The true test of a developer's integrity is in the strength of their MMO's endgame; that is, content for the players that have finished the levelling stage, and are looking for more content in the form of structured PVP, difficult instances, and the steady addiction of a good ol' gear treadmill. Most MMO vets would probably agree that the true experience really begins after you've maxed out on XP and hit the level cap. Unfortunately, it's something that has been criminally ignored by many releases in the past few years. The Old Republic and Guild Wars 2 are two examples where the lack of a satisfying endgame from launch has hurt subscriber numbers. Time and time again, players have hit the level cap far quicker than developers anticipate, followed by complaints that there's "nothing else to do" after the levelling stage. Once again, Carbine Studios have been savvy to the needs and habits of the MMO hardcore. Realising that endgame isn't just something that can be expanded upon a few months after release, WildStar has launched with a plethora of challenges and distractions for endgame players. As well as the five-man dungeons, WildStar features a number of different kinds of instances for players to sink their teeth into. Adventures are highly replayable scenarios, taking place in a mini open-world, each featuring multiple story paths for groups to choose from, and ending with a randomly assigned boss. Shiphand missions are for players that can't spare the 90 minutes or so normally required in dungeons, with bite-sized challenges that take place on exotic extra-terrestial locations. All of these can also be played at a much more difficult 'Veteran' difficulty, with far greater rewards for the brave. Finally, there's the raids. For some reason, these 40-man dungeons haven't been featured in many MMOs in the last decade, which is odd considering how much they contributed to World of Warcraft's legendary reputation.They represent the ultimate challenge for even the most hardened player, with the most difficult raids sometimes taking months before anyone defeats them. Raids can only be completed by the very best groups of players on a server, meaning that only the top few percent will ever see this content. It's not just the difficulty of the raid, but also the challenge of finding 39 other likeminded players, each with a steady connection, hours to spare, and access to voice chat. They're still beneficial to those that will never even attempt them though; the guilds getting the 'server firsts', and the air of mystery surrounding the raids themselves all help to expand on the feeling of an interesting, dynamic, community-driven world. A subscription-based MMO needs to ensure that players feel their world is one worth investing in, and in this respect WildStar has delivered on almost every front. For players looking for a modernised, truly hardcore MMORPG, WildStar absolutely blasts away the competition. Have you got your hands on a copy yet? What does it do better or worse than the competition? Let us know in the comments!
