Customer Reviews
The "Collector's" Edition didn't deliver the
goods...
Apparently my first review
was either too harsh or had some bad keywords. Here's a second try:
Please
Note: I'm reviewing the Collector's Edition vs. the Standard Edition of
the Mines of Moria. I'm *NOT* reviewing the actual Game-Play as I've
barely had any time in game with this Upgrade to Lord Of The Rings
Online (LOTRO) and everything so far seems to be toward bettering of
gameplay and addressing many long running desires for players.
On
to the review of the Collectors Edition:
The box itself is decent:
It has a magnetic clasp to keep it shut and it almost looks like an
oldish leather book on your shelf. But not quite.
The
"collectibles" are the reason anyone would buy this over the standard
edition, so let's get to them, shall we? And yes, I'm making air quotes
for anyone keeping track. Oh man... awfulness doesn't even begin to
describe it. The One Ring is mass produced on the cheapest of equipment.
Mine has a rather large bump in one spot, probably left from the
casting and not milled smooth. The script on the side leaves much to be
desired. It does have text on the outside as well as inside, but the
forging process which created it leaves the text looking blocky and
amateurish. The "gold plate" was laughable and I'm sure it's the
lightest of coatings. Don't even consider being able to wear it (Ummm...
I wasn't going to, I swear!) because it's far too small for all but the
tiniest of fingers and I'm willing to bet it cant be resized. The chain
it came with was thin and cheap. At BEST, the overall feeling of this
is as a clunky ornament that you won after playing $10 worth of skeeball
at the carnival. Strike that... carny's usually produce better than
this.
I don't know what I was thinking by paying more money than
the standard edition, but I at LEAST thought they might come through on
the map. Wow! I couldn't have been more wrong. Instead of a nice aged
feeling map of Moria or Middle Earth on thick linen or similar material,
you get a super-cheap ultra-thin piece of nylon cloth (like the
cheapest bandanna at a discount store). It's so thin and the threads are
so loose, you can literally see through it. Top that off with a modern
feeling map of the Mines of Moria (not Middle Earth) silk screened on
this thing, and you begin to feel my pain.
The ONLY, and I do me
ONLY redeeming factor in this forsaken pile of fail is the artwork/Audio
Combo. The artwork is actually pretty cool. It includes concept work
from texture artists as well as paintings and sketches of
Tolkien-inspired scenery and creatures. Maybe someone else will be more
impressed with the audio. It's interesting, though.
The game
itself I'll leave for reviewers who have been hammering LOTRO's new
addition 8+ hours a day. But whatever you do, don't bother with this
version. Unless you want about 30 pieces of artwork that are the same
size as a CD Jewel box and some audio from the game, and are willing to
part with your hard earned cash for the privilege, stay clear.
By
the way, I've been playing since Beta, am a Lifetime Member and
Founder. This isn't coming from some disgruntled Warcraft groupie. I
truly hope that someone at Turbine reads this and reconsiders what it
takes to make something worthwhile. If the quality and attention to
detail put into the artwork, music and the case itself were used on the
map and ring, I think I'd be a satisfied customer. As it is, I'm wishing
I had waited.
Great game and good
collectors set.
I'll make this short. Lotro
is probably one of the best MMO's I've played in years. All be the game
somewhat of a collection of stuff from various mmos (allot from WoW), it
does so and brings you the world of middle earth in a way LoTR fans
have never seen before. As far as the box set is concerned, I would say
that for the price it is great. You get a cloth map of the new region, a
replica of "the one ring", an art book with soundtrack, and an
additional in game token to turn in for unique items. I have seen mmo
special editions that have cost much more and given you far less...
Vanguard anyone?
The Game's GREAT!
But.............
I am a refugee from Lineage
II. Loved that game but was more interested in crafting and questing and
it just didn't offer enough of that. Then my Fiance introduced me to
LOTRO.........can I say WOW! It's beautiful, detailed, and FULL of
non-stop quests for every level character! Plus....I am in crafting
HEAVEN! The Lord of the Rings story is by far my favorite, along with
The Hobbit, so, needless to say, this new world is a welcome escape for
me.
Now for the but......In the Collector's Edition box you get
several free items to make the role-playing experience even better. It
includes 2 maps - one is a poster, of Middle Earth, and the other is
cloth. I was expecting a wonderfully realistic cloth map of Middle
Earth, with great details, etc. However, what I got was a map of the
Moria area, not very detailed or collector item worthy. Was very
disappointed with it. The other items include: "The Ring" - gold-toned,
chain included, fairly realistic, inside a small black velvet pouch; a
Music & Art Collection book, with cd and pictures - small, hard
back, pretty cool; a Starter Guide - small, paper back, and a MUST for
the first-timers; the actual game download cd's - 2 discs sturdily
incased in a cd sized set of sleeves; a poster of Conquer The World
Beneath - approximately 13" x 30" in size, featuring a very large Balrog
with a tiny back view of Gandalph making his stand against the monster,
very colorful and detailed; your Product Key with 3 Buddy Keys - so
your friends can try it for 14 days free; a Quick Reference Card - a
guide to all the keyboard and mouse commands; and finally, it all comes
in a sturdy, texturized box to keep all your goodies together.
Please,
whomever put this collector box together, REDO the cloth map!! Make it
of all Middle Earth with more detail and more realistic of a map from
Middle Earth. Then send them out to all of us who purchased the box.
Thanks
all for enduring my long review. It was a pretty satisfying buy on the
whole. So if you don't mind a mediocre cloth map, and especially if
you've never played the game, BUY IT!
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