

Well... it's been a little while since I've update my blog but not much has gone on really.

Taken a bit of a break from Everquest 2 for a while to give Oblivion the time and dedication it deserves.

If you haven't played Oblivion... go out and buy it immediately. I don't think I've played such an truly immersive and completely absorbing game as this in a very (very long) time. The graphics are breathtaking (even before you download the player-made texture improvements), the Havok physics are amazing and the sheer level of detail in every aspect of the game is just awe inspiring. I'm not saying it's perfect... but it's close enough that you won't care!

The number of times I've found myself cackling away like a crazy man after shooting an arrow into a monster and paralyzing it... causing it to topple awkwardly (in whatever pose it held when the paralysis kicked in) down a hill or off of a cliff top. Or the tense moments just before I've picked the pocket of a count or guard captain. Or maybe it's the strange moment where you round a bend on your way to somewhere only to find a guard fighting several bandits that he's discovered on his patrol and wonder whether or not to get involved... and on which side! The number of times this game gives you cause to stop and think to yourself "how cool was that". And they just keep happening... and differently every time. Reload your save game and check for the patrolling guard fighting the bandits and this time the bandits are not there, or the guard has been jumped by a number of Oblivion dwellers and killed leaving the bandits to ambush you instead!

It's a little scary just how much time it absorbs (just take a look at my XFire profile) and I just have to be thankful that I have such a wonderful and understanding girlfriend.... Other than that, I’ve re-discovered books!!! That’s right… I do actually read as well as play games (shocking concept I know). I had lost my way a little after reaching 'A Crown of Swords', book seven of Robert Jordan’s ‘Wheel of Time’ series. It’s a good series… it’s just that after reading six books I was flagging a bit (although I’ve been assured by an number of people that it picks up again in book nine!). Almost by accident I started reading ‘Dragons of Autumn Twilight’ by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman and I was reminded just how fantastic some novels can be. The fantasy setting isn’t to everyone’s taste (as with Oblivion) but the Dragon Lance Chronicles (of which this is book 1) are fantastic!