Asheron's Call

 PC
User Score
8.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 26 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 26
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 26
  3. Negative: 3 out of 26

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  1. malkiar79
    Apr 24, 2013
    10
    While browsing RPG titles I spotted Asherons Call and had to create an account just to write how fondly I remember this wonderful game. Asherons Call was and I think still is the best RPG game ever made.

    The entire game was a free roaming world of exploration. Sure at level 1 rabbits could kill you, but with enough cunning and care you could actually traverse the forests between towns    While browsing RPG titles I spotted Asherons Call and had to create an account just to write how fondly I remember this wonderful game. Asherons Call was and I think still is the best RPG game ever made.

    The entire game was a free roaming world of exploration. Sure at level 1 rabbits could kill you, but with enough cunning and care you could actually traverse the forests between towns by tip toeing around the edges of banderling camps! I remember the excitement and fear of edging past, hoping I wouldn't alert the nasty creature 30 levels higher than me.

    You could play your character in entirely your own way. You weren't restricted to pre-conceived classes like mordern RPGs if you wanted to be a dagger wielding melee mage relying on magical shielding to help you last you could do just that. Every kill would give you xp and skill points. No waiting to level to spend your meager advancement. Your character scaled as you played real time. Finish a kill? Spend a point on melee defence for a few more dodges.

    I remember the first day creating a character and portalling into Holtburg. The community was buzzing, warm, open and friendly. Nothing like the level rushing, item hoarding online games of today. Many hours were spent just sitting in town chatting.

    If you didn't want to be part of a guild or community that was fine too. You could explore, survive and live in the wilderness all on your own. Finding swirling pink portals to dangerous dungeons filled with creative and interesting tunnels to explore. Some of the dungeons were so deep and dangerous that you were suddenly reminded; I ran 35 minutes to find this place. I am in the middle of nowhere. And I am alone.... If I die, I will reappear back at the damn lifestone I linked to in town.

    There were also the popular dungeons, crammed with other players. Backs to the wall to make full use of the shielding mechanics as the Lugians would pile in around you, blocking all escape. Better hope you don't fail on your first aid skill as wave after wave of carnage comes barreling in. Some fool unknowingly taunts a whole room and runs for his life past your corner of solace bringing in a whole new wave of death. How terrible was it to die, leaving a treasured item on your corpse deep deep within a dungeon. Would you risk travelling all the way back inside to retrieve it.... if you die, you might lose another item!

    Months spent hunting golems to collect pyreal motes questing to a volcanic forge to finally craft them into a legendary atlan weapon. Then spending more months questing for the elemental stones to empower your atlan even further... Not to mention shadow armor, mattecor coats or finally completing my mages armor set! :)

    I only have positives to say about this game. It will forever be in my memory as the most exciting and ground breaking rpg of it's day.    … Expand
  2. raidx
    Nov 12, 2013
    10
    In 14 years, I'm yet to find a better PVP game than AC.

    Unlike most MMOs today, which force you into a handful of predefined factions, you log into AC as your own man and it's up to you to join a player created guild from where you will draw support, but also contribute to its success. Towns offer certain strategic advantages that make them more desirable than others. Any guild can    In 14 years, I'm yet to find a better PVP game than AC.

    Unlike most MMOs today, which force you into a handful of predefined factions, you log into AC as your own man and it's up to you to join a player created guild from where you will draw support, but also contribute to its success.

    Towns offer certain strategic advantages that make them more desirable than others. Any guild can take it over by simply making a presence and repelling any guild that does not belong from even coming in. In time other guilds know who the town belongs to and they will respect your claim or fight just because you are there. There are no perpetually spawning guards that will interfere with the game play.

    Death has consequences, both by a temporary ability penalty and by the loss of some of your most valuable object.

    The world is huge and getting from point A to point B sometimes will feel like a epic trip. Distances make organizing a raid a major strategic endeavor, and distance provide protection from your enemies.

    PVP skill counts. Unlike other MMOs where the character ability attributes are so steep that you can't fight another character 4 or 5 levels above you, no matter your skill, back when I played AC a level 30 could defeat a level 50 based on skill alone.

    The game is raw PVP. There are few restrictions placed by game mechanics.

    I always wonder why more people never got into it. Maybe the experience curve got to far ahead to welcome new players. Maybe most people prefer PVE and just like to collect their pretty armor and not risk anything.    … Expand
  3. tmims44
    Jul 6, 2014
    10
    Best MMORPG of all time. Outdated by today's standard (2014) but still fun. complete customization of character, no set classes or skills and full freedom to explore an extremely large world (500square km) with thousands of quests and a very deep storyline make this a bedrock of MMORPG gameplay.

    Don't believe the haters.
  4. Aedin123
    Jul 8, 2015
    10
    If there was ever a game that warranted a remake, this is it. While challenging and having a fairly steep learning curve, this game still shines above all others in providing that sense of "accomplishment" when completing what ever task you set out to do. True sandbox role playing combined with a unique and fantastic leveling and character development system. The lore behind the game isIf there was ever a game that warranted a remake, this is it. While challenging and having a fairly steep learning curve, this game still shines above all others in providing that sense of "accomplishment" when completing what ever task you set out to do. True sandbox role playing combined with a unique and fantastic leveling and character development system. The lore behind the game is simply fantastic and engrossing as well. Fond fond memories here!… Expand
  5. MichaelL.
    Apr 16, 2006
    9
    More memories lie with this game than any other MMO I've played, but if you missed AC back in its golden age you're too late now. So I suppose this review doesn't help much. I just want to make sure that Metacritic is aware that AC was once an incredible, incredible game.
  6. Hrodwulf
    Jan 14, 2012
    9
    One of the best MMOs I ever played. The world is immense. The lore amazing. People have to actually think about their stats. There is no "level range" on most items or spells. You are not corralled through quests and levels. It is very sandbox. Basically you log in, and you can go anywhere and do anything, and you are limited only by your skill as a player. The level cap is crazy high, soOne of the best MMOs I ever played. The world is immense. The lore amazing. People have to actually think about their stats. There is no "level range" on most items or spells. You are not corralled through quests and levels. It is very sandbox. Basically you log in, and you can go anywhere and do anything, and you are limited only by your skill as a player. The level cap is crazy high, so you don't hit that ceiling and then quit very easily. PvP was twitchy and fun whence last I played. This game should be the basis for future MMOs.â… Expand
  7. neowiz73
    Jun 6, 2012
    10
    One of the greatest MMOs of all time. It is the most unique and the most fun out of any MMO that has come out since. Graphics may not be all that great now but they were pretty great back when it first came out. There will never be another like it. It will always be a memory that I cherish. Even tried playing it again with a newer system and game wouldn't play at all. I've evenOne of the greatest MMOs of all time. It is the most unique and the most fun out of any MMO that has come out since. Graphics may not be all that great now but they were pretty great back when it first came out. There will never be another like it. It will always be a memory that I cherish. Even tried playing it again with a newer system and game wouldn't play at all. I've even thought of building an older computer just to play again.… Expand
  8. splewk
    Oct 14, 2012
    10
    This game still has it, even in 2012. If you can get by the fact that it is a retro MMO (not as massive as it once was, but has a closer community), then you might end up falling in love with AC and dereth. Some of it's additions are a bit forced, but it has monthly (sometimes more) updates and content. Bottom line it is still great fun.
  9. Krakatau
    Aug 20, 2017
    10
    My first MMORPG that subsequently ruined the genre for be because it was so amazing and no game since has lived up to Asheron's Call. Played from 2000 until the second the official servers went down. No game has been able to keep my attention the way AC did. RIP Darktide, you were wonderful.

Awards & Rankings

11
#11 Best PC Game of 1999
10
#10 Most Discussed PC Game of 1999
11
#11 Most Shared PC Game of 1999

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
81

Generally favorable reviews - based on 15 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 15
  3. Negative: 0 out of 15
  1. IGN
    64
    Nearly everything that's good about this game is colored by some sort of flaw. In some cases it's a minor thing, in others it's a little more serious.
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  2. GameSpot
    86
    A solid, well-rounded online role-playing experience that's at least as good as any other out there.
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  3. FiringSquad
    80
    People have different styles of play to go along with different tastes and preferences. You now have some choice as to which RPG is for you. I could never really say which is better than the others are since they are so unique, yet so common.
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