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Entertaining, but not exceptional

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 29 / 30
Date: July 05, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I've been enjoying good old hack-and-slash computer and video games since the days of the original Diablo. Therefore, when I read the reviews of Champions: Return to Arms, and saw that previous reviewers had noted on the redundancy of this game, I figured that after a while, any hack-and-slash saga could get old. There's only so much killing and looting one can do before the plot gets boring. Therefore, I went out and bought the game anyway under the impression that Return to Arms would at least elaborate on the plot in Champions of Norrath. I was wrong.

This game is extremely redundant. Aside from the two new player classes, the player characters are all the same. Exactly the same. No elaboration from the previous game whatsoever. I suppose this makes it easier to import your characters from Champions of Norrath, but it would have been nice to see some kind of elaboration in this department. Furthermore, many of the "bad guys" you fight are the same as in the previous game. Many of the characters you met in Champions of Norrath return. For example, Babik Nurn makes an appearance. Many of the locales are the same. You will again visit the gothic vampire castle, as well as the Pit of Ill Omen. Some of the quests are even familiar. Once again, the mermaid has lost her conch shell and would like you to find it for her. After you do this, you again are granted the ability to breathe underwater so you can fight some undead pirate skeletons. What does all of this add up to? The feeling that you just paid a bunch of money to play the Champions of Norrath all over again.

In addition, as with Champions of Norrath, the game seems to have several bugs. I've had the game freeze on me, and the screen seems to bounce around every time you're looking through your character's inventory. These are some minor technicalities that one might think would have been worked out after the several complaints that arose regarding the original game, however, that doesn't seem to be the case.

However, this isn't to say that the game is all bad. As I stated previously, I'm one to enjoy a decent hack-and-slash game, so I pushed onward and completed it in it's entirety. Any fan of the Dungeons and Dragons type RPG should find some decent entertainment value in Return to Arms, regardless of the aforementioned pitfalls. In addition, as with Champions of Norrath and both Baldur's Gate games, the graphics are incredible. I have yet to see video games as visually stunning as the stuff Snowblind puts out. It feels as though your characters are walking around in a diorama rather than on your television screen.

I've never tried the online play, in this or in any other game for that matter, so I can't comment on that. However, the rest of the game makes for hours of good fun if you don't mind a little bit of repetition. It's still worth buying, just don't expect anything too terribly ground-breaking.

Champions of Norrath competes with itself

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 21 / 23
Date: March 29, 2006
Author: Amazon User

If you've played any of the Baldur's Gate series (I've beaten them all) or the previous installment of the EverQuest game for PS2, then you're now familiar with Snowblind Studios' game engine. So familiar, in fact, that you probably can't tell you're playing a different game.

We had already beaten Champions of Norrath and, hungry to use all the neat new powers and weapons we gained in the first game, purchased its sequel, Call to Arms. This time I played Quintus, a cleric, while my wife played Ilmare, an archer. We were back at it again, hacking and slashing our way to fame and fortune. But it all seemed so familiar...

That's because this is the same friggin' game! I'm not talking "inspired by the original Champions of Norrath." I don't mean, "it looks similar." I mean: the maps are the same, the dialogue is the same, the NPCs are the same. Yes, the same mermaid wants you to find her conch. And she grants the same ability to breathe underwater. Where you once again get to fight underwater pirates.

All these boards have been cleverly reshuffled to be "planes." So instead of any actual cohesive plot, it's all about traveling planes...the Plane of Islands. The Plane of Violence. The Plane of Why Did I Buy This Game Again?

Don't get me wrong; playing through Call to Arms gave us a reason to use our higher-level characters from the first game. The problem is that any dungeon hack worth his sword is a thorough sweep-and-loot kind of adventurer, which means he can pick a level clean. We get all the exp and cash and we don't stop until it's so cleaned out you can eat your iron rations off of the floor.

What that means is that our characters leveled. A lot. By the time we fought the idiot who I suppose qualifies as the "Avatar of Fear," we wasted him with little effort. The various minions up to that point fell just as easily.

And that's the problem with Call to Arms. Yes, it's got two new races (lizard people and tiger people). Sure, it has some new spells and powers. And there are a few new monsters. But fundamentally, this is the same game repackaged with the vain hope that you either didn't play the first game or won't notice that the repetition.

In a market chock full of online games, the Champions of Norrath line ends up competing with itself.

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?

A good game, but a joke if you were expecting a sequel.

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 13 / 16
Date: March 25, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I rushed out like others who had played the first Champions game to get this one...only to be disappointed in the extreme. Re-used graphics, re-used npc characters, re-used music, and re-used glitches from the first game!!!
This game feels like outtakes from the last one and could have easily been released last year as "Champions of Norath : Realms of Everquest Uncut". If Sony was going to hold on to it that long I would have hoped that they could have at -least- improved it or even fixed the glitches. All I see is a -slightly- revamped game with a -few- new things (including new glitches!) and an even weaker story line!!
All that being said, the game is still fun for online play, but after playing the first one this game lacks any freshness whatsoever in the single player story.

Come on Sony! Stop picking our pockets!!

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.

Let's set the record straight.

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 8 / 8
Date: February 24, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I just wanted to address a few of the mistaken claims made by other reviewers. There ARE changes in the character classes from the first champions game - I imported an old wizard of mine and there were new abilities for him in the skill tree. There IS a slight glitch that makes the inventory screen pulse a little but I haven't even found it to be a minor irritation, much less a problem. MUCH of the content for this game was carried over from the first - many of the environments are identical or slight variations on the first game's and many of the monsters are the same though there are quite a few new additions as well. For me this isn't a problem as Champions of Norrath and the Baldur's Gate games are some of my favorites on the PS2 and I can enjoy repeatedly what they offer.
One of the new additions to this game is that you can choose to go a "good" or an "evil" route (so far I've only done the good so I don't know how much difference in content there is between the 2). There are also medallion rounds where, if you overcome a challenge (some of which are quite difficult) you gain access to a extra level. Most of the extra levels are like the main game but some offer other options. One, for instance, allows you to bet on combatants in an arena.
Overall, I would have to say that I've very much enjoyed this game though it's true that it's heavily derivative of the first Champions.

Great game

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 10 / 12
Date: February 24, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Ok I know of all the put downs and "glitches" that people are talking about. I'll start of with saying this game is great. If you have or haven't played the 1st (like i hadn't) get this one.

The 1 player mode is good...just good. You do the same as if you were with others but alone nothing much there. The fun comes with multiplayer.

The more the merrier as the always say and it is true with this game. Online you can walk away from other people unlike on a multitap 4 player game where you all have to stick on the same screen. Online you can jump almost right into a game but they save the characters to a server. WHY? Don't know. Yes that means you don't have to save it to a memory card but if you get a character online that is a high level or has a weapon you want offline too bad. No way to get that character to your memory card. You can fight other people online...kinda fun. DON'T GET THIS GAME UNLESS YOU HAVE OTHER PEOPLE TO PLAY WITH OR CAN GET ONLINE.

The weapons and characters look great. Bosses are tough just like they should be. And as in every EQ game it take ALOT of time to get good. After 8 hours of play I got to level 10! YAY!

This is a good game for more than one person so rent it first if you aren't sure. It's worth a rent!

Pros
-Good graphics
-Long Game
-Great mulitplayer

Cons
-Almost no story
-the sound is ok
-can't export online characters
-1 player can boring being alone

If You've Played Champions of Norath All Your Hard Work Is Rewarded Here

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 7 / 7
Date: March 11, 2006
Author: Amazon User

The sequel to Champions of Norath lets you import your old characters from that game so if you've played that game over and over again you start off here with a Level 50 character!Return to Arms is more hack n slash goodness with only a thread of a tale to send you on your way.The coolest surprise is that this time around you can choose to cross over to the dark side and actually crush all the elves you've fought alongside with in Part 1 and resurrect the evil demon Innoreuk you worked so hard to beat before!Of course you might wind up feeling guilty like I did and play it over as a good guy.Challenging minigames to win medals and bonus areas give it more variety than the orginal.Be warned though about the tricky stealth segment that will take a few tries to get through.Nothing groundbreaking but the fast actionpacked gameplay will keep you coming back for more.

Get ready to hack.

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 7 / 9
Date: March 21, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I enjoy playing action "hacknslash" rpgs and the new Champions game will fulfill your desire to kill and level up. One thing not to expect from Champions: RTA is a deep story or anything remotely original that you haven't seen before. This game is pretty much like an expansion of Champions of Norrath. Would really be nice to see someone do something new in this genre but Champions: RTA doesn't. The biggest plus of the game is you can transfer your leveled up character out of Champions of Norrath and load it on to the new game, I ended up with a level 49 Wood Elf which was cool. A few new character classes thrown in, a good addition. Online play is really one of the best parts, get online with other people and go tear up some dungeons. So if you're undecided about this game and ya like Champions of
Norrath or Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance I & II, go pick it up. If not go pick up Shadow Hearts: Covenant.

Sequel better than the first

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 9 / 17
Date: January 29, 2005
Author: Amazon User

This game actually is slated to be released 2/8/05, and Gamespot and EB Games have even said it to be coming out as early as 2/7/05 on their websites and to their pre-order customers. I just wanted to make that correction to the first person's post.

Also, it is mentioned that the game supports, new-to-the-game, a 4-person offline multitap, if you buy the adapter for your PS2. And there is a whole new PvP mode, as well as Medal Rounds, and unlockable areas for completing the Medal Rounds that you would normally not get if you ignored to play them. The game developers have said that unlocking these Medal Rounds would even open up new spells for their characters on their skill tree. There is an official trailer on the web if you look for it, that is pretty awesome. You can import your character saves from your memory card from the first Champions of Norrath, and continue their play in Return to Arms, and go on to Legendary Mode, going all the way to lvl 80.

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