- The original Champions of Norrath game is not needed to play Champions - Return to Arms
- Seven fully customizable Playable Characters. Select from Barbarian Warrior, Wood Elf Ranger, Dark Elf Shadowknight, High Elf Cleric, Erudite Wizard, and two new race/class combinations - the Vah Shir Berserker and Iksar Shaman.
- New skills, abilities, weapons and armor for every character type
- More than 10,000 items and the ability to create your own item
- Dynamic story with alternate good and evil paths featuring many of your favorite characters from the original game.

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Product description

Champions: Return to Arms brings back all the action-packed hack n' slash excitement of Champions of Norrath and more to the PlayStation2 computer entertainment system! The CoN sequel offers more than 100 hours of gameplay per character, unlimited battles, plus the ability to import characters from the original game. Champions: Return to Arms includes a host of advancements to take multiplayer gaming to the next level. Up to four players can connect over the Internet or via Multitap. Play online (no subscription fee) Four-player online action with USB headset support, enabling you to chat and plan strategies, or you can ruffle your opponents with the improved online matchmaking service Player vs. Player Combat Modes (i.e. head-to-head) let you challenge friends to duel and compete online and offline in all new areas Secret content that is unlocked by mastering your skills through a challenging medal reward system 40+ levels to conquer with new mission menu and side-quest systems Ability to import your character from the original Champions of Norrath for further progression Broadband internet connection required for online multiplayer game modes. Online connection fees are the responsibility of the user and will require a network adaptor for PlayStation2. A Memory Card (8MB) (for Playstation2) is required for online play
Review



If you're not familiar with Snowblind Studios' delightful game engine (first seen in Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance), you are missing out. It has received much critical acclaim, and for good reason this core technology has made some of the best action/RPGs of the last several years. While other developers have licensed this engine for use in their own games, Snowblind has taken them all to school on how to squeeze the most juice out of it. Return to Arms is a visually stunning game in every way, and a lot of my issues with the first Champions of Norrath have been addressed. It's a pity that there isn't really anything in RtA that moves the genre forward or breaks from convention in any way.

All of the standard action/RPG elements are present and accounted for, and for the most part are done with a level of polish and flair rarely seen. Leveling up each character can be done in a nigh-infinite number of ways, since each one has a multitude of skills to develop or ignore at your choice. Bosses drop fatty loot to collect and power up your avatar with, and completing challenges (which become unlocked after finishing a stage) unlocks new online maps as well as hooking you up with bonus stat and skill points. These challenge rounds are easily the most interesting new element of RtA, with nonstandard objectives or restrictions that make you use your gaming skills or solve puzzles to emerge triumphant.

Every single change from the original Champions of Norrath is a positive one, as far as I can tell. The removal of random maps sounds like a bummer, but the result is that each level is designed much more tightly and flows better than before. Skills have been rebalanced and seem to be a bit more even, and the two new classes offer unique and fun styles of play. And, as has been mentioned, the latest revision of the Snowblind engine is amazing. Textures give a startling illusion of depth to surfaces, lighting changes give each area a different feel, and the excellent particle effects really bring the flashy spell animations to life. Plus, even though I've been seeing it for the last few years, I still have to stop and marvel at the water this engine can render out.

The icing on this cake of fantasy hack n' slash goodness is the amount of content available. Between the four difficulty modes (which are designed like Diablo II's, where you can start the next mode with your powered-up hero after clearing the one before), co-op and competitive online multiplayer, and the seven playable classes, there is an awful lot of game here to adventure through. Whether or not you'll be sick of cleaving orc heads before you finish it is another matter entirely, but rest assured that this is no weaksauce 10-hour quest with little replay value.

All of this high-heaped praise begs the question of why isn't RtA the must-have fantasy epic of 2005. The answer to that is simple: Though everything is very well-done, it's difficult to shake the feeling that I've been playing this same game since Diablo came out on PC in 1997. The core concept of bashing skulls and gaining levels and loot is still strong as can be, and I had a lot of fun with RtA, but the foreshadowings of a Dynasty Warriors-like rut are clearly visible. It's rare to see a sequel that does this little to shake up the gameplay formula of the original, but with that being said, anyone who enjoyed the first Champions title or either of the Dark Alliance games will find a lot to love here.


Concept:

Tighten up, refine, and expand everything that you know about console dungeon crawlers

Graphics:

Nobody can rock the Snowblind engine like Snowblind gorgeous visuals abound

Sound:

Easily the low point. The only thing worth noting is the delightful thumping noise maces make as they bash heads

Playability:

The new evade move makes all the difference in nasty boss fights

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