- The original Champions of Norrath game is not needed to play Champions - Return to Arms.
- Seven fully customizable Playable Characters. Select from Barbarian Warrior, Wood Elf Ranger, Dark Elf Shadowknight, High Elf Cleric, Erudite Wizard, and two new race/class combinations - the Vah Shir Berserker and Iksar Shaman..
- New skills, abilities, weapons and armor for every character type.
- More than 10,000 items and the ability to create your own item.
- Dynamic story with alternate good and evil paths featuring many of your favorite characters from the original game..
Product description
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Champions: Return to Arms brings back all the action-packed hack
n' slash excitement of Champions of Norrath and more to the
PlayStation2 computer entertainment system! The CoN sequel offers
more than 100 hours of gameplay per character, unlimited battles,
plus the ability to import characters from the original game.
Champions: Return to Arms includes a host of advancements to take
multiplayer gaming to the next level. Up to four players can
connect over the Internet or via Multitap. Play online (no
subscription fee) Four-player online action with USB headset
support, enabling you to chat and plan strategies, or you can
ruffle your nents with the improved online matchmaking
service Player vs. Player Combat Modes (i.e. head-to-head) let
you challenge friends to duel and compete online and offline in
all new areas Secret content that is by mastering your
skills through a challenging medal reward system 40+ levels to
conquer with new mission menu and side-quest systems Ability to
import your character from the original Champions of Norrath for
further progression Broadband internet connection required for
online multiplayer game modes. Online connection fees are the
responsibility of the user and will require a network adaptor for
PlayStation2. A Memory Card (8MB) (for Playstation2) is required
for online play
Review
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If you're not familiar with Snowblind Studios' delightful game
engine (first seen in Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance), you are
missing out. It has received much critical accl, and for good
reason – this core technology has made some of the best
action/RPGs of the last several years. While other developers
have licensed this engine for use in their own games, Snowblind
has taken them all to school on how to squeeze the most juice out
of it. Return to Arms is a visually stunning game in every way,
and a lot of my issues with the first Champions of Norrath have
been addressed. It's a pity that there isn't really anything in
RtA that moves the genre forward or breaks from convention in any
way.
All of the standard action/RPG elements are present and accounted
for, and for the most part are done with a level of polish and
flair rarely seen. Leveling up each character can be done in a
nigh-infinite number of ways, since each one has a multitude of
skills to develop or ignore at your choice. Bosses drop ty
loot to collect and power up your avatar with, and completing
challenges (which become after finishing a stage)
unlocks new online s as well as hooking you up with bonus stat
and skill points. These challenge rounds are easily the most
interesting new element of RtA, with nonstandard objectives or
restrictions that make you use your gaming skills or solve
puzzles to emerge triumphant.
Every single change from the original Champions of Norrath is a
positive one, as far as I can tell. The removal of random s
sounds like a bummer, but the result is that each level is
designed much more tightly and flows better than before. Skills
have been rebalanced and seem to be a bit more even, and the two
new classes offer unique and fun styles of play. And, as has been
mentioned, the latest revision of the Snowblind engine is
amazing. Textures give a startling illusion of depth to surfaces,
lighting changes give each area a different feel, and the
excellent particle effects really bring the flashy spell
animations to life. Plus, even though I've been seeing it for the
last few years, I still have to stop and marvel at the water this
engine can render out.
The icing on this cake of fantasy hack n' slash goodness is the
a of content available. Between the four difficulty modes
(which are designed like Diablo II's, where you can start the
next mode with your powered-up hero after clearing the one
before), co-op and competitive online multiplayer, and the seven
playable classes, there is an awful lot of game here to adventure
through. Whether or not you'll be of cleaving orc heads
before you finish it is another matter entirely, but rest assured
that this is no weaksauce 10-hour quest with little replay value.
All of this high-heaped praise begs the question of why isn't RtA
the must-have fantasy epic of 2005. The answer to that is simple:
Though everything is very well-done, it's difficult to shake the
feeling that I've been playing this same game since Diablo came
out on PC in 1997. The core concept of bashing skulls and gaining
levels and loot is still strong as can be, and I had a lot of fun
with RtA, but the foreshadowings of a Dynasty Warriors-like rut
are clearly visible. It's rare to see a sequel that does this
little to shake up the gameplay formula of the original, but with
that being said, anyone who enjoyed the first Champions title or
either of the Dark Alliance games will find a lot to love here.
Concept:
Tighten up, refine, and expand everything that you know about
console dungeon crawlers
Graphics:
Nobody can rock the Snowblind engine like Snowblind – gorgeous
visuals abound
Sound:
Easily the low point. The only thing worth noting is the
delightful thumping noise maces make as they bash heads
Playability:
The new evade move makes all the difference in nasty boss fights
Entertainment:
What's not to like about crushing waves of enemies and leveling
up to godlike status?
Replay:
Moderately High
Rated: 8 out of 10
Editor: Adam Biessener
Issue: March 2005
2nd Opinion:
I can't help it. I just love experience grinders. Throw in co-op
play, some solid graphics, online play for extra value, and,
quite frankly, I'm sold. I loved every moment I put into this
game. That's not to say it doesn't have its share of problems.
First of all, the story is pretty much non-existent. Be good or
be evil, fight through some planes of power…blah, blah, blah…get
me to my next cool weapon or skill. That's about all I care
about. And to this end, Return to Arms delivers. The boss battles
are epic, the game is longer than most, and it's certainly worth
multiple play-throughs just to try out the other classes. It's
not gnome rocket science, but it sure is fun.
Rated: 8 out of 10
Editor: Andy McNamara
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