Formats: PC

Publisher: Sony Online Entertainment

Reviewed By: Ian Bamford

Price: £19.99

[ratings]

The Shadow Odyssey is the fifth and latest expansion pack for the long-living MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game) Everquest II, released back in 2004. Sony Online Entertainment has targeted The Shadow Odyssey at group quests for experienced players but they haven’t excluded lesser players. The game comes with Everquest II, so new players can start and there is a quicker advancement to level 70 for those who feel a bit overwhelmed.

There are plenty of new additions to the Everquest world in this expansion pack and SOE have certainly put effort into refreshing the game for seasoned veterans. The Ethernauts and their impressive flying machines are introduced. There are a number of new dungeons and playing areas containing new mobs and some returning enemies from the original Everquest. Some of the areas revisit those in the original game, giving a darker feel to the experience.

This year’s addition to the Everquest world has a focus on teamwork and most of the quests rely on a group of skilled, experienced players working effectively together in order to succeed. Ill-prepared gamers can feel like General Custer as they realise they’ve caused their co-players’ slaughter, so proceed with caution. These are aimed at level 50 players and above. There are also over 100 solo quests for some alone time. Other improvements to the game are shadow achievements aimed at balancing the class system, maps detailing terrain, new void armour and crafting quests.

The game is not without fault, though. Some traps are so good you only notice them once dead. Sublevel 50 players will find most new quests unplayable and there’s also the credit busting monthly subscription fee to play online. Still, for experienced Everquest II players looking to rejuvenate their gaming, this would be an enjoyable addition to their collection.

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