Time for the second half of my recent Trion Worlds booth tour with news editor Jason Leavey at E3 2010! A subscription-based MMO, Rift: Planes of Telara had one of the most vivid and colorful displays at E3 2010, a theme that continues inside.
The game takes place in the titular Telara, a world thrown into chaos. Intersecting planes threaten to tear the land apart as invading forces make use of the resulting portals to wreak havoc. These rifts are the focus of your adventure, as you defend your home from the evil that pours from the gaps between planar dimensions. Choose between two factions: the Guardians, the oath bound traditionalists, and the Defiant, who seek to usher in a new age through the revival of long dead technologies.
Now, onto the hands-on experience.
Like its Trion Worlds brethren End of Nations, Rift: Planes of Telara is well put together for a game so far from release. When watching Rift: Planes of Telara, the words “visually stunning” came to mind. I spent most of the demo simply marveling at their creativity and use of color. Now, I’m not really an MMO girl, I’ll say that right off. Between the demonstrator’s rapid speed delivery, and the various made up names that are so characteristic of sci-fi/adventure based fiction, it was a little hard to keep up on some of the plot details. But if I were to pick a game based on the visual experience alone (something I’ve actually been known to do), I would definitely be inspired to pick up Rift.
The character and class customization was nothing short of impressive with its range of colors and features, including a face-customization wheel that will morph the facial features with the move of a mouse. The rifts themselves are awe-inspiring in their explosive range of color and intricate details. Wandering the fields of Telara feels like a virtual vacation. You know, ‘cept for all the invading forces and destructive interplanetary portals and stuff.
The beauty must be seen to be believed, so I encourage you to check out their official site. Rift: Planes of Telara does not yet have a release window, and I’m told the monthly subscription will be priced competitively in comparison with other MMOs (“between ten and fifteen dollars”). Don’t miss the screen shots below!
