Review Friday: Kingdom of Loathing
I recently came up with the idea to write reviews on Friday, hence the title. I think that Friday is the great day to take it easy and talk about something fun/useful/interesting for people with dial-up Internet services. I especially enjoy writing about the little known facts, so hopefully my reviews will be the first time you’ve heard of these!
So…on to my review for today:
One such RPG that recently caught my attention is Kingdom of Loathing (KoL). It’s not new, it was actually created in 2003 by Zack Johnson and Josh Nite. They have continually been upgrading and adding changes to the game, so it remains an open beta. (Thank wiki!)
So how do you play? First, you create your name and avatar. You choose your strengths and attributes, and there’s a simple tutorial to follow to get s
tarted. The currency is meat, you gain experience by fighting monsters, and you gain strength from food and booze (but not too much!). To join the chat room, you must agree to the Policies of Loathing and sign the oath. Basically, it’s a “Princess Bride” world in stick figure drawings.
The names of places and characters, the storyline, etc., are satirical references to popular culture, plays on words, and parodies, so it’s great for language lovers like me. And sarcastic people. …like me! 😛
The webpage itself is plain and simply built. As far as I’ve seen there’s isn’t any animation. On the other hand, the layout is easy to play and no problem for dial-up users. There is no advertising or subscription fee–the funding all comes from donations and merchandise.
The storyline is slow-moving at first, but once you get started and learn the ropes, is it easier to get into it. The sarcasm and wit definitely is the highlight and provided the most entertainment.
If you like role playing games, I think you’ll appreciate this game, especially if you’re the type of person who likes to stop and read the story as you go. Try it for yourself! www.kingdomofloathing.com
*Note, there is some language, references to drinking, and violence that may not be suitable for younger audiences.
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