EntropiaPlanets presents: ROCKTropia ~ are you ready to be entertained? PART I

[IMGALIGNLEFT]http://www.entropiaplanets.com/gallery/pics/3/banner1_802261.jpg[/IMGALIGNLEFT]People have been waiting with anticipation for a long time. The pictures, stories and news articles about what to expect when NEVERDIE would release his ROCKTropia might have messed up the expectations to a point were it was not really fair - not to NEVERDIE and not to his crew, who probably wished to make a planet still in the spirit of Entropia.

The planet has been judged with both negative and positive feedback from people - some who have been there, some who haven't yet and others who swore never to set foot on the planet!

I decided to give ROCKTropia a chance to either shoot down the negativity and to prove it's worth a visit or, well, admit it wasn't worth the PED. First of all, we have to remember we're all very different kind of players - luckily - and it will never be possible to satisfy everybody. ROCKTropia would probably be the place for people who enjoy playing World of Warcraft, Lord of the Rings online, Dungeons and Dragons etc. - This does not mean I wish to compare ROCKTropia to these games, because even if some of the things might have a similar look, it is still very much different.

Joining Entropia's Dark Side[IMGALIGNRIGHT]http://www.entropiaplanets.com/gallery/pics/3/motorhead_entry.jpg[/IMGALIGNRIGHT]
The planet's atmosphere around Lemmy's Castle is very dark and mysterious and obviously caters towards Death Metal and hard rock fans. This shows not only in the graphic designs of the planet, architecture and mobs but also in the textures and the vegetation.

Rivets, leather, chains, skulls and blood splashed around is definitely caracteristic when you visit this specific area - and you are driven back to the dark and evil areas in games like WoW, with a dark view and a redish, misty sky. Of course we're not talking the same quality of details, were I have a feeling some other games nearly drowns so much in the details you hardly see them and some are also much more catoonish looking games - which Entropia (hopefully) will never be. And we have to forget about other games now, because we're playing Entropia, and it shows in the style and design that NEVERDIE and his crew have been faithfull to the game and the designs elsewere in our Universe.

It would also be wrong to assume that this planet would be a lot different from the rest of Entropias' 'worlds'. If it would have been yet another new game, there would be no reasons to play Entropia in the first place. MindArk actually never promised us new 'games' but new 'game experiences' which I definitely believe they stood by. And the crew creating ROCKTropia might have had little 'space' to develop on, which makes me say they actually did a cool job with what they have been allowed to do. Implementing a new world in an already set-up universe cannot have been that easy - and yet they managed to still make it different. I am not trying to defend the crew behind the planet, just saying it might sound easier than it actually is. The details are very nicely made - I for one enjoy it and could spend a lot of time just running around and enjoying looking at the goodies!

Entering Lemmy's Bridge
When I TP'ed up I left all judgement or expectations behind and carried nothing other than curiousity. I decided not to have a thought of the money paid either, and as someone else said in the forum 'See it as a trip to Disney Land', so I did - and I actually find that to be a perfect explanation of what to come. And sorry, NEVERDIE, do not get me wrong - I don't mean it is a Mickey Mouse trip at all - but I certainly think you go there to be entertained! Because compared to Calypso I actually find so much more to look at and yet to discover - and it's pure candy for the eyes if you like to be trembled and get your foundation shaked - and also if you like some well done and different looking graphics.

[IMGALIGNLEFT]http://www.entropiaplanets.com/gallery/pics/3/broadcaster.jpg[/IMGALIGNLEFT]The first thing I saw was the amazingly huge bridge and the huge gate! When I came closer I could see the rich details surrounding it all - the skulls cut into the brick walls, the torches standing around. The banners and the incredibly breathtaking view when you are standing on the bridge and look at both sides. Even the trees are special and not seen on Calypso or any other places.

When I came to Vicar Village the first thing that struck me was the nicely made Crafting machines and the special storages, trade terminals etc. - all fitting into the theme with special markers and logos on them.

Granted, the crafting machine looks the same when you open it, and so does the rest - but the impression when you see it in the landscape is, that it is very well thought out and created. I have to credit the designers on their job on this, knowing how Calypso looks like. I'm sure this place has been a huge challenge to them and I understand you can't create this overnight!

Hells gate, or is it just getting warm in here... I instantly got the feeling of 'arriving in Hell' as some describe it! When you look on the back of the terminals, you find the mark of the devil everywere, accompanied by pentagrams, cut off goat-heads, bones and other heathen signs drenched in blood. Being used to Calypso's all over 'trimmed', dandy and never surprising look, I must [IMGALIGNRIGHT]http://www.entropiaplanets.com/gallery/pics/3/devils_signs.jpg[/IMGALIGNRIGHT] admit this was the exact opposite and a fresh air from what you got used to. Of course this depends on your view on things all together - but then agian, I also like to play WoW and LOTRO, which might explain a lot ;-)

I am impressed about the look of the place and I decided to kill a few mobs too. I must say they are far more inspiring to look at than a lot of mobs elsewere both in EU and in other games. Loot wasn't worth writing home about (but is it ever?), yet I got a few nice ones from the Motörhead security clan, which is a great looking mob and definitely something even newbies can hunt down. I love the skulls in their belts and the rivets on their arms! And they are hitting you with huge axes, looking far more horrifying than they really are. It reminds of the Torifoids 'back home' but these look even more 'organized' and I like that other aspect of the game. The mobs suddenly get a 'background' and are a part of the story, even if the story on ROCKTropia doesn't follow the rest of the Calypso - and one can wonder when thinking about it; Why should it?

[IMGALIGNLEFT]http://www.entropiaplanets.com/gallery/pics/3/motorhead-sign.jpg[/IMGALIGNLEFT]Just another boy toy?
As a summary: my first experience with ROCKTropia was quite good. Then again, maybe I'm easy to impress at this moment - maybe I went there on a good day! And yes, it might be 'boyish' and childish to a point, but aren't we here to be entertained? We play around and most of us are proud to tell that we did not really 'grow up' but are still hanging to our childish behaviour which might have driven us to play the game in the first place! And even I can be a 'boy' sometimes and just play and explore to get away from the trivial week day and daily boring tasks and work!

Yes, the boobies on Vixens nearly fall out and are waaaay too big and weird looking (and you can wonder if the creators ever saw a real woman in real life) and they look slutty - but isn't that a part of the whole Death Metal & Satans 'temptation' style? Nuns running around in wide robes would not have fit that well in the theme, and I even like Nuns ;-)

And yes, the dragons look like something from just another game and NEVERDIE named some after himself - but then again, it IS his planet and a way to achieve immortality, and I actually imagine he did it with a grin! But after a few kills the point is, that the only thing in your mind is still how the loot is, and that a mob is just a mob.

You have to give NEVERDIE credit for daring and having the courage[IMGALIGNRIGHT]http://www.entropiaplanets.com/gallery/pics/3/logo.jpg[/IMGALIGNRIGHT] to set up a planet like this, probably well knowing it will split up the community in both positive and negative - because as an audience we can be quite cruel and demanding! And even though I had my very doubts too in the beginning, I decided to give it a chance and now I must admit I look forward to my further journey on ROCKTropia!!! Afterall, NEVERDIE just told me, that the unique stuff will be added gradually ;)

STAY TUNED FOR PART II



The opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necesserily reflect the positions of the EntropiaPlanets Staff as a whole!

 

Hey Razer :) I hear you there. As said, I'm actually very impressed by the planet but I wasnt impressed by the idea to begin with (as you can see from other places on the forum). And after my research and exploring who knows what happens.

I love playing LOTRO - wow was never 100% me - but I'm not into Death and Heavy metal. The choise of music might definitely also reduce the amount of people visiting, no doubt - but for the fun of it and for the entertainment I still say it's worth spending the 80 peds in total on - even if it's just for once in a life time.

I too look forward to Next Island - and yet again after my opinion, that might have a little too much pink-cream-Sims written over it ;) Then I would prefer a little more blood and raw-ness ;)