EQ2 is a massive leap forward from its predecessor. The most obvious transformation is in the visuals, which have come a long way from the 1999 original release, and are also vastly superior to the visual update EverQuest received with the Shadows of Luclin expansion in 2001. Hair and cloth move freely, tiny details in the varied environments create a living world, and characters take on a highly individual appearance. Characters can be customized down to the minute details in the structures of their face, from their cheekbones to eye and ear size and shape, and you can choose from thousands of armor pieces, weapons, and equipable items that will also alter the character’s appearance.