MAPACHE  "The game is a complete grind. Day after day you slog away bumping in to creatures (apparently this is "fighting") for a "rank" (or, level as other games tend to call them). A rank might increase your chance of hitting a particular creature by 0.01% (and that's being generous)."

The concept of ranks in Arindal and Clan Lord is different than the concept of levels in other games. In Arindal and Clan Lord you can have thousands of ranks and you are free to balance your training as you like. There is no limit in the number of ranks you can get and you don't have to buy an update to train more levels.

"No quests to speak of. No variance."

I don't understand that. What do you mean with no quests? There are not thousands of more or less similar quests and no NPCs with sparkling signs over their head, but there are quests. There are some automated quests, like "kill 30 mice in a certain time". There are some automated group quests, like "bring me enough wood and stone to build a new building". There are some quest areas for special larger quests. Most important, there are GM driven quests, which have a more or less set story, but also react to the actions of the players.

"The only excitement is that if a monster kills you, you either lose all the training you did that day or you have to wait 45 minutes for someone to come and heal you and often by that time, you're too damaged to heal and you have to lose all your training anyway."

You don't loose all your training of that day, just a part of the experience you have gained, just like other games have punishments for dying too.

"Seriously. Grind doesn't even begin to describe it. I thought warcraft was harsh, but it's nothing compared to this. For a slightly more pleasant, less painful experience I suggest you spend your evenings kicking yourself in the teeth."

It seems like you don't like that kind of games. I prefer playing Arindal (as I did playing Alchera and Clan Lord) to kicking myself, but if you prefer kicking yourself, please go on.

"Features: 1 (what features?)"

Free and nearly unlimited Level system

GM driven quests

...

"Playability: 1 (i can click and make my character move around and bump in to things. That's about all)"

Playability means interaction concepts for you? Well, clicking to move is a concept you can find in many games. Clicking on some pixels to hit shoot, heal something can be found in most other games too.

"Graphics and sound: 1 (Mono sound, 4 fps, 256 colors. Ummm, seems I cannot give negative marks here)"

Yes, there is no 7.1 Sound and no shiny 3D Graphics that needs a high-tech graphics card. But for me that is one of the Pros of the game. It has a different graphic style, some may not like it, some love it and some don't care, because they like the concept of the game.

  
(Version 56901)