So after playing in the beta for a few weeks I have to say this game grew on me, a lot.

I wasn't expecting much, at first it seemed "eh, another mmo game wrapped in a new skin, just like swtor was." However after playing it  a few hours it just grew on me.

The main thing is that the game, while it has it's fair share of your generic "Go kill x number of these" mmo style quest it also has quite a few GOOD story based quests that aren't really like your typical mmo. Instead it's much more like a classic adventure game.  You have to search for clues (the game doesn't always show you where items are or such) you'll have to figure out passwords, find clues in the environment, figure out puzzles/traps, etc. The only mmo where I felt like they didn't design the quest for the "casual" players who couldn't be bothered to read dialogue or search for clues. You will even have to use the web (the game has a built-in web browser) to navigate a made-for-the-game website to search for clubes.

The atmosphere of the game is top notch. The entire game has a great horror/conspiracy vibe to it (afterall that's what it's about, you play as a member of the Templars, Illumanti, or Dragon faction).  You'll find plenty of nods to classic horror, both books and movies (IE a street called "Elm Street" and some Lovecraft style horror elements among many others).

NPC's are fully voiced, the main quest lines you do are done with a cinematic approach, instead of just simple "dialogue over head" style mmo quest you'll get cutscenes and npc's that actually animate when they talk with you and what not.

A few neat things about the game apart from it's excellent atmosphere and adventure elements is that it doesn't use a traditional "class/lv" system. Instead you gain "ability/skill points" which you are then free to use in what you wish however you wish and can make your character how you want.Free to mix and match various skill types (and it's recommend you do, as the way the combat system works you'll want two types). 

Here's IGN's "review in progress:"

http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/07/03/stepping-into-the-secret-world

Ten Ton Hammer review:

http://www.tentonhammer.com/reviews/the-secret-world

Also forgot to point out, like most mmo's it does use your traditional subscription based model (pay for the game, first month included, then 15/month or so after) but it also has an in-game cash shop for clothing items/vanity stuff.

Overall I'm enjoying the game, more then I did SW:TOR. I thought I'd make a topic for it because of the adventure elements it has and some people here that play mmo's might enjoy it from an adventure perspective.

Strongly agree. The Secret World isn't an MMORPG. It's an MMO adventure game; an MMOARG.

As for the writing, well, the lead writer/director for The Secret World is Ragnar Tornquist. You've heard of him. He wrote a couple of games called The Longest Journey and Dreamfall that I suspect a few of you have played.

ETA: Here's another review - http://kotaku.com/5923207/the-secret-world-log-one-a-world-more-gaiman-than-tolkien?tag=thesecretworld

ETA2: Oh, may as well post my own reviews as well...

http://14kofginafpd.com/posts/random-thoughts/welcome-to-the-secret-world/ 

http://14kofginafpd.com/posts/random-thoughts/the-secret-world-its-an-adventure/ 

http://14kofginafpd.com/posts/random-thoughts/the-secret-world-all-faction-recruitments-2/ 

Thanks for this info!  Though I of course love FunCom, I was so disappointed with Conan's instability, and currently feel so burnt out on MMORPGs in general, that I had already sort of decided to give THE SECRET WORLD a pass.  But perhaps this was a mistake....

I would definitely say, if you can handle the mmo style combat and can overlook some mmo-style quests you will enjoy it for the characters and more adventure style quests that it has.

The setting really helps it a lot to. If you like horror things, films, books, you'll likely enjoy the setting a LOT. It's just a huge breath of fresh air setting wise.

I'm currently in a new area investigating a "Treehouse" but not just any treehouse, it's a monster league treehouse, basically a bunch of kids who hunted monsters and things, it reminds me a LOT of the Monster Squad (which I'm pretty sure it's a homage to) about kids who did that, great classic 80's horror film (Wolfman's got nards!).

Also did a group mission earlier that had some very "Lovecraft" style monsters in it , if you like cthulhu you'd notice it.

Looks really interesting. I hope the game takes off. I don't have the time or money to play it right now, but maybe in the future I can give it a spin.

Is it also fun for single players? 

I'm one of those weird people that play MMO's as a single player, ignoring all other players in the room.

Even better would be that other players can't join the action while playing a mission on your own, like in star trek online.

There are some instances where you need to group but for the most part you can play solo.

Here's another review, this one from Penny Arcade

http://penny-arcade.com/report/editorial-article/what-if-every-myth-were-true-the-secret-world-combines-alternate-reality-wi

The article has the official launch trailer embedded, but I still like the "Everything is True" teaser from a year ago. It's fun to look at it now that I'm playing and go "So that's what that meant!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OymMalX8VYM

Damnit, I really need a break from MMORPGs.  Damn you, Ragnar!  "They keep PULLING ME BACK IN!!"

Free to play 5PM EDT Aug 3 to 3AM EDT Aug 7.

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The only action game that I ever liked was Lands of Lore 1, simply because it seemed more adventure than action, and I could change the monsters to wimpy, so I didn't have to do a lot of fighting.  Is there a demo for this?  I like the idea of an adventure game built into an action game.  I too don't want to play with anyone.  so, if there is even the slightest possibility that I have to play with others, I would not be interested. ...That is why I play adventure games, I enjoy figuring things out myself. 

Originally Posted By CB (29 JUL 2012 10:43am)

Free to play 5PM EDT Aug 3 to 3AM EDT Aug 7.

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I'm definitely going to try it this weekend 

I refuse to play another game where you are forces into group play to advance the sales stats of the maker, give me a break.

as for horror/sueprnatural, i have had enough of that oo.

I am afraid Ragnar has lost his touch, i think, spending so much time and energy on dressing up the same old same old Templar thing, which was done to death over and over. he had a great world and story iwth Dremfall but they took a bath on it because of the pirating and they decided to bleed the player dry with the monthly pay scheme, and sales of stuff for the game, same old bait and lure of the rest of the MMOs, sorry, i wont be jumping on the bus for this one. I had high hopes...but i just dont trust the game makers any more around thses issues and am tired of having to bascially buy the same game over and over for months and months, either sell us a game or not, but dont be cash vampires over us with the lure of a luscious game world.

it is good news about the NPCs but that is just another part of the lure i am afraid. Months from now you will be telling yourself what a good time you had while paying thru the nose for the privliedge

You can actually do most missions solo, and there are specific story missions that require you to do it solo because of the story elements.

The group missions are usually at the end of that area and it's easy to find a group for them get it done and then go back to solo, not to mention that the group misisons are usually done great so it doesn't hurt to play them.

As far as dressing up horror and the "Templar" thing umm...maybe I'm lost here but what other horror themed mmo's are there ? To my knowledge the game is a great fresh change of pace from your usual boring fantasy orcs and elves mmo's that are everywhere along with sci fi ones.

This sounds really cool. I've played a few MMO's like Runescape and World of Warcraft, even played SWTOR on my brothers computer for about an hour. Those were fun but this sounds far different and more interesting by comparison. What timeline is it based on?

It's set in a modern time.