Champions of Norrath is a very nicely realized high-fantasy hack-and-slash RPG.
User Rating: 8 | Champions of Norrath PS2
Champions of Norrath is a hack-and-slack RPG set in the high-fantasy universe of Everquest. The game pits humans and elves against orcs and goblins and even greater foes in an epic battle to save the land of Norrath from unspeakable horrors. At the beginning of the game, you select your character from one of five classes, which will influence your style of combat for the remainder of the game (i.e. melee weapons, magic, ranged weapons, or a combination of the above). The foes will be plentiful, and your quest will carry you through many diverse terrains, such as forests, caves, beaches, lava fields, deserts, glaciers, and more. Some of the places you will travel will be truly mesmerizing, and you will enjoy all the scenery from a third-person bird's-eye point-of-view, except during cut scenes. The sound track perfectly sets the mood in each scenario, and the weapon sounds are all very realistic and satisfying. Everything is realized with care, and the little details, like the water effects, are just icing on the cake. About the only negative thing I can say about Champions of Norrath is that some levels feel like they will never end, as you fight off waves upon waves of the same same enemy, and drudge through miles upon miles of the same scenery, but I would say this is typical for this genre of game. If you're into hack-and-slash RPGs, you will enjoy spending the 20 or so hours it takes to complete this game.
