Writing Throwback: Asheron's Call Review

Here is an old review I wrote over 14 years ago. It's a little repetitive, short, and badly written. However, it is what is and did the job at the time. Maybe that's why that site no longer exists?

Review

MMOG, heard of it? That is massive multiplayer online game. Moreover, what is that you ask, well in a word Asheron's Call. Asheron's Call is a role-playing game with a twist; it is played solely on the Internet. What that means is that you do not play against the computer or challenge a few friends, but instead thrust into a vast world that sometimes can contain up to 1800 people at once. Now we understand MMOG I will tell you a bit more about Asheron's Call.

Asheron's Call places you in a complete world with shops, dungeons, enemies and real life players. You start by creating your character where you get to choose things like race, appearance, class and what skills you have. The character creation is very easy to use but also gives you many options so each person can be a little bit different. From there, you are dropped into the world of Dereth.

So what can you do? Well, almost anything. You can explore, fight, trade, build your experience or just do nothing. This is what makes Asheron's Call fun as you get to choose what you do. Add in the interaction with the other players and you have a unique and exciting game. You can elect to go solo or band with other adventurers by either joining an allegiance or creating your own. You can make up your adventures or just help people that are new to the game.

The world of Dereth is quite large. Running from one end to the other could take a few hours, and I am talking real time here. You just don't realise how big it is until you explore. Along the way are numerous monsters that you can slay to increase your experience. The more experience you acquire, the more skills you can learn or improve, the more weapons and magic you can use and higher level monsters you can fight, and beat.

The main draw card of Asheron's Call though would have to be character interaction. It is surreal to hear the townspeople say hello or quipping how they have not seen you for a few weeks. It shows you the size of this game that you have so much to explore that you can get lost with other players for weeks.

The visuals for the game are excellent with the world in 3D and your stats placed around the screen for easy access. Asheron's Call runs smooth with little to no jerkiness, and the user panel is also easy to navigate. From there, you run all your commands with a click of a button, and you can also get help too within the panel.

Many people ask what is the point of the game though. Well, it is what you want do. If forming a massive alliance is your goal then so be it. Just exploring and making your adventures is exciting too. New stories are added to the game as well so the look of Death shifts and the adventures change so finding new challenges, new places to see and new monsters is quite easy to achieve.

Microsoft publishes the game and as such the game utilises The Zone. There is a monthly subscription fee but to be honest it is worth it, there is just so much to do. It is hard to put into words just exactly what Asheron's Call is like. The best way to understand it too play it. Asheron's Call is a worthy purchase and a taste of the future with the way we play Role Playing Games.

You will meet new people and find new adventures every day and marvel at just how big this game is. I must warn you though; this game is big and only ends when you stop playing it. As such, you must be careful as you can and will lose many hours to this game but just remember you are not alone.