With Everquest Legends, one of the oldest MMORPGs returns in a new light, but fans are frustrated about the monetization.
What kind of MMORPG is this? EverQuest has been considered one of the most influential MMORPGs since its release in 1999 and continues to run as its own live service to this day.
Since July 28, there is now a standalone remaster, EverQuest Legends, that brings back the classic experience in a modern form, explicitly not EverQuest 3, but a parallel project with its own lore.
Visually, EQL remains close to the original. The classic graphic style, the zones, the music, and the atmosphere of 1999 are preserved. At launch, the continents Antonica, Faydwer, and Odus are playable, along with 15 races, including Iksar, Frogloks, and Kerran, for which there is even a completely redesigned starting area.
At its core, it remains about exploring the world of Norrath, the classic fantasy setting, and building a character through classes, spells, and equipment, just packaged in two parallel existing versions with different pacing and difficulty.
Here you can watch a trailer:
Old MMORPG in a new light
What changes are there compared to the original? The biggest innovation is multiclassing. You can combine up to three classes simultaneously on one character, resulting in about 560 possible class combinations. There’s also a new equipment system where gear can be upgraded to rank +10, and effects on weapons and armor can be transferred and combined.
There have also been significant changes to the general gameplay feeling. EQL is explicitly aimed at solo and casual players, with no set raid times and no mandatory groups anymore. Instead of the sometimes massive raids of the original, groups are set for 4 players and raids for 8 players, along with shorter respawn times and more instanced content.
A lot has also changed under the hood. The interface has been fundamentally modernized and simplified, spell, ability, and quest management have been revamped, and the interface now scales cleanly on high-resolution 4K screens.
What frustrates the fans? Despite the anticipation for the return of the classic, the discussion since the launch has mainly revolved around one topic: the payment model.
In the comments on Reddit, there is noticeable discontent among fans, with one user sarcastically commenting that the game just needs NFT and some sort of loot box gambling to go all-in on the scam. Another user writes that the developers are quite full of themselves with this model.
The frustration doesn’t come out of nowhere. EverQuest Legends costs $19.99 in its base version, which includes the first month of the subscription. After that, a monthly subscription of $9.99 is due, which can be canceled at any time.
Additionally, there is an in-game shop with premium currency Iridium for cosmetic items and comfort extras like additional inventory space, as well as separately paid expansions, with a Kunark expansion planned as the first. The title is also not available on Steam, and can only be played through the official website’s launcher.
What do you think about EverQuest Legends? Do the comments hold true, and is it just about the money for the developers, or do you find the payment model fair to relive the charm of the old days? Feel free to let us know in the comments! You can learn more about the game here: MMORPG classic gets a new version after 27 years, aiming to be the perfect game for people with little time
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