Sabermaster
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From Gamespy:
Forgotten Realms (PS2)
Atari surprises with this gorgeous and action-packed romp through the Forgotten Realms.
By Raymond "Psylancer" Padilla | Aug. 25, 2003
The biggest surprise of Atari's editors' day was its upcoming Forgotten Realms (a working title) game. Developed by Stormfront Studios, the people behind EA's The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, the game dazzled many an editor at the event. Though it's very early and only a short portion of the game was shown, I was very much impressed by its beautiful graphics, slick animations, and gameplay. Forgotten Realms is shaping up to be a gorgeous action game with a twist.
Forgotten Realms tells the story of three heroes: a fighter, a sorcerer, and a rogue. The trio of adventurers accidentally releases a demon into the world and must find a way to send it back to hell. Along the way they get caught up in an even bigger plot that has even larger repercussions for the Realms. The gang traverses all kinds of locations, including Damara, Vaasa, and the Jungles of Chult.
Forgotten Realms uses an enhanced version of The Two Towers engine. Like The Lord of the Rings game, the graphics I saw were excellent. The game caused me to utter the single geekiest thing I've ever said in my history as a game critic. Upon watching the opening scene that pits the heroes against a group of Yuan-ti I remarked, "Wow, that's the most beautiful rendering of a Yuan-ti I've ever seen in a game." Yes, it was super lame to say, but the comment was well deserved. I've seen Yuan-ti in several other games, but Stormfront's portrayal or the snake-like creatures blew me away; the shimmering scales and smooth undulations of the Yuan-ti really made them come to life.
The gameplay is action focused and requires you to make use of the unique abilities of each character. For most of the game you get to switch between the three characters, though some situations lock you into one character. The fighter is a powerhouse with sick juggling combos. The sorcerer has some sweet projectile spells for long-distance fighting. The rogue has awesome stealth capabilities and a slick backstab attack. All three characters have shared combos, so you needn't memorize too many attacks. At its current state, the sorcerer and the rogue have more compelling characteristics than the fighter. Hopefully Stormfront will give the fighter more distinct attacks that will make him more than the typical tank. Advertisement
The early scene I was able to play had the gang barging in on a group of Yuan-ti performing a ceremony. Initially I was able to switch between all the characters in order to stave off the initial enemies. Next I had to control the sorcerer and use spells to repel creatures coming out of the Yuan-ti's summoning portal. Finally, I had to sneak to the upper reaches of the lair with the rogue and steal a gem. This segment was the most satisfying, as I had to engage in some platform, stealth, and action gameplay. Overall, the introduction was action-packed and lots of fun. My favorite part was backstabbing with the rogue; sneaking up to an enemy, slitting its throat, and deftly back flipping from my kill was a thrill.
As you make your way through the adventure, you'll earn experience points. At the end of each chapter, you can buy new abilities for each of your party members. You'll also find weapons that give your characters enhanced abilities. For example, while kicking ass in the game's arctic climates you'll discover a flaming sword that will come in handy.
Though I was only able to see Yuan-ti, the developers promise that all sorts of Forgotten Realms creatures will be found in the game. Bugbears, knolls, and dragons are just some of the enemies you'll vanquish in the game. Considering how exquisite the Yuan-ti looked, I can't wait to Stormfront's versions of these creatures.
Lastly, I was told that there would be some special cameos that will please Forgotten Realms fans. Several of the most popular heroes of the Forgotten Realms will play a part in the game. This tidbit has me terribly excited, and if the heroes are who I think they are, their appearances will have me mark out like I did after unlocking Drizzt in Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance.
Forgotten Realms is slated for a 2004 release. Though I only saw a small and early portion of the game, it's easy to see that this has killer potential. It already looks as good, if not better, than The Two Towers, which is a great-looking game, and has the potential to play way better. I wasn't expecting much when I saw this title on my itinerary, but now it's on my personal list of one's to watch in 2004.
