Champions of Norrath Review

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(More customer reviews)As if the EverQuest juggernaut needed any help, the Champions of Norrath game brings a new chapter to this RPG saga.
First, you choose your character. There are barbarian warriors, wood elf rangers, high elf clerics, erudite wizards and dark elf shadow knights. We seem a bit elf happy here, with none of the other interesting races represented. You do get to choose a male or female of each, but the females all look like Playboy models rather than normal human beings (or elven beings for that matter).
You get a tiny bit of customization - hair style, hair/skin color. A few point modifications to your stats and you're set. A quest to fight orcs, and you're all set!
The game is extremely Diablo-like. Your inventory lets you arrange your items tetris-like in a grid, and there is almost infinite variety in the combinations of weapons and armor available. This on one hand is good, but on the other hand, do you really need 80 different types of boots to choose amongst?
The graphics are VERY sweet, with whirling mists, swinging lamps on ropes, and well done body movements. This isn't a splinter-cell reality look, it's more like a 'living cartoon'. There are shadows and glows from lights, the flames flicker quite realistically. Even the menu scenes are very nicely done and get you in the mood.
The sounds are reasonably good, from the clicks of swords to the haunting music in the background. As in all games you can get tired of certain phrases or songs rather quickly, but that's what the mute button is for.
Gameplay itself is very much like other RPGs out on the market. You run around the randomly generated map slashing at everything. Creatures die. You gain experience points and push for the next level up to give yourself more stats. Depending on your character type, you can move along different skill trees to become more advanced at tasks you want to do.Note that unlike other games, if you click on something you're stuck with it. So think carefully before you click.
As enjoyable as this is, there are a few flaws to at least watch out for. One, the random maps are fun, but the randomly positioned save points are either really good or REALLY awful. If they were going to do a random map, they should have just let us save at any time.
Most RPGs let archers have unlimited arrows - but here you have to buy them. Then you're stuck running back for more all the time. Especially for a newbie archer, this really means you don't arch much at all. Not fun.
The bad guys seem to lurk by the spawn points, so if you die, you often come back to life only to watch in anger as your character is slain on the spot. This falls into the Not Fun category.
Also, the camera could use a fair amount of work. There are many times when you're caught fighting and can't see at all what you're doing.
Still, these are just things to keep in mind - the game in general is gorgeous to look at and great fun to play. Because it's random, and because it plays well in multiplayer (both in person and on PS2 Online), this is where it really shines. Much like Diablo was AMAZINGLY fun in an online setting, the Norrath online can keep you having fun for weeks and weeks, if not months and months.
Highly recommended for the RPG fan who wants to play with friends!

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Product Description:
Champions of Norrath debuts on the PlayStation 2 gaming console delivering intense action-packed adventure. Combining elements from the Fighting Action and Role-Playing genres Champions of Norrath challenges players to master hand-to-hand weapon and spell combat to conquer the Realms of EverQuest. Your adventures will take you to a variety of beautiful locales enchanted zones and the darkest dungeons imaginable. Brave the perils of hideous creatures challenging quests and unforeseen evil to acquire the equipment and skills you will need for victory.Format: PS2 Genre:RPG (VG)/Rating:T - Teen UPC:814582404428 Manufacturer No:40442

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Champions Return to Arms Review

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(More customer reviews)I've been enjoying good old hack-and-slash computer and video games since the days of the original Diablo.Therefore, when I read the reviews of Champions: Return to Arms, and saw that previous reviewers had noted on the redundancy of this game, I figured that after a while, any hack-and-slash saga could get old.There's only so much killing and looting one can do before the plot gets boring.Therefore, I went out and bought the game anyway under the impression that Return to Arms would at least elaborate on the plot in Champions of Norrath.I was wrong.

This game is extremely redundant.Aside from the two new player classes, the player characters are all the same.Exactly the same.No elaboration from the previous game whatsoever.I suppose this makes it easier to import your characters from Champions of Norrath, but it would have been nice to see some kind of elaboration in this department.Furthermore, many of the "bad guys" you fight are the same as in the previous game.Many of the characters you met in Champions of Norrath return.For example, Babik Nurn makes an appearance.Many of the locales are the same.You will again visit the gothic vampire castle, as well as the Pit of Ill Omen.Some of the quests are even familiar.Once again, the mermaid has lost her conch shell and would like you to find it for her.After you do this, you again are granted the ability to breathe underwater so you can fight some undead pirate skeletons.What does all of this add up to?The feeling that you just paid a bunch of money to play the Champions of Norrath all over again.

In addition, as with Champions of Norrath, the game seems to have several bugs.I've had the game freeze on me, and the screen seems to bounce around every time you're looking through your character's inventory.These are some minor technicalities that one might think would have been worked out after the several complaints that arose regarding the original game, however, that doesn't seem to be the case.

However, this isn't to say that the game is all bad.As I stated previously, I'm one to enjoy a decent hack-and-slash game, so I pushed onward and completed it in it's entirety.Any fan of the Dungeons and Dragons type RPG should find some decent entertainment value in Return to Arms, regardless of the aforementioned pitfalls.In addition, as with Champions of Norrath and both Baldur's Gate games, the graphics are incredible.I have yet to see video games as visually stunning as the stuff Snowblind puts out.It feels as though your characters are walking around in a diorama rather than on your television screen.

I've never tried the online play, in this or in any other game for that matter, so I can't comment on that.However, the rest of the game makes for hours of good fun if you don't mind a little bit of repetition.It's still worth buying, just don't expect anything too terribly ground-breaking.

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Product Description:
Champions: Return to Arms brings all the action packed hack n' slash fun from Champions of Norrath(tm) back to the PlayStation(r)2 computer entertainment system.The sequel offers more than 100 hours of gameplay per character unlimited battles deadly missions and the ability to import characters from the original game.Champions: Return to Arms enhances all the groundbreaking features that made the original the must-have action RPG of 2004 and brings in a host of advancements to take multiplayer gaming to the next level.Features: All-new multiplayer and online gameplay options A continuation of the engrossing fantasy storyline of Champions of Norrath with exciting twists and turns that require the player to choose his or her fateTwo new playable racesThousands of new items and magical artifacts to acquire All-new and beautifully detailed environments A host of new monsters to battle and non-player characters to encounter Innovative medal system which unlocks secret gameplay modesThe ability to import characters from the original gameMore than 50 levels along with a mission menu containing non-linear side questsFour-player multiplayer on a single PlayStation 2 with a Multitap (sold separately) Superior online multiplayer options for up to 4 players with a Network Adaptor (Online play requires internet connection Network Adaptor (for PlayStation2) and Memory Card (8MB) (for PlayStation 2) (each sold separately) - no additional subscription fees required(players must provide their own internet connection for online gameplay modes)Format: PS2 Genre:RPG (VG)/Rating:T - Teen UPC:814582405821 Manufacturer No:40582

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