A “fan-driven collaboration designed to give players a new way” to play EverQuest is on the way: EverQuest Legends.
Developed by Daybreak Games in partnership with Game Jawn, EverQuest Legends boasts everything you’ll remember from the hugely influential game, including the original art style, graphics, zones, spell effects, loot, and music, along with “countless” contemporary improvements that improve things like the user interface, upgraded spell and ability management, and “other quality of life enhancements.”
The gameplay itself has also been retuned and “designed from the ground up” to support casual or solo players by enabling players to select up to three active classes per character, and “utilizing new ways to upgrade weapons and armor.”
“EQL allows players to create unique characters by selecting up to three classes at a time, with all of the benefits, stats, spells, and abilities that come with each class,” the team explained. “You can also upgrade your gear (up to +10) and swap and combine different focus, click, and proc effects on your gear. With 15 available races and 560 possible class combinations, the possibilities for forging the ultimate character are virtually endless.”
It’s because of these changes that players can now progress very much at their own pace, or group up with friends in small groups of up to four players (eight if you’re raiding).
“Whether you’re an existing EverQuest player, a former player, or a new player that has never experienced the world of Norrath, EverQuest Legends offers the opportunity to enjoy everything classic EverQuest has to offer, plus a lot more!” the team teases.
“EverQuest Legends is a passion project for me,” writes executive producer David Youssefi. “I’ve dreamt of a solo/casual version of EQ for over 20 years. The opportunity to bring that dream to life in collaboration with a group of our biggest and most passionate fans is truly epic. We’ve put a lot of love and hard work into making a game that honors the legacy of EQ while forging new experiences for players of all stripes to enjoy. We hope old school fans and new adventurers alike will enjoy the magic and wonder of Norrath in EverQuest Legends!”
EverQuest Legends will feature the continent of Antonica (pre-Kunark) and all of the EverQuest playable races (including Iksar, Frogloks, and Kerran) from Day One when it launches on PC in July. Eager beavers, however, can sign up for an early glimpse in next month’s closed beta.
“Sure, it’s buggy and frustrating at times, but damn if it’s not one hella fun and addictive game,” we wrote when IGN reviewed EverQuest in 1999. It returned a ‘Great’ 8.4. A successor, EverQuest Next, was cancelled in 2016 after Daybreak claimed the game simply “wasn’t fun.”
Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world’s biggest gaming sites and publications. She’s also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.
