Albion Online is a very engrossing, isometric MMORPG that relies heavily on crafting items and gathering materials, and not solely on combat like most MMORPGs do (even though combat is an important part of the game).
Albion Online is a rich and robust experience that is unlike any MMORPG on the market today. For example: the player is responsible for building the game’s economy. Every available item has been designed and then crafted by other players. The game has NPCs that stock basic items to help the player get started, but higher level gear is the responsibility of the player base.
There are items that drop via mobs and other NPCs, but most of this material is used for crafting. This means that just about every mob in the game has something that can be harvested. This is why such a large portion of the Albion community (and fellow gamers alike) are calling Albion an Eve-Online clone. The only difference being is that Albion online is fantasy-based and not a science fiction game.
Since the players control the economy, there is a constant power struggle between factions and guilds to control the flow of currency. This can lead to crafting material prices either increasing or decreasing depending on who is in control of the marketplace.
There is also something known as the Black Market, where players can sell their crafted items. These items then get placed inside chests and on mobs throughout the game world as random loot drops for players to find. This is an ingenious system that gives the player a feeling of accomplishment.
Albion online has two different kinds of currency. The first is silver, which is gained by selling items to other players. Gold is the second currency, and it is acquired by either selling silver pieces to other players or from the official online store. The difference between both currencies is simple — gold is used for purchasing monthly subscriptions and items that are only available through the online store. This system is like a free2play MMORPG that requires you to buy currency to purchase items from a cash shop, but the only difference is that you can grind silver and then transfer it into gold. Basically, you can grind the money needed to purchase a subscription. And since the game’s economy relies on its players, there will always be a need for both silver and gold.
Both combat and crafting uses what is called the Destiny Board. This board is a huge skill chart that keeps track of the player’s abilities and skills. If the player happens to be a premium subscriber, they will gain additional points each week/month that can be used to advance their character’s skills more quickly. The best part about Albion Online is that you do not have to be a premium subscriber to enjoy the amenities the game has to offer. Being a premium subscriber does make life a lot easier, though. But it is possible to still rise to the top without being one. The biggest perk of being a subscriber, though, is the ability to purchase a private island that can be used to build shops, farms and crafting stations.
Albion Online’s gameplay relies heavily on PVP (Player vs Player). Once the player leaves a Safe Zone, they become an instant target for other players to ‘gank’. It’s important for the player to build up their character’s combat skills to survive, especially while traveling through the world of Albion. Safe Zones are safe places to trade and sell items, but the bigger cities are surrounded by PVP zones and are more risky to visit. The player will gain more silver if they travel, but it’s always a gamble.
For gamers that enjoy dungeon crawling and soloing, Albion Online is tailor-made for them. There are plenty of solo instances, missions and quests to complete. There are several dungeons scattered throughout the game world that can only be reached by traveling. The game even has huge raid groups for dungeons that require them. So while Albion is solo friendly, there is content for gamers that like to group.
The graphics in Albion Online are cartoonish in appearance (i.e. think cel shaded), and they are very pleasant to the eyes. The game contains a plethora of subtle touches, like chopping down trees and watching them fall to the forest floor with a ‘thud’. It’s simple things like this that have the most impact on the gamer, especially when harvesting materials. You always feel like you’re moving forward even though you’re doing simple tasks such as these.
As mentioned earlier, Albion Online is not a Free2play MMORPG; it requires a monthly subscription to play. The gamer is required to purchase one of the three starter packs (i.e. Veteran, Epic or Legendary) to play the game. If the starter pack expires, there’s an option to renew.
Albion Online was first introduced as a F2P MMORPG. In recent months, the developer has decided to charge a subscription fee. Despite this change, Albion Online is a fun game with plenty of potential. It comes highly recommended.
James ‘Daripp3r Pittaro
Platform: PC
Developer: Sandbox Interactive GMBH
Publisher: Sandbox Interactive GMBH
ESRB: N/A
Price: Varies ($29.99 Veteran; $49.95 Epic; and $99.95 Legendary)
Official Website: https://albiononline.com/en/home
| Review Score | |
|---|---|
| Graphics |  |
| The graphics are gorgeous and on par with Torchlight 2 and WoW. | |
| Sound | |
| The soundtrack does a great job of adding to the game’s atmosphere. | |
| Gameplay | |
| While fun to the play, Albion Online can be frustrating when traveling through PVP zones without a guild. When the player dies, their character losses everything they are carrying. | |
| Overall | |
|---|---|
| Albion Online is one of the most unique MMORPGs available today. The game has the player constantly leveling, whether they’re in a dungeon or spending all day crafting in the city. Everything you do within the world of Albion Online matters, and it never feels like you're wasting your time harvesting materials or grinding out levels. | |
