Dungeon Siege 3 gave me an immediate sense of nostalgia the moment I hit start – with its four member parties, different character classes and top-down camera reminiscent to the classic Dungeons and Dragons franchise.
Dungeon Siege 3 is a Role Playing Game (RPG) at its core, but there are moments in the game where it feels like more of a hack-and-slash action game. Still, Dungeon Siege 3 does well in many areas, but slightly misses the benchmark set by top notch titles of the RPG genre.
At the start of the game, you get the option to select one of four characters, each with a different set of weapons, skills and statistics. The game mixes it up a little by throwing in both modern weapons like guns, and less advanced ones like spears, but each of these characters basically belong to one of the four stereotypical RPG classes: Warrior, mage, archer and rogue.
RPG veterans will notice that the game lacks a character customisation option, which is expected of RPGs these days thanks to titles like Fallout: New Vegas and Dragon Age 2. This does not affect the game play at all, but some gamers might just prefer the option to change the looks of their avatar.
Once the game actually starts, prepare to be surprised at how addictive its game play can be. Each character has two different attack modes to handle different situations, and combat feels fluid thanks to the smooth animation and stunning looking spells.
The graphics in the game may not be the best in the genre, but it still looks great, and some spells look especially good thanks to the well done lighting effects and the attention to detail. The voice acting in the game is also solid, but there are some moments when the lines characters deliver sound downright cheesy.
The game encourages team work and strategy most of the time, but it occasionally becomes pure button mashing, especially when your character gets swarmed by enemies.
The game starts you off with the character you selected, but the other three characters slowly join your party. As you level up, the statistics of characters can be upgraded, and looted gold can be used to purchase new items. While this is usually the high point of RPGs, items can be obtained so frequently in Dungeon Siege 3 that it never really feels special to get something new.
The online co-operative mode of Dungeon Siege allows four players to work as a team. This mode brings about hours of fun, and Dungeon Siege 3 is truly meant to be played with a group of friends.
VERDICT
Dungeon Siege 3 can be seen as a RPG for gamers new to the genre. The character upgrade system is easy to understand, and the game paces itself well. Boss fights are epic, and the locales in the game range from gloomy looking caves to beautiful vistas. Quests in Dungeon Siege 3 are interesting and there is a variety of challenges to ensure that things never get dull.
RATING
3.5/5
COMMENTS