• Publisher: NCSOFT
  • Release Date: Sep 22, 2009
User Score
6.6

Mixed or average reviews- based on 466 Ratings

User score distribution:
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
  1. JoshJ
    Oct 28, 2009
    10
    For those of you that seriously give this game a 1-3 rating, you need to stop being jealous that this is better than whatver mmo you are playing. Aside from Everquest 2. A person giving this a score of 1... plays WoW. Get over it. Yes you lost some of your friends to this game, and I understand that makes you mad, but get over it. This game on full graphics 1680x1050, looks amaizing. If For those of you that seriously give this game a 1-3 rating, you need to stop being jealous that this is better than whatver mmo you are playing. Aside from Everquest 2. A person giving this a score of 1... plays WoW. Get over it. Yes you lost some of your friends to this game, and I understand that makes you mad, but get over it. This game on full graphics 1680x1050, looks amaizing. If you are grinding at lvl 13... you are retarded. Your first lvl needed to grind doesnt come until about lvl 22. Walk around, find the quests. They dont come to you like other mmorpgs. The quests are fun, the music is brilliant, and although I've only made it to lvl 40 of 50, this game is an AWESOME package overall. Now, it may deserve a score lower than the 10 I'm giving it, but I'm rating this to compensate for the users ratings of 1-3.. STOP PLAYING WOW Expand
  2. JoshH.
    Oct 27, 2009
    10
    Aion is a new interesting MMO that appeals to a different kind of MMO player, it is a Korean based game, so before you pick it up you should've already looked into it as being a grind in certain parts, thats what Koreans enjoy, and thats what we get. If you don't like that style of a game, perhaps you should've read into it more before buying it. However with that said, it Aion is a new interesting MMO that appeals to a different kind of MMO player, it is a Korean based game, so before you pick it up you should've already looked into it as being a grind in certain parts, thats what Koreans enjoy, and thats what we get. If you don't like that style of a game, perhaps you should've read into it more before buying it. However with that said, it still is relatively a new game in NA, there are still a few kinks they have to beat out, and who knows, maybe they will appeal more to what some westerners want, an easy way to level, but it won't happen anytime soon. All MMOs have gold farmers spamming it at first, until they figure out an indefinite way to fix the problem, they are going to be there, but that is the current trend in MMOs, they bring it out and fix things later. A game based on a computer system will never be "perfect" per say, but I consider this very close. Expand
  3. FirenzeV.
    Oct 27, 2009
    9
    I came into this quite skeptical, not joining at launch, but waiting a few weeks afterward to let the dust settle. Having played MMO's since UO Beta and EQ Phase 1 Beta, and regularly since, I have a pretty good idea of the strengths and weaknesses of most offerings, and I have high, jaded, standards. My initial take was that there wasn't much new to the game, and I don't I came into this quite skeptical, not joining at launch, but waiting a few weeks afterward to let the dust settle. Having played MMO's since UO Beta and EQ Phase 1 Beta, and regularly since, I have a pretty good idea of the strengths and weaknesses of most offerings, and I have high, jaded, standards. My initial take was that there wasn't much new to the game, and I don't necessarily disagree with that conclusion now. Still, something about the gameplay has got me hooked again, even though I've tried so many other new MMOs and left them shortly. The combat mechanics are cleaner and simpler but still sufficiently dynamic to keep me interested. Progress is quest driven and still mostly of the "Kill x foozles" and fedex variety, but there are some neat new twists that I wouldn't classify as genre-defining, but still refreshing. The bottom line on gameplay is that it's ... fun. Inextricably, and with that same elusive quality that is hard to define, but you know-it-when-you-see-it, this one is fun. And then there's the flyying. Omg the flying. There are two types: flying from a standing start (which is, as others have pointed out, limited to certain areas or fly-zones, Boo!), and there is gliding (which can be done anywhere). Gliding is fun. Jump off any high point and float downward. Beautiful sensation and it will take you some time and finesse to master its subtleties. The game isn't going to dethrone WoW, but then who cares about WoW? This game is fun, I'm enjoying it, and the PvP is intelligently designed and integrated from the ground up (like DAOC's RvR). Expand
  4. Coeco
    Oct 24, 2009
    0
    People are giving this horrible MMORPG overkill 10's so im gonna go ahead and throw it a 0. Aion is a too-polished online role playing game where everyone minds their own business untill weeks of grinding (due to an huge lack of quests during low levels) where you hit level 25 to actually start taking notice to other people, in PvP. Adding the idea of flying, only to have it tamed People are giving this horrible MMORPG overkill 10's so im gonna go ahead and throw it a 0. Aion is a too-polished online role playing game where everyone minds their own business untill weeks of grinding (due to an huge lack of quests during low levels) where you hit level 25 to actually start taking notice to other people, in PvP. Adding the idea of flying, only to have it tamed with tons of invisible wall just strangles the game's potential even further along with the temporiarly "eye candy" graphics which lasts only for a few hours, Aion is a bland, boring, average, grinding tank/spank MMORPG which noone should pay for just to be stuck in killing the same monsters over and over again for several weeks. Expand
  5. RobbyM
    Oct 22, 2009
    6
    Visually fantastic
  6. SamuelG
    Oct 20, 2009
    8
    I have level 15 and I needed to grinding at lvl 12 ( 10% of xp ); ( 20% at lvl 13 ); and more than 50% at lvl 15. But, at lvl 16, they are giving new quest... Well, alot of grinding. The fight systeme is great and dynamic. Beautiful graphic and the fly sensations are incredible! Play with friends, it is a must.
  7. JH
    Oct 19, 2009
    3
    A very pretty grind. That's all you will get out of Aion. Classes are very imbalanced making PvP laughable. The graphics are excellent but it only seems to mask the bleak and boring gameplay.Unlike what Gunter F said.. Warhammer Online has undergone changes and is the best PvP MMO out there if one enjoys that kind of MMO.
  8. TJexo
    Oct 18, 2009
    1
    Slightly above average korean grindfest, excluding the fact its subbed. I'n sure for people who come from WoW, the graphics are beautiful, but for anyone with a rig less than 2 years old they are far too outdated and often offensive. I ran this on the highest possible settings and the textures were often so stretched that it appears as a single bland, colour. The gimmick of flying Slightly above average korean grindfest, excluding the fact its subbed. I'n sure for people who come from WoW, the graphics are beautiful, but for anyone with a rig less than 2 years old they are far too outdated and often offensive. I ran this on the highest possible settings and the textures were often so stretched that it appears as a single bland, colour. The gimmick of flying soon runs thin when you are actually limited to a small number of areas to actually spread your paper-like wings. PvP, the selling point for me, has some very interesting siege mechanics but is ruined by a lack of diminishing returns on CC. Combat animations are fantastic, but youre going to be watching them over 1000 times every level. The most notable part of aion is its excellent music score lol. Cancelled my CE sub with no intentions of returning. I've played games for over 20 years, alot of that time spent in mmos; while the game doesnt warrant a score this low, nor does it deserve scores so high from professional reviewers who have evidently not played the game. Expand
  9. LucaChard
    Oct 16, 2009
    10
    Brilliant game, only people who like a shit version of Aion Say things like "omg it doesnt add anything new" nah, it just is basically a 5x better less market strangling MMO Than WoW. Great Graphics, Nice Instances, Unique PvP, Movies in Quests, Minimal Grind(some people think this means that you dont have killing monsters and quests <.<;)
    Queues were a bother but it was the first DAY of
    Brilliant game, only people who like a shit version of Aion Say things like "omg it doesnt add anything new" nah, it just is basically a 5x better less market strangling MMO Than WoW. Great Graphics, Nice Instances, Unique PvP, Movies in Quests, Minimal Grind(some people think this means that you dont have killing monsters and quests <.<;)
    Queues were a bother but it was the first DAY of Aion and they did expect to have so many users logon!

    AWESOME!
    Expand
  10. LucaC
    Oct 14, 2009
    3
    The visually stunning environment quickly grows old as it becomes clear that there is no creativity in the game play. I leveled to 40 and canceled my account after realizing that there is nothing but a grind. The boss fights seemed to be tank and spank, followed by spank and tank for some variety. The crafting system is repetitive and monotonous. Buy mats, hit a station, click go, and The visually stunning environment quickly grows old as it becomes clear that there is no creativity in the game play. I leveled to 40 and canceled my account after realizing that there is nothing but a grind. The boss fights seemed to be tank and spank, followed by spank and tank for some variety. The crafting system is repetitive and monotonous. Buy mats, hit a station, click go, and wait. After a couple minutes you get a point. Repeat 100 Expand
  11. BarnabyR
    Oct 12, 2009
    3
    Even though I was eagerly awaiting this MMO it turned out to be a bitter disapointment. Overall the game just seems like another endless grind similar to lineage or even wow. Pvp doesnt happen till 25 so that also killed it for me. Flying is tedious and you are only aloud to fly in certian areas which made it very annoying to get around. Fighting was far to prolonged and difficult which Even though I was eagerly awaiting this MMO it turned out to be a bitter disapointment. Overall the game just seems like another endless grind similar to lineage or even wow. Pvp doesnt happen till 25 so that also killed it for me. Flying is tedious and you are only aloud to fly in certian areas which made it very annoying to get around. Fighting was far to prolonged and difficult which for some could be a good thing but i just found it boring and depressing when you die to something only a few levels higher than you. Quests were few and far between at lower levels and the game just didnt deliver anything that has not been seen before. Expand
  12. GunterF
    Oct 12, 2009
    4
    Aion is pretty and runs very stable. Unfortunately, beside that it's not much more then an upgraded usual free-to-play asian MMORPG. Flat storyline, forced grinding, only a few items and a kind of PvP that already didn't work out in Warhammer Online. Not to mention serious starting problems like long waiting queues and the bot and spam infestation already happening on most Aion is pretty and runs very stable. Unfortunately, beside that it's not much more then an upgraded usual free-to-play asian MMORPG. Flat storyline, forced grinding, only a few items and a kind of PvP that already didn't work out in Warhammer Online. Not to mention serious starting problems like long waiting queues and the bot and spam infestation already happening on most servers without NCsoft intervening. Expand
  13. JohnM
    Oct 11, 2009
    3
    The game is great up till about lvl 20, then you start to relize how much grinding you have to do and hardly any quests. Horrible support for the game, tickets never get answered and most of the time they are auto closed with no answer.
  14. LexiB.
    Oct 10, 2009
    9
    This is a very good MMORPG. Top tier, polished, evidence of abundant time, financing, and art put into the development. While the mid-tiers need a little love in some patches to add a few quests, the storyline is engaging throughout, the graphics gorgeous, and just that little cuteness that turns me on. There's a deep system underlying the "coating" with mana stones, godstones, This is a very good MMORPG. Top tier, polished, evidence of abundant time, financing, and art put into the development. While the mid-tiers need a little love in some patches to add a few quests, the storyline is engaging throughout, the graphics gorgeous, and just that little cuteness that turns me on. There's a deep system underlying the "coating" with mana stones, godstones, cooking etc ... that will leave hardcore gamers studious but casual gamers with plenty to do. While many may say its not revolutionary, it is the MMORPG with the brightest future out there right now .. given a chance to fine tune and an expansion or two (which all NCSoft games have done well), this will be here for years to come. It feels like familiar ground for ex WoW or DaoC fans, yet has a few new things. All games have a grind early on until content develops, but this is the best launch I've been in. Expand
  15. JoshuaA.
    Oct 9, 2009
    6
    Aion is a wonderful looking game and is full of great animations beauty and its such a shame to see that the game is very simple and lacking in depth.The Quests are boring as they are your typical MMORPG rubbish, Grind or Collect Quests(Many of which are repeatable which is horrible). If only they had some inventive quests like some of ones i've seem on World of Warcraft or Warhammer Aion is a wonderful looking game and is full of great animations beauty and its such a shame to see that the game is very simple and lacking in depth.The Quests are boring as they are your typical MMORPG rubbish, Grind or Collect Quests(Many of which are repeatable which is horrible). If only they had some inventive quests like some of ones i've seem on World of Warcraft or Warhammer Online.The Worst thing is that with the flight element there could of been some fantastic quests but the developers have seen fit to basically make a lot of the PVE Zones a "No Flight" areas which completely ruins one of the games best parts. The Game is also too contained and linear as it is very low on zones and you just work your way around one and then another and another..... etc.The One Feature i do like about the game is the PVP or as it is in aion PVPVE which is essentially a huge never ending battlefield known as the abyss where your in a constant battle against an AI and Player race where you attempt to capture Artifacts (Which can be used to unleash great powers to either benefit the controlling race or destroy there enemy's.The Abyss allows flight so combat can be interesting and fun.The Abyss also allows you to get points to buy the very powerful Abyss gear. Another Problem is the game does not get very interesting until after level 25 as this is when you can enter the abyss and start doing instances but i fear that many players will get bored before they reach that level and quit without fully experiencing what the game has to offer. Another nice feature is the Stigmas which are items that when attach to the character allow them to perform powerful spells. A character can only use a certain number of stigmas at a time and must equip them at a Special NPC who will charge them Stigma Shards to Equip. Character Creation is also an enjoyable part of the game as they are many options to choose from a palettes for parts like hair colour, eye colour, skin colour etc but as noted by PC Zone, Way to many Emo Haircuts.There are many improvements this game could use including some inventive quests, more zones, more pre-25 content and an addition of land mounts to name a few. Aion has heaps of potential and needs some major changes to fulfill it. Hopefully it's developers will see the light and make appropriate changes either in the form of content updates or an expansion pack.Though i will kill NC-Soft if they don't get some decent bot protection and a report button for gold sellers. Expand
  16. DanielD.
    Oct 9, 2009
    8
    Aion is a great game. It has some beautiful landscapes and many different monsters. The PVE is great too, some monsters are magical while some use melee. The PVP is super. At the levels 0-24 you can't really pvp, unless you find a rift (wich is hard), but, at level 25 you can get to the Abyss. In the Abyss you're able to kill monsters for Abyss points and exp. The abyss points Aion is a great game. It has some beautiful landscapes and many different monsters. The PVE is great too, some monsters are magical while some use melee. The PVP is super. At the levels 0-24 you can't really pvp, unless you find a rift (wich is hard), but, at level 25 you can get to the Abyss. In the Abyss you're able to kill monsters for Abyss points and exp. The abyss points are used for ranks or for good weapons. You can also PVP freely, although you need a group because most asmos are in groups. The animations are good and they don't look as if it is a robot (stiff animations). The bad things are the queues from time to time, although should be fixed at the end of October when everyone gets a free transfer to an other server. There's also the gold spammers. They're all over Aion, and no GM's are online to ban them. Expand
  17. JezJ.
    Oct 8, 2009
    8
    Can't give it a ten as im only level 16 - but enjoyed every minute so far - going to keep on till I feel ive had enough and not before! - Not a grind fest if you Learn how to play.
  18. RipOff
    Oct 8, 2009
    4
    Korean grind at it's best but definately not worth paying for let alone paying a monthly subscription. Beautiful scenery and decent gameplay but still quite buggy in places that shouldn't see problems. Customer Support is almost non-existent with the majority of Community Rep responses taking place over Twitter which is far from being acceptable. Forums are simply broken with Korean grind at it's best but definately not worth paying for let alone paying a monthly subscription. Beautiful scenery and decent gameplay but still quite buggy in places that shouldn't see problems. Customer Support is almost non-existent with the majority of Community Rep responses taking place over Twitter which is far from being acceptable. Forums are simply broken with people being unable to login or simply not being able to view pages properly. Gameplay is so-and-so with very annoying barriers. In combat you'll see Sorcerers or Rangers mopping the battlefield with melee based classes and in flight see them at a higher level of "0wn4g3" with an even greater chance to flee when the battle turns against them. Fortresses are bland with little excitement after the initial one minute adrenaline rush but after that, spending 30minutes on a boss to cap a fort just isn't interesting as the bosses are hardly challenging. Localization is decent but definately not complete. Voice acting is alright but cutscenes need an overhaul, especially to combat SFX which retains the cringe-worthy Korean chop and swish screams and shouts. If like me you found the whole concept of fortress seiges to be exciting or reminescent of Ragnarok Online then think again. You will not find as good gaemplay as War of Emperium in Aion. The only difference here is there are two factions making PvP round the clock but extremely dull in the Abyss with no real tactic other than zerg whoever happens to be around. Fortress vulnerability timers are seemingly random which makes for poor gameplay and little chance of organising seiges for all... sometimes it can be as bad as to have no fortresses vulnerable for up to three days. A "4" is generous for a game like this requiring you to pay a phenominal amount tied with monthly subscription. Expand
  19. MatthewF
    Oct 8, 2009
    1
    I played this game during the "head start" week and I preordered this game, there were little to no queues at this time, hoever as the week progressed the queues grew and grew up to the retail release where they ballooned at 3-4 hours. So you come home from work, join the queue, get in the game 4 hours later and log off to goto sleep as its by now really late. Awesome huh! Well the I played this game during the "head start" week and I preordered this game, there were little to no queues at this time, hoever as the week progressed the queues grew and grew up to the retail release where they ballooned at 3-4 hours. So you come home from work, join the queue, get in the game 4 hours later and log off to goto sleep as its by now really late. Awesome huh! Well the "support" and I use the term in the loosest sense of the word, suggested to play at a different time of the day instead. Seriously that was their answer. Well after 2 weeks of 3-4 hour queues every day, I had enough, cancelled my account, and requested a refund under the Sales and Supply of Goods Act 1994. During my brief time in the game, every 10 minutes you get spammed by gold selling bots, and you cant create a ticket about them out of hours... This MMO is a joke steer clear. Expand
  20. JerkOff
    Oct 8, 2009
    4
    Aion looks pretty and feels polished, but under that thin layer of glistening filament is an all too familiar turd. It plays like the bastard child of World of Warcraft and every korean MMO ever created.
  21. JordanP.
    Oct 7, 2009
    6
    Aion is a nicely polished game, but in the end just simply does not deliver anything new to the genre, and is also quite simply not worth the purchase and fees for something that already is, or can be acquired for no price at all. Still, it holds some innovations to be highly commended for, but nothing game changing to shape this game as a success in the genre of high expectations.
  22. ChrisB
    Oct 7, 2009
    9
    A very good effort, the gameplay is tighter and more engaging than WoW if not as visceral as Conan. It is beautiful and the setting is interesting. Hopefully the PvPvE endgame will shine.
  23. AnonymousMC
    Oct 7, 2009
    4
    I've only reached level 20 (of 50) with a couple of characters, but Aion is promising to be another grindfest. A complete failure regarding innovation: travel, kill X mobs, use exactly identical attack sequence, repeat. The much touted flying dynamic is horribly limited and underwhelming. The graphics are well done, and there aren't too many in-game bugs for a brand new MMO (norI've only reached level 20 (of 50) with a couple of characters, but Aion is promising to be another grindfest. A complete failure regarding innovation: travel, kill X mobs, use exactly identical attack sequence, repeat. The much touted flying dynamic is horribly limited and underwhelming. The graphics are well done, and there aren't too many in-game bugs for a brand new MMO (nor should there be). Expand
  24. NateS
    Oct 6, 2009
    5
    The first week with this game was terrible. The 2 day head start would always start with a 3 hour queue time during peak hours, and that queue would continue through out the week. Second week I was able to play without waiting and while the experience was great, the game still just feels like other typical MMOs e.g. Kill 20 of these, pick 15 of these, find this guy then come back to me. The first week with this game was terrible. The 2 day head start would always start with a 3 hour queue time during peak hours, and that queue would continue through out the week. Second week I was able to play without waiting and while the experience was great, the game still just feels like other typical MMOs e.g. Kill 20 of these, pick 15 of these, find this guy then come back to me. The game is pretty polished, animations are smooth, but it feels like they didn't put any effort in creating something unique. This is apparently a PvP centered game, but most of the PvP doesn't start until around level 25, so you would have to tough it out through the boring grind from 1-25 just to see and PvP action. If you are the type to enjoy grinding and are able to handle that repetitiveness then this is probably a game for you. If you hate that type of experience then steer clear from this. This game is most likely going to end up like all the other previous MMOs before it, even though i quit World of Warcraft years ago, even i could tell that this game will not knock Blizzard off their throne. Expand
  25. daveuk
    Oct 4, 2009
    8
    great game its getting alot of hate from people who must have person problem in their lives it seems but anyway its a solid game not the next mmo that is leaps and bounds beyond we got got so far but refines what is good in current mmos and is refreshing to play deffo worth trying at least before drawing a opinion on it
  26. NickB
    Oct 4, 2009
    9
    It has the feel of Final Fantasy 11 with the ability to solo and enjoy the game without waiting hours for a group. GREAT class defenition each class has it's own feel and play style. The graphics are amaising and the art style is just beautiful. It's a world that is easy to move around in while still providing a good challenge. I can't wait until end game to see how the It has the feel of Final Fantasy 11 with the ability to solo and enjoy the game without waiting hours for a group. GREAT class defenition each class has it's own feel and play style. The graphics are amaising and the art style is just beautiful. It's a world that is easy to move around in while still providing a good challenge. I can't wait until end game to see how the dungens run. Expand
  27. RayK.
    Oct 3, 2009
    8
    Aion has beautiful zones, great character customization, solid gameplay and great lore. It suffers from a few drawbacks and some clunkiness at times from the UI (odd mouse things), but overall it is a very beautiful and fun game. No one expects it to kill WoW and it won't, but it's a fun alternative for people who are burned out on WoW and it's lack of innovation.
  28. BenL
    Oct 3, 2009
    0
    Dreadful, just awful in every way. Just about every selling point with this game turned out to either be a lie or to be such a tiny little gimmick it's not worth it. The combat is clunky, the flight mechanics are pathetic and the zones are like something out of Guild Wars. That's basically what this game feels like a repaint of some old Guild Wars zones with extra grind Dreadful, just awful in every way. Just about every selling point with this game turned out to either be a lie or to be such a tiny little gimmick it's not worth it. The combat is clunky, the flight mechanics are pathetic and the zones are like something out of Guild Wars. That's basically what this game feels like a repaint of some old Guild Wars zones with extra grind shovelled onto the top. If you like Korean MMOs this may appeal to you but unless you really love that strange Korean/Anime MMO look or your previous experience of online gameing consists entirely of dressing like an angel on IMVU don't buy this since the look is all you are paying for. Expand
  29. DarranA.
    Oct 3, 2009
    10
    I give this game a ten, Why?, By not comparing it to a well established MMO, i am rating this as a launch product and by that simple fact it deserves a ten because of how polished and bug free the game really is. I closed beta tested this , then open beta, and now enjoying the live game immensely. Graphics scale well ona basic maching and still look great, they also look out of this world I give this game a ten, Why?, By not comparing it to a well established MMO, i am rating this as a launch product and by that simple fact it deserves a ten because of how polished and bug free the game really is. I closed beta tested this , then open beta, and now enjoying the live game immensely. Graphics scale well ona basic maching and still look great, they also look out of this world on a high end machine. I come from 4 years of WOW and this comes as a breath of fresh air for me and a good replacement for the WOW machine. Its Charming , exciting, complex and thoroughly enjoyable. Give it a try Graphics 10 Sound 8 Gameplay 9 Polish 10 Community 8. Expand
  30. OswaldK
    Oct 3, 2009
    8
    I see Aion as the basis "starting point" for a great experience. Im enjoying the game in its current state, however, it needs what ill define as "more". More quests, items, lands etc. Its fun, looks great and at times I don't realize im playing to level, which is great, since we should be playing to have fun right.
Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 42 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 29 out of 42
  2. Negative: 1 out of 42
  1. 90
    Without a doubt, Aion is an incredibly polished experience that refines the best aspects of the genre and creates a spectacular new world. As a fan and critic of the genre, I wholeheartedly recommend Aion to both casual and experienced gamers.
  2. A streamlined, structured, gorgeous grind, an addictive and even rewarding grind if you're that way inclined, but a grind nonetheless. An ultimately grim and unvarying pursuit.
  3. Aion has definitely more potential than other most recently released MMOs. Its already quite a polished game, but lacks still some content especially for the high level range.