The Good
This review also kinda applies to the original Dungeon Siege.
If you haven't played the original Dungeon Siege, might as well get this one as the original is included in this version.
Well, I bought this freakin game because I liked the demo...still trying comprehend why games in the United States are so dang expensive. Anyways, it looked like a brilliant idea, an RPG where the character development was based on the increasing levels on individual skill, such as Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, Nature Magic, Melee, etc. (or something like that)
The game was really addictive the first time around where you were excited in increasing your skills in order to gain more powerful spells and better weapons/ items.
3D graphics were stable, haven't found any instability yet...a long way has come from those crappy days of 3D bugs. Detailed animation, snowing effects, not bad, not top of the line, but "sufficient" to say. The game has a powerful "real-time" map option, where you can go adventuring with the map point-of-view. In addition to that, you can zoom in and zoom out very well.
Some musical compositions were quite good actually, had a "Lord of the Rings" kinda feel to it (or was it the original Dungeon Siege?)...can't seem to remember.
Oooh, you don't die! Well, not true, you just get "unconscience" the first time around, giving time for your buddy companions to heal'em up.
Time for my favorite part...
The Bad
Lights, camera, action!
Bad stuff about the game. This will take awhile I'm betting. Where to start is very difficult, so I'll try to sequence it in accordance to my playing the game.
Disappointing Character Development
This really isn't their fault, but I was really expecting something major when I played the demo. I really was expecting skills were developed per "item", such as skills for different kinds of swords, different kinds of spells. Unfortunately, the demo wasn't long enough to "show" its limitations, as there wasn't many weapons or spells to show that (either that or I wasn't paying attention). Eventually you figure out that all melee weapons only effect strength and melee, all bows effect a little of everything, etc. Like before, I really was expecting more detailed and spesific development. With only 7 stats to develop doesn't quite cut it anymore for veteran RPG gamers. But again, this isn't their fault...I just expected too much, too soon.
The Copycats - Part I: Gameplay
After several hours of play, you get the feeling you've played this game somewhere before. Though after many days later, I still couldn't figure out what this game reminded me of. Curse my brains for not noticing it earlier! It's a TOTAL RIP-OFF of Neverwinter Nights...(my lawyer point of view wonders if there were any Intellectual Property Rights stolen from the game engine design). Yep, it was a total copycat, the idea, the feel, the mostly everything they got from Neverwinter Nights. There goes creativity down the drain. Even the so-called "quick buttons" were ideas from Neverwinter Nights.
The Copycats - Part II: Inventory/Item system
There's still something missing...I know I've played this game before but something not from Neverwinter Nights. Eureka! The inventory system now was a total rip-off from Diablo 2. See the screenshots and see for yourself. The character sheet/inventory is "almost" identical to Diablo 2. More noticable, the various "magical items" ideas are copied from Diablo 2.
Have these people no pride?
Party Chaos
The game was quite nice when you had 1, 2 even 3 characters roaming the land. But when you reach 5 or more characters in your team, it suddenly just becomes a hack and slash game where you just mow through your enemies. Strategy becomes basically a minimum, it's almost impossible to click on individual characters in the midst of combat so they can "flee". You also end up trying to get that stupid donkey to run "away" from the enemies.
Graphical scam and visual boredom
The screenshots on the back of the box looked great, although in reality you really never get to see them as it's the "zoom-in" version. While playing, you have to zoom out, as after having 5 or more team mates in the game, you can't hope to see them up close at the same time.
After awhile, you stop adventuring on the main screen and start using the "map perspective" as travelling become more diffucult since you can't seem to know where the hell your walking to. Suddenly have the game is just looking at green circles (you) bumping into red circles (the enemy). Ooh, back to arcade games! Sometime you go change back for combat, but eventually you'll mow them down easily enough and stick to the map version.
Worse Magical Spells in the history of Magic!
Euy. This game is an insult to Magic-Users everywhere! The game has the most B O R I N G set of spells ever created...most are pratically useless since you can only use 2 slots available for magic slots (technically more) but you rarely can change in the midst of combat.
Storyline...snore...wha? No cutscenes?
Storyline...this game has the most STUPID arch enemy name I've ever heard of: Shadow Jumper. Boing! Shadow Jumper...like that's something you should be afraid of? Hahahaha. Give me a break! Give me something corny like Darklord or Death King or something, but Shadow Jumper? You've got to be kidding. Who came up with that brilliant idea? Better yet, who has drunk enough to actually support it?
Storyline....snore. Linear, straight line. Nuff said. Wonder if they've ever played Final Fantasy? Nope.
Cutscenes...not. Was expective some graphical genius....but did they give me a movie? Noooooo. Just the same 3D graphics in "story mode". Without that...there wasn't much anticipation in playing the dang game anymore.
Got to remember to un-install the game...
**The Bottom Line**
Uh...after several serious considerations, I would advise not to get this game. Neverwinter Nights had it better...hope the later versions of Neverwinter Nights fixed the boring dialogs though.
The game isn't horrible...it's just...boring. Shadow Jumper? (Sigh)