EverQuest: The Ruins of Kunark
First expansion to EverQuest, introducing the continent of Kunark.
It introduced the previously unexplored continent of Kunark, with its discovery established through in-game events and fiction published online by Verant Interactive.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- Sony Online Entertainment (Verant Interactive)
- Released
- April 14, 2000 (NA); April 28, 2000 (EU)
- Genre
- Massively multiplayer online role-playing
- Modes
- Online
Facts from the source article.
General information
The Ruins of Kunark presented a different visual feel from the original zones, with a more vibrant color palette and more detailed monster models, most evident in the Iksar, a new playable race of lizard people. The Iksar had racial advantages including longer underwater breathing, additional regenerative powers, and an armor bonus, balanced by being hated by all other races and unable to wear plate armor. The expansion raised the maximum character level from 50 to 60 and added many powerful monsters for high-level characters, notably Veeshan's Peak, a dragon-populated zone declared the hardest zone at release, and Sebilis, the lair of the undead dragon Trakanon. Epic quests for powerful class-specific weapons were introduced between the Kunark and Velious expansions. Distribution was unique: players ordered from Verant's online store and received the expansion by mail; shipping delays caused many to miss the official opening date. Later expansions were available in stores or via direct download weeks before opening.
Reception
By early November 2000, the expansion had moved 92,172 copies in the U.S. since its February release. GameSpot’s Desslock observed that both this title and The Scars of Velious started the year strong, but summer sales dropped off sharply, particularly after Camelot hit the market. On GameRankings, the expansion earned an 89% aggregate score. PC World’s Richard Baguley praised its blend of “elfin magic, fierce foes, online action.” Alex Handy of Computer Gaming World found few flaws in either the base game or the expansion. Adam Duncan of Hyper noted that existing EverQuest fans would enjoy this content. PC Zone’s Chris Anderson remarked that while Kunark doesn’t overhaul the gameplay, it offers enough new material to warrant the purchase, and the extra server capacity created by players migrating to Kunark made the experience more attractive. At the 4th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences gave The Ruins of Kunark the award for Massive Multiplayer/Persistent World, and it was also nominated for PC Game of the Year and overall Game of the Year.
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