Earth & Beyond Online

In the perfect cyber-universe of online role-playing games, the scenario goes something like this: You log and regardless of modem or T1 line, you connect immediately with incredible data transfer rates.

Though in its infancy as a massively multiplayer online role-playing game, Earth & Beyond is suffering from patch server login problems. Of late, these problems are happening much too frequently. Because this is not isolated (Motor City Online players have been suffering the same log-in failures due to inability to log into the patch server), it suggests that it is not a game problem, but a server network problem.

If you can get past that, Earth & Beyond, from Westwood (a division of Electronic Arts) is a visually compelling game that boasts an easy player interface and a galaxy to explore and fight in.

Calling all Star Wars fans … Remember the first time you saw the Millennium Falcon jump from one star system to another effortlessly, and the effect of star reflections rushing past. E&B offers that same effect when you jump to warp. Time and star systems are a blur of on-rushing light traces. It works well in this game. After all, who wants to spend 20 or 30 years just trying to get from one system to the next, locked in the boring routine of space travel.

In many regards, E&B is like Ultima Online, or Asheron’s Call. You create a character, wander about the vast mapboards, accomplishing a variety of tasks, avoiding the bad guys when necessary, fighting when you can and/or teaming up with fellow players for a more-rounded experience.

There are three races to choose from, each with unique traits. The Terrans are descendants of the original Earth race, and are inclined toward the trade profession. There are two kinds of professions you can choose from: a pure tradesman or a trader-warrior. The Progen are genetically engineered descendants of the Mars colonists and are seekers of physical and mental perfection. The two professions offered for those wishing to be a Progen are warrior and warrior-explorer.

The Jenquai are descendants of the first deep-space exploration expedition and have a religious passion that has little to do with professions available: explorer and explorer-warrior. Because the Jenquai are a little more vulnerable in an open fight, they rely on stealth and make excellent assassins.

When you pick a character, you are guided through the beginning of the game gently. You are given tasks to accomplish to push you along the path of learning. Gaining levels is a matter of accumulating points in three categories – combat, exploration and trade. As you move throughout the game, you will have the opportunity to increase the meters in these three areas. Fill them and you level. Leveling means a skill point that can be used to increase character abilities.

All of the characters and ships are customizable, in a fashion, and though the player interface looks daunting, the game really is designed for ease of use. However, this is a keyboard-mouse driven game, and while those controls do a nice job, you will not experience the free-falling effects of a Wing Commander title. The computer handles most of the space flight, so free flight is kept at a minimum.

The combat system is geared toward group fights. There is, indeed, safety in numbers. Death does not diminish your experience levels, but you are put in debt – so to speak – and have to erase the experience debt before you can gain at a normal rate and level up.

The game sound won’t surprise anyone – it is merely average, though it does a nice supporting job.

The graphical quality of this game, though, while not the best in a space game, still is remarkable. Planets and systems are wonderful to look at, the coloration is bright and lush, and the overall effects are solid. Origin (which was a branch of EA) probably surpassed E&B’s graphics with its Wing Commander: Prophecy title, but still, Earth & Beyond is a marvelous-looking game that will likely have you initially gazing in wonder at the universe created here.

Like Ultima Online and Motor City Online, E&B offers players the chance to join guilds. Like MCO, you can indulge in ‘turf wars,’ or you can strike out on your own. While the latter has some appeal, because of the vastness of the galaxy, and the relatively small numbers of real players manning keyboards inhabiting it, you can wander about for quite a while without encountering many space travelers.

A unique aspect of E&B is the ability to dock at a space station and get out of your ship to wonder about. This is a much way to socialize within the game structure.

E&B is a wonderful game, and while it does have a few problems associated with the infancy of the program, it does show great promise. This is a game that is reaching for the stars in the realm of MMORPGs, and with continued growth, it should get there.

This game is rated for Everyone.

Gameplay: 7.5
The game suffers from patch server problems, but huge mapboards make this an enjoyable ride through the stars. Control elements are responsive and once you understand the basics, you can get around quickly and easily. There are load times as you transition from one area to another.

Graphics: 8.8
While perhaps not the best space game on the market, this product will still have you looking on in wonder at the universe created. Ships and characters are well rendered and the effects are enjoyable.

Sound: 7
The sounds of this game are well done, but because the graphics and gameplay are the focal point, this will likely be overlooked. Still, the audio portion of this program is solid.

Difficulty: Medium
The controls have been configured for a small learning curve. Because the maps are so huge, it does take time to move about. Combat can be wild and woolly, but is best experienced in numbers. Moving about through enemy territory as a solo ship, unless you are Jenquai and in stealth mode, is an invitation for disaster.

Concept: 8.8
The design of the game is remarkable. The controls have been kept relatively simple, and this is a game that players can jump right into. The opening moments of the game act as a tutorial to get players accustomed to the style of game and control elements. This is a well-conceived game.

Multiplayer: 8
Because of the variety of the experience offered, this game may not really lend itself to multiplayer interaction until you join a guild or go on combat missions. You can travel the galaxy by yourself for quite some time before running into another live person. Once the universe is more populated, that will likely change.

Overall: 8
This is a remarkable experience and really treads new territory in terms of MMORPGs. Sure there have been other attempts at this, and more will certainly follow, but E&B has taken a major step forward in the genre. There are some stumbles, which are to be expected, but as the saying goes, you have to walk before you can run, and in all likelihood, Earth & Beyond will end up sprinting. This is a solid and enjoyable experience, featuring ease of gameplay and remarkable graphical elements.