Review: Divinity II: Ego Draconis

Platform: Xbox 360 (also on PC)

Developer: Larian Studios

Publisher: CDV

# of Players: 1

Rating: M (Mature)

Official Site

Score: B+

Featuring a vast game world fun to explore,
many quests to take (or perhaps ignore),
Divinity II, that new Larian lore
more than deserves the posted score

It’s got some quirks (but don’t games all?)
mayhaps a patch will raise things tall
Still, for adventure, heed well my call
What’s here is tops from wall to wall!

Plain old good to flat out great RPG’s make me wax poetic from time to time and as it deftly straddles the fence between those two poles, Divinity II: Ego Draconis gets 2010 off to a fine start in grand style for genre fans. Sure, it wears some of its PC origins on it sleeve a bit too proudly, yet the game is quite addictive and indeed, very highly playable for hours on end. Despite some pesky technical issues that rear their ugly heads, the game is also often quite good to look at provided you aren’t wistfully recalling something else while playing. Warts and all, you can’t knock developer Larian Studios for bringing this sequel to the stellar 2001 PC RPG Divine Divinity to the 360. The first game was an instant classic (it’s been an automatic install on the three PC’s I’ve had since 2001) and what’s here comes very close to being equally as fun an experience. If you’re looking for depth and a flat out huge and fun world to explore, Div II delivers and lets you keep the change.

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The Dragon Has Landed!

So, I’m walking in the door on this wickedly freezing day and the Fed Ex guy pops up out of nowhere from behind me and almost scares me to death with his big grin and package waving ways. Seems I was his last stop and he was more than happy to see me, as it meant he got to finally go home.

Anyway, my review copy of Divinity II Ego Draconis hath arrived, so I now have New Year’s Eve plans. Yeesh – I KNEW I should have finished that preview a few weeks back!

Tempus Fugit, that’s for damn sure!

Ah well. Early impressions from the preview builds: the game is pretty damn good. The final versions should be better. Off to get in some more flight time… Back in a bit with an update.

Review: Torchlight

Platform: PC

Developer: Runic Games

Publisher: Perfect World Entertainment/Encore

# of Players: 1

Rating:

Official Site

Score: A-

The joke’s on me, folks. When I first heard about Torchlight late last year, I somehow managed to get it confused with Twilight AND Torchwood and it immediately got ignored. Sorry, but I’m not a 13-year old girl with a vampire death wish on one hand and while I do like Torchwood a lot, a licensed game based on the series made me shudder a bit for all the wrong reasons. Anyway (and, yes. a BIG duh to the me), I happened to pop open a recent press release about the game a few months back and was pleasantly shocked and surprised that not only wasn’t this a licensed game, it was in my favorite genre AND it was looking quite like a spectacular sleeper, to boot.

So, how did it all turn out? Read on and see…

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Divinity II: Eco Draconis Pre-Order Goodness + One Awesome Contest…


Larian Studios’ surprisingly stellar epic follow-up to its 2001 RPG, Divine Divinity (my hands-on preview will be up this coming weekend) is coming to the Xbox 360 and PC on January 5, 2010 and lucky Xbox 360 owners will be able to snag a neat set of powerful gear if they boogie on down to their nearest GameStop to pre-order the game. Check out the goodies below the jump…

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Left 4 Dead 2 TV Spot #2

Nice. 10 million zombies, huh? Given the pace of the recently released demo, it sure feels like it! November 17 is zooming up faster than you think…

So, What Did YOU Do For Halloween?

Me? I Stayed the heck home starting work on a little writing project for Hudson Soft I’ll have big news about shortly. My pal Jeffrey Wilson over at 2D-X, well… he was having a VERY game-related great time, NYC style! Check out his blog post HERE.

Thanks to Prima, Dragon Age: Origins Quizzes Me Somewhat…

Well, then – according to this Prima Guides Dragon Age: Origins Quiz, I’m a Warrior! Eeek. I hate playing “tanks” in RPGs. Give me a ranged weapon and some good spells to keep the beasties at bay and I’m a happy camper. We shall see, however, we shall see… The game is out NOW, so I hope you pre-ordered!

Games On TV: Left 4 Dead 2 Gamestop Baseball Bat Premium TV Ad

Hilarious L4D2 promo spot featuring the American Baseball Bat GS promo – check it out:

Dragon Age: Origins Update: Oghren (Plus Gold!)


It’s all done and gone gold, folks. Dragon Age: Origins has gone into production, so those final retail copies are only a short time away from your hot little hands. BioWare has also announced a DA:O social network which you’ll be able to read more about below this week’s character update. Anyway, without further adieu, heeeeeeere’s Oghren!

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Valve News: L4D2 Pre-Orders Pre-Loaded, Aussie Version Neutered

In Valve news, good and not so good:

LEFT 4 DEAD 2 DEMO PRE-LOADING NOW

Those who have pre-purchased Left 4 Dead 2 via Steam may now pre-load the game demo, which is due to launch for early access on Tuesday, October 27. Early access to the L4D2 demo is available for both retail (360, PC) and Steam (PC) customers. Those who pre-ordered via participating retailers should be able to pick up their early access codes this weekend and be ready to play on Tuesday when the demo launches.

As for the ratings deal Down Under… well, it looks as if Australian gamers wanting their zombie killing unaltered will be out of luck as:

“In the review board’s opinion, Left 4 Dead 2 could not be accommodated within the MA 15+ classification,” it said. “The computer game contains a level of violence which is high in impact, prolonged, repeated frequently and realistic within the context of the game.”

Well, duh… But I guess the board has to protect the folks over 18 who want to buy the game from themselves and any potential bad behavior seeing exploding zombie heads will cause. Ah well… EA and Valve appealed the rating after presenting a ‘sanitized’ version of the game to the review board, but the board stood fast. Soooo, Down Under gets the game… but it’s going to be a lot less gory than what’s hitting here.

I’m guessing the US PC version may be the way to go for you guys, unless it’s been banned from import into the country…