So, being a Rift Newbie I'm sure a lot of people here will find this old news...but, I am having a lot of fun with the game and wanted to talk about it with people who won't look at me like I am fanatical... (Maybe some very very minor spoilers, so I'm not using the tag)
So first off, I loved the look of this zone when I stepped in. I'm sure many people might say it looks like Duskwood, or whatever game have you, but it really is just on a higher level than any 'dark' zone like that. The architecture and atmosphere are brilliant. Running around that place was pretty cool.
As I was finishing up quests there, the zone invasion...let's just call it what it is, the Werewolf Invasion, was awesome. After doing the Hag questline, which was very well written for this style, it was pretty cool to fight that off. I've never spent so much time in a game, forgetting that I was trying to turn quests in or do something specific, in order to run rampant all over the zone with people around me slaying Wolves and Altars and the like. I mean it was all over the place with the Rifts, the Attacking Mob packs, etc.
It really made me stop and think though...why have people (myself included) hailed GW2 as really 'breaking the mold' with regards to questing, when clearly Rift was doing the same thing (though still keeping traditional questing which I love)? I mean...all GW2 did was take that concept and build a game off it. I know we say Rift stays under the radar, which is cool and all, but damn this game really has the whole package. And I'm only level 27. I haven't even begun to go achievement farming, serious profession leveling, rep grinds, dungeons, raids, etc. My mind doesn't comprehend how this isn't more popular, considering I haven't played an MMO so intensely since Vanilla WoW.
PS: Did get run through the Goblin instance in Gloamwood...it was pretty phenomenal. I remember looking up into the 'sky' and seeing all the lights that were goblin structures and whatnot seeming to go on forever. It was definitely a very well done instance. If the rest of them are on that same level, I've found the best MMO I've ever played and don't plan on stopping any time soon.
Sorry for the fanboy sounding rant, a friend got me into this game and I am just shocked at what I've been missing.