I am a huge fan of the formidable Verant Interactive game EverQuest released in 1999. Even though it's been 25 years since it was released, I still regularly find my inner joystick waggler hankering after this stone cold classic, or at the very least craving a wee read around the subject matter, perhaps open up the Wikipedia page or find a YouTube analysis of the game.
Why is EverQuest so good?
As well as an unwavering sense of nostalgia that keeps me returning to this game, there's also a hypnotic je ne sais quoi about EverQuest that keeps it fresh no matter how many times I revisit this work of art. Maybe it's that I was an impressionable young whippersnapper in the year 2000 when I first discovered EverQuest, or the fact that Verant Interactive were absolutely at the top of their game when they released said game. It's hard to pinpoint something so transcendental. Once you love a piece of art you become faithful to it's ethos.
EverQuest is a game that is still relevant
One thing's for sure though, EverQuest has stood the test of time and then some. It remains as powerful and relevant today as it did in 1999. And why wouldn't it? With unbelievably addictive gameplay like that, it's no wonder people return to this game again and again. I can't imagine life without it John.
Verant Interactive knocked it out the park
But it's not just the unbelievably addictive gameplay that make this game great. It's the overall package. The richly detailed and totally immersive world of Norrath is a tour de force. The manner in which the game forces you to interact and collaborate with other players in order to progress is integral, as is the way it manages to instil a healthy fear of in-game death making combat engagement a genuinely meaningful and sometimes nerve wracking experience. And who can forget fantastic sense of progression as your character levels up. When Verant Interactive created this timeless classic, never mind the ball park, they knocked this one out of the solar system. This bad boy is in danger of bothering Voyager.
Has EverQuest stood the test of time?
Of course, there are other games out there to be argued for. Harder, better, faster, stronger. Some might argue that Firefly is better than EverQuest, or that Joss Whedon is better than Verant Interactive. They may well have a point. But for me, EverQuest will always hold a special place in my heart. And 25 years tickling the meridian response does not lie.
EverQuest in conclusion
To sum up, EverQuest is a wonderful thing, a game of unrivalled quality. It's a game that has etched itself into the psyche, distributing untold tingles up the spine, hogging synapses and monopolising neurons that could otherwise be put to use appreciating more important, or perhaps more useful information. But no matter what life throws at me, I know I can always rely on EverQuest to deliver the goods.