Perfect World International

Overview
Full Review
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Area: Global,USA
Official Site: Perfect World International
Publisher: Perfect World Entertainment
Developer: Beijing Perfect World
Platform: Microsoft Windows

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Overview

"Perfect World" is an MMORPG developed that features territorial battles, a diverse and unique mount system, personalized clothing and crafting.

Features

Good graphics for an F2P
Better English than the non-
Detailed character customization
Quest oriented gameplay

Area: Global,USA
Official Site: Perfect World International
Publisher: Perfect World Entertainment
Developer: Beijing Perfect World
Platform: Microsoft Windows

Review

Reviewed by Brendon Lindsey

Since its initial Chinese release four years ago, Perfect World sought to become the Next Big Thing in free-to-play MMOs. While it never quite reached the top, it has become quite a popular game. Even a few American and UK players got in on the action with versions like the Malaysian one; even if it was riddled with translation snafus. Thankfully, last Fall Perfect World International was released. The preferred (and official) English version of the game, International is the same game English-speaking players came to love, but without the awful translation.

Compared to other Asian MMORPGs, Perfect World is definitely in the upper tier production-wise. The game looks great, runs great, and plays great compared to many of the clones on the market. Even when run on a fairly lower end mid-class system, the game rarely lagged even in the most populated of areas.

The game features three races, with two distinct classes composing each. No two classes are really that similar to one another, and given the distinct race-requirements to play them there is a lot of variety in terms of what and who you'll see running around. Of course, that also means that the more popular classes are in abundance. To make it more bearable, Perfect World features very detailed character customization. Hair, ears, nose, breast size, and more can all be tweaked, resulting in characters that look similar, but different enough to appear unique.

Like most MMORPGs, Perfect World features combat centered on auto attacks and hot keys. Unlike many, though, the fighting is fast and frequent. As you level up, you'll find yourself thrust into battle after battle, relying on potions and spells to keep you alive and swinging.

The first 20-25 levels of Perfect World are a blast, as quests quickly level you up, each class is distinct, and the monsters and areas you encounter are a step above almost all free-to-play titles on the market. Unfortunately, after that point the game enters stereotypical Asian grind-fest mode, and levelling becomes a slower process. Since many free-to-play titles often involve copious amounts of grinding, it's not a huge blow to the game; what's unfortunate is how, early on, the game seems to break free from the grinding mold, only to later fall back on it.

One way that the game does set itself apart, though, is with the level of detail and often times boggling degree of difficulty. In an age where WoW made it popular to be simple, Perfect World defies the conventions, and if you aren't careful and reading all of the text in the beginning quests, you're going to become lost very, very easily. Levelling also takes a more complicated route, following in the footsteps of Diablo and other games by allowing you to increase skills via skill trees. So you may be the same class as your friend, but your characters may be completely different playing experiences.

Recently, the game has launched its first official expansion, Perfect World: The Lost Empire. This expansion adds new skills, areas, equipment, and quests. For the most part, this new content is for higher-leveled characters, and it helps freshen things up a bit. There aren't any new classes or races, but the new areas to explore, skills to unlock, and equipment to find should give all new and returning players plenty to do.

If you're a veteran of free-to-play MMORPGs and are used to the grind associated with most of the titles, then Perfect World is the perfect game for you. It may turn into a grindfest, but it's in the top percentile of the grinding games. And, if you hate grinding, the first 20-25 levels of the game are filled with quests and rarely slow. So, at the very least, you'll get a couple weeks of playing time for free. Who knows, you may even come to love it enough to put up with the grind in order to progress your character in the game's world.