Rift: Nightmare Tide Expansion Review

In the world of online gaming a lot of players like engaging in lengthy campaigns with a fictional character, generally from some distant planet with a fascinating history, and most of the times an evil force threatens the world of this character. The genre of Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games has been a steady one throughout the years, with the occasional yearly releases. As of lately, with the Free2Play model rising through the ranks, a lot of MMORPGs have embarked this train and thus the sector was subject to a recent increase in these titles.

One of the “old” types of MMORPGs featured a monthly subscription where players pay a monthly fee. One of these games was RIFT, a game from Trion Worlds, which realised that others were all flocking towards this system and decided to follow suit. What is impressive is its commitment towards it, after all the opposition shown when not changing to Free2Play. This newfound commitment is shown by the fact that the newest expansion can be acquired for free. There is the monetary option which simplifies things a lot, but having the possibility of getting what is essential at no additional cost makes this expansion almost a gift to players.

First of all, there are four models of this new expansion, split into free, Typhoon, Infusion and Ultimate Nightmare. The free model, as the name states, is free of charge and grants all the important stuff, namely zones, quests and all the content which is vital for the expansion’s existence. The Typhoon edition is basically the bare minimum of what you have to pay for, consisting of the content of the free one, and adding the new Planewalker: Water attunement, alongside earring slots. Honestly it is a little extreme to add a slot for earrings and having to charge real life money for it, but players determined not to spend a penny on the game can work around the issue by purchasing the slots with ingame currency.

The third model, Infusion also features an instant level 60 boost useable on one character of choice, which is very convenient for new players wanting to join their established friends. There are also enhancements to the minion system as well as an exclusive Bloop Minion across all the characters linked to the account. The remaining content is an assortment of decorations and other customization features which while adding to the variety of the game do not enhance it much. Last but surely not least, because it packs the most content of them all, is the Ultimate Nightmare Edition. Obviously, it features every single item in the previous editions and also offers an insanely cool shark mount which can be used both on land and also on water, a 36-slot satchel and other perks which give a distinct while not absolute advantage over others who have not purchased any collector’s edition. There is value in the edition, that is for sure, but after a couple of weeks the joy from the extra goodies will have faded and the experience will almost be the same of the normal game, apart from the mount and other durable objects.

As for pricing, Trion Worlds have implemented a very intelligent strategy with its expansion price. The Typhoon edition, being the most basic one against payment, is the cheapest at $24.99. The price is excellent for all those who are keen on the game but are not very dedicated to it, or are but do not wish to spend loads on a game which proclaims to be free. The second option, Infusion, comes at a price of $49.99, a little less than equalling the cost of a newly released title, and thus one can easily compare between a new game and the expansion whichever one he/she likes most. Considering that players used to pay a subscription of around £60 a year, there will not be a lot of criticism towards these two priced packages. The third one though is as bombastic as they come. Slapped with a $149.99 price tag, this one is definitely not for casuals. Trion Worlds have aimed this expansion at those with an almost religious relationship with the game, and are ready to spend big money for the absolute best items. As mentioned before, the pricing strategy is excellent because it caters for everyone; those with narrow pockets, those willing to spend a little more and then those who just want to have it all. The service provided is also very good and value for money is guaranteed for the Typhoon and Infusion packs. The Ultimate Nightmare Edition, while offering unique benefits, is quite pricey and thus one needs a really good excuse to fund his RIFT appetite.

All in all, the Nightmare Tide expansion is a show of strength from Trion Worlds, aiming to keep its player base and expand it further. The incredibly generous model of offering the expansion freely to all players and then charge for little extras, the core two of which can be earned by sweating ingame, will not go unnoticed from fans who are really revelling themselves in this new content. RIFT may not be renowned as a colossus in terms of MMORPGs just yet, but with a strong player base, community feedback and keeping the game fresh with new content regularly, it has the potential for contending the future right with the very best in the genre.

Disclaimer:All scores given within our reviews are based on the artist’s personal opinion; this should in no way impede your decision to purchase the game.