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Eric Lowe
Issue date: 2/25/05 Section: Features
Snowblind Studios is a decent game producer. Just look at the Balder's Gate: Dark Alliance series. Why they think they can get away with releasing the same game over and over is beyond me though. The first Champions of Norrath game was a decent hack and slash adventure. The second part, Champions: Return to Arms, is lacking much.
There is so much wrong that I think I'll start with the few good bits first.
The graphics are great. The shadow work in particular is very well done. Snowblind still has the best water ripple graphics of any game designer out there. Unfortunately, you really don't get to see it much here. The heros look good and whatever armor or weapon they are equipped with, you actually see them carrying it.
The game is fairly lengthy. I clocked in around 20 hours. Much of this is due to many trial and error sequences, which I'll get into later.
There are two new classes to choose from. There is the lizard-like Iksar Shaman and the cat-like Vah Shir Berserker. Both are well developed with their own unique skills and talents. Notably, the Berserker uses throwing weapons and the Shaman can transform into a huge dinosaur to crush enemies.
The other old character classes return also. You can even import your old character from the first game to play this one at a harder setting. With a level cap at 80, instead of the standard 40, this makes importing a character a better deal.
The sound could have also used some help. The same heavy clanking sound is used for every item that anything drops, whether it's armor, a gate scroll, or a healing potion. It makes no sense and after a few minutes is really annoying.
The voice acting is okay. It's nothing spectacular but has a few notable names in the cast. Foremost are Paula Tiso and Tara Strong. Paula Tiso voiced the dark mage, Lulu, in Final Fantasy X and X-2. Tara Strong voiced Rikku in the Final Fantasy games also.
The plot is almost non-existent. Snowblind should have used some of the money that went into the graphics budget to hire better writers. The plot involves you collecting shards from around the Planes of Existence to keep the big, huge, evil menace that you were supposed to have killed in the first game from being resurrected.
There is so much wrong that I think I'll start with the few good bits first.
The graphics are great. The shadow work in particular is very well done. Snowblind still has the best water ripple graphics of any game designer out there. Unfortunately, you really don't get to see it much here. The heros look good and whatever armor or weapon they are equipped with, you actually see them carrying it.
The game is fairly lengthy. I clocked in around 20 hours. Much of this is due to many trial and error sequences, which I'll get into later.
There are two new classes to choose from. There is the lizard-like Iksar Shaman and the cat-like Vah Shir Berserker. Both are well developed with their own unique skills and talents. Notably, the Berserker uses throwing weapons and the Shaman can transform into a huge dinosaur to crush enemies.
The other old character classes return also. You can even import your old character from the first game to play this one at a harder setting. With a level cap at 80, instead of the standard 40, this makes importing a character a better deal.
The sound could have also used some help. The same heavy clanking sound is used for every item that anything drops, whether it's armor, a gate scroll, or a healing potion. It makes no sense and after a few minutes is really annoying.
The voice acting is okay. It's nothing spectacular but has a few notable names in the cast. Foremost are Paula Tiso and Tara Strong. Paula Tiso voiced the dark mage, Lulu, in Final Fantasy X and X-2. Tara Strong voiced Rikku in the Final Fantasy games also.
The plot is almost non-existent. Snowblind should have used some of the money that went into the graphics budget to hire better writers. The plot involves you collecting shards from around the Planes of Existence to keep the big, huge, evil menace that you were supposed to have killed in the first game from being resurrected.