Adventuring in “Sho Online” is exciting, if often repetitive. The world is well-designed, with interesting topography and a lush Chinese aesthetic. Though the graphics are just under the curve for a game in this genre, the art does a great job conveying the setting. The creatures are varied, ranging from humble frogs and birds to ravenous undead and demons. Moreover, multiple monster species populate each zone, so the player isn’t stuck fighting one enemy group for ten levels. Travel between zones is instantaneous, but this doesn’t seem to shrink the world at all; the sheer abundance and variety of locales is one of the game’s strongest features.

Combat is simple, streamlined, and effective. The speed at which spells and skills resolve is especially well suited to the controls and style, allowing for strategy while still forcing the player to think quickly. The item system is another positive aspect of “Sho Online.” Characters will quickly assemble a sizeable collection of magic items. Special weapons and armor pieces drop frequently, and each has its own individual bonuses. The system will feel familiar to fans of the “Diablo” series, who will once again get to hunt down components of item sets and agonize over which statistics to improve.

Since the storyline of “Sho Online” focuses on the war between Yin and Zhou, it should come as no surprise that PvP is an important aspect of the game. Players from opposing factions are always permitted to engage one another, but the real meat of “Sho Online’s” realm-versus-realm system is the war. This event activates whenever one side manages to kill a special governor NPC fighting for the other realm. From there, it’s a straight-on, head-to-head brawl. War impacts the player’s experience in a number of ways. Most of the contested territories are home to high-level monsters and valuable loot, so exerting control over the land allows victorious players to claim greater rewards. On the individual level, having a high PvP rank allows you to buy and use exclusive items. As you advance, you’ll be able to help your team out with new strategies and abilities. An item called War Plate transforms your character into a giant siege engine, amplifying your destructive potential. The end-game bosses drop items that enable more impressive transformations into soaring eagles and two-headed snakes.

In many ways, “Sho Online” has the foundation for a sweeping realm-versus-realm MMO. PvP combat changes the shape of the landscape, and each character, no matter how inexperienced, can contribute to the war effort. Unfortunately, the broken translation gets in the way of comprehension, and it’s hard to get fired up about a war you can’t understand. The inadequate translation also makes questing less rewarding, which may upset committed solo players or PvE enthusiasts. Aside from temporary events and a rudimentary crafting system, there aren’t many ways to get involved with the central conflict save actual participation. For the aspiring General, though, “Sho Online” provides frequent in-game rewards and many opportunities to conquer a world of myth and legend. Playing “Sho Online” requires more than a little patience, but those who come to the experience willing to work around its rough edges may find themselves growing very comfortable on the battlefield.

Review Josh Harrison
October 12, 2009