Others say...

"Worth it Simply For the Achievement Points"
This game is a good deal...simply for the fact that it packages the original game from Nov 2004 with the Kingdom of Sky Expansion added into the package. If you are a current player of EQ2, one who normally passes on many expansions (DoF was somehwat of a rip-off), this one is worth it simply for the achievement points (affectionately referred to as AAs in a salute to the old EQ1 game) that you start to get when your character is over level 20. The AAs are very useful for their resective classes!

"Great MMO (updated review)."
Everquest 2, in my opinion, is the best MMO currently out on the market, even at the time of this updated review. Of course there's World of Warcraft, but it has a different taste, a lot of people like WoW, not I though. But just to avoid the WoW vs EQ2 arguement, both are the best out there, will appeal to different kind of people each though.

I've been playing this game for 2 years now, i can say that it's addicting for sure. PvP has come a LONG way since its implementation, but shame that SOE still hasn't perfected it.

The graphics are still 'good', current hardware can definitely handle the game to an extent (game limited, not hardware anymore). There're a TON of content to explore with the new expansions.

Speaking of expansions, of course no-one will buy this offer now, if it's actually still available in the first place. The Shadow Odyssey expansion is out, which includes 'everything', that means ... ALL the expansions and adventure packs. It can also be downloaded from Sony's web-site.

I have to say that the game has lost its appeal to me, i stopped my subscription 2 months ago. And as there're no other MMOs that are worth playing on the market currently, i'll wait a bit to see how Aion fairs, or whatever else is released in the first half of next year.

(This is an updated review; bought the game in 2006, updated review in 2008)

"I am enjoying"
I am having fun with this game. I am playing on the pvp server that have made and having a good time. Lots of quests to do and plenty of content. It is hard to begin as a new player though on the pvp server since you get ganked a lot hehe. But once you reach around level 25 you are ok to run around.

"Gorgeous content... though high level"
What this expansion DOES NOT INCLUDE, here, that others seem to mention: all the tradeskill changes *ARE* *NOT* part of this expansion... they are part of LU24 (Live Update 24), which was mid-June 2006. You don't need this expansion to experience the decrease in the sub-combines for any level 10 + (or really more-so level 20+) crafted items. Overall, while it dumbs down crafting to a single combination of mostly harvested items (two combines for the advanced recipes, often of "rare" nodes), it was a much needed improvement to the prior system and overall it lessens "the grind" to which any old level 20+ crafter can testify.

What you will get, however, is the alternate advancement system (useable by any 20+ character) and the Kingdom of Sky zones. The alternate advancement (Aka AA points) are secondary forms of experience you get for discovery and exploration experience, completing quests, killing named mobs and other "blue" mobs or above, and by obtaining certain types of loot (largely the same ones the various city factions are based on, as well). It is important to note that you will ONLY receive this experience once you obtain level 20 (so some folks will hold off on doing certain things in-game until after level 20). With this alternate experience, you earn points that can then be placed in to alternate abilities or skills that is catered to your race/class line.

As far as the Kingdom of Sky zones go, they're largely for 50+ characters and contain some of the most gorgeous content the game has seen to-date. Though most of the mobs are 56+, there are still plenty of repeatable collection quests and other soloable kill-X-mobs style quests that are do-able to the solo player (and the rewards are good enough that it's actually *worth* repeating them time and time again). What this expansion also gives us is more of a dynamic quest... even though you share a quest with another player, it often differs at least slightly from their's if not only by number of items/mobs required, but often by the actual final requirements.

Overall, this expansion is worth having, if only for the achievement experience early-on... however, I'd recommend it more towards the player that was interested in getting to and exploring more of "the end game" than the casual player than just wants to spend a hour or two every few weekends.

"Better than DoF, but still room for improvement"
Kingdom of Sky is "ok". The better of the two expansions released thus far, but there is still much room for improvement in further expansions.

The world is not quite vast enough for my tastes. It is my hope that in the next expansion, they take the word "expansion" to heart, and make the new zone large, vast, open, fun to explore. Like much of the shattered Norrath, the islands of KoS are too restrictive. I have spent the majority of my levels 60-70 in dark dungeons. Not my favorite method of play, but it's where the xp and drops are, and the overland zones are just lacking imagination.

My other complaint here is with questing. There simply are not enough of them. I did all of the solo quests I could find, and that got me about 3 levels. The rest of my levels required the good ol' grind, which I detest.

Let's break this expansion into overland zones.

Tenebrous Tangle. Reminds me of the Feerrott. A dense green jumgle that wears on the eyes after a while. Small zones (made smaller by the greenery) packed with mobs. I have never been a fan of mobs overcrowding a zone.

Barren Sky. This place reminds me of a cross between the Sinking Sands and Pillars of Flame. IRL, I live in the desert, and not by choice, so this type of landscape represented here is uninspiring to me. And again, wander from the cloud pad, and you'd better have sprint ready, or be a monk with that yummy parry from behind and feign death, so you can train mobs.. because this zone is also jam packed with aggro mobs.

The Bonemire. This place reminds me of my least favorite zone.. Lavastorm. Funky neon blue water has replaced the lava. The aggro on most of the islands in this zone are a bit better than the previous two, but the landscape is so restrictive, it doesn't really matter.

The tradeskill changes are interesting. Definitely not a pita to craft anymore. Yet it has also lost "something". Crafting has become even more boring than before. My main is a provisioner, my alt an alchemist. While it is boring, at least I can make some sales, and my guildmates still desire the things I produce. I truly feel for weaponsmiths, armorsmiths and tailors, as most people use dropped gear (treasured and legendary) which far exceeds in quality anything that a crafter could produce.

But, if you play eq2 and want to continue playing and you wish to hit max level, there is no other choice than to buy this expansion, and hope for the best with the next one :)