-Inb4hatersandfanboys.-

People have asked for comparisons or opinions in several threads before this one, all of which have turned into pretty much battle of the fanboys or who can point out the most faults in RIFT vs every other game.

The most logical thing anyone will probably say to you is to try the trial of Rift when it's out and decide if it's your thing, since what one person might like, you might not.

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Opinion: Rift is a decent game but it doesn't bring anything innovative or new to the table in terms of content (instances are instances, every feature will be likened somewhat to a feature an older game has made before) but the non-race specific and mix and match class trees provide variety and diversity in gameplay (but still, the class system in MMOs isn't new, and you'll probably get many PvP nerdragers complaining about imbalances in class combinations in battle) and the fact you get to join in group play very early like Rifting and the likes may appeal to you since it gives alternatives in how you level (depending if they fix the exp gain or not) with decent rewards (Planar gear).

I haven't invested much of my time into the head start but every time I've logged in, there's never been a lack of stuff to do on my part.