Summary: Runescape has been around for a while now, and has it’s share of both ardent supporters and detractors. This is a java based browser game, and though they offer a “client” it is really just a stripped down browser window. You can also choose to play it full-screen with a membership and on high detail graphics. It has gone through some major revisions since its first incarnation in late 2001/early 2002. I personally have played off and on for a few years now, and the fact that I keep going back means, to me, that they’ve done something right with it. I started out using the free worlds and eventually became a member because I liked the free services and thought the advantages of membership might be worth it. So, on to the scoring.
Graphics: The current graphics in Runescape look much better than they used to. Earlier this year they made a major overhaul, the graphics are now much smoother and cleaner looking, there is more detail to objects and characters, and animations are much smoother looking due to a process they implemented called tweening. This game is in 3d, with a 3rd person view, and the camera is movable to any position you desire from ground level to a bird’s eye view. Each of the areas in the game has it’s own distinct personality, and the graphics reflect this. Though not cutting edge, they are very polished and obviously had a good amount of time spent on them. Very rarely are there any noticeable glitches in this area, although I have to mention that during some of the in-game cut-scenes the camera moves either too early or too late, so you might miss some of the action. It is not usually vital, though. The effects are also not a major drain on system resources and do not require a high-end computer to enjoy. I don’t see any reason why anyone with even a basic system wouldn’t be able to enjoy the high detail levels. However, this is probably the area where I’ve heard the most complaints about the game. You’ll either love it or think it looks too simple. See screenshots below.
Graphics Score: 8/10 Mules
Sound: How about 615 loopable songs that change based on where you are in the game world? You get that, plus the environmental and activity sounds based on what you are doing. Don’t like the song that’s tied to your location? No problem, choose another one and loop that instead. You have to unlock most of the songs by visiting their corresponding locations, some of which you can only reach during quests. This means that as a free player there is no way to get all the songs, you can only do that as a member. Because of this, it is quite an accomplishment to have all of them unlocked, and you get a special emote when you do. As for the songs themselves, they are well composed and fit entirely with whatever area they are representing. And due to some of the changes that were made during the overhaul they now sound better too. Some of the songs probably would drive you to distraction if looped for extended periods, but being able to change them at will is a nice ability. Or, if you just can’t stand it, you have the option to turn off just the music, just the effects, just the environment, or any combination of those.
Sound Score: 9/10 Mules
Controls: There aren’t really any controls to speak of, everything is done with the mouse except the camera, which is moved using the arrow keys. To use the default action on an object you left click on it; to see a menu of other options for what you can do with that object, you right click on it. To move you can left click on the ground, if it’s close by, or click in the minimap if further away. Not complicated, but it doesn’t need to be. The only complaint I might have is that the default action is always the same; contextual defaults might be better if it could be worked. For example, if you are going fishing and carry a harpoon it would be better to have the default action as ‘harpoon fishing spot’ and not ‘cage fishing spot’ (since you harpoon tuna/swordfish in the same spots you catch lobsters in a cage). That could just be me, overall the simple system works fine.
Controls Score: 9/10 Mules
Depth: As a free player you of course get less depth and variety in your activities than as a member. There are only 19 quests available for non-members, instead of the 160 total for p2p, and Jagex long ago stated that they would no longer introduce new quests for the f2p segment. Skills also get shorted, with only 12 for f2p as opposed to 21 for members. Some of the quests have prerequisites in terms of skills or previous quests, leading to an extended storyline within that group, but there is no real overarching mystery or story that could be said to influence everything. While it may sound like the free game is not worth the time, for some people it could be all they need. Even with the limited number of areas and quests, it will still take some time to see and complete them all and even longer to master the skills (think months and years to get to level 99 in a skill, even if you do nothing but that). The quests themselves are quite varied, they’re not all fetch and carry or kill X number of enemies. Sometimes you have to spy, steal, solve puzzles, play games, or use a particular skill to accomplish your task. Through the quests you also learn more about the history of the world and the backgrounds of it’s inhabitants. Overall I have to say that while you may become bored at some point, you are never stuck having to do something boring to move the game along. You can always go off and do something else and come back to it later if you feel like it. The mini-games are particularly useful for this, you can go play a game that doesn’t take that long and earn some rewards (items, experience, money, etc). There are mini-games based on combat, crafting, magic, thieving, and others, so it provides a nice break while still allowing you to advance your character. In fact, because it doesn’t try to force you along a linear path, because it is so open-ended, it is one of the most enjoyable browser games I’ve played. It has depth, but it’s not confusingly complex. Some people, however, may hunger for a more tied-together experience, something that makes each action important in a broader sense. Runescape doesn’t really do that, and to truly get the most out of it you have to pay to be a member, but that’s as it should be.
Depth Score: 8/10 Mules
Community: This game is easy to get started, easy to play, and doesn’t make huge demands on your time, so you’ll find a large and diverse group of players. Kids to adults, everyone seems to find something good here, so there are many different attitudes as well. To help manage all this you can add people to a friend or ignore list, turn off public and/or private chat, and form a clan-chat channel to keep in touch with a group. If you see someone breaking one of the rules (not just being a jerk), there is a report violation button within the game to input their name and offense. You can sometimes find Jagex staff wandering around, they have a gold crown by their names to identify them and have almost god-like power. More common are player-moderators, people who have usually been playing for a while and found to be trustworthy and honest in their violation reports. They have more limited powers, but are volunteers and receive no special benefit for what they do. One recent addition that I heartily approve of is the Grand Exchange, an auction-house setup so you don’t have to spend as much time standing around shouting that you have something for sale. As with any game, free or not, you will still find bots, cheaters, beggars, and gold sellers. This is more true for the f2p worlds since there’s less of a loss if they are banned. Also like anything else, you will find people who are just rude and/or like to cause problems and be argumentative. This is where the ignore list comes in handy, and, if they are being abusive, the report button. There are, of course, helpful people willing to answer questions and aid you without being condescending and insulting. These people are more common thankfully. I like the option to turn off all public chat as well since it seems most of the conversations involve people calling others noobs or rambling about stuff they don’t like. As I said in the rating explanation, social aspects are not that important to me, so I appreciate the tools I can use to ignore everyone and just play the game.
Community Score: 10/10 Mules
Value: As I mentioned in the depth category, there are many advantages to becoming a member. With 9 more skills, 141 more quests, around 4 times the land area to explore, and all of the mini-games to take part in, for a price of $5.95 a month it is actually worth it. I appreciate that there’s a company out there that understands putting out a quality product at a reasonable price will get you more members, and so make more money, than putting out the bare minimum and charging as much as you can. I have been a member, off and on, so even though I have had to cancel my subscription when things have been tight (I’m not a rich person and games are a luxury), I realize that I will usually go back eventually.
Value Score: 10/10 Mules
Final Score: 8.7 / 10 Mules
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