Dungeon Siege II

THE BAD:
- Repetitive
- Too much Grind
- Battles can be very boring

SUMMARY:
Dundeon Siege II is the latest action RPG from Chris Taylors imagination and follows on superbly from the original with some solid feature additions and upgrades and a new travel system that revolutionises the game.

Gameplay: Yet another Diablo-esque action RPG has hit the market in Dungeon Siege II. However, unlike other games riding the Diablo band wagon DS2 brings some innovative and well put together features of its own that have enabled it to stand apart from its competitors. The inclusion of a teleport system to cut the endless running of the original game is one such feature that helps lift DS2 to another level. The item enchanting/upgrading system is also an interesting and addictive new feature that adds some extra fun on the side to help break the monotony that inevitably accompanies games of this genre. All up the game offers enough extra features, such as raising pets, upgrading items, completing side quests and collecting set items, to keep players entertained for the entirety of its hack and slash storyline.

Graphics: The graphics are what I like to term WoW-esque in that they follow the carrtoonish style of character models. DS2 does however have an edge up on the realism it gives to the character models that for me is an outstanding achievement given the way some other games have gone about the style.

The crowning achievement in the game however has to be the environment. The team at Microsoft have created a wonderfully engrossing world where the player can really feel like they are hacking through beautiful or dark forests, sweltering in hot deserts or freezing in icy mountains.

Plot: The storyline of Dungeon Siege, while as linear and driven as the first installment of the series, is interesting and addictive. As a player you will find it impossible to turn away as you seek revenge on the 'bad guy' who betrayed you and is now trying to dominate the world you live in. As you cover great expanses of land and meet new people you will uncover sub-plots and back stories that are not only intriguing and original and gripping.

Online: I myself have yet to try the online capabilities of this game. However, if DS1 is anything to go by then you will struggle to find an online server not overrun with hacked accounts and 'uber' itemed fighters.

Tech Support: You know that with Microsoft there will always be someone on hand to offer help when you need it and as such the tech support of this game is good and has yet to let me down.

Audio: The game has a solid musical score that helps break the monotony of the combat. The music is composed to suit the area you are in and works quite well in establishing an atmosphere for each location visited in the game. The games sound effects are also solid with interesting battle crys and sounds livening up battle sequences.

Controls: The controls of the game are simple and easy to use. A simple point and click method for movement, attacking, interacting etc makes maneuvering through the game world as seamless and simple as it possibly could be. Control of your party is made simpler by the fact that you only have direct control over your main character as all the others simply follow your actions or perform similar actions (depending on what mode you have set).

Repetition: Unfortunately repetition and grind will always prove a problem for games of the action RPG genre, and DS2 is no different. Battles are the same no matter who you are facing and where the battle takes place; and quite often visiting towns can become just a chore between each grinding battle session.

Lasting Value: This game is really fun the first time you play it through and is thoroughly entertaining as the storyline unfolds before you. However, after one run through, having done it all before and having no surprises from the story to look forward to, the game can become a chore and only fun in that you can keep getting better items.

Tying Into a Series: The game has no relation to the first installment and is essentially a stand alone game; aside from the expansion, Broken World. This means you can play this game without fear of not having played the original as the story is unique and requires no knowledge. Although as yet no other game has been produced in the series so it is unknown whether the storyline will carry on further.

Glitches/Bugs in Offline Modes: The game is essentially free of glitches and bugs except for the annoying fact that some set items can appear twice. This is an inconvenience and some chests or bosses are scripted to drop set items and you may be hoping for something new to complete a set or start a new set and you get something you already have.

Summary: In summary this game is a good time waster and definitely worth investing in if you area combat whore. If you enjoyed Diablo then this is well worth a shout for the similarities it shares amongst its unique differences. Just be warned this game is addictive as crack for the first few run throughs and once you start you many find that you can't stop until the game is over...