This is a game that I was not really prepared to like. The hype turned me off, NCsoft essentially dumping GW turned me off, and the fact that it is primarily PvP really turned me off.

However, I am absolutely LOVING the game. The attention to detail is amazing. I wander around finding little easter eggs everywhere...like little squirrels that smack flies out of the air and stomp on them, dinosaurs in the oddest spots, NPCs 'hiding' behind rocks, beautiful armour, really nice story lines, fun skills with great animations, I could go on and on.

Yes, the xp amounts are rather daunting as you go up in levels. But I find myself a bunch of friends and play and laugh together and we end up forcing ourselves to quit for the night waaaay past any of our bedtimes.

I would say the trick is to find yourself an excellent Legion (Guild or Kin) and make some friends and just enjoy the experience. It is a VERY fun, well thought out game. I am very pleasantly surprised....

Yes, I will play MMOs, and yes, I am eager to see what other games are around the corner, but I can see myself playing Aion for a very long time.