User Reviews (1 - 11 of 53)

Show these reviews first:

Highest Rated
Lowest Rated Newest
Oldest Most Helpful
Least Helpful

ridiculously bad

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 1 / 5
Date: September 06, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I like me some hack and slash rpgs, and have enjoyed the first CoN and the baldur's gates, but this one is a yawnfest. Somebody took the levels from the first CoN and rearranged them slightly. Oh look, more skeletons in pirate outfits. It was neat the first time, but not now. The levels themselves seem almost randomly designed -- the first few have some interesting challenges...walls, archers and larger units coordinating -- but about a half an hour in you get set up against enemies that walk around waiting to be killed. You could probably win the thing with your eyes closed if you tap the x button fast enough. At first I thought the "no plot to speak of" in this game would be a blessing (who needs a bad plot anyway? get to the action) but it really does make a difference. Having no motivation whatsoever makes the whole thing seem incredibly more tedious. At least in the first CoN you start out fighting in a straightforward elf-orc conflict and then learn of a bigger struggle. I also _hate_ the use of planes -- having a level structure organized by planes (plane of fire, plane of water, plane of goat cheese) is a prime way to get boring, one-monster-per-level situations. And I never thought I'd say it, but I miss different shops. With rare exceptions, you only get to visit one shop, in an otherwise lifeless "home base" your character teleports back to. The solo mode is only slightly more enjoyable than watching paint dry. If you're easily entertained, the game doesn't look bad and it works okay, but if you demand some tiny bit of quality from games, look elsewhere.

its kinda lame

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 1 / 21
Date: October 11, 2005
Author: Amazon User

ok this game is alright but i would go with the first one. i mean the story sucks balls and the game is to easy. even on the hardest thing i beat it by my self also they added these 2 new characters witch suks cause if u have the first one u download ur char and u cant play with them cause u really dont want to mess with them. this game kinda blows i would get the first one it has good bosses and a better story and this game is way to short

IT SUCKS

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 0 / 56
Date: May 01, 2005
Author: Amazon User

You see im into the western and cowboy stuff but still this game is really bad

Return to Arms Not All its Hyped Up To Be

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 13 / 17
Date: February 11, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Sadly to say, I am not all that impressed.
There are a few glitches that could make this game unplayable for some.
Non of the +health and mana bonuses seem to be working for both myself and other people. My imported wiz had several of them in place, never took effect.
A weapon with an enchanment, be it Ice, Fire, or Lightning, will have their enchantment overwritten by a wizard's Ice, Fire, or Lightning weapon enchantment spells providing they cast aura large enough to engulf the owner of the other weapon and he or she has it equiped. This is normal. What is not is the previous enchantment is completely lost after the wizard's spell duration is over, it'll have to be added back with a combinable item again, and if you don't have an extra one handy it's completely gone.
These are two MAJOR glitches that should have been fixed well before the game was released.

I've gone online a little bit. Pain in the butt. Had to try three times using my station info. Finally took it. Game was ok. I can see the benefits with the secure server, it will certainly reduce cheating. But if I am going to put ANY amount of time and effort into building a character, I want to be able to take em offline and play solo as well.

Gameplay is pretty much the same. I honestly see no difference in the video quality. Same on sound too. In fact, I had some instances were the sound seemed to be messed up.
And no, its not my equipment. I have a very good audio/video set up.

Within 10 minutes of the game, I was blowing up catapults again. Been there, done that.

Arena is a cool idea, but why can't I save my character that I play in the arean? You get equipment, you get to level up, what's the point in that?

I'm also seeing there is no option to import a character into a game. Why not? You can import to start a game from the begining, but not in the middle of the game. One of my strategies in CoN was to import different characters into different levels. Some played better than others. So basically, if playing with friends, you have to start a new game, but when they leave if you want to continue the process, you can't

The new Character races?
Played both. Paying with the Berserker right now. Got him up to level 11.
Both are nice, but they are too close to exsisting classed of the Barbarian and Cleric. And there isn't enough of a difference on them. Are these really the only two types of classes they could come up with? No thief? Different types of wizards? How about some kind of monk?

I think you basically have to look at this as a sort of expansion pack for Champions of Norrath.
On a scale of 1-10, right now, I'll give it a 5.

Yeah, some of you will say, "The game's new, there will be bugs."
But there shouldn't be. I shouldn't have to download a patch or something to make a game work better. It should come to the stores, working better.

Disappointing sequel to an addictive game

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 12 / 12
Date: September 24, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Champions: Returns To Arms had the advantage of the success of the first game Champions of Norrath using a hugely improved gameplay and mechanism of Baulder's Gate. However, Returns to Arms itself is a very disappointing instalment for the series...if there is going to be another one.

Basic gameplay wise it is very similar to the first game. However, the twick and twist that was put into the sequel completely removed a lot of the fun factors offered by the original title. You can import your old characters from the first one into the new one, but then the abilities you earned from the first one was toned down. For example you will find the same skill now takes up more mana and if it is a summon e.g. the Hammer of Wrath for the Cleric class, it stays around much shorter than before. There are new skills to be learnt but then since they require higher level to unlock, it is a test of patience if you start a new character for the game.

The portal map approach didn't really do much good to the game apart from making some very taxing "side quests" available for players. But some of them are so difficult that you will just find them more like a frustration than fun. Even random enemies in the main story e.g. archers in the last dungeon could kill you with two hits. If this is the way that Snowblind thinks could prolong the game it is a bad move. Also the worst nightware is the inclusion of stealth unnecessarily inside the game. Especially all enemies in the stealth level is one hit kill on you disregard your level. Stealth works in action rpgs like Zelda and Beyond Good and Evil because it goes natural with the game, but in Champions, it looks awkward and at the same time frustrating. Just think if someone just like hack'n slash why would they want to play a very difficult stealth level in the middle of the game?

The game also has some very difficult bosses that can cause you to throw your controller, so get a sturdy controller before start playing it. Prices for stuff are as steep as they used to be and most of the time you can only get budget items from enemies, even in the courageous and champion modes. Also the fact that you can't repeat the same level again and again like the last game, and you can't import characters into a game once you started it made the whole gameplay very inflexible and annoying. For example you are in the middle of an adventure a friend came over and want to join. That could not be done unless you start a new game. This lack of flexibility compared with the first one is a HUGE put off factor for the fans of the series.

In all fans of the first game will still play this game but it certainly does discourage people to get the third one if there is any at all. The first Champions game got every aspect right but the sequel just ruined everything. But one thing is consistent between both games - you could not believe how many bugs are there in the game. Certainly more serious QC is needed for Snowblind in the future. Or maybe QCs there are all snow blinded?

Mediocre Rehash of CoN: Realms of Everquest

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 7 / 12
Date: March 01, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I liked the prequel "Champions of Norrath - Realms of Everquest" and was looking forward to an innovative sequel in the "Return to Arms". I was very disappointed to see that there is very little that's new in this version. Except for the two "new" characters, the characters look EXACTLY the same as before, with the same spells and abilities. The much-hyped "total camera control" amounts to false advertising, in that it allows a very slight zoom and that is all. There is NO visible improvement or innovative new feature at all. This game is showing its age, and there are plenty of better alternatives out there, like "Ratchet and Clank - Going Commando" and "Dynasty Warriors 4", both available for under $20. Skip the overpriced and overhyped "Return to Arms".

Below average

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 2 / 6
Date: February 13, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Pretty much the same game as the first although the story is weaker. Some minor tweaks but it looks like a rushed product to me. The developers did not use any imagination. I am surprised they don't sue themselves for plagarism. They have some bugs, you can go to the Snowblind forums to see them so I won't go over them here. This is a game you should rent not buy but if you can find it on sale for a few bucks you might go for it. Its only redeeming quality is up to four people can play together and that is rare.

The same old thing

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 1 / 4
Date: January 15, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Champions of Norrath, fun game with an interesting story to it; Return to Arms, it feels like the same exact game as the first one (same attacks, no new customizations *oh, wait...ONE NEW hairstyle*, and the missions feel empty compared to Norrath). I find it hard to believe that so many people find the sequel (if you can call it that) "refreshing", unless you haven't played Norrath. It seems that they grew lazy with this one and frankly, I feel like I've been cheated out of $25 bucks (I'm just glad I didn't spend over $30 for this game).

I'll be brief...

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 0 / 3
Date: September 10, 2005
Author: Amazon User

because I don't want to waste too much more time on this game. If you've played Baldur's Gate Dark Alliance you've played this one. There's a slight variation in the gear you can buy, but if what you want is shopping head for the mall. The one selling point is the 2-player aspect, but both myself and my co-player got bored half way through, and the game's been sitting on the shelf ever since. In my book if a game's not making me want to call in sick, it's not doing it's job. Cheers.

Not Much To It

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 0 / 1
Date: June 23, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I just recently started playing this game. I havn't played the prequal to this one this one, so I can't compare it to that one. However, in the short time I have played this one, I know this: It is very, very slow moving.

This game is suppose to be a RPG. I don't know, I guess I'm just use to playing role playing games where you actually control more than one character. Maybe you do in this game, I don't know. The game is just moving a little to slowly for me.

OK, so this is a hack-n-slash game from what I've played. But, I was expecting dozens upon dozens of enemies to surround you, not a couple here, or maybe 3 or 4 there. Not very fun.

You do get some cool weapons and armor that you are able to customize, I like that. And giving youself health and mana with just the press of a button and not having to pause, go to the items screen, select health....
Very nice. And the graphics so far in the game are great, nicly done, along with the voice work. Good job there.

Now, if you want a great hack-n-slash game, try Devil Kings. That is all you do in that game and yet is is very addictive. I'm just hoping this game will pick up the pace. I'd hate to put it with the other dozen games I've started and just never finished.

Review Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 Next 

Actions