BG: Dark Alliance 2 or Champions of Norrath?

[MastaRedSnappa]

Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance 2 (BG:DA2)

Release Date: 01/20/2004

Game Universe: Dungeons and Dragons

Platforms: PS2 and Xbox

Playable Characters: 5 (human barbarian, dark elf monk, moon elf necromancer, dwarven rogue, and human cleric)

Multiplayer: yes (two player cooperative)

Online Play: no

Customizable Equipment: Yes

Random Dungeon Generation: No

 

vs.

 

Champions of Norrath (CoN)

Release Date: 02/16/2004

Game Universe: Everquest

Platforms: PS2

Playable Characters: 10 (customizable male/female versions of a barbarian warrior, a wood-elf ranger, a high-elf cleric, an erudite wizard, and a dark-elf shadow knight)

Multiplayer: yes (up to four player cooperative)

Online Play: yes (broadband only)

Customizable Equipment: Yes

Random Dungeon Generation: Yes

 

I really liked the origiinal BG:DA (so much so that I bought it for both the PS2 and Xbox!). However, at that time, there were really no other competing action RPGs vying for my dollar. I also started playing Diablo 2 alot after I finished BG:DA (which made me realize alot of BG:DA's shortcomings). I think this time around, I'm going to skip BG:DA2 and wait until CoN comes out. In my mind, the greater number of playable characters, online play, and random dungeon generation tip the scales in CoN's favor while BG:DA2 just seems like the original with a few improvements. As a fan of action RPGs, I would get both but I only have a finite amount of time for gaming and I'm trying to be more fiscally responsible (I guess I could save alot of money by quitting gaming altogether but that's never gonna happen :green:).

[Romier S]

I've got my own solution to the problem but it may not be for everyone. Buy both. :green:

 

I loved the original Dark Alliance so the second is a definite purchase for me. I love action RPG's for the multiplayer also so the more variety of games the better. Fallout Brotherhood of Steel is keeping my buddies and I busy for now but with BGII and Champions on the way, the more the merrier I say.

 

If I had to choose between the two however I would more than likely pick up Champions over BGII though. For the online play alone. Not too mention the randomized dungeons should make for a more lasting experience.

[Ktulu]

Champions hands down.

 

Baldur's gate will simply be too short.

[The Daisy]

If I had to choose I would be getting Champions, but I'll probably end up with both anyway.

 

Glen

[Josh]

Champions. It's developed by Snowblind, who did the first BGDA, and it has online play.

[Romier S]

After sitting down for a nice long play session of Baldurs Gate Dark Alliance II I must yet again reiterate my previous recommendation. If possible, buy both!

[MastaRedSnappa]

I went to Best Buy yesterday looking for a birthday present for my brother (it always starts out so innocent!), when all the BG:DA2 talk got the best of me. I decided to buy the game using the justification that CoN wasn't coming out for almost another month. Unfortunately (or fortunately for my bank account), Best Buy didn't have any copies left (Xbox or PS2). Man, I've got the willpower of a three year old! At least I was able to stay focused enough to get my brother's present!

 

Maybe I'll check out Circuit City today... :green:

[The Daisy]

You have willpower? Man... I should get some of that.

 

Glen

[Josh]

Who's this "Will" you speak of?

[MastaRedSnappa]

You have willpower? Man... I should get some of that.

 

I can't say I have much considering I went to both Circuit City and CompUSA last night (to no avail!) to buy a game I said I was going to pass on.

 

Are there no damn copies of BG:DA2 in Southern California?! :evil:

 

I don't want to hear no shit about karma either. :green:

[kittycatgirl2k]

Hmmm I've been debating this one myself. I'm REALLY looking forward to CoN, I think overall its going to blow BG:DA2 out of the water, simply because of its pedigree, but that doesn't mean that BG:DA2 isn't a good game, I have a feeling its atleast on par with the last (which I loved and marathoned in a day). The problem I have is that if I go ahead and get BG:DA2 I will probably be too burned out on the genre to really get into CoN and I don't want to ruin that experience either. Oh well... choices.

 

And somehow I Just know that if I see BG:DA2 in a store somewhere I'm going to buy it. I just KNOW it! This "Will Power" person you people keep speaking of, I've never met 'em yet.

[Romier S]

I have a feeling its atleast on par with the last

 

Its better Alanna. The gem and rune system alone makes for a deeper experience. The game is also more open ended letting you tackle what dungeons you want when you want. (The storyline also has better pacing than the first IMHO)>

 

I really don't think you'll hurt yourself in the long run with BGDAII. CoN will be phenominal but coming from someone thats played Fallout Brotherhood and BGDAII right after I'm still hankering for CoN!

[Camp]

So, it is common knowledge that Fallout and Dark Alliance 2 are the same game right? I mean, it's the exact same (flawed, IMO) engine in every way with different art and storyline.

 

While I'm certain that's an economical way to make games I hope it doesn't catch on. Nothing wrong with using the same engine but it just seems a little cheap to release two new games within days of one another that similar.

[Romier S]

So, it is common knowledge that Fallout and Dark Alliance 2 are the same game right?

 

Same engine? Yes. Same basic mechanics? Yes. Same game? Sorry but I have to disagree with you there. Dark Alliance is fundamentally an action RPG just like Fallout. This includes as mentioned engine, character upgrading etc. however the implementation of the camera, the combat system, the level design and the added extras including the rune/gem system, new hotkey interface andmore make Dark Alliance quite different in both play style and feel and refinement for this genre IMHO.

 

While I'm certain that's an economical way to make games I hope it doesn't catch on.

 

Been common practice for a long time Camp, you know that. Hell take a look at Renderware. Its been used in countless games including Burnout, GTA, Manhunt, Sonic Heroes etc.. etc. For the most part different games so I DP see your point but look at that PC market. Its based almost soley on reusing the same engines (with refinements) especially for the FPS genre and in all honesty there are few FPS's that truly distingiush themselves. Hell CRPG's have been the same also. The Quake engine, Unreal, NetImmerse, Infinity etc. etc. etc.. As you said, its cost effective and no doubt makes for a shorter development time.

 

Nothing wrong with using the same engine but it just seems a little cheap to release two new games within days of one another that similar.

 

Considering the lack of true action RPG's of the Baldurs Gate Dark Alliance/Diablo ilk on consoles I don't see much of a problem. Simply choose one and don't buy the other. Nothing wrong with options as far as Im concerned. After all I can only take 20 million bland platformers before it gets old . The better game will win in the end. (with Norrath coming thats exactly the point of the thread as it will no doubt be one of the best available on the genre when released).

 

After playing Fallout almost to completion and being at about the 8 hour mark on BGII I can say without a doubt that BGII is a far better game and offers a familiar (as you noted) albeit at the same time distinct experience from Fallout. They aren't going to sway you into enjoying this particular genre if you hate it but I just don't see them as being the same game at all.

[MastaRedSnappa]

So I was at Best Buy yesterday for no particular reason... I'm pretty sure you can see where this is going.

 

There, staring me in the face, calling to me, was BG:DA2 (curiously in the letter "G" section for Great, I assume).

 

One $5 off coupon, a $20 Best Buy gift card, and $28 cash later, I'm the proud owner of BG:DA2! I got a chance to play it last night for a couple of hours (I'll post my thoughts on the game in the official thread) and so far, I'm really glad I was at Best Buy for no particular reason.

 

If you liked the first BG:DA and Diablo II, you'll love BG:DA2 (as long as you can live without online play and randomized dungeons).

 

And I still plan on picking up CoN when it comes out too (and probably D&D Heroes when it drops to about $20). Bring on the action RPGs! Here's hoping that someday, Blizzard will bring out a next-gen console sequel in the Diablo series too!

[MastaRedSnappa]

Nothing wrong with using the same engine but it just seems a little cheap to release two new games within days of one another that similar.

 

I'm more into games with fantasy settings (e.g. D&D) rather than sci-fi or futuristic ones (e.g. Fallout). And I'm sure there are other people who are the opposite. Having both BG:DA2 and Fallout out helps cater to different tastes for different gamers.

[Hank Scorpio]

My pals and I played thru D+D on Xbox and were hoping that there would be another game that was similar. I'm very pumped for Champions, because of the ability to play online and offline with 3 friends instead of just one. I'm looking forward to this one indeed.

[The Daisy]

I'm really looking forward to Champions now as well.

 

I think we could see an LCVG clan popping up in no time.

 

Glen

[kittycatgirl2k]

AAhh I did it, I buckled in the face of BG:DA2. I had managed to ignore it a couple of times in the store because it was the PS2 version (a few lingering looks was all it got) but when I was confronted with a real live XBox copy of BG:DA2, well, I melted. Bought it... checked it out, so far it seems pretty good, better than D&D: Heroes. I'll post more thoughts when I get more in depth with it. Its been placed to the side with Sonic Heroes while I finish up SSX3 for now...

[howiedo1n]

I have played the demo of champions!! I have got to say this looks like it is going to be really good, and deep. Just how I like it...

[Josh]

really good, and deep. Just how I like it...

 

I'm SO not gonna touch that one.

[Chris F]

I'm SO not gonna touch that one.

 

LOL. I'm glad I wasn't the only one thinking that.

 

Anyways, I watched a video preview of CoN or IGN, and it looked excellent. I thought BG : DA2 looked good, but his looks very impressive indeed.

 

I love the fact there are so many collectables, plus the online play. I'm all over this game.

[MastaRedSnappa]

Looks like the release date is now 2/10 so there's less than a week to go!

 

I better get moving on BG:DA2... if CoN is as good as it looks, my copy of BG:DA2 probably won't be seeing much play after 2/10.

[AnthonyVolpe]

Originally posted by Masta Red Snappa@Jan 26 2004, 12:57 PM

Here's hoping that someday, Blizzard will bring out a next-gen console sequel in the Diablo series too!

There's a problem with that: Diablo II almost needs a mouse and keyboard set up to be played effectively. Game console programmers need to find a clever and effective way to let a user be able to switch abilities, switch weapons, run, shout orders, check inventory, check character stats, check hirelings' character stats, and do a ton of other stuff with an 8-button, 2 stick controller. Not only that, but unless the game features a targeting reticle, it's going to render a lot of game features useless, such as aiming thrown potions and casting the Necromancer's curses at specific targets.

[MastaRedSnappa]

Gamespot gave it an 8.5:

 

http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/rpg/championso...ath/review.html

 

But with some eye-opening issues:

 

There are a few quests where you'll have to escort nonplayer characters, and, in fact, it was during one of these quests that we discovered a pretty serious bug. About seven or eight hours in, we accidentally broke the game's scripting, thus causing an NPC we were supposed to escort to get stuck in the level geometry, which kept us from progressing any further. We were able to rectify the problem by restarting from an earlier save, but it's pretty serious to find a showstopping bug like this in a retail boxed game, and it's even more disappointing that the game design for this particular section of the game was muddled enough that we were able to break the game without making a dedicated effort.

 

:shock:

 

and:

 

The game features voice-chat support for communicating with your fellow adventurers, which is an absolute necessity, as the lack of a dedicated trading system means you'll have to barter it out over your USB headset and hope that the person you're swapping items with is being honest about what they're giving you. Champions of Norrath is a game that you'll want to play with people you know and trust, since the game leaves too many open opportunities for people who only want to make your life miserable, which, if you've ever played an online game, you'll know there are plenty of out there.

 

:shock: