Stick it up your pack mule.

[mongycore]

I've spent the better part of the week looking in local stores for Dungeon Siege, can't find it. Considering buying the thing but I'm a little iffy on some of the reviews that have been appearing online such as <a href="http://pc.ign.com/articles/356/356757p1.html" target="_blank">IGN PC's Dungeon Siege Review</a> or <a href="http://gamespot.com/gamespot/stories/reviews/0,10867,2860893,00.html" target="_blank">Gamespots Dungeon Siege review.</a> Both cite how incredible the graphics are and the wonder of the Siege engine being capable of doing away with load screens. But the fact that it's so skimpy on a story worries me. I like my precious graphics and all but have lately (thank's to Arcanum, Baldur's Gate, and Wizadry 8) been craving more substance to my games. If it is true that this graphical gem is no better than the craptacular Diablo 2 I think I'll pass...just based on the fact that half way through the second act of D2 I found myself bored to tears at the redundancy of killing things, looting their bodies, then selling or collecting their items.

If anyone here has played the game (and I know some of you have) offer your thoughts and try convincing me it's worth the investment of time and money.

If not, gas powered games know where they can stick it.

[Michael Rabattino]

I don't know, I mean, it looks cool, but how much more is it going to offer you that you didn't see in Baldur's Gate II or Diablo II?

I'll try a demo of it if they release one, but it just doesn't look too original...

If Chris Taylor is such a great up-and-coming game designer, it shouldn't have taken this long to spit DS out. So I have questions about it.

[Jacob Singer]

I was really looking forward to this one too, but the reviews definitely make it seem as if it leans more toward a RTS/hack'n slash vibe, and less a true RPG. Perhaps they'll put out a demo soon.

[ccubed]

I've got it. The graphics are great, and it's intriguing that everyone starts out the same and your character develops skills/stats based on how you play, but it really is just run around and kill shit as you get stronger and stronger.

There are several quests along the way, but I didn't even really know I'd picked most of them up. Just talked to someone and suddenly the quest log is lit up. Finishing them was a similar surprise since I'd basically just go to the next dungeon looking location, kill everything, and suddenly the quest was over, or I'd reach the next town and talk to someone and another quest was complete.

If you don't like the hack 'n slash of Diablo, you probably won't like this game. If you liked Diablo, but thought Diablo II's graphics sucked, then you'll probably like Dungeon Siege (although you might be a bit annoyed by how slowly you advance compared to Diablo.)

The multiplayer can be fun with friends, though. But if you do play multiplayer, unless you import in a really strong magic user type, stick to melee. Magic at low levels is incredible weak and slow compared to melee, and the multiplayer tends to reward frantic running around and whacking stuff as fast as possible since you rack up more kills and have more chances to increase skills and loot stuff.

All in all, it's alright, but nothing really special. But I haven't explored it to the really high levels and I haven't played online with random people, so I can't speak for those aspects of the game.

On a side note, I read an interview with the game designer and he mentioned he'd been forced to take out a mortgage on his house to pay salaries one week when they missed a Microsoft deadline and didn't get paid. That kind of devotion to your craft is becoming more and more rare in the game industry (with the notable exception of Jeff Vogel's games. wink So even if I'm not blown away by the game, I'm kind of glad I made my 50 dollar contribution to the gaming industry.

[mongycore]

I think you're referring to the April PCG article. Which was an interesting read. What stood out was that sometime down the line, a new multiplayer expansion would be available exclusively to PCG readers on their monthly cd.

Despite the similarity to Diablo, I may pick this up on impulse later on (after finishing JK2). I wonder how hard it'll be to play around with the Siege editor and make my own content.

[Big Black]

The graphics are awesome. The landscape is vastly superior than anything ever tried in an rpg before and immediately got me interested. If they always looked this good I'd be more inclined to try them.

It's fun, beautiful and vast, but a bit mindless. Though, it should be said that mindless hacking rarely stopped anyone from playing RPGs before..

Worth a look if you have a group you can multiplay some quests with; the netcode is good on DSL or faster connections and LAN play is a blast.

[mongycore]

This has been a surprisingly decent step up from Diablo. A lot of thought has been put into the game...such as how your party reacts to enemies (do they hold ground, pursue, defend only when attacked). Or that you can transmute items in your inventory into instant gold without the need to run back to town. As well, with the number of enemies you encounter in your adventuring...it's sort of a godsend that you don't have to repair your equipment repeatedly. The pack mule is worth the investment to store powerful items that you can't use (but soon will).

As everyone has said, the graphics are top notch. I'm glad to see that my Geforce card is being put to good use outside of the realm of first (and third) person shooters like Ghost Recon, Max Payne, Return to Castle Wolfenstein, and Medal of Honor. If you were to draw comparisons between Diablo 2 and Dungeon Siege (which is a bit unfair); you could say that Dungeon Siege is that killer photo hanging on your wall of Laetitia Casta and Diablo is the paint or wallpaper surrounding it. The only bad thing about the graphics would be the camera angles when you get close to a wall or having a pillar or building obstruct your view while you're getting your ass kicked (of which, you'll be thankful for the pause button when you adjust the angle).

This game is lacking in a story. By no means is it War and Peace...more like The Cat in the Hat. What works though is the wonder of exploring new areas. Finding unique items that'll make you faster, stronger...The intensity of being outnumbered so many times and barely surviving it all. Not being bored is a strong testament to how good the game is. Not earth shattering or revolutionary by any stretch, but a nice ride nonetheless.

Also, the fact that I lost an entire Sunday afternoon playing the thing with my fiance in co-op is also a good sign. As good as Baldur's Gate was as a single play experience...trying to play the thing in co-op was a hassle. Forget about Diablo with all the losers who feel the need to cheat on battle.net.

The simplicity of this game may put off those who are used to deeper RPG's. However, if given the chance to play this (with a properly equiped pc), you may just like what you find. I know I did.

[Jacob Singer]

The demo came out tonight. Downloading now from Fileplanet, no mirrors yet. Argh.

[Coyote]

I prefer deeper RPG, but I'm enjoying this game, so far.
BTW, Best Buy has it for 39 bucks, plus a 10 buck mail in gift card.

[voltes5]

Just picked up this puppy up 2 days ago and I'm having such a blast with the game (got a good deal for $30 in CompUSA's 3 day sale). If you hated Diablo II, then you MIGHT hate this one too (I mildly enjoyed Diablo II, though I was a big fan of Nox).

However, there's something about the game that is just so plain addictive. It's probably because it's so well-designed and intuitive. I love having total control over my camera angles & zooms. The little touches also just won me over, such as being able to move in the World Map (even battling enemies), the automatic reorganization of my items, and as well as the BG2 pause feature. These are little touches, but they enhance gameplay, which matters the most.

That said, I suspect that non-Diablo fans might actually like this. Bottom line is that it is so fun to play. I've only played 3 hours so far (damn work and sleep) but the addiction is creeping in. As much as I love Baldur's Gate, this game is a great mindless diversion -- nevertheless, I have realized that it does require some form of strategy which is surprising as a barebones RPG game (actually, it's more hack & slash, as stats are nowhere in sight).

And, oh yeah, the graphics are damn awesome!

[Hollow_Point_Massacre]

I thought it was a great game...until I got to the point where there were guns. I had fun with it, but once I beat it the first time, I had no desire to play through it anymore. Nice graphics, pretty good control scheme, some awesome weapons, and hacking with 7 other members of your team is great fun. Recommended for a few afternoons of mindless mayhem.

[Michael Rabattino]

There are guns?

I thought it was fantasy?

I hate that...

[Hollow_Point_Massacre]

Lightning guns, flame throwers, etc.

[Jacob Singer]

Well, it's really more of a steampunk-inspired section of the game, kinda like Arcanum (which was, sadly, very underrated). The goblins are a race of semi-technicians, and I for one really enjoyed that particular dungeon. As a matter of fact, I'm enjoying the entire game quite a bit. At the very least, it'll hold me over 'till MORROWIND this weekend... :D

[Hollow_Point_Massacre]

Jacob Singer:
Well, it's really more of a steampunk-inspired section of the game, kinda like Arcanum (which was, sadly, very underrated). At the very least, it'll hold me over 'till MORROWIND this weekend... :D Arcanum IS a VERY UNDERRATED game, one that can now be found for around $25. I held off on this game when it first came out, but after hordes of people raving about it on various boards, I bought it about a month ago. Highly recommended game with a great story.

I am also eagerly awaiting MORROWIND (pc version), I just hope it lives up to the hype. From the early words I heard, it does (fingers crossed).

Another highly underrated PC adventure/rpg game is GOTHIC, which I can't recommend enough. Tough learning curve on the control scheme, but the game is top notch also.

Good call on ARCANUM jacob.

[Jacob Singer]

And good call on GOTHIC, HPM. :) One of my favorites of the year. GOTHIC II is in the works as we speak, some screenshots were released just this week as a matter of fact.

[Michael Rabattino]

Since Arcanum is so cheap I should pick it up sometime. The demo was pretty cool, even if it looked like a Fallout rip-off. But still, $25 for a solid RPG is a price that can't be beat.

[Jacob Singer]

A little Dungeon Siege Haiku (from PennyArcade)

my packmule had died
I reloaded my last save
now I protect him

:D

[Hollow_Point_Massacre]

Jacob Singer:
A little Dungeon Siege Haiku (from PennyArcade)

my packmule had died
I reloaded my last save
now I protect him

:D :p

[mongycore]

for the people who own and dig this game, this is just a brief heads up that Gas Powered Games and Microsoft have just released the beta form Siege Editor to the public.

For those out of the loop, this gives gamers the power to create their own worlds, dungeons, monsters, and quests for others (and yourself) to enjoy.

It can be found <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/games/dungeonsiege/8.asp" target="_blank">here!</a> (just remember to scroll down)

[voltes5]

Mongycore, curse you for reminding me that! I'm so afraid to try it as I know I'm gonna obsess over that feature.

[mongycore]

Middle Earth.

Can it be done.

I sit here thinking about how much time it will take. Prodding through the Tolkien Books for maps, text to be transcribed, events and battles to be scripted. So far, I know there are monsters in there like Shelob, the Uruk-hai. There are buildings that could pass for the two towers. Plenty of spells. I may have to get my hands dirty (or find someone with more technical capability) with Gmax to make other creatures like the Balrog, Nazkul, and the Ents.

Of course, this is all just some dumb geeks wet dream. I don't have the time to do it all in one sitting for an extended period of time without the fear of losing my job or fiance.

Small steps. I think that's the key. Maybe start out with the Shire. Then make my way eastward to Rivendale.

I can see it now.

[voltes5]

Mongy, you are pure evil and get out of my head! Must... resist... power... of... ring.

Seriously, I'm wondering if there's going to be a clan or group who would be interested in working in something like this? I'm pretty sure that there will be. I'd definitely would like to join. Middle-earth will be a massive undertaking; but if certain people worked on specific sections/locations, I think that this is possible. Damn, I'm drooling as we speak.

[voltes5]

Holy Crap, this Seige Editor is tough! Anyway, I was thinking of working on a fantasy version of CHUD as to experiment with this tool. I was gonna have some silly quest, such as finding and obliterating the securely-guarded Ga-Me-Kyuube of El-Zanarkand's 3 story-deep dungeon so that a certain warrior/bard (with a love for soundtracks -- apparently, he's also a tracker as he listens for "sounds" on the "tracks") can join the group and finally defeat a monstrous Spider-like enemy.