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Dungeon Siege II - E3 Preview
Rhianna Pratchett, 2004-05-31

While fans might have been disappointed that Dungeon Siege's expansion pack Legends of Aranna didn't do more to move the game on from its beautiful and slick, but rather shallow, predecessor hope is coming later this year in the form of Dungeon Siege II.

The visual look of DSII doesn't appear to be vastly different from the original game; there are a few polishes here and there and the environments do look a bit more colourful. Instead, the majority of adjustments to the game are slightly below the surface and seem to have been skilfully handpicked from the RPG gaming pool.

The first, thankfully, is a better storyline, something that was shockingly rather absent from the original and a source of much criticism. Although your characters won't have a chance to particularly influence the course of the game through the dialogues, at least you do have proper conversations with characters that don't just gibber manically. Although of course, there's a bit of that too.

The skill system has also been fleshed out and although the same main character classes are in place: Fighter, Ranger, Combat Mage and Nature Mage they have been given Diablo-style skill trees that allow more diversity in the levelling process.

Another expanded feature also akin to Blizzard's famous hack'n'slash and good news for the hoarders amongst you, is a greater variety of weapons, items and general loot. You will also be able to find magical reagents within the game that can be used to create enchanted items.

Although the six-party system is still in place, and yes you still have those cute but often annoying pack mules, you will get the opportunity to add more interesting creatures to your party, namely �pets'. These beings, such as fire elementals, work rather like Mags in Phantasy Star Online; they can be levelled up in different ways by feeding them different items. Melee items will make them stronger, magical items with increase their magic, you get the idea.

Overall Dungeon Siege II seems to have kept the aspects that made the original game fun to play; sublime party combat and beautiful environments. In addition it seems to have poured many more treats into the mix and we'll just have to wait until later this year to taste it for ourselves.

Average Reader Ratings: 7 (38 votes)
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