Spyglassguides - Blog

Graphics: Wow! For a revamped version of an engine that’s 4 or 5 years old this game looks great. The detail is impressive and the look does the overall seting justice. Characters are very good looking and animation for most things are fantastic.

Sound: Voice acting is very good, sound effects are better than average, and music is spectacular. The music really brings out the modd that fits the themes in this game very well.

Combat: While a bit frustrating at times combat is unique that it combines click and kill style with a bit of timing and strategy that, once you figure out how to use it correctly, is actually fun and pleasant to do/watch. Neat combos and finishing moves make it quite spectacular on a visual level. Downside is it does have a bit of a learning curve and the fist fighting is not refined like weapon fighting. Also, multiple enemies and lots of them can be difficult to handle at times.

Alchemy: A very easy to use but diverse range of formulas and components with room for experimentation to boot. A very good aspect of the game and even woven into the storyline.

Magic: There are a few “abilities” you can use from shooting fire and force bolts among others. They can aid in combat or more mundane uses as well. The two I have so far seem well balanced perfectly so far. I can’t wait to get the others.

Story: I am only at the beginning of chapter 2 so I haven’t dug too deeply into the main plot but I can say that this game takes it’s story very serious and delivers it with style and a lot of TLC. Also, the design of the world is very well done making you feel like the world and the people in it is alive. You can give people gifts, play dice, brawl in bars, woo the ladies, bribe guards, feed the hungry, get drunk (and wobble around drunkenly) on top of your normal questing and monster slaying.

There are some downsides, other than the combat taking getting used to. Cutscenes can often lead you right into combat for which you are very unprepared or start in strange circumstances that make you feel like you missed something somewhere. And the cutscenes are numerous, but the do, for the most part, add to the story and don’t detract.

Load times are also an issue, but it doesn’t cripple the game in the least, and they aren’t as bad as load/save times in Gothic 3 (thank god). Still, if you like to explore every nook and cranny of every area then you will spen a lot of time waiting. Going into a house doesn’t take long, but going back into the main are (outside) can be 30 seconds to a minute of waiting at times.

Not much else I can think to say right now. This game oozes style and is definitely a must buy for action/rpg fans in my opinion. There is a patch out for it already so make sure you get that installed before you start the game.

NOTE
This is a mature games, sex isn’t graphic but is there (with sexy collectors cards for each woman “conquered) and there is use of swear words as well as some vulgar phrases.