Rift is a free-to-play, fairly traditional-style fantasy MMORPG that was initially released in 2011. Since then, the game has released multiple expansions to a declining player base. Rift is most known for its open-world RIFT events in which you kill enemies until a boss spawns and the rift closes.
This game also features PVP, Raids, and a quick adventure mode that scales new players up to higher levels so they can participate in multiplayer content with friends.
So, after revisiting Rift for a bit in 2021, my updated pros and cons for the game are as follows:
Pros
- I think the game has an interesting class system. I like that there’s a role of tank, healer, and DPS for each of the starting archetypes. It’s super cool that you can spec to be a tank mage for example.
- The game is free-to-play.
- If you’re looking for a game that’s similar to WoW, but not WoW, then Rift might be a decent option.
- I enjoyed the game’s Instant Adventure system, and it was surprising that the game gives you a way to group up with other players so quickly despite being a fairly low-population game.
- It’s also a large open-world game in which you can move between zones without loading screens and invisible barriers.
Cons
- The biggest CON has got to be the lack of people playing the game; it feels abandoned. Honestly speaking, it feels kind of sad playing an MMO without other players. To get the most out of this game, you have to go in with a group of friends.
- The combat and general gameplay is like a less smooth and less polished version of WoW.
- The game’s published by Gamigo, who’re probably the worst publisher I’ve ever had contact with in the gaming industry. I won’t get into specifics, but I don’t trust this company and the people in charge are utterly incompetent.
- The game, as a whole, feels a bit outdated right now and it doesn’t offer anything too unique to compete with other MMOs.
Overall
I remember seeing Rift as quite an interesting MMO when it first launched. The whole dynamic Rift events spawning in the world were really interesting and unique at the time, but over the years, more MMOs have incorporated similar dynamic events in their worlds and Rift no longer has that as a unique selling point.
Development-wise, it seems like they’ve fallen behind the competition and couldn’t keep up, but during my time playing and going through the zones, there was a certain cozy feeling I had being in the world that I can’t really explain.
I can see why people enjoyed Rift as a decent alternative to WoW, and I think this will be remembered as a decent MMO at the time of its release that just couldn’t keep up with the competition and was screwed by having an F-tier publisher.
Credits
| Author | Curtis Pyke |
| YouTuber | TheLazyPeon |
| Program | Freedom! Scholarship |
| Publisher | MGN |
| Game | Rift |