Is this NEW MMO already DEAD?! Absolutely NOT! | Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen

Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen has been in development for over 10 years and has been the recipient of some pretty severe criticism (from some pretty popular voices). In this video I step through the biggest criticisms of the game and why I think they are simply based on outdated or misguided information.

I am absolutely addicted to this game. It's dangerous, requires group strategy, the victories are sweet, and the defeats are brutal! Visionary Realms has done a fantastic job remaining committed to crafting a game built on group gameplay, player economy, and introducing a modern take on slower-paced gameplay with little "handholding" or "spoonfeeding". It's like nothing I've played before and I cannot wait to dive into the world of Terminus when the game releases in December!

===SPECIAL SHOUTOUTS===
◾ Terminus Trade Company: for carrying my little level 2 shaman through AVP spiders so I could get some cool footage!

=== CHAPTERS ===

00:00 Introduction
01:52 Graphics & Animations
06:18 Core Tenets
12:45 Solo Options?
14:57 "No Content"
16:41 Final Thoughts (good ones, I promise)

=== WATCH US LIVE! ===

If you like this content, make sure to hang out with me LIVE when I stream on Twitch! This is where you can catch candid reactions and see 100% of the gameplay with no edits. The stream is family-friendly, positive, and you'll join a fantastic community that is quickly growing. 50% of all profits made from content creation goes towards an act of kindness we plan as a community. :) See you there & be sure to let me know you came from YouTube!

=== SOCIALS ===

[eyribalt]

Great vid. Subbed and you deserve way more. All the best.

[Perisemiotics]

damn... this vid got suggested to me literally out of nowhere and I must say, I think you've sold me on that. I 100% agree with your point on the graphics choice - I could care less about how a game looks these days if the gameplay doesn't intrigue me or even feels just generic. I've made GW 2 my MMO of choice for a while now but as much I love it there are things that really bother me, things that only run more rampant in other and newer games: excessive visual and sound clutter, shortcuts and "convenience" for basically everything, which in turn means no social interaction whatsoever... GW 2 has a crap ton players active everywhere and yet, it feels lonely. Anyone can solo almost anything without much trouble, the power creep is completely out of control with each new expansion, hundreds of players all jumbled up in a big messy pile doing events but no one talks to one another! It's almost as if they were NPCs. The worst thing for me is the LFG system. I only started playing MMOs around 15 years ago and that was just before the LFG fever took off. I remember actually running to the entrance of dungeons, having to ask and talk to other players to form our groups and actually struggle through the dungeon. No magical items to boost and overlevel and shortcut or give you AI allies. I'm only learning about Pantheon now but from the footage you showed here it gives me back that feeling of discovery and interaction... the apparently shoddy graphics actually make me feel like the focus on gameplay won't be overshadowed by shallow, noisy fireworks. The world map you showed, you know... just gives me that vibe of good old fantasy, not trying to reinvent the wheel but rather making the best of what makes it great: mystery and adventure, that's all. Elves, Dwarves, their homelands and so on.
I'll wishlist this one and definitely keep an eye on it come December for EA. Thanks for the honest and interesting video on what looks to be a very interesting game.

[ControlledChaosGaming]

I am a game designer and your statement, "First make it work then make it pretty is spot on". people would flip out if they saw how prototypes looked when testing a game idea. It is nothing but grey boxes, spheres, and calendars. This is why developers do not like showing their games off to players until they have the art style for the game locked down. Because they hear nothing about complaints about the art and no feedback about the gameplay mechanics. I did a Kickstarter for one of the games I was working on and stated in big bold red letters that the art and 3D models where place holders and not what the final game would look like and that we were just showing off the gameplay mechanics. All I got in the comments was how terrible the art style of the game looked.

[bobthor]

$50 gets you in the game today, includes early access and full game ( when that happens ). If you like Everquest or have always wanted to try a challenging mmo give it a shot

[AKSpitta]

THIS ! IS ! EXACTLY ! WHAT ! WE ! NEED !, sorry im a little excited, anyways ! Fantastic Video ! thank you for taking the time to show the world that pantheon is not what it used to be. You did an Amazing job ! and people ! this game has something special, and you WILL NOT feel this something special that i speak about until you, YOUR SELF dive into the world of Terminus. See you in game!

[manofrohan]

Great job Lotu! Very happy to see new excitement from folks like yourself. It's a bit of a blessing that you haven't seen the mixed history :) Keep it up! I'm here for it.

[yokohl]

Great video - all accurate!

I’ve followed since 2018 and pledged in 2023. VR has finally hit their stride and now is a great time for people to revisit it or check it out for the first time

[cps]

I’m a backer and am currently testing the game. I think it’s in a great spot. Very rewarding sense of progression. Sound and music are great. Grouping and farming camps and dungeons is super fun. Also, I personally love the art style. It’s a nice balance between stylized and realistic.

Animations are still rough. New playable races are coming this year. Several UI and other QoL systems need to be put in place still. That said this game has huge potential and most importantly, respects the gamer with no cash shops and pay to win garbage. Everything in the game is 100% earned.

[jstock]

the graphics style importantly is optimized for lots of people and NPCs on screen at once without lag.

nice graphics would be cool, but so many MMOs are unplayable when lots of people are on the screen. also, with a more stylized art style they can do more art faster, so that means more monsters and unique gear, etc.

theyre going for the long haul, and theyve got a plan for finishing the game strong.

[IBeFatBeard]

I am actually excited to start playing this in early access after watching the game progress as y'all have been playing it. I was initially put off by the game because the animation and graphics were clunky, but in the last few months the frequent updates to how they are fast it is improving has really changed my mind.

[walkingwaste]

Great video! I liked the direct quotes from Joppa himself during his streams as he’s actively working and developing Pantheon. Excited for EA

[DonnaAlyse]

I totally agree with everything you said. The graphics of Pantheon are GORGEOUS and i can’t wait to see the additions when i start playing in December. Totally plan on being either a halfling or elf Rogue. I also agree that the best way to see the progress made is playing it yourself or watching others play in real time. Progress may be slow but to me that shows the dedication they have to making it look right. I’d rather wait and get a good product than see a rushed product that could be better if they had only taken more time. Let’s go Pantheon! Onward and upward!

[eqarigon]

I been a backer since 2017. I was devastated with the art and graphic change. I was so sickened by it i didn't play when the seasons started.

I finally tried in the September season FUN! The gameplay and class system was exactly what i wanted. The environment looks ok... The character model(the human) needs a update.

I hope new players will give it a shot. The gameplay is unique compared to all new MMOs. I know it's EQish but many have never played that style gameplay

[StaticGroupLive]

Great Video. You also have to remember (for context) that Pantheon had a somewhat more realistic look (less cartoony) before they did the graphics overhaul. Many people preferred that style over the cartoon style which I think is fair. Also there are a LOT of trolls for Pantheon ... people that are frustrated with a long release time, or 24/7, or whatever and usually the way they express that anger is by hacking on the graphics. As you play Pantheon (even now) the graphics grow on you. As they get more animations and round out the art It's only going to get better. Draq

[stealthr]

Awesome video Lotu! You said a lot of the things I have been preaching since 2018 when people really started the woe years even before Brad's passing. Awesome that you have picked up on all of this history in your short time following, gives me hope as one of the Sacred's. I would like to add also for your blurb about Steve Clover being on the team as there is a 2nd individual very close to that. Michael 'Artois' Butler was also very close with Brad and Steve growing up, helped with War Wizard. He wasn't there for EQ launch but helped it and Vanguard a lot through the years and helps in so many hats on this game. There is fabric of Brad's vision through the members of this team.

[IndicacannaJones]

One of the biggest things that surprised me when I got involved in pre-alpha testing was how wonky the running animation looks on video versus what it actually looks like when you're in-game.

[jeroenvankollenburg]

Very nice video, keep up the good work💪 and thanx for the Ratkin blood for Nosferatu.

[RavenCroftLoft]

Wellll they lied a lot so that’s a big deal when investing in anything. 10 years is a long time to only have this to show for. I don’t think the graphic choice was ever the issue it’s the fact they had marketed the game with a whole different style and took a ton of peoples money, even having streamed gameplay sessions with Cohh Carnage never talking about stylized overhauls. They literally marketed a different product so much so beta players on the inside outted them for the change after it was mentioned internally as a secret forcing Japa to come out and address the situation publicly. I’m new here but it’s seems to me like you work for them because you’re leaving out a ton of very convenient information that makes them look totally different. This was a very dishonest marketing video for VR. How about a video with the whole picture and details. Don’t thank the VR team for anything, it’s the honesty of the players who outted these fools. You didn’t even mention the fact they only just now decided to not sell the players on an extraction battle royal style game with seasons for the testing phases but were once again forced to open the doors to the mmo by their community.

I’ll be playing myself but I have a seething hatred for the fake news marketing types who sell half a picture to communities especially in the game space.

[jazznblues]

I've been backing Pantheon since 2017, and what a journey it's been! Can't wait for Early Access. People need to understand that just because it’s not your cup of tea doesn’t mean it's doomed to fail—it just means you don’t like it and that is ok, and it's ok if other people do like it.

[gilbeggergilbegger]

your final thoughts is why i gave to pantheon in 2015...watched from afar and am eager to start playing in December with my kids