I first found Akanbar back in 2005 when I was searching for a new multiplayer game to play.

My friends and I got very into it. Each night after playing I would walk over to my friends house and we would chat for hours about what had happened in the game.

The world in Akanbar consists of three main cities, the Sun Realm (Elysium), the Shadow Realm (Ysallyra) and the Demonic Realm (Golgonath).

The guilds in Akanbar are very well thought out. When I first read about them it made me really want to try out the game and get stuck into one of the guilds. It was a hard choice deciding which one I wanted to go for because they all have a of appeal.

The combat system in Akanbar is intense and exciting. It is balance orientated, meaning you do not simply type 'kill target' and then watch like ninety percent of other Muds. You must 'swing' your sword.

As your skills rise you unlock new skills to add to your arsenal. You will have to think on your feet, think up strategies and have good timing to become the best.

You use triggers and aliases to help you deal with things more efficiently in the heat of battle. (Your skill at using your skills in combat is more important in this game than your level. You do not have to slog it out to reach a high level before you can play properly and be a part of the world.)

Each city has a different feel to it and each city is run by players. (Same with guilds.)

You have the totalitarian Golgonath, ruled by a Master/Mistress of All and his/her Inner Circle of Masters.

You have the Chieftains of Ysallyra. You have the democratically elected Senate of Elysium. Each city can build its own army and conquer the villages/towns of the world, alternatively you could get those villages on your cities side by questing and trading with them.

There are guards in each city to protect the inhabitants and mages with shields to stop enemy players from making gateways into the city.

By attacking that cities outposts/towers players of the opposing city can weaken that shield and if they weaken it enough they will be able to gate inside the enemy city and wreak some havoc.

(Events ingame have hinted that each city might be getting one more guild each in the future.)

Demonic Realm guilds: Forsaken. Black Legion. Pyromancers. Crafters. Shadow Realm guilds: Assassins. Shadow Warriors. Shaman. Traders. Sun Realm guilds: Runesmiths. Templar. Storm Wardens. Merchants.

Like Pyrok said in a previous review, it is hard to sum it all up in a review like this.

It is the one mud out of all I have played that keeps me coming back for more.

Even in the times when I was not playing the game properly I would still log on now and then to soak up the atmosphere and remember things that had happened in the past.

It is all very well thought out and it is constantly being improved, the Divine listen and often implement players ideas from the forum.

So if you are looking for a new multiplayer game to play, come to Akanbar and stimulate your imagination.