EverQuest II
A 2004 MMORPG sequel set 500 years after the original EverQuest.
EverQuest II is a 3D fantasy massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) originally developed and published by Sony Online Entertainment for Microsoft Windows PCs, released in November 2004. It is the sequel to the original EverQuest, set 500 years after its predecessor's events in an alternate future, and features updated graphics, streamlined gameplay, and extensive voice acting from actors including Christopher Lee and Heather Graham. The game's parent company was sold to Inception Acquisitions in February 2015 and continues development under Daybreak Game Company.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- Sony Online Entertainment
- Publisher
- Sony Online Entertainment (NA)
- Ubisoft (EU)
- Square Enix (JP)
- Producer
- John R. Blakely
- Designer
- Rich Waters
- Chris Cao
- Joseph Russo
- Programmer
- Scott Hartsman
- Richard A. Baker
- Jon L. Davis
- Artist
- Joe Shoopack
- Stuart Compton
- William B. Yeatt
- Composer
- Laura Karpman; Inon Zur (additional music)
- Released
- November 8, 2004 (NA); November 12, 2004 (EU)
Facts from the source article.
History
SOE marketed EverQuest II as a parallel universe to the original EverQuest, set in an alternate future diverging at the conclusion of the Planes of Power expansion, allowing both games to develop independently. Players of the original find familiar places, characters, and heritage items gained through heritage quests. In Europe, Ubisoft published the game, followed by Koch Media; as of 2010 it lacks a European publisher and is distributed only as a digital download. In February 2005, a promotion with Pizza Hut let players type "/pizza" to order pizza from within the game, generating significant press. In June 2005, SOE introduced Station Exchange, an official auction system on designated servers allowing real-money transfers for in-game money, items, or characters. In March 2006, SOE ended Chinese/Korean operations supported by Gamania; the beta ended on March 29, and all accounts moved to US servers. EQuinox, an official magazine, was released on August 9, 2007. In December 2008, Station Cash, a real-money trading feature, was introduced. In January 2009, EverQuest II became available on Steam. In July 2010, a free-to-play version called EverQuest II Extended was released on a separate server. In November 2011, all remaining servers became free-to-play with microtransactions.
Reception
EverQuest II received mostly positive reviews, earning an 83 out of 100 on Metacritic. Critics compared it to the original EverQuest, which was considered highly influential. Greg Kasavin of GameSpot stated it was not as massive a step for the genre as its predecessor but remained a fun and addictive online role-playing experience for new and experienced players. Mario Lopez of GameSpy found it more inviting, convenient, and forgiving than the first game, though less groundbreaking, and praised the breadth of voice acting as its biggest advancement, calling it extremely fun and rewarding. The game's presentation and photorealistic graphics were widely praised; Computer and Video Games noted that while offline games had more spectacular scenery, none offered such landscapes on a grandiose scale. Computer Games Magazine described the setting as brilliantly reworked. However, GameSpot reported that high system requirements caused performance issues, requiring a monster system for highest quality. Greg Kasavin commented that the engine seemed built for the future but the visuals did not justify the extreme requirements. Steve Butts of IGN found terrible performance at higher settings but noted consistent frame rates with appropriate hardware, and while not a huge fan of the visual style, commended its detail.
East Asian version
EverQuest II: East was an alternate edition for China, Taiwan, and South Korea, shipped in April 2005. It included proprietary missions and a separate character model called the SOGA Model, later imported to the original version in November 2005. Settings were similar to the original, with added entities and quests by Gamania and SOE. Players could name characters in their local language, but most dialogue remained in English except the novice tutorial, which Gamania localized. Due to poor localization reputation, the edition failed in Asia. Gamania terminated it on March 29, 2006, transferring Chinese accounts to the Mistmoore server, Taiwanese accounts to Najena, and Korean accounts to Unrest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who designed EverQuest II?
EverQuest II was designed by Rich Waters, Chris Cao and Joseph Russo.
Who composed the music for EverQuest II?
The music for EverQuest II was composed by Laura Karpman and Inon Zur (additional music).
More in Fantasy Massively Multiplayer Online Role-playing Games
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced