In a world of high-tech online games where the hardcore players thrive Runescape is a simple, easy-to-learn game.  Unlike many other games that require the player to install the software on their computers, Runescape is run through a Web browser.  The graphics and sound are not extraordinary, but the game play is solid.  Runescape is an easy-to-use game that should appeal to the casual player.  With its mild violence and sounds, it should meet with any parent's approval for their children.

The graphics in Runescape are not going to win any awards.  The graphics for the game are generated inside the browser window.  This leaves the game world a little blocky.  It looks and feels like one of the early 3D RPG games.  Moving around the world is a series of point-and-click moves.  Interacting with the world is handled in the same way.  If there is an object you can use, pick up, or fight (in the case of mobs) clicking on it will cause you to run over and use the default action.  For items this means picking them up.  For mobs it means swinging a sharp piece of steel at them.  Instead of clicking on an object you can also right-click, which displays a menu of available options.  In the case of a door, for example, there are options to open or close the door, examine the door, or just cancel and leave it alone.

The sounds were amusing, but again fairly basic.  The background music would cut in and out as I played.  Sometimes I had music and some times I did not.  The combat sounds are also rather simple.  A metallic ping sounds when someone or something parries a blow.  When a player or mob is hit there is an "oomph" noise.  There are no voices, yells, or shrieks in this game.

Advancing an avatar in levels is done through a "practice makes perfect" system.  Every time a player uses a skill successfully they earn experience for that skill.  For example chopping down a tree will earn the player lumberjack experience.  The same holds true for the craft-based skills like mining, cooking, and blacksmithing.  Archery and spellcraft work the same way.  Melee skills are handled a bit differently.  In the game a player can choose which type of attack style they want to use.  Using an aggressive stance might work up your attack skill.  Selecting the defensive parry style will work up the player's defense.  Players cannot work up more than one melee skill at a time, so you will have to prioritize your skills.

Downtime is handled through skills and items in Runescape.  A player can stand still and wait for their hitpoints to recover.  It is far faster to go find something to eat.  Food recovers a player's hitpoints quickly.  This can lead to some serious camping in the pastures just outside the starter towns.  Cows drop raw beef when killed.  A little time with an axe and a tinderbox will get a fire going, allowing players to cook their dinner.  For the mage types and archers there are items that need to be purchased.  Archers need to buy enough arrows to fill their quivers.  Mages have to buy runes to cast their spells.  Each spell consumes a few runes.  The simplest spells only require a few runes from two or three types.  The most complicated spells require many runes from several different types.

While I played I watched several players "work" for better equipment.  Players who would shear sheep, grind grain, and cook for a living.  These players were able to turn that investment in time into hard cash.  After watching someone who had spent the last half hour working trade skills buy a new weapon and shield I started wondering how I could get started.  I was still carrying around my newbie equipment and felt decidedly under dressed.

After the first time I picked a fight I could not win I ended up running back from town to try and find my corpse.  Instead of a corpse I found a nasty surprise.  In Runescape a player does not leave a corpse behind.  Any spare equipment they had is simply dropped on the ground.  This lead to more than a bit of irritation after I died.  Every time I died I ran back and either watched some player scoop up my gear and run to the shop to raise some cash or ran back and found an empty space where my body had been.  In order to keep your hard-earned cash around in case of accidents there is a banking system.  Players can deposit their gold in a safe place.  This makes it much easier in the long run.  It can prevent a player from having to start from scratch every time they die.

Runescape is a simple game, but it is enjoyable once you get started.  The game is simplistic and easy to learn, so I can easily see it appealing to a casual gamer or someone who wants to get their first taste of an online roleplaying game.  Because of that simplicity I don't see it appealing to the hard-core gamers out there.  If players are looking for the latest cutting-edge graphics and sounds they will have to look elsewhere.  If they are looking for an enjoyable, casual game Runescape might be just what they are looking for.
 

Gameplay:  6.5

Runescape is easy to play, but I found myself having problems with the click and drive interface.  The game is also simple.  There isn't a great deal of plot that I could find to get tied up in.

Graphics: 6.0

The graphics for this game are a step back from the cutting edge.  A long step back.  They are similar to some of the first 3D world roleplaying games I saw.  While they are more realistic than the real old games, like the shooter world of Doom, they're not going to win any awards.  It could just be a limitation of the browser interface, but I found myself wanting to see something more.

Sound: 6.0

The sounds are also a long step back from the cutting edge.  Combat sounds involve blurbs of noise and the background music cuts in and out for no reason I could see.  The songs in the background (the most complicated songs) sound like basic midi files.

Difficulty: Easy

The interface is easy and adventuring can be as long as the players don't rush things.

Concept: 7.0

This game is another online roleplaying game.  In a gaming world that is becoming flooded with MMORPG's lately Runescape doesn't really stand out.  It is a decent game, and handles well within its scope.  I'm giving this an average rating.  Nothing really special, but no glaring problems I could find.

Multiplayer: 7.0

Runescape has the ability to trade, talk, and group together.  For an online roleplaying game you can't ask for much more than that.  I had a fairly negative experience with other players grabbing my gear when I died, but I also saw players helping each other out.  Runescape meets my expectations for an online game, but that's about it.

Overall: 6.5

Runescape is a game I would recommend for younger players or people who don't have a lot of time to play online games.  Being able to play the game from the web makes it easy to access.  On the other hand the dated graphics and sound, combined with the average concept, multiplayer scheme, and gameplay left me feeling that this might have been a cutting edge game a few years ago.  Now it is just a bit below average.