Playing AO in 2022: a Review

[Our Only Hope]

I've been playing AO on and off since 2004 and practically grew up on Rubi-Ka. And amazed to say, in 2022, it's much more active now than it was several years ago when I played in the mid-10s.

If you're a potential new player and seeking AO for an old-school MMO experience, this is the review for you. Anarchy Online has one of the most unique RPG systems and one of the most original settings of any game in history.

While it takes inspiration from classic Sci-Fi literature among other sources, it's truly an intriguing world that is unlike anything else you'll experience in other science fiction games.

The world itself is enough to draw you in, but the character development system is really what hooks players for life.

Unlike most old school MMOs that are still operational (*cough* WoW Classic), Anarchy Online does not have nearly as many hard level locks. Meaning there are an endless number of ways to "twink" a character and make them unstoppable in their level range....while at the same time offering challenging PVM for a character who goes in unprepared... or underprepared.

Death can be rather unforgiving in AO. Instead of a time-waste run back to where you died in ghost form, you are literally shot back to wherever you last "saved" in the game world. There's no respawning at home on log in. This is a true MMO experience where you must be prepared to adventure out into the world...and come back. Resurrection sickness is mandatory for those who get careless - you'll have time to think about your strategy for after you recover and adventure out to try again.

The game at its core is extremely compelling to play, even as a free player. A small monthly fee gets you a plethora of additional content and endless upgrades to twink your "toon" (as we tend to call characters) into a complete monster, soloing things 20 levels higher than he is.

That's not to say the game is perfect. The microtransaction system, while preserving this game's run time, also took a bit of the soul away. You can buy your way arpund a lot of rites that were once required, like the late game Garden and Sanctuary keys. But you're here to play the game, and microtransactions are not required to enjoy it. If anything, it's better enjoyed without them.

The population is NOT what it was in the 00s. I remember the game before and after the release of LE. And even then, many Battlestations (battlefield style, control point PVP) had limited run windows. That said, the TL5 and TL7 stations are alive and well as always, and there's no shortage of tower action happening right now.

Raids are easy enough to find - as are the orgs who can help you get into them. Some massive orgs are playing on both factions right now and have some great people who are thrilled to help you. The community is one of the least toxic of any game, especially modern F2P games.

Overall, while the game's aesthetics are antiquated, this is a must-have experience for anyone who can appreciate just how special this game is. The world is worth exploring. The community is worth knowing. The sophisticated skill system is worth learning, and the feeling of success when you develop a proficiency for this game is very satisfying.

Ignore the plethora of Karens who like to whine on the various forums for this game. The most negative people are always the loudest. They're the type of people who make a long post on a Facebook group about why they're leaving and then wait around to see the comments before they actually go.

Many of us who still play have been here for a very long time, and we don't always speak up on our love for this game.

Give this game a shot, and let it grow on you. It's a relic from a very special time in gaming history, and we're fortunate enough to still be able to experience it. You'll be glad that you did when you're adding this game to your list of all-time favorites.

In-game: Edvvin/Joveri

[Salamand3r-]

Originally posted by Our Only Hope:

Ignore the plethora of Karens who like to whine on the various forums for this game. The most negative people are always the loudest. They're the type of people who make a long post on a Facebook group about why they're leaving and then wait around to see the comments before they actually go.

Mostly spot on, but complaining about legitimate issues is not being a Karen.

It's a simple fact that there are multiple people, including myself, who have waited nearly a year for replies to simple customer support issues.

I'd love to play AO...if I could have gotten into my accounts when I wanted to, I would have re-upped 4 accounts for year-long subs.

It's still my favorite game of all time, but at this point I am not giving another cent unless they show evidence it will get re-invested in the game in some way.

[CYBERBULLY]

ao is a nice game no doubt, the complex skillpoints, lvlup, notum wars, buffing and tweaking make it unique and one of the best mmorpg still to this day in 2022. too bad funcom delegate the resource and money earned from ao to other ips like conan and the secret world. supporting ao is like supporting age of conan and other ♥♥♥♥♥♥ ips you have no interests in, its lame and disrespecting true ao fanbase

[Lord Haart]

"Give this game a shot, and let it grow on you. It's a relic from a very special time in gaming history, and we're fortunate enough to still be able to experience it. You'll be glad that you did when you're adding this game to your list of all-time favorites." - Our Only Hope

I'm an AO veteran, but this lovely passage has got me to try the 2019 server.

Thank you

[℣ Naxzar ℣]

Have they updated the graphics now? I remember reading something about that going to happen

[Salamand3r-]

Originally posted by Haxzarx:

Have they updated the graphics now? I remember reading something about that going to happen

There is a beta of the "new engine" available. Not via Steam though - you need to get it right from the website.

It has its own set of issues - can be crashier, some areas actually perform worse.

On the plus side, it's a lot easier to apply a lot of ReShade effects, including ray tracing if you so choose.

[Seithan]

For me, the game died after Notum Wars. While the following expansions breathed an air of freshness to the game, it really took out all the populace and usual activities on RK and introduced new systems and grinds, something while I did like most active ppl did, it felt... bitter. The magic was seeping out, just like the Elfs were dieing out in Middle Earth :)

I wish there was a way to play the game with NW xpac but even if there was a way to, it would still be missing all the famous guilds and players and associations we made on that time.

Still fond memories to keep and treasure.

[℣ Naxzar ℣]

Originally posted by Salamand3r-:

Originally posted by Haxzarx:

Have they updated the graphics now? I remember reading something about that going to happen

There is a beta of the "new engine" available. Not via Steam though - you need to get it right from the website.

It has its own set of issues - can be crashier, some areas actually perform worse.

On the plus side, it's a lot easier to apply a lot of ReShade effects, including ray tracing if you so choose.

Thank you:)

[Sauriel]

I've been playing it off and on too through out the years since around 2010. I'm mostly a freeby solo player roaming the world, but lately got a friend that frequently plays with me and just explores at our own pace. I dont stay and grind too much at dungeons, except getting those skillbooks for martial artist at a certain place before locked out later. I had no net access out in our secluded countryside back when mmo's were in their golden age so i missed that era

[Our Only Hope]

Originally posted by Lord Haart:

"Give this game a shot, and let it grow on you. It's a relic from a very special time in gaming history, and we're fortunate enough to still be able to experience it. You'll be glad that you did when you're adding this game to your list of all-time favorites." - Our Only Hope

I'm an AO veteran, but this lovely passage has got me to try the 2019 server.

Thank you

I will go ahead and tell you that the 2019 server is generally not as active as the main server. However, it might have a different flavor that you like better. People def still do it.

[Skuly]

It's obviously the old and new owners of Funcom don't give a #$%# about the game. If they had they would of made Shadowlands free when they made Notum Wars free/included.

[Skuly]

Or even when they stopped the $5 Shadowlands Subscription. They had multiple opportunities.

[Skuly]

You can play this game for $8 a month (I hear the fees for EU are a lot higher) if you pay for a whole year.

Who wants to pay $100 and end up only playing less than a week a month or only playing a few weeks of the whole year?

Every time i paid for a year at least 9 months of it was wasted.

They really need to make Shadowlands free, at least up to level lvl 150 or 160. But it won't ever happen, so while I often miss AO I don't plan on every playing again.

[Lord Haart]

A O RULEZ

[Liralen]

I started playing Anarchy Online within a month after release, in 2001 There were so many of us Everquest refugees trying to find a way out...

We were playing on dial-up connections back then which was 4k Hertz at best. So it took a long time to load. Which I was fine with, because the music played while loading and elsewhere has never been equaled in a video game until Horizon Zero Dawn (However, Schala's theme midi is perhaps the best in 1995's Chrono Trigger). AO's loading music is pretty much the same that you will hear in Borealis at night.

Yeah, I'm really old and a music fanatic.

AO had a lot of issues in the early days especially with respect to PvE Everquest players encountering PvP for the first time which in hindsight, are now hilarious.

Like one of my friends deciding to use an object to change factions In a Clan city near some guards. It resulted in an indefinite death loop, which drew quite a crowd, watching him die over and over again.

But then some kind soul intervened and teleported him to safety.

AO is not for those who expect milk and cookies when they first start playing an MMO. But unlike some of the other old school MMO's that still exist (WoW is too new for me to count in that category - and it was the first one to introduce the idea that milk and cookies should be expected for newbs.) Anarchy Online is also solo-able, if you choose the right build.

[Remnar]

I played this game many years ago and I enjoyed it. But if they stopped developing it, and it seems that way; I can't really get back into it, when it's such an old game.

I hate it when new devs, or publishing company, neglect to bring something they are still charging money for, to the current state of technology. Just like LOTRO, still runnin on 32 bit servers, laggy as hell, and looks like ♥♥♥♥ (today's standards). Only a handful of players still play it, and continue to give money to a company who doesn't care.

They could reinvest and remake this game even better; but why do that if they can continue to make money from the old one?