Kingdom of Loathing is one of the most addictive games I've ever
played. It's so simple, yet so deep. I'm happy to see that after years
of games with better graphics, story, and gameplay, I can still enjoy a
game like this.Story: 2/10Admittedly, the story is kind of
strange. The main point is that the Naughty Sorceress has kidnapped
King Ralph XI. Why? No clue. Why are monsters attacking just because
she kidnapped him? Again, no clue. Then again, this game is so fun you
can ignore the weak story.Graphics: 6/10Sure, pretty much
everything is stick figures and things my 8-year old little brother
could have drawn. But that's part of the game's charm! It reinforces
the game's image. Sure, it may not look like much, but the simple stick
figures hide much deeper things than you could imagine. This is
probably a good thing, actually, as certain unwanted players (n00bs,
flamers, trolls) will take a look at the graphics and flee, unable to
see the fun below the simplistic design.Gameplay: 10/10This
is where the game really shines, as it should. The basics are as
follows: you play as one of six different classes, and adventure to
free King Ralph XI and banish the monsters from the Kingdom of
Loathing. You start out with 80 adventures, and gain 40 more adventures
everyday (up to a maximum of 200). This keeps players who have nothing
else to do all day from getting an unfair advantage over those with
other obligations (school, jobs, family, etc.), and it keeps you coming
back for more. It also minimizes server strain, I suppose. Currency is
in the form of meat, and if you don't save and spend wisely, you'll end
up constantly poor. You adventure through various areas and build up
your strength, allowing you to adventure to others areas. You also
follow quests (most of them handed to you by the Council of Loathing),
which grant decent rewards and access to new areas.
Pretty much every
quest will have to be completed at some point, so you should attempt to
do as many as you can. Battles are simple, yet some are highly
difficult, and you'll need to plan ahead wisely in order to beat them.Interacting with other players: 9/10You'll
need to get along with other adventurers here. If you do, the benefits
are great. The game gives you the option to buy and sell items among
each other in the Flea Market and the Mall. There's also a chat (which,
of course, requires you to prove you're not an idiot before you can
participate) in which you can converse with other players, even while
you're adventuring elsewhere! Also, certain skills can be used on other
players (not just yourself) to enhance their abilities, called Buffs.
Get on a buffer's good side, and you'll find adventuring much easier.
Finally, there's also a PvP option, which you may choose whether or not
to participate in. PvP-ing can get you some good stuff you can't get
anywhere else, and there's many ways to tip the odds in your favor.
There typically aren't any hard feelings here, it's mostly for fun.
This is how it should be.Overall: 10/10This game is just too
much fun. I only wish we weren't limited in adventures, as I'm always
saddened when I run out. But I'll gladly keep coming back, day after
day, and I'm sure many of you will feel the same way about this game.
Go now! Have fun, and happy loathing!