I played this game in the cooperative mode, the gameplay being such that it kept us up late because we just wanted to see what was going to happen next.

This game is good... very good.

I, obviously, was the nubile elven sorceress whilst my male partner played a stout looking dwarven fighter. The characters gain experience points, levelling up and letting you place points into new statistics and certain attributes relevant to the type of character that you picked. Being a sorceress meant learning new spells, my favourite being a large ball of lightning that moved slowly across the screen electrocuting anything in its path, and was also useful to point out any invisible creatures that may have been trying to sneak up on you. The sorceress is easily the hardest to keep alive but, in my opinion, the most fun to play. The and archer gaining attributes that suited their styles of attack.

In order to keep each other alive you have to work together, using your skills to help your fellow player. I found the save system, which consisted of small pillars strategically positioned in the game, very easy to use, but not too easy. When one of your characters died you would have to find a save off point and move near it in order for them to be resurrected, sometimes just in the nick of time. (By the way, shouting at them to go near a save point so you can rejoin the game sometimes means that they take their time on purpose). Recall potions also came in handy, taking you back to the nearest safest place in order for you to reequip and heal and then placing you back where you were, these are plentiful throughout the game.

The in-game puzzles are clever but not too frequent or too hard to take emphasis away from the action. Different enemies populate each area requiring you to enter into combat using different tactical approaches to each level. Creatures of all types are plentiful, ranging from rats, drow elves, beholders, zombies and an amazing dragon.

The control system was one of the easiest I have come across especially when it concerns spells. You move up and down your current available spells picking the one that you want to use, once picked one button activates it. The same is to be said for the warrior and archer. Some games make spell systems too hard with complex button pushing, but this is quick and easy to use.

Whilst being a beautiful game to watch, a fun game to play and even having an interesting plot the lack of gaming hours is disappointing, and the finish was more of a full stop. I was left feeling like something was missing, which it was…a longer experience.

Three nights it took us to play this game to completion. But I can say that in the short time that it took us to finish the game we did have fun playing it. Therefore I would have to rate this brilliant but short-lived game down a little, and eagerly anticipate the release of a sequel, which is alluded to in the closing cut scenes of the game.

85%

By Louise Cookson