I started playing Rift last night (Though I did participate in the beta) and I have some thoughts on the quality of Rift's backstory.
The Lore has some really interesting hooks. The religion vs. science struggle isn't new to video games, but as an overarching theme for an MMO its new ground. The bitterness the two sides have towards each other is also really well orchestrated - the Defiant KNOW that the guardians are going to cause the end of the world - they've seen it. But the Guardian's near blind devotion to their gods isn't at all unbelievable or even hard to relate to - their gods DO exist, the ascended DO ascend by grace, basically. It makes the whole thing remarkably human.
Then the rifts themselves are an effective boogie man. Ever present, looming at the edges of the real world, from time to time prodding their (literal) tendrils through into our reality. Its fairly lovecraftian, if you think about it.
My only complaint is regulos as the big bad of the game. He's not exactly interesting - he has the same problem many big bad's do in a Teen rated setting. What does he do that's bad, other than plot to end the world? In real life big bad's murder, commit genocide - they invent new ways to torture and oppress. Let me say that I understand that in the MMO setting there are very real restrictions in enemy behavior.
I thought it would be fun to look at some of big bads that did more than plot to 'one day have their revenge!!!!/Take over the world!!!!'
Take Sephiroth of Final Fantasy 7. His big bad quest was much like Regulos' - destroy all life. The way he goes about it leads from one horror to the next - murdered friends, burned orphanages, gutted skyscrapers.
In real life look at Thug Behram. Behram led the Indian Thugee cult in decades of murderous theft. A big bad with murderous intent and a business interest. For contrast - what does Regulos stand to gain from his plot?
Rift could benefit from an effected populace. Have you noticed that ALL the people in the game are defiant or guardian, fully entrenched in the war. What's missing are the regular people! There are plenty of Warriors Rogues Clerics and Wizards - plenty of armorsmith's and medics and soldiers
I think characters who are evil for the sake of it always seem a little hokey. There has to be some motivator beyond total world destruction, some way of relating to their badness, for it to be an interesting struggle. A "teen" rating doesn't absolve storytellers of their duties. Plus, kids can tell a thin plot!
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