Rift is certainly a PvE-first MMO, but its PvP feels like more than an after thought, and is quite enjoyable for what it is. If you queue up with a group, you are rewarded for good play and can make a very significant difference, which to me shows that things are well balanced and reward individual and group skill rather than simply coming down to who brings the better gear. The excellent soul system (more on that shortly) factors in heavily here, and not only allows you to specialize your role, but construct a well-complimenting group.
http://syncaine.com/2011/03/21/the-real-rift-review/
Yet Rift’s overall performance is an astounding triumph. Only once did my server crash, and never once did I encounter an obvious bug. Considering that its main gimmick consists of amassing hundreds of players in one spot and having them batter enemies with spells and abilities from 36 different talent trees, Rift is a paragon of server stability. Elsewhere, detail reaches almost glorious levels, and high-altitude views are unfailingly rewarding. The result is a game that feels like an established MMO straight out the box, complete with achievements, guilds, auction houses, and battlegrounds (with the surprising absence of guild banks). If only the sound matched the visuals; Rift’s soundtrack (composed by Inon Zur, of Dragon Age fame) is decent enough, but slicing through hordes of skeletons grants all the aural satisfaction of thumping a cardboard tube against a couch.
http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/heroes-of-telara/1156058p1.html
Virtually all of Trion’s concepts in Rift have paid off, and instead of turning out cheap or punishing, these features help make Rift’s world feel epic and rewarding. Rifts are undoubtedly the best execution of public quests to date. They make exhilarating experiences like slaying massive golems from the Plane of Earth part of the daily routine, and the massive, zone-wide events feel unlike anything I’ve experienced playing an MMO. The core experience of the MMORPG hasn’t been reinvented, but arguably that’s a good thing. Rift’s ideas build on the concepts of MMOs that have come before it, creating a refined game that can stand with the best of the genre.
http://www.pcgamer.com/2011/03/16/rift-review/
If anyone here has experienced the series of closed beta tests for Rift, those people can unanimously say that Rift has been one of the smoothest games to date. Bug fixes are sparse and spread out in between, often in short maintenance times only. Trion has certainly raised the bar for being a contender to the de facto standard in pay-to-play MMORPGs. Though some features are pretty much basic, the unique gameplay of Rift makes it one of the top choices for every gamer’s top gaming dollar. Already getting bored of Azeroth? Telara is your next best thing.
What’s really been most surprising to me is that the gaming experience as a whole is so fully developed for a startup MMO. The designers have taken time to assess and integrate all the extra bells and whistles we as gamers take for granted as part of the gaming experience. So far, I’ve invested many hours into my excursion through Telara, and I’m looking forward to investing many, many more!
http://www.gamepro.com/article/reviews/218619/rift-review-28-days-later/
Listen, fanboys: Rift is not a WoW-killer. At best it offers some healthy competition that should slam some innovation into Blizzard’s overly comfortable development team; at worst it seems a little too derivative even with the undeniable polish. But it’s refreshingly stable. Not once did we see a server crash – even at peak hours when rifts and invasions were as thick as protesters in Madison – and server queues have all but disappeared in the days since release. As it stands, Rift is an excellent title for MMO fans seeking a change of scenery while sticking to familiar concepts, even if they only play up to the current level cap of 50. It’s fresh, it’s new, and it’s unburdened by endless strategy guides and add-ons that might as well be called cheats. (In fact, Rift doesn’t even allow third-party mods.) Most importantly, it’s fun.
http://www.gamesradar.com/pc/rift/review/rift-review
Trion has come out of the gate swinging with Rift. There are flaws — it’s a game that will overwhelm anyone who hasn’t experienced an MMO before, and it brings little new to the genre — but to my mind the quality of the content, the detail of the world, and Trion’s excellent early support outweigh those flaws. There’s a steep learning curve, but once you’re comfortable with what Rift offers, you will find a deeply immersive experience. Telara is a worthy alternative to Azeroth for anyone looking to explore a new world.
http://pc.ign.com/articles/115/1152717p2.html
Will Rift ultimately be a huge hit? I haven’t a clue. But what I can tell you is that Rift is the best MMO I have ever played. Some players, having noticed the similarities to World of Warcraft, have questioned why they would play Rift instead. I think the question should be turned on its head; why play World of Warcraft instead of Rift? Why wait until level 85 to raid? Why spend days leveling with nary a player in site? Why run and fly about a world that is large but empty? Why put up with inflexible talent trees when you can instead mix-and-match however your please?
For me its a fun factor thing. I have stopped having as much fun in WoW and found that I was having a lot of fun in RIFT. I chose to spend the money on what brings me the most fun for the buck. If you have any questions I’ll do my best to answer them. I will be posting more about the game after the next beta when I have time to play around with the few things I didn’t have that much time to work with.
http://www.mmo-champion.com/threads/847515-Actual-Rift-Review
RIFT is a refreshing take on the MMO genre and I’m just glad it has succeeded everywhere it has tried to be successful. Just like every MMO before it, RIFT isn’t 100 percent unique, but again, it doesn’t have to be. Telara is a beautiful backdrop to a surprisingly deep MMO and with expected patches, expansions and content further down the road, RIFT should be your newest MMO subscription. If you’re asking whether you should hold out for future MMOs like SW:TOR or Guild Wars 2, you shouldn’t. Get a copy of RIFT and find out what PvE, PvP and leveling are like outside of Azeroth. If you have any questions regarding why you should buy it, leave me a comment below and I’d be glad to put your fears to bed.
http://mmomfg.com/2011/03/08/rift-review-mmomfg-0308/
Overall, Rift is an enjoyable experience. This game is completely worth its monthly fee, and so compelling that it will keep you coming back to it day-after-day to continue your quest to save Telera from Regulos. The basic storyline is enjoyable, and there is a ton of lore to find to get a better grasp at what is happening around Telera, and what every NPC character is doing to save it. If you are an MMORPG fan, give Rift a shot, the first month is free after all.
http://gamrreview.vgchartz.com/review/49494/rift/
Rift apes a lot of the best features of proceeding MMORPGs and that’s just fine with me. Until this point I’ve had to hop games to get some of the features I enjoy and no one existing game has managed to make the various systems work within it’s design – case in point: World of Warcraft’s Battleground system or Lord of the Rings Online’s Radiance mechanic – by slapping in new systems long after the initial design.
Players who tire of the old standby are not going to find astonishing new innovation in Rift, but what you will find is a well-balanced game, early in its life with a multitude of improved ideas from many other games. The price is right for me to play a game that includes all the coolest parts of every major MMO out there at a single subscription rate. The modern graphics are nice on the eyes as well.
http://www.gamingnexus.com/Article/Rift-Review/Page2/Item3001.aspx
In all honesty though, this is a surprisingly strong launch for a new fantasy MMO. Guild Wars 2 And The Old Republic better hurry along if they want to deliver that innovation they keep promising us, because it seems RIFT already has the jump on them. There’s so much here to get to grips with, and it can only get better as Trion already have plans for what they’ll do post release. Whether you’re an MMO veteran looking for your next fix, or if you’re a newbie looking to expand tour horizons and jump into the genre for the first time, RIFT is an excellent place to start. Just remember – we’re not in Azeroth anymore.
http://www.strategyinformer.com/pc/rift/1433/review.html
That Trion has managed to meet every expectation set in the past few years, from achievements to fully-fledged crafting and economy, while also bringing a truly innovative feature to the table is a testament to the will and determination that’s driven Rift’s development.
If you simply cannot bear the prospect of another fantasy MMO replete with all of the traditions that have come to define the genre, then Rift is unlikely to change your outlook. But if you hanker for a new world – one that feels familiar yet fresh, with an atmosphere of discovery and experimentation – then Rift stands proudly, ready to greet you with open arms.