 | | Neocron 2 is a futuristic online RPG |
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As I touched upon in an earlier post, the first Neocron kinda blew me away. This was back when massive multiplayer online RPGs weren't quite as advanced, or even as frequent as they are now. More importantly, there were (and still are) very few MMORPGs not set in some kind of aborted version of Tolkien's Lord of the Ring's universe.
I'll never understand why so many role playing games, both on and offline, seem intent on milking that medieval setting for all its worth. How many orcs and goblins can you slay before it all gets a bit, well, shit?
Which is why when Neocron came out, the fact that it opted for a futuristic sci-fi setting instead meant I was immediately all over it - and I wasn't disappointed.
Starting up Neocron for that first time and finding myself in my very own virtual apartment with a cybernetic implant in my head was completely absorbing. It was like walking into a living, breathing Cyberpunk universe (an admittedly guilty pleasure of mine back in my pre-teen years).
Deus Ex Online
 | | Neocron - the ideal city for those with claustrophobia |
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As you delved deeper, it got even better. Stepping outside of your apartment and venturing into the big bad city of Neocron, the sites were nothing short of awe-inspiring. Buildings reached so far up you could barely make out the sky, police cars flew overhead like something out of Blade Runner, and best of all, in a rather gutsy move, there were bare breasted strippers hanging out on the seedier corners of town.
But why am I talking so avidly about the first Neocron when we're here to discuss Neocron 2? Well that leads me onto the one big problem with this new Neocron "sequel"; it's not actually a sequel at all, merely an update for the original Neocron. From what I've seen so far, it's about 80% identical to the first one, and I don't mean that in a vague, comparative sense...I mean it's
literally identical. Same engine, same weapons, same controls, even the same music.
Now I ceased playing Neocron well over a year ago when Star Wars Galaxies came out, and understandably stopped following the latest happenings in Neo land from then on. On hearing about Neocron 2's September release date though, the idealist inside me was hoping for great things. The spirit of the original wrapped up in a more cutting edge, next generation MMORPG. The results are not what I expected. An add-on is all well and good I guess, but we've been getting regular additions of this size to Star Wars Galaxies for
free since launch.
The Full Run Down
That said, there are some cool new features here. A more intuitive (if buggy) beginner's tutorial for one, along with the expected bundle of new quests, sites, advanced skills, apartment customizations, and some new flyable vehicles - all of which are welcome additions. The new cab rides are also
very cool indeed, if somewhat useless, and there's a rather swanky new hacking sub game too if that's your bag.
 | | Try as you might, it's impossible to make your character look straight |
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Graphics have reportedly been improved, but in practice there's not a huge difference to be seen unfortunately, an enormous downer for this aging engine. I will admit the new look to the characters is a sweet improvement though, with their new visual options and generally improved overall look. But again, we're still talking way, way more primitive than what we've seen more recently in the likes of Galaxies or City of Heroes.
The real meat of the new content is the Dome of York - a rival city to Neocron, and the ying to its yang. Whereas Neocron is beautiful and metropolitan, DoY is sketchy, dirty, and just downright falling apart. It's a huge physical addition to the game, but really I can't imagine anyone picking it as their home over the main city, and on my first trip there, it was startlingly empty of other players.
Back to the Old School
 | | The Dome of York caters to a very specific demographic |
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Other than that, you're gonna be playing the same old Neocron the rest of the time. I must say though, I'm having fun being back in this world after so long. On a technical level, it's almost laughable compared to its next generation peers in the online gaming world, however gameplay wise, Neocron still shines.
In fact, the way the various classes, crafting, territorial warfare and first person combat all slot together is, to be blunt, incredible.
The atmosphere is also truly captivating; neon lights illuminate the futuristic streets, soothing female voices blurt out advertisements all around you, and there's a genuine sense of a busy, bustling city full of people - something I must admit Galaxies never really nails on a level quite like this. Also it must be said, the music is breathtakingly gorgeous.
 | | One of the newest additions is the ability to become a human microphone |
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The game may look rather dated, even by the standards of its original release date, but it all hints back to a more innocent period in PC gaming. Back when 3D acceleration was still being experimented with, colours were garish, and characters were big and blocky. There was something kinda magical about games back then though, and the subsequent realism that more modern games have awarded us, has sadly lost some of that magic.
Viewer Discretion is Advised
Taking a stroll through Pepper Park and passing by numerous strip bars, I'm reminded just how adult orientated the game is too - it's like a breath of fresh air in that regard (ironic when you consider Pepper Park is dirtier than that toilet in Trainspotting). Why aren't there more RPGs following this beautiful trend Neocron started years ago? Fuck dragons and beardy old wizards, let's get more street hookers and gatling cannons!
 | | There are huge expanses of land to explore in Neocron 2, tarted up somewhat for this new update |
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My next stop is the Wastelands - the barren desert beyond Neocron's safe(ish) city walls. On my way out though, I happen to catch a pretty young NPC girl working in a magazine stand. After a quick detour followed by the obligatory asking for a cyber date, she startlingly responds that if her boyfriend found out he'd "rip my dick off and stick it up my arse". Yep, Neocron hasn't lost its edge I see...
Parting Recommendations
Regardless, I feel kind of exhausted as far as this game goes. I gave it a good six months back at launch and experienced all there was to see back then. Sadly this sequel has done little to alleviate that. I certainly won't be splashing out on the full upgrade when it's released later this month, however I will be enjoying the free trip down memory lane that this beta test has afforded me in the meantime.
 | | Sensing his chance for revenge at last, the games developer lashed out in full force. This would teach her! |
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For newcomers though, I would suggest that if you can live without the pretty graphics and fancy a unique, mature and deeply involving online adventure, you could do a heck of a lot worse than Neocron 2. Galaxies is still my game of choice personally, but despite the major advances made the past year, that game is still exhibiting some teething problems at this stage - a problem Neocron doesn't have at all.
Although my time with Neo is long gone, this for me is a textbook example of what other MMORPGs should be striving to achieve. It's just a shame this sequel doesn't fix its biggest gaping problem; the aesthetic.
Neocron 2 - Beyond the Dome of York Trailer
