Aion Hands On

Aion is like a supermodel - it flaunts and flicks its hair to show off how beautiful it is to look at, but once you look past the superficial beauty all you are left with is another average being with nothing exceptional under the surface. The game itself is slightly refreshing from the western-styled MMORPG (Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game) due to its Korean origins and creative development team, but it lacks the originality to break through the genre and pull players from other finely-tuned MMORPGs. This opinion is based off the beta testing so keep in mind that the Aion development team could make a few tweaks here and there, but that may not change the fate of the game.

The most stunning first impression received from the game was the detail of character creation. Players can choose from two different (and warring) factions: the bright and light Elyos, or the dark and brutal Asmodians. After a choice between the two is made, players can choose from four basic classes that each stem out into sub-classes. The available classes are Warrior, Scout, Priest, and Mage, but once players reach level ten they have a choice between two sub-classes which can be best described as what role you want to play in the game. The Warrior, for example, can be either a melee damager or a damage-absorbing tank - the advantage to this kind of class selection is that players have ten levels right from the get-go to decide how they are going to play their class. After the choice of class is made, players then have an impressive amount of control over what their characters will look like, ranging from height and body shape to how wide their nostrils are. Once a player's character is complete they get treated to a pure 'eyegasm' as the Cryengine renders characters beautifully.

The same engine used to create the 2007 PC game 'Crysis' was also used to create the beautiful world of Aion. The engine has been reworked to offer stunning clarity and views to those who have a high-end system, and a solid frame rate to those on the lower end of the system hardware spectrum. The graphics for Aion really shine when it comes to the characters, NPCs, and spells – in fact, playing a Mage guarantees captivating and devastating shine and sparkle whenever in battle. The downside to the engine is that its potential has been wasted when it comes to the environments. Yes, the artistic styling is unique and stunning but there is a certain overhanging lack of finesse in the surrounding areas, especially when standing behind the characters and creatures that provide such fantastic visuals.

The world of Aion is divided between two factions from opposite parts of the world, the dark side-dwelling Asmodians and the light-embraced Elyos. Contrast between the two races is not just limited to a basic representation of light and dark but in the way that the characters look – the Asmodians, for example, have dark skin and glowing eyes (when in combat), and their hands and feet have become talons and claws, with manes on their backs. The Elyos are proud and upright – they are gifted with beautiful faces and slim figures and come across as pure and holy, yet they are as deadly as the Asmodians.

The common feature that both factions have is the ability to sprout wings and fly for a limited period of time, and in the later parts of the game aerial combat is commonplace. Not only is the division of the world apparent in the characters, but also in the environments; the Asmodians dwell in twilight but are born witness to beautiful forests of magic and mystery, while the Elyos are constantly basking in paradise and warmth, with sprawling tropical islands and bright flowers. The eyes are gifted with art but the ears are also treated to some fantastic eastern styling. The music present in Aion provides the atmosphere best suited to the area that the player is in, but once a character draws their weapon the music and mood instantly shifts to hasty electronica and soaring guitar rifts, pumping the player with the energy of combat.

Aion is a world fresh in its appearance, yet slightly unpolished, but it also provides a new picture for MMORPG followers, owing to the eastern-based development team and the flexibility of the Cryengine. Unfortunately it appears that Aion may not have anything else groundbreaking enough to shatter the fortress of the average MMO player and lull them from their dedication to World of Warcraft, or any other popular MMORPG. The days are still early for Aion and its future, though, as there are a few more weeks of beta testing and fine-tuning to complete before the game gets released in New Zealand around September. It is highly recommended to try the beta test to get an idea of what the game is like – players may be surprised by the alternative path Aion has taken but may not be swayed by the similar mechanics of the game that are like so many others out there. All we can do is wish Aion the best of luck and hope that the gaming public sings praises of it upon release, otherwise we may just see another MMORPG sink into sad obscurity.