Do not believe what the scientists tell you. The natural history we know is a lie, a falsehood sold to us by wicked old men who would make the world a dull gray prison and protect us from the dangers inherent to freedom. They would have you believe our planet to be a lonely starship, hurtling through the void of space, barren of magic and in need of a stern hand upon the rudder.
Close your mind to their deception. The time before our time was not a time of senseless natural struggle and reptilian rage, but a time of myth and sorcery. It was a time of legend, when heroes walked Creation and wielded the very power of the gods. It was a time before the world was bent, a time before the magic of Creation lessened, a time before the souls of men became the stunted, withered things they are today.
The system feels more like the older World of Darkness Storytelling system than the new. However it's still very easy to grasp on the surface.
However truth be told beyond that the system becomes far more complicated. Combat is handled in ticks down to the second, which leads to a very intense combat system. Players assuming the role of Solar Exalted have a wide array of skills and abilities to deploy which add a necessary level of complexity onto the simpler system, though the results typically pan out very worth while in sheer fun.
The setting itself is where the game truly shines. Creation feels very original and unique compared to most fantasy settings. Forgoing Tolkien as the primary influence, and instead mostly turning to world mythology and anime as the predominant influence. The result has a very unique flavor combining some of the best elements in Western and Eastern mythology and the perfect excuse for intense drama and action you would expect of the synthesis.
Epic adventures of larger-than-life heroes... if this is what inspires you, this game is worth a look. Now matured into its second edition, this fusion of many ideas drawn from heroic and pulp fiction and Japanese manga rises above all of these to create a world in which characters stand ready to defy the gods themselves if they step out of line.
The Introduction describes these influences and the development of the game, and - for those new to role-playing - provides a brief note about how one participant is the Storyteller and the rest players. The core White Wolf 'Storytelling' game mechanic is used, but in an exotic and fabulous setting rather than against the backdrop of today's Earth.
Overall, it is an impressive and comprehensive introduction to Exalted, both setting and rules, conveying the broad epic sweep of action and the rich, detailed history on which it is based extremely well. I think that all participants in a game would benefit from possessing and studying this book, it would be difficult for the Storyteller to paint an adequate picture for players who were not familiar with the broad background and history, or the powers granted to a solar exalted.
Read the full review at http://www.rpg-resource.org.uk/
