RIFT
RIFT is a complete and full-featured MMO experience. Adventure in the world of Telara as either a noble Guardian or technomagical Defiant and enter a dynamic fantasy where 8 primal forces battle for control and the landscape is ever-changing. Build your own class using the Ascended Soul system, embark on challenging quests, battle others in exhilarating Player vs. Player combat, achieve new heights of power by tackling epic raids, and so much more!
Publisher: Trion Worlds
Playerbase: High
Graphics: High Quality
Type: MMORPG
EXP Rate: Medium
PvP: Open World Rifts/Battlegrounds
Filesize: 9.4GB
Pros: +Extensive class customization. +Rifts create dynamic gameplay. +Large playerbase.
Cons: -Requires a monthly subscription. -Trial limited to 7 days. -Some class balance issues.
RIFT Overview
RIFT went into open beta testing on December 3, 2010 and will be the latest high quality subscription based (pay to play) MMORPG to hit the market. The forces of the Death God Regulos are pouring into the world of Telara, and rifts between the other dimensions including Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Life have also grown. It falls on the players, who assume the role of resurrected veterans called The Ascended, to save the world from these inter-dimensional evils. RIFT has an ever changing landscape which ensures players will have different experiences even while traversing the same terrain. The game also has two rival factions and a ton of playable classes. There are 4 callings and 36 different souls (9 for each calling) at launch. Players get to build their class from these souls, so there are a lot more than 36 classes players can build.
Factions & Races:
The Guardians - Dwarves, High Elves, Mathosian
The Defiant - Bahmi, Eth, Kelari
Example Classes:
Warrior - Champion, Reaver, Paladin, Warlord, Paragon
Cleric - Purifier, Inquisitor, Sentinel, Justicar, Shaman
Rogue - Nightblade, Ranger, Blade Dancer, Assassin, Riftstalker
Mage - Elementalist, Warlock, Pyromancer, Stormcaller, Archon
RIFT Screenshots
RIFT Featured Video
RIFT Review
Rift, published by Trion Worlds, is a relative newcomer in the MMORPG genre, having launched on March 1, 2011. While fairly standard as far as MMORPGs go, there are a few unique twists the game brings that set it apart from its competitors like World of Warcraft and The Lord of the Rings Online. The game launched a free 7 day trial in May, so if you were ever curious about the game, you have a great opportunity to try it.
A Hero is Made, Not Born
At your first glance of character creation, Rift appears to be more limited than most pay-to-play MMOs. Character creation consists of two factions, three races per faction, and four classes – warrior, rogue, cleric and mage. Character customization is fairly detailed, offering options for facial shape and features, markings, eye shape and color, hair style and color, and height, to name a few. It’s not hard to create a unique character.
Once finished with character creation, you’ll be treated to a brief, faction-specific cinematic. When you’re in control of your character, you will see your first quest giver standing right in front of you. The reward from this first quest is not quite what you’d expect from a MMO, however: it’s the choice of a soul. Souls are comparable to talent trees in other games, but each class has nine available to allow full flexibility and customization.
After choosing a soul, a comprehensive tutorial area awaits you, which offers new players a great amount of information about the world and how to play the game. In fact, the tutorial tip pop-up boxes are fairly informative, rather than intrusive, and will help players with many of the game’s facets throughout the tutorial and beyond.
The Ascended
The soul system is unique in several ways. To start off with, all characters must go through the game’s tutorial and choose three souls. Rift makes an effort to suggest souls that offer synergy; for instance, the game will recommend complimentary tank souls to a player who chooses Paladin. Soul points, which are used to gain skills and abilities in each soul’s tree, are gained at a rate of one each level, plus an additional point every third level. Players can then spend their points in any of their soul trees to advance “branch” and “root” abilities.
However, you’re not limited to the first three souls you pick. Additional souls can be purchased at class trainers, and players can change them at any time for a small fee. This offers millions of possibilities on character development, especially as each class type offers several combat roles including tank, healer, and support.
Carving Your Own Path
One thing that sets the Rift trial apart is the lack of restrictions: the only two restrictions on your experience in Rift is the seven-day trial period and a level cap of 15. In fact, you can keep playing the character until you’re just about to reach level 16, at which point it locks experience (but not the character itself). All the game’s other features are available: crafting, chatting, mounts, exploration, PvP, and achievements are all fully accessible.
Invaders from Another World
Trial players are also able to participate in the game’s defining feature: rifts and invasions. Rifts are tears into the reality of the world from the elemental planes, and offer different challenges in stages to overcome and seal the rift. Invasions are similar to rifts, but on a larger scale: invasion forces attack key outposts across the zone, and will not cease until players defeat them and their commander. Both of these events are triggered based on several factors, including zone population, and both offer special tokens that can be exchanged for rewards. While they can sometimes be frustrating (particularly when an invasion takes over a quest hub), they are normally non-intrusive to play.
Final Verdict: Great
The class system alone sets Rift above its competitors. While there are some balance issues with certain classes and souls, the developers do pay close attention to them and make constant effort to fix standing issues. Since the only real restriction you have is getting to level 15 – which takes about five to seven hours – and seven days of play time, it’s a great idea to download the trial if you’re looking for a new pay-to-play MMORPG.
RIFT Screenshots
RIFT Videos
RIFT Debut Trailer
RIFT E3 2010 Trailer
RIFT Nexus of the Planes Developer Diary 1
RIFT The Ascended Class System Developer Diary 2
RIFT Guardian Trailer
RIFT System Requirements
Minimum Requirements:
OS: Windows XP / Vista / 7
CPU: Dual Core 2.0 GHz
RAM: 2 GB
HDD: 8 GB free
Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce FX 5900 / ATI Radeon X300 / Intel GMA X4500
Recommended Specifications:
OS: Windows XP / Vista / 7
CPU: Core 2 Duo 2.2 GHz or better
RAM: 4 GB or more
HDD: 10 GB Free or more
Graphics Card: Nvidia GTX 200M series or better