Solarflair
Joined Aug 2004
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Reviews2
Solarflair's rating
I bought this game because it had the 'Forgotten Realms' tag and I enjoyed the Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance games and Demon Stone shares one of the minor characters so I hoped it would be more of the same.
From the opening chapter, I was mightily impressed. Fantastic graphics, powerful sound effects and a grand orchestral score made me think this was going to be awesome - and this section really is. You hack up orcs and trolls, fire catapults, make stealth attacks, dodge dragon's fire, blast enemies with magic... it is literally thunderous.
Unfortunately, it doesn't get any better. As you travel around the realm, the action becomes repetitive and borderline tedious. It's a shame that so much emphasis lies on the action; the effort that has gone into creating different landscapes would work so well in an exploration game. As it is, you don't get to fully appreciate the stunning visuals due to being constantly distracted by the endless barrage of enemies. In particular, The Dragon's Lair section in visually breathtaking and the accompanying music adds an intensity that has so much potential but is never taken advantage of.
This game is well thought out. Characters with individual back stories, retold cleverly in letters, discussions over camp fires and the like lend an epic feel to the proceedings. Which is what makes the following so unforgivable... IT'S TOO SHORT!
The game can be completed in 5-6 hours and is ultimately unrewarding. The chapters are varied certainly (at least graphically) but completion is a big anticlimax.
I see this game as something to keep fans occupied between now and when Baldur's Gate 3 comes out, albeit one that costs you £39.99. This would be more appropriate as a half price game and I'd rate it 6.5 /10.
As I said, if games that have production values as high as this could be channeled into an epic exploration game, their potential would be realized.
From the opening chapter, I was mightily impressed. Fantastic graphics, powerful sound effects and a grand orchestral score made me think this was going to be awesome - and this section really is. You hack up orcs and trolls, fire catapults, make stealth attacks, dodge dragon's fire, blast enemies with magic... it is literally thunderous.
Unfortunately, it doesn't get any better. As you travel around the realm, the action becomes repetitive and borderline tedious. It's a shame that so much emphasis lies on the action; the effort that has gone into creating different landscapes would work so well in an exploration game. As it is, you don't get to fully appreciate the stunning visuals due to being constantly distracted by the endless barrage of enemies. In particular, The Dragon's Lair section in visually breathtaking and the accompanying music adds an intensity that has so much potential but is never taken advantage of.
This game is well thought out. Characters with individual back stories, retold cleverly in letters, discussions over camp fires and the like lend an epic feel to the proceedings. Which is what makes the following so unforgivable... IT'S TOO SHORT!
The game can be completed in 5-6 hours and is ultimately unrewarding. The chapters are varied certainly (at least graphically) but completion is a big anticlimax.
I see this game as something to keep fans occupied between now and when Baldur's Gate 3 comes out, albeit one that costs you £39.99. This would be more appropriate as a half price game and I'd rate it 6.5 /10.
As I said, if games that have production values as high as this could be channeled into an epic exploration game, their potential would be realized.
I bought Ghosthunter because I really enjoyed Primal (from the same developers - at the end of Primal there is a great Ghosthunter 'coming soon' clip) and the reviews I read were of the 'bordering on excellent' variety.
I was a little disappointed; yes the game was creative - some set pieces reek of originality, especially in the swamps, but the dialogue jars in a way that the Primal script does not and worst of all, the game overall has a rushed-through, 'unfinished' feel to it. It's a shame that the high production values (Sir Michael Gambon voicing the villain, characters with convincing facial expressions, some of the best graphics I personally have ever seen) are let down by a totally unsatisfying ending.
All in all, it was enjoyable playing this game but the ending... I spent £39.99 on this, and my advice is this - buy it but wait till it's cut price (which, judging by the fact that it charted as the 280th best-selling game in 2003, will not be long!).
Buy Primal instead!
I was a little disappointed; yes the game was creative - some set pieces reek of originality, especially in the swamps, but the dialogue jars in a way that the Primal script does not and worst of all, the game overall has a rushed-through, 'unfinished' feel to it. It's a shame that the high production values (Sir Michael Gambon voicing the villain, characters with convincing facial expressions, some of the best graphics I personally have ever seen) are let down by a totally unsatisfying ending.
All in all, it was enjoyable playing this game but the ending... I spent £39.99 on this, and my advice is this - buy it but wait till it's cut price (which, judging by the fact that it charted as the 280th best-selling game in 2003, will not be long!).
Buy Primal instead!