Volourn

You can change hair colour/style, face, body types (chest, arms, etc.). You can pretty much to do what you want, and go where you want (except a few places with factions but you can work your way in various ways). It's an Action RPG so most quests are solved by combat (but, not always). TW is the type of RPG where the focus is mostly on epxloration, and discovering the world as opposed to multiple solutions though again there is some. Character types do make a difference in how you approach encounters I presume, and you can deal with the npcs you meet in various ways.

I have been playing Two Worlds for the past week on the xbox 360 (it is also on PC). It is described often as an Action RPG or by those who want to bash it as a Diablo or Oblivion wannabe. I have also been reading the reviews for it - both professional and random joe - and it's been mostly uniformly trashed. I don't get. I personally find Two Worlds to be a fun game. I have played it for about 10 hours (not counting reloads after death) with no end in sight. I'll explain why I like the game, and for those who have tried it or decided to avoid TW; and explaination is DEMANDED (ok, not really, just asked for) on why you hated it. Graphics: Solid. Nothing too fancy; but nothing out of the ordinary in awfulness for a game in 2007. The character/monster models look good, and the background scenary looks fine. Item icons look good for the most part except the really small things (plants and the like) because they're too small to really make out. 8/10 Music/Sound: The music is underrated. It fits the fantasy setting no doubt. The opening tune is pretty darn good as well. It kind of reminds of the Arcanum opening song in its effectiveness. Voice overs are okay ranging from horrible to good. Definitely not as bad as many claim; and I've definitely heard worse. Sounds effects are solid; but not really memorable. I love the way the main character often talks about what's going on including critical hits, day/night changes, seeing monsters on the horizon, and finding interesting new items, etc. 7.5/10 Character System: An awesome system. It has all the combat skills one would expect (weaponry, bonus damage, etc). plus some neateo ones including D&D stuff like knockdown, and balance (helps against knockdown). It even has some fun odd abilities like being able to kick the dust into enemies' eyes. Theres' even non combat skills like swimming, horseback riding (and combat skills to go with it), alchemy, and some others. Of course, it also has roguish skills like sneaking, thieving, and assassination (backstab).The only 'must have' RPG skills it is misisng are dialogue ones. Otherwise, awesome stuff with 30 or skills including 5 magic spell schools (basic ones like 4 elements + necromancy). You get 1 skill point per level (plus bonus one time to time based on quests, and achievements) to level up skills. Very nice, indeed. The spells are nice and range from damaging spells to summons to defensive type spells. The schools seem to be well balanced though I've only seriously tried the Air domain. Magic also works with boosters which can improve your spells' effectiveness. This makes spell work even cooler to take part in. The character has 4 attributes which are rather self explanatary (vitality, strength, dexterity, and willpower). You get 5 points to increase them each level so expect your mana and health to be really high (though monsters can hurt ya a lot). Items also play a huge part as well and will be explained later on. The travel system is pretty good with the choice of walking(duh!), riding the horse, and perhaps the best teleport/portal system I've seen in a game. Thumbs up there. Overall, like I said above the character system is amazing with lots of skills and abilities available lots of which have to be traind in by finding those willing to teach (get it by paying or completing quests). Very nice system. One of the best I've seen. Everything seems rather baalnced, and it only loses a point due to the lacking dialogue skills. 18.5/20 Role-playing: This is where TW is lacking, and is deserving in major criticism. There aren't usually, with some exemptions, different ways to complete quests. And, with no dialogue skills, there's not much differing the dialogue choices based on character. The SP game is limited by having to be male (for story purposes I guess *shrug*) The main saving grace here are the different factions that you can work with (or not work with). Your relationship with each one can limit or expand what you can or where you can go. Some examples include not being allowed to see the ruler of the area, or not allowed near the rebel leader, and even getting discounts from the merchant group. Overall, role-playing in TW is lacking; but it's there. 11.5/20 Story/World Setting/Characters: The story set up is rather basic. Your twin sister is kidnapped, and you are trying to find her. During that, you get roped into a large scale world effecting drama not to mention your family's history comes hack to haunt you. The world itself is HUGE with many towns, villages, and enclaves. The lore of the past dealing with the dwarves, barbarians, and others isa absolutely fanastic. One of the best parts of TW is learning about the world. The towns are varied nicely. The characters, for the most part, are basic townsfolk and guestgivers; but others are rather cool most notebaly a fellow you meet early on who has connections with those who kidnapped your sister.... The world in this game feels like a real world for the most part and is living/breathing. Creatures sleep at normal times, day/night cycles matter, and the law will punish thieves. Admittedly, some of the Olde dialogue stylings are so over the top I can't help but crack up while I roll my eyes at the absurdity of it all. L0L 9/10 Combat (everything that effects combat too like equipment): With a great character system, it is no doubt a great combat system follows. I enjoy TW combat. Early on, I found it challenging since TW doesn't pull punches as it is not linear at all, and you can go anywhere you want so be careful lest you go off the beaten path. Once you gain a few levels, and some nice stuff TW combat becomes much more manageable with most enemies/encounters not bothering you (like most games); but with a share of encounters that can be tricky including a certain beasty that can kill in one hit pretty much no matter what shape you in. I have encountered enemies like skeles, death knights (they love to disarm!), ghouls, ice orcs, dwarves (yeah, dwarves seem to be hostile as they aren't on friendly terms with the ever poaching humans, heh), ogers (ha!), as well as various animals. I have heard whispers of; but not seen stronger enemies like dragons though I have seen their bones. Combat is in real time; but character skill does play a huge role in things. Though, being able to dodge attacks, and learning how to manage large crows is a must. Really ahrd to stand to toe with enemy packs of 3+ until you get high level as you'd like be knocked around. Magic is useful espicially boosting and area attack spells. Summons I'm sure are useful too though I have yet to use them myself. Mana regenerates though I think it's too quick. Helath only regens when your weapon is sheathed and does so slowly so prepare to heal. Combat abilities are fun like knockdown, disarm, and the variant archery ones though I personally haven't tried them but seeing ane enmy archer shoot two arrows at me at one time cna be annoying. Heh. Using a horse in combat has its benefits too since a good trampling can instantly kill some baddies though, at times, a horse can be tricky to handle properly though it just takes practice to master. Awww.. Equipment. TW also shines here. Equipment is varied and and awesome. Combining weapons, and armour is terrific and makes it less likely for one to ignore the common weapons thata re found. A normal axe is wimy; but a normal ax combined to the that has been double up to the 5th degree can be rather useful espicially if you decide to imbue the weapon further with an elemenal damage gem. Add this on to the alchemy potions you can craft, and you got an item system that is very great and useful in combat. This makes looting and purchasing at the HUNDREDS of stores worthwhile. Some claim that TW uses scaling; but if it does it does so wisely more like NWN series than, say, the rumoured Oblivion method. Like I said ebfore, you can find really tough enemies like the cyclops at the start, and really easy enemies like wolves later on in the game. Items found in chests do seem to scale a bit to your level; but that seems reasonable in an exploration type Action RPG like TW. Overall, the combat, item, and scale system is terrific in TW. 18.5/20 Personal Bias: The more I think of it, I believe TW isn't just a solid bgame; but it's outright good. At least so far. Between the world setting/history, the character system, the fun combat, and exploration any flaws it may have (and it has a few) is well worth it. Some claim the game just plain sucks; but I believe they are wrong. They talk about things being unbalanced, buggy, a rip off of other games, and whatever; but I simply don't see it. TW is also a huge game. Some claim to have beaten it in about 20 hours or so; and if they ahve more pwoer to them; but I see me playing this game far beyond that. 9/10 Overall: 82/100 = 82% A good game that seems to get a lot of flack for reasons that escape me. Hmph.

Two Worlds - a completely underrated game.

"OMGZ we can also has powers and commandthings? This is so going to be best RPG ever" Lets' not forget the dialogue skillz...

"Since that arbitrary year, how many difficult games have been released since then?" Probably the same amount per year, on average, as before that cut off date.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMRi8tYYnEs 'Nough said.

Why is Blizzard crying like babies? WAAA! A player spent money to get a character. Big deal. I say to WOW get over, and unban the guy. If somneone wants to spend 10k on it then go ahead. In fact, if Blizaard was smart they'd create prepackage characters and sell them for a profit for those who want it. That would stop this private market. But, no, they have to flex their pathetic muscles.

Yes, yes you are. Jerk. P.S. I'll switch difficulty levels just to embarass you (okay, probably myself). HAHA!

Heh. Weird. I must be incredibly lucky then. How's your season going?

16-10-4, 2nd in division, 3rd in conference (4th in rankings though). Middle of the road goals for wise, tops in GAA. My top scorer (my created player) is rnaked 12th in points with 36 points (19 goals, 17 assists). Jagr, and Drury have 33 and 30 points respectively. Lundqvist has 3 ShO, and my back up Montoya has 1 ShO (in 3 starts, heh). I'm 1st in power play, and last in penalty kill (time seems to slow down during power plays so a 2 mjinute power play is like 3 or so minutes in regular time). This is on Pro (the middling difficulty anyways). I am likely to move up to All Star soon. btw, Are injuries possible? I have injuries on, and at max yet I have 0 injuries...

"And how many times has your backup goalie asked to be traded, Volo?" Once in about 30 games. I get about 1.5-2 penalties each game for and against.

NHL 08 - Awesome. Best hockey game in years. Worst aspect is that to make the outcome reasonably realistic take playing 5 minute periods, and because of that penalties don't occur that often. Two Worlds - Not super; but a dcent action RPG. Heavy on the action. Good character system, and while the story is not original; it's at least interetsing. Music is top notch, and the voice acting is better than what some claim though it won't win no awards.

Morgoth, it's not how long it'll take to develop for the PC; it depends on their contract with MS. With JE, they had IIRC a 1 year exclusive deal with MS. I don't doubt it's the same with ME.

Got my new copy, and it is working... so far. I've alreayd played 20 games of my first season of franchise as the NY Rangers. I'm 11-7-2. I'm 2nd in the division, and 4th in conference (3rd in points though). I'm only playing 5 minute periods or else scoring, and shots would be ridiculous. Too bad, it's hard to get powerplays/penalties and get into fights. Game isn't super hard; but it has decent dififculty on pro (I'm gonna move up to all star soon) mostly because you cna't really control how good your goalie will be in a certain game... I'll probably check out the on line version tomorrow sometime.

NHL 2008 mostly with some NFL 2008 thrown in. NHL 08 is the best hockey game in years.

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/24938.html These videos show gameplay, interrogations, combat, and choices of the game. ME is shaping up to be darn good. And, yeah, while the dialogue isn't Shakespearean, it easily beats most RPG writing that is for sure. Music, and graphics in the video are top notch as well. P.S. ME > KOTOR series P.S.S. BIO site has other links to ME hype as well.

"Gee, I wonder why good ol' O'Reilly thinks there was any terrorist connections to Saddam's government prior our invasion?" gee, it's becaquse Iraq did have ties with terrorists prior to the invasion. NEWSFLASH: AQ is not the only terrorist group out there. imagine that! So, even if you say Iraq had *no* ties to AQ doesn't rule out ties to other terrorist groups. Gah.

"so we can set up an Obsidian online league for hockey." I'll join once I exchange for a new copy tomorrow. R00fles!

Bought the game on Friday. Pretty good, and a HUGE improvement over the past couple of years. It doesn't seem too hard. Not easy either. That said, I need to return the game to store for a new copy on Monday; because the CD is already scratched so badly, it can't load past the start screen. BOOO! I wanted to start a season...

EA is awesome. They're a company that I am guarnateed to buy multiple games of this each year , and be satsified with 99% of them. They're also the only company that I've probably bought 100 or more games from. GO EA GO!

That's good news even though injuries suck for those injured. Nobody deserves to suffer pain. But, anything that leads to a higher likelihood of the Giants having a bad season,a nd getting rid of Coach Trash gets the thumbs up from me. That is all.

McDonalds is awesome. I have NEVER beccome sick when eating there. LONG LIVE MCDONALDS! This officer is retarded. That is all.

People die all the time, I didn't know him or his music. So i'm supposed to feel bad because he was famous ? No, I think the point is that you're just not supposed to post about it at all. If someone holds a memorial service do you just walk up to the podium and say "I didn't know this guy, I don't care." This isn't a memorial service. It's a public message board. No comparison. If someone wants to start a thread here they can, and if someone want to respond they can. If someone I care about died, I wouldn't invite you guys to the service; but if I posted about it here, you'd have the right to comment about it in any way you want (within board rules, of course). That said, I'm no opera fan, but I liked Pavarotti's music anyways. So thumbs up to him for that.

Yeah, they seem to happen more then they should. For both sides. Had about 6 total in each game I've played today, and they were 5 minute games.

Bioshock, and Madden 2008.