Two Worlds

"With some patches, this game may be worthy of a gold star."

Two Worlds.

The name alone may bring hate or adoration to a gamer's lips, depending on who you talk to.

For many that give the game a chance (and a few hours of story development), it is a diamond in the rough.

For others, it's a cyst that never stops being a pain.

There's no universal acclaim or hatred for Two Worlds. You may play it and fall in love, or you could play it and feel sick to your stomach.

I'm happy to say that I am one of those that really, really like the game.

On graphics --

It won't win any beauty contests. It can't compete with Gears or Bioshock. But, for an open-world game that is just so huge, I can forgive a less-than-butter framerate and occasional load times. But, surprisingly, there are less load times than in Oblivion despite the map of TW being 25% larger (you only load when you enter dungeons or reach new sections of the map). The game runs roughly the same as Oblivion.

The scenery in TW is very impressive to watch. Note: I said watch. You'll see trees blow in the wind. Grass sways and water ripples. It's something you won't really notice unless you're looking for it, but it's still a nice touch.

Characters don't look great, but they're passable. Items are plentiful and each have distinct looks. Enemies are...well...not too pretty.

On sounds --

The voice acting is atrociously funny. I could easily see these voice actors having previous appearances on Mystery Science Theater 3000 as the brunt of many jokes. I think it's funny, but many people can't stand it.

The soundtrack is decent, but out of place at times. You'll be walking through the wilderness and suddenly a rock opera stars up with female vocals. Heh, mayhap the minstrels and bards discovered the electric mandolin?

The ambience is well-done for the most part. Crickets chirp, bats squeak and thunder strikes hard during storms. The ambience is actually a pretty positive area of the game.

On gameplay --

Well, here's where we divide those who like it and don't. Sound? Most can agree it needs work. Graphics? Yes, we all know it isn't a groundbreaking accomplishment. Gameplay? Some like it, some hate it, and I love it.

This game is brutal. If you think you're in Oblivion and you're able to take out anyone or anything that crosses your path, you're in for a big surprise. You're going to get mauled in this game quite a few times. Bears will rip you apart at the beginning. Groms are the stuff nightmares are made of when you start anew. Thankfully, you can die without severe penalty. Some gold (very little) is taken if you do perish and respawn.

The map is not easy to follow. I actually prefer this, because I don't want my hand held when playing games of this nature. Give me a hint, then let me be on my way rather than giving me an arrow to follow.

Once you get a few hours in, your character starts sprouting potential and you can actually venture into the wild without having to worry if a wolf will be able to eat you alive. You can combine weapons to make them stronger, gain magic booster cards to boost your magic skills, and equip a ton of armor and weaponry.

There's a huge variety of weaponry and armor to be found here. There's nothing better than resting assured that your long grinding through a grom camp will inevitably be rewarded with new things constantly.

On multi-player --

If they fix the lag, this will be my most-played multi-player game for 2007. Sorry, but it just will be. Co-op through huge maps? Leveling up with your friends? Stealing/pillaging from townsfolk?

The only thing that brings it down is the connection issues. Many games of three or more people lag out or freeze. With a patch, this can be resolved, but as of now, it's really hard to get a good game in.

But, the potential is there and when the fix does come, you can write me off for many, many hours.

Final comments --

What do you look for in a game? Do you look for it to hold your hand or tell you exactly what you need to do and where you need to do it? Do you want an easy, safe journey without fear of anything getting in your way?

Two Worlds is not easy. It will challenge you. It will try your patience. But, if you get through the hitches, you'll discover a great game that you might not have found if you only notice the negatives.

For me, those minor hitches are easily outweighed by the positives. With a bit of work and some guidance from the community, this game could wind up being the next Morrowind.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 08/28/07