Where White Knight Chronicles draws even more similarities to an MMO is the fact that the game has an online and it functions very similar. In the game when saving (which takes way too long by the way), you will see an option for Geonet, which by signing into this will put you online with your game. The surprising thing about the online is that at launch there is plenty for each player to do and there is more content promised for the future. Players will be given the option to find open lobbies to launch quests from, meet friends for some gaming or just hang out in. Your avatar that you created at the beginning of the single player is your online Persona so hopefully you still like his appearance now that that is how everyone will see you online.
Now once inside a lobby you will see an officer near a bulletin board that when talked to will give you the option to join a quest about to start or to create your own. If you choose to start your own, you will be given the option to select the quest to do from the ones you have accepted in the single player game. Each quest in the online is given a time limit and at the end you are graded on how quickly and efficiently you completed the quest. The gold, items and experience that you gain during these online quests will remain with your created avatar when you head back to your single player experience. The entire system works well and runs free of virtually any lag from the many games i played. The voice chat works though I did have issues not hearing certain players and having to accept the user agreement every time you login to Geonet is annoying. The online quests end up feeling like an instance you would run in a game like World of Warcraft, but on a much smaller scale as you will only have a party of 2-4.
Another cool twist to the whole setup is that if you are playing through the game and decide to do a quest you have accepted from the guild hall, you are prompted with the option to play the quest solo or online. If you should choose the online route then the game automatically searches for a game with an open slot looking to do the same quest. If a game is not found you will be given the option to create your own. The entire system works well and runs free of virtually any lag from the many games i played. The online quests end up feeling like an instance you would run in a game like World of Warcraft, but on a much smaller scale as you will only have a party of 2-4.
A big drawback of the online portion in the game is that it uses a separate friends list from your PSN list. So again you must add a person in the game even if they are your friend on the PSN. Its not as bad as the Konami ID but it is still an extra step you must take that really is not necessary. The menu system is also a bit clunky and could have used a bit more time on the drawing board but it all functions and once you are used to it, its not too bad.
Now the online just isn’t about questing, there is also a system called Georama put into place and let me tell you, its deep and its fun. Georama allows players to create their own Hometown that other players can visit. In these hometowns you are given full reign to buy and place buildings, recruit NPC’s from the towns and develop the land to help it grow. Each person you recruit comes with a set of skills that you must take into account when bringing them on board as you can only have 20 residents. When placing a resident in a housing unit you can make them a foreman or worker. This system is actually a lot of fun as you try and match a foreman with 1 to 2 workers that have a similar job but maybe different skills. You will also notice a difference in the stuff sold from your shops based on the skills of the people in your town. Now if you are not satisfied with the items available with in-game currency, there are plenty of things you can purchase to make your town unique with hard earned real cash.
Once you are satisfied you can publish your town for the world to see and watch as your Hometown continues to grow and provides a place for you and your friends to meet up and quest. The hometown system reminds me in a way of PlayStation Home as you can customize your living space to provide people with a place to meet up with you. The differences are pretty big though as inside of your Hometown you can put items for sale in your shops and people who come into your town can purchase them as they need. The Georama system is surprisingly deep and provides for plenty of extended hours of gameplay outside of the Campaign and the online questing.
