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Aion: Assault on Balaurea by NCsoft
Product SummaryBrand: NCsoft Audio: English (Unknown) Format: DVD-ROM Release Date: 2010-09-07 Platform: Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP Model: FG-XP-AABST-095 Publisher: NCsoft Product features: - New Instances: Aion: Assault on Balaurea offers eight new instances that provide a range of challenges from solo adventures to full-on Legion raids.
- New Zones: Players will explore the vast lands of Balaurea, the home of the Balaur, ruled by the Dragon Lord Tiamat. The Asmodians and Elyos have established fortresses in the two new zones: Gelkmaros and Ingisson.
- Useful Pets: Aion creates an entire new subsystem for players to explore as characters acquire functional pets capable of storing goods, assisting with crafting, or acting as guardians by alerting their masters to nearby enemies.
- Increased Level Cap to Level 55: Characters will discover new weapons,earn new items, and learn new skills as they explore the dangerous lands of Balaurea in their journey toward level 55.
- Twitter Integration: Aion's new Twitter feed functionality, with its fluid integration into the game, makes it easy for players to display their bragging rights to their friends.
Video Game Reviews of Aion: Assault on BalaureaCustomer Review: A Potential WOW killer Summary: 5 Stars
I have been playing WOW for about two years and then turned to Aion after getting burnt out. (I didn't even play WOW too regularly, but enough to know what was going on and how to play decently) Aion is such a beautiful game with the uniqueness any MMORPG needs to make it big. It's different enough to stand out but has the same basic skeleton of most MMOs so that it's easy to pick up and learn even if you are new to gaming. Now for some PROS and CONS:
PROS:
*BEAUTIFUL graphics!!! I can't say enough about them, they are just that great! Everything has it's own mesh (3D form) and the color scheme of the two contrasting worlds in Atreiya are brilliant!
*This game actually has an in depth storyline. In WOW it doesn't give you the background of your character as you go from zero to hero (especially in WLK expansion). The best part about the storyline is that the choices you make can even change your path and that just makes it more fun.
*The players are respectful. You just don't see nearly as many rotten eggs as you do in other MMORPGs
*Virtually UNLIMITED customization!!! This is way beyond any MMO out there guaranteed! Even though there are only two playable races (Asmodians ((the dark side)) and Elyos ((the light side))), you only need two because there are so many options to make your character your own. You can make anything from elves to demonic looking people.
*GREAT PVP SYSTEM!!! They've really worked out the major issues with the Abyss (The PVP region in between the two worlds of Atreiya). Although there is no avoiding PVP as this is part of your journey to reach level 55, it is very well integrated into the game and is actually enjoyable. In other MMOs (mainly WOW) the PVP is so poor that they have to add back benefits to keep you playing. Most of the PVP in those games is to get the best gear. In Aion, this isn't even required to get good gear. All you have to do is either instance or quest and kill named monsters for the good armor and weapons.
And the CONS:
*The game lags a little when in crowded areas like the capital cities (Sanctum, Pandaemonium) It lags more if you have an older computer (like me). It doesn't lag most of the time, which is good.
*This game is VERY NEW compared to other MMORPGs like Guild Wars and World of Warcraft. Being this new, it has some bugs that are getting worked out over time. (The BOTS are almost completely gone now and as I said before the Abyss is running better...not nearly as many high levelers attacking low levelers in PVP with the new zones added in with all the content updates (including Assault on Balaurea) One more thing I will say is that it took the highest rated MMORPGs (AGAIN, WOW, lol) many years to build up to what they are now, WOW being over a decade if you include the concept of the original Warcraft games. Give Aion some time. If it's not up to your expectations now, wait a year or two. I guarantee you will see a vast change for the better.
*GRINDING! This is what I meant about the PVP being mandatory to reach the end game content. It really isn't too bad if you like PVP, which is an integral part in most Asian-based MMOs. I think a little challenge is good for making you think though, so I personally am okay with it. (More quests come out with each content update, especially with Assault on Balaurea, thus making PVP less and less mandatory although I don't think they will make it optional altogether)
OVERALL:
I LOVE this game! It is a fresh breath of air from the mainstream MMO and I happily say that if you ever get burned out on any of the other online games, or are just looking for something new to add to your collection, try Aion. The first month's free! Plus, if you haven't bought The Tower of Eternity (The origional Aion game) Don't bother, because this has everything included, therefore making your installation process a whole lot quicker (cut short litterally a few hours) so you can just get playing! Hope this helps!
Description of Aion: Assault on BalaureaAion: Assault on Balaurea evolves the game's story and terrain as it expands the game world of Atreia far beyond the traditional territories of Asmodae and Elysea. In this new chapter of Aion, characters take the fight against the invading Balaur into Balaurea, the Balaur's homeland, through a counterassault against that massive, dragonlike enemy race and its allies. Aion: Assault on Balaurea will leave players breathless as they encounter jaw-dropping new challenges, novel and updated instances and zones, an increased level cap, and fresh weapons, items, skills, and flight mechanics. And characters will not be exploring the new zones all by themselves, as Aion: Assault on Balaurea introduces functional pets equipped with in-game benefits that will rapidly become constant character companions.  New Instances Synopsis Aion: Assault on Balaurea (Aion 2.0) evolves the game's story and terrain as it expands the game world of Atreia far beyond the traditional territories of Asmodae and Elysea. In this new chapter of Aion, characters take the fight against the invading Balaur into Balaurea, the Balaur's homeland, through a counterassault against that massive, dragonlike enemy race and its allies. Aion: Assault on Balaurea will leave players breathless as they encounter jaw-dropping new challenges, novel and updated instances and zones, an increased level cap, and fresh weapons, items, skills, and flight mechanics. And characters will not be exploring the new zones all by themselves, as Aion: Assault on Balaurea introduces functional pets equipped with in-game benefits that will rapidly become constant character companions.  Explore the Vast Lands of Balaurea  Enhanced Flight Mechanics Key Features: - New Instances: Aion: Assault on Balaurea offers eight new instances that provide a range of challenges from solo adventures to full-on Legion raids. Characters will face Balaur cultists in the Udas Temple instance, explore the roots of a great Elim tree creature, and fight each other in one of Aion's fierce PvPvE battles aboard the Chantra Dredgion, the new Balaur supply ship.
- New Zones: Players will explore the vast lands of Balaurea, the home of the Balaur, ruled by the Dragon Lord Tiamat. The Asmodians and Elyos have established fortresses in the two new zones: Gelkmaros and Ingisson. Each area features completely new environments, powerful monsters, and unique flight mechanics to enjoy.
Useful Pets: Pets are no longer purely decorative. Aion creates an entire new subsystem for players to explore as characters acquire functional pets capable of storing goods, assisting with crafting, or acting as guardians by alerting their masters to nearby enemies. - Increased Level Cap to Level 55: Characters will discover new weapons, earn new items, and learn new skills as they explore the dangerous lands of Balaurea in their journey toward level 55.
- Enhanced Flight Mechanics: Windstreams, a new enhanced flight mechanic with varying strengths and effects, allow characters to traverse the vast new zones of Gelkmaros and Ingisson faster and with unlimited flight time.
- Twitter Integration: Aion's new Twitter feed functionality, with its fluid integration into the game, makes it easy for players to display their bragging rights to their friends. Players can capture and Twitpic up to ten of their favorite screenshots using the updated in-game UI.
PC Games
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