Aion

Aion is one of the best, most well-polished MMORPGs to be released in a long time, which is reinforced by its popularity and hype. It stays within the traditions of an aging genre and makes sure to maximize on it at the same time. Nevertheless, its lack of unique components doesn't help set it apart from the competition, and calls into question Aion's ability to establish a solid, faithful, and long-lasting community.

NCSoft have produced a fine game but, in the end, it's simply too little, too late.

Because of the relatively short amount of time I've had with Aion, and, to be honest, a general apathy toward playing any further, I've not yet experienced the so-called "PvPvE" endgame that lies in the central Abyss zone.

A genuinely beautiful place crawling with magnificent beasts, host to interminable hours of mindless, soulless grind. [Dec 2009, p.110]

Solid and well-balanced MMORPG is somehow sterile and linear. Aion does not offer anything that its MMO competition already has. No reason to leave WoW or Warhammer Online. [Nov 2009]

If you are tired to venture out by the same MMORPG, Aion is a great choice.

If you play MMORPGs for the journey and the storyline, then Aion: the Tower of Eternity is not for you. There aren’t enough quests to engage you in the story, and spending days grinding mobs just to level is not something many people relish doing.

Hard to see long-lasting appeal amongst the grind and lag. [Christmas 2009, p.48]

It's a highly polished experience that will satisfy you if what you're looking for is yet another MMO, albeit one with a few more bells and whistles.

Rewards long-term play with interesting PvP combat. [Jan 2010, p.82]