WARNING: Minor game spoilers follow. I've avoided revealing anything about the plot, but one "easter egg" is revealed and one late-game boss is named.
* * * * *
Hi,
I've had a chance to play this game to completion in the PS2 release. While it's a fun hack-n-slash, with great graphics, a fun multiplayer mode, and an impressive faithfulness to AD&D 3rd Ed. rules systems, the game has one terrible drawback: lack of replay value.
Why? Simple, it lacks everything that COULD give it replay value. To wit:
1.) You cannot name your character or pick race or class beyond the three preconstructed characters (Female Elven Sorceress, Male Human Archer, and Male Dwarven Warrior), and the fourth "secret" character, Drizzt Do'Urden. All come with built-in names and stats. With Drizzt, you can't even change his weaponry (though he starts out bad ass). Therefore there's no reason to replay to try a new race / class combo (only 3 available), or to try a new name on for fun (can't).
2.) You gain so many points to put into your Feats (AD&D3rd's version of skills) that there is really no worry, except in the low levels, about being forced to use different builds for lack of points. Eventually, you can get pretty much every useful feat maxed out on your character. Therefore there's no reason to replay to try new "builds" - any build works.
3.) Monsters and items do not vary sufficiently to remain interesting. The vendors in each Chapter always sell the same thing (Odd how that lizardman always has a Flaming Mithral Great Axe +5 ready for me!). The monsters in each area are not quite pre-set in terms of numbers and positions, but the mixes and types are. The best melee weapon in the game is dropped by a near-end boss, the Obsidian Golem (think BG:DA's verion of Hephaesto, only less scary), and unimaginatively, this takes place in the Obsidian Tower and the weapon is the Obsidian Sword. It's better than any other weapon I ever saw in the game, both in damage and speed, so unless you like bows or spells, there isn't much variety to the game after you get the ObSword. Therefore, there's no reason to start a new game to see what different things you get (it's the same stuff).
You can start a new game in a harder difficulty, but things don't really improve much in terms of replay value. Frankly, once you've beat the game with the three main characters, you'll probably be quite ready to move on, though you'll probably want to take it out now and again for a fun dungeon crawl.
Two other minor problems: You can only save at a Save Point, and when you travel to a new Chapter, you can't save, retreat to the old area, or do pretty much ANYthing but kill monsters (and pray you live), until you find the next town. This can be a hassle when save points are far between, though in some places they're very closely spaced.
A worse problem is, the final dungeon drops an amazing trove of magical gear, which it would be great to sell off in town for cash. Problem is, you can't use a Recall Potion (BG:DA's version of Town Portal) from the final dungeon. D'Oh! Not sure whether this was an act of deliberate cruelty on the part of the game designers, or if they just didn't know how annoying it would be to leave hundreds of thousands worth of gear to rot when the game ends after you beat El Final Boss (about which I shall reveal nothing more).
My ratings, from 1 to 10:
Eye / Ear Candy: 9
"Fun" Factor: 7
Replayability: 3
Overall: 6.33
I would definitely recommend you rent this game at least once, to give it a try. I would also recommend you not waste your money buying it, as it will pall rapidly. To people used to the replayability of a D1 or D2, BG:DA will be over far too soon. =\
-Kasreyn
* * * * *
Hi,
I've had a chance to play this game to completion in the PS2 release. While it's a fun hack-n-slash, with great graphics, a fun multiplayer mode, and an impressive faithfulness to AD&D 3rd Ed. rules systems, the game has one terrible drawback: lack of replay value.
Why? Simple, it lacks everything that COULD give it replay value. To wit:
1.) You cannot name your character or pick race or class beyond the three preconstructed characters (Female Elven Sorceress, Male Human Archer, and Male Dwarven Warrior), and the fourth "secret" character, Drizzt Do'Urden. All come with built-in names and stats. With Drizzt, you can't even change his weaponry (though he starts out bad ass). Therefore there's no reason to replay to try a new race / class combo (only 3 available), or to try a new name on for fun (can't).
2.) You gain so many points to put into your Feats (AD&D3rd's version of skills) that there is really no worry, except in the low levels, about being forced to use different builds for lack of points. Eventually, you can get pretty much every useful feat maxed out on your character. Therefore there's no reason to replay to try new "builds" - any build works.
3.) Monsters and items do not vary sufficiently to remain interesting. The vendors in each Chapter always sell the same thing (Odd how that lizardman always has a Flaming Mithral Great Axe +5 ready for me!). The monsters in each area are not quite pre-set in terms of numbers and positions, but the mixes and types are. The best melee weapon in the game is dropped by a near-end boss, the Obsidian Golem (think BG:DA's verion of Hephaesto, only less scary), and unimaginatively, this takes place in the Obsidian Tower and the weapon is the Obsidian Sword. It's better than any other weapon I ever saw in the game, both in damage and speed, so unless you like bows or spells, there isn't much variety to the game after you get the ObSword. Therefore, there's no reason to start a new game to see what different things you get (it's the same stuff).
You can start a new game in a harder difficulty, but things don't really improve much in terms of replay value. Frankly, once you've beat the game with the three main characters, you'll probably be quite ready to move on, though you'll probably want to take it out now and again for a fun dungeon crawl.
Two other minor problems: You can only save at a Save Point, and when you travel to a new Chapter, you can't save, retreat to the old area, or do pretty much ANYthing but kill monsters (and pray you live), until you find the next town. This can be a hassle when save points are far between, though in some places they're very closely spaced.
A worse problem is, the final dungeon drops an amazing trove of magical gear, which it would be great to sell off in town for cash. Problem is, you can't use a Recall Potion (BG:DA's version of Town Portal) from the final dungeon. D'Oh! Not sure whether this was an act of deliberate cruelty on the part of the game designers, or if they just didn't know how annoying it would be to leave hundreds of thousands worth of gear to rot when the game ends after you beat El Final Boss (about which I shall reveal nothing more).
My ratings, from 1 to 10:
Eye / Ear Candy: 9
"Fun" Factor: 7
Replayability: 3
Overall: 6.33
I would definitely recommend you rent this game at least once, to give it a try. I would also recommend you not waste your money buying it, as it will pall rapidly. To people used to the replayability of a D1 or D2, BG:DA will be over far too soon. =\
-Kasreyn