| Runescape is a large 3D multiplayer adventure, set in middle ages. There are monsters to kill, quests to complete, and treasure to win. In the game, which opens up in your web browser, you can choose what you want to look like (you get to pick what colour hair, skin, clothes, etc your character has), then control your own character who will improve and become more powerful the more you play. This isn't a game where everything that happens is pre-determined. What you do in the world is up to you! The game also promises a lot of freedom to players who can go on adventures or earn a living by plying a trade that contributes to life in your town, such as cooking or crafting. Many of the characters in the game can give you quests to go on, each with different rewards. Completing quests also earns you ‘Quest Points’, and upon getting a certain amount of quest points, you can enter the Champions Guild, and buy special items found nowhere else. If you are brave you can search for riches in the dungeons or sewers but make sure you are well armed! Try your hand at archery, or learn some magic spells to give yourself an extra advantage. The game features a full 3D engine which renders the high detail world, efficient network routines to allow the game to run using minimal bandwidth, a detailed 3D map with multi-level buildings, rivers & hills. Runescape is a Java game that you play over the Internet. For Internet / Gaming buffs, the correct term is MMORPG (Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game). Most of you have probably heard of an RPG (Role Playing Game), a MMORPG is based around the same concept. The only difference is that there is no offline play, hence the ‘Online’ in the name. This can be a problem, but the majority of people are happy with playing in real time with real people, as opposed to computer players. The interface is amazing. Because the game is multiplayer, you will meet many other people in the world who you communicate, trade and journey with. The more friends you make in Runescape, the more fun it is to be there. You and your new friends can go adventuring together to stand a better chance against the stronger monsters and player killers (called Pk'ers). Perhaps you want to make your money trading valuable goods with others. Or if you like taking risks, you can choose to fight with other players in an area called the wild, or by dueling on the member version, to try and steal their treasure. There are many more things you can do! Runescape isn't a game you can just finish in a week. Lastability is definitely NOT an issue, as there is no ‘Finish’ to the game, which means you can literally play till you get bored. Like many RPGs, your character has characteristics, all at a certain level. For example, you have attack, defence, and strength levels. You need combat experience to raise your levels, and by raising your levels, you can wield certain weapons, or face stronger opponents. There are countless items in Runescape, including levels of armour (Bronze, Iron, Steel etc etc), Weapons, Money, and many other items. Some of these are quest specific, and others are just for everyday use. The Graphics just underwent a major overhaul to become more 3-D & there is still a classic version if you prefer the old interface.. Although the graphics aren’t a problem, there are a few that should be pointed out. The first of these is lag. You heard me, like most online games, you normally experience a little bit of lag; sometimes a lot. The second problem that should be pointed out is the controls. To move, you simply click on the area around you that you wish to move to, and you proceed there. Not always, but occasionally, the controls decide they will do their own thing, and you will not go where you want. Sometimes this can be amusing, but at other times it is a problem i.e. when running from an enemy. One thing that Jagex, the producers of Runescape did, was introduce a members only section. For paying customers, the map is probably 2 - 4 times larger than the free version, and you can go many more places and do more things. As a member, you also get private servers. |
