Solid foundation, but comes across as overly Fable-esque. Ridiculously fun combat, but very little we haven't seen.
This game is hard to describe. First of all, I'm not going to compare this game to Skyrim, because that comparison is ludicrous. They're very different games, with VERY different priorities as far as the overall experience goes. If I were to compare this game to anything, I would say that Fable is the obvious comparison, for a lot of reasons. Yes, the game has a colorful and whimsical world (like Fable), and a very action-oriented and easy-to play combat system (like Fable), and tells a wonderful fantasy tale (conceptually similar to Fable, but NOT the same at all), but what really makes this game like Fable is its sense of presence. Its world has an open-ended linearity to it that makes you feel more comfortable than Skyrim's looming expanse. It gives you all the freedom you want while still holding your hand a bit. That's not a bad thing at all.
This game appeared on my radar when I heard the words "Morrowind" and "Oblivion" associated with it. I am a big TES player, and when I heard that some of the creative team behind those games was throwing its weight behind a game with R.A. Salvitore (Forgotten Realms book series) penning the story, with Todd McFarlane as a character designer, I knew this was something a bit different. A full day after its release, I have my verdict. It's a great game that will give RPG fans a lot to do and see, but it falls short of the mark. The game feels (and looks) like and MMO, with that World of Warcraft-y cartoonishness to it. This isn't a bad thing, by any means, but it makes the game feel like it's following in the footsteps of some games. Again, this isn't bad at all. It's a new IP, and it needs to build up a good fanbase before it starts making bold design moves. I get that, and I can totally dig it.
That's enough of my preface. Now to the actual review.
This game is a lot of fun. The intro is a bit long, but once you get into the actual story, you're going to have a blast. If you liked games like Fable, Dragon Age, or Darksiders, this game's approach will be quite comfortable. Without spoiling it for you guys, basically the world is run by a concept of fate or destiny. Everyone has one, and there are people in the world who can see and interpret those destinies. Well, you ain't got no fate. That irks some people, and you need to unravel the mystery, set against a backdrop of a war instigated by a clan of Fae (immortal elf-like creatures) against the mortals of the world. It's a good setup, and gives the player a lot of wiggle-room to explore and play around.
Critics are hailing this game for its fresh approach to gameplay, and I must say that I agree with them. The gameplay is very different from many other RPG's out there right now. It's like Darksiders and Dragon Age Origins with a bit of Fable sprinkled on. Chaining attacks with powers and special moves is fun and fluid, and the controls are very responsive and clean. It feels more active and brutal than many other games in the genre. There are a ton of customization options for your character, and you can switch around your classes (called Destinies) pretty freely. The game gives you a lot of room to play around with your character, which is refreshing. You aren't locked in to choices you made earlier on. While the RPG purist in me rages at the thought of this affront to my genre, it's a system that feels right at home in the context of the story. You have not fate or destiny, so why confine yourself to just one? Choice is key here.
As far as the questing goes, it's normal RPG schlock. Go here- kill a dude or get some random item after killing a bunch of things, and then return to the quest-giver. Not all quests conform to that formula, but many do. It's not so bad. The questing works really well, and tries to keep things interesting by throwing some curve balls at you every now and then. There are six factions to join, and they all have their own questlines that are actually pretty deep, and you get some awesome loot from the adventures they take you on.
The interface is pretty standard for RPG games at this point. Equip items and fiddle with things in your inventory. Set spells and abilities. You know the drill. The items in the game are a bit bland (and constantly remind me of Fable, with their awkward oversized swords and hammers). There is a lot of different stuff in the game, but some models are recycled, which is kind of a shame. I remember how many different sets of armor Morrowind had. I guess I always have that expectation with newer games. The amount of stuff in this game is more than enough to keep you dungeon-diving for new stuff.
The audio in the game is very nice. The voice acting is very good as a whole. I haven't heard any standout performances on either end of the spectrum, but it's all believable and works well in the fantasy setting. The weapon noises and animal growls all feel appropriate, and enemies will hoot and yell at you while attacking in a group. It's a good overall mix in the audio department.
Now, graphically... I can't really say too much here, because I am playing on a PC with an xbox controller... and... well... sorry guys, but my PC is more powerful than an xbox so it's capable of way better graphics. Now, before you say anything, I AM playing on a 42" HDTV with my rig, and I do get some screen tearing, but that is my GPU and not the game. I really can't speak to the xbox graphics aside from the xbox demo I played, and that's not really indicative of the quality of the finished product.
This game takes a lot of stuff from other games, and it does a great job and having its fingers in a number of pies. But games like TES, Dragon Age, and The Witcher all have something that this game lacks- a world that truly EXISTS with lore, folk heroes, and a fleshed-out culture (or cultures). This game plays at those things without making me feel the same connection to the world that I had with those other games. It feels like it took a conservative approach with these elements, relying on tried-and-true fantasy RPG staple elements. I have to reiterate that this isn't necessarily BAD. There are some hints at the Forgotten Realms in the game, like Kobolds and such. That's not bad either. The game seems to have a foot in numerous worlds, rather than simply creating its own. That's not to say it lacks uniqueness, because it is a very unique experience. It just doesn't have the sense of one-ness with the world that I feel with some other western RPG's. Does that dissuade me from recommending it? Absolutely not!
If you're a bit Skyrimmed-out and you need another cool RPG to sink your teeth into before Mass Effect 3 hits the shelves, this is a good bet. Go into it with an open mind. Some things are going to appeal to some gamers while confusing and agitating others. This is one of those games that utilizes a number of elements from a lot of different sources. Some people may like most or some of them, while others will be baffled by them. Me? I'm somewhere in the middle. I appreciate this game for what it's trying to do, and I love the setup and the gameplay, but I'm still a bit confused as to what I'm supposed to feel or take away from the overall experience. But that's not going to stop me from playing the game, enjoying its story, getting crazy with the combat, and having a blast.
This is one you should definitely check out if you're curious.