I just can't get into MMOs. Perhaps it's the constant grinding, or the hours of dedication needed, or maybe even all of the microtransactions and rules but I've never played more than an hour's worth of games like World of Warcraft or DC Universe Online. Earthrise though? Yeah, I played the hell out of Earthrise.

In development since 2007 at Bulgarian based Masthead studios, Earthrise isn't like your normal MMO. It ditches a lot of the genres tried and true traditions in exchange for smaller tweaks that add a ton of variety to the format and make the game feel that much fresher. There are a few hiccups here and there, but Earthrise is a very welcome surprise.

At the end of the 21st century, the third world war ravaged much of the world's population. On the island of Enterra, a new society has sprung up in the city of Sal Vitas. Trouble is though, that the new society is ruled by a totalitarian government known as the Continoma who make all the rules and also have complete control over the world's natural resources and the brand new cloning technology. The game follows a number of different factions as they take on the Continoma in hopes of gaining control over these resources. Al Gore would be proud.

"It's an incredibly deep experience..."

While it may not seem like much of a plot (it does get pretty predictable) it serves its purpose, to open up the game immensely. Earthrise doesn't restrain the player like most other MMO's. The most prominent example of this is that in Earthrise, there are no classes to choose from, instead, you'll craft your character from the bottom up, and every decision forms another aspect of them. You'll be able to choose which faction you're aligned with, which talent you specialize in and everything can be changed on the fly. It's an incredibly deep experience that you're likely not to expect from a game like this.

Earthrise's customization features also extend to many of the game's other features. You can customize the look, feel and parts of your weapons and armor, and even trade them with other users. In essence, this sets up a rather interesting aspect of the game, by progressing and crafting you have the opportunity to grow the game's economy by selling your rare items to those looking for a boost. It also adds to the game's mythology as you'll be able to swap alliances at any moment, and bring your badass artillery with you.

The only problem with this is that the game's combat is a major letdown. Think of it like this, the majority of the game is a balloon, that keeps getting filled up with helium and you keep getting more impressed the bigger it gets. The game's combat system is the pin that pops said balloon. It just feels so uninspired and tacked on, often messy sometimes, and you're likely to spend the majority of your time avoiding it - which sucks.

"...you're going to see a ton of unpolished visuals and shortcuts the developers took."

While the warring factions play the biggest role in the game's plot, the huge world is undoubtedly Earthrise's biggest star. Of course, MMOs need to have big maps, but the team at Masthead has truly outdone themselves here. Enterra is an expansive island, with three major areas, and each is full of areas to explore and new things to uncover. Just don't expect to be thrilled with the visuals. Oh, don't get me wrong, the game looks impressive, but the deeper you look into the game's hidden corners, you're going to see a ton of unpolished visuals and shortcuts the developers took.

Earthrise is different than most MMOs, and a lot different than I thought it would be. It's part MMO, part classic RPG, part economic simulation with a bit of shooter thrown in for fun. The results are arguably positive. I had a blast with the game's deep progression system, but began to hate the game each time I had to use the combat system. While it won't replace anyone's World of Warcraft time, it's likely to be a worthwhile diversion.