Rift criticisms

As with any major new game (or any game in general) there are those who feel that RIFT isn't all that it's cracked up to be. One of the biggest criticisms is that it seems to be a World of warcraft clone and that it offers nothing original to the gamer.

Now, in my opinion, when one of your biggest criticisms is that you're too much like one of the best selling games of all time then you're probably doing pretty well for yourself. That aside let's see if there's any validity to these claims.

1. The UI
The UI (or user interface) in both games are very similar. Both place the action bars in the same place and the mini map in the top right corner. Both place the character portraits in the top left and the target you're attacking/healing next to it. All in all the UI is almost identical to Wow.

2. Skill ranks
How you get stronger spells is different in each game but WoW in Rift have almost identical rank up systems. Each time you reach a certain level you go to a trainer and buy a skill up for certain spells or abilities. It's the exact same thing in both games

3. Auction House
Both games allow the selling of in game items through an auction house. Another thing they have in common.

4. Bank storage
Each game allows for storage of items in banks. This would be a big deal if it wasn't for the feature where you can buy a bag and store it in a special area of the bank for further access. Something in WoW that is also available in Rift.

5. Professions skill ups
The numbers of skill points you need to progress to the next level of your professions are actually identical. 75 points for level 2. 150 points for level 3.

Each of these things (and more) point to Rift being a WoW clone. But here's the thing; most of what I just posted can be found in almost all MMOs whether they came before or after WoW. There are certain things that are staple in any genre (like guns in first person shooters) that will make an appearance in almost all the games in that genre. Drawing those parallels between the game and then calling them clones is like saying Tina Fey is a clone of Anne Hathaway because they are both brunette females.

Usually to dissuade this argument you bring out all the new things Rift has to offer.

1. Custom Class System
Rift allows it's players to choose from among many different talent trees to mix and match different playstyles to suit their needs. WoW only has 3 per class and most classes have only 1 or 2 viable trees for a specific role.

2. Rift system
Rift has frequent world PVE events as a staple part of it's games. Wow has a few here and there that don't even come close to the level of the rifts.

3. Distinct art style
This is a minor point but at least you can say rift doesn't LOOK like WoW. Rift's realistic landscapes are completely different from WoW's cartoonish style characters and zones.

4. Public questing
You can join a "public group" without having to be invited by a group leader. This isn't original to Rift (props to warhammer online) but it is one thing that separates Rift from WoW.

5. Dedicated PvP Talent trees
Instead of trying to balance PvE and PvP in one soul they made specific pvp souls to give PvP players something that won't break the game PVE wise

All in all I think RIFt is different enough from WoW to be it's own game and expand from the genre. While the similarities exist they are nothing that would indicate Rift of being a clone.