"The first Real-Time D&D Experience" – reads on a box with Dragonshard The inscription, unequivocally hinting at the Roleviks-Tolstosums about the paramount need to acquire a newly-minted brainchild Liquid. Is it really so, and what really "experience" The user will receive from communication with the game? Let’s try to figure it out.
We must pay tribute to the developers – they approached their work with proper zeal and budget (the publisher, although not EA, But I still did not offend money). The responsible for the plot part, under the load of a solid fee, was not appointed anyone, but Kate Baker (Keith Baker) – the main thinker of the young fantasy world Eberron, which, part -time, are the range of the game.
The motivation of local steriline is built on paramount need, by mastering the magic pebble Heart of Siberys. However, this mineral itself is not of particular value. Only in combination with the three seals of the world, this artifact will be able to provide its owner with power over all earthly. Of course, there are also those who want to use a magic stone for their own purposes. Meet the Order of the Flame (good, all of themselves, such fluffy fighters for peace and well -being on the planet), a tribe of lizards (mutating reptiles, sensitively woking behind the sacred relic) and the guild of underground magicians (typical representatives of the dark forces) are the main epicenters of the conflict and, at the same time, playable sides Dragonshard (True, control over the latter was provided by developers only in the multiplayer).
Actually, in this very place, any intrigue is lost in the dumb straightness of the plot canvas. They seriously decided to plunge into the atmosphere of the game, get used to the characters? Creation Liquid will pick you up this hunt. The only thing that saves Mr. Baker from universal contempt is Richy Reels Casino the cynical remarks of the former leader of the Kael robbers and the dumb iron machine Bastion, which prefer to distribute experience points on forceful characteristics. "No one has a scoop?" – The Pensioner is interested in, standing in front of the stone block – "I think it will not be needed" – The robot is parrying, in a matter of seconds, laying out huge cobblestones.
The singleplayer part, following the plot component, got bogged down in developer attempts to create something original, and remaining in the wagon of the clon -like RTS. There are only two races for the outburst – the beasts and knights of the order. For each of them, you have to go with a dozen of the visible diversity of missions, which are essentially divided into two categories: the construction and development of the base with the subsequent removal of the entire aggressive creature within the map, and cave errands that seem to be for RPG-component games.
The first type of task is surprisingly bored. The fault of this is the rigidly fixed location of the territory and artificial intelligence, clearly demonstrating the rudiments of the lobotomy. However, with the first claim, you will probably have to come to terms, the benefit of more and more freshly real -real strategies abuse a casual technique. And really, why are empty thoughts, and la Warcraft 3 Regarding the strategic point of view of the placement of buildings, if the gamingds who have previously placed in the best places the strongholds of future cities have already taken care of everything. A pair of clicks on the desired square (and there are only 16 of them) and now the first sector of the future building is shown from under the ground (the more identical houses, the higher the level of captains – local suborers). No usual farm laborers did not bother to start. Yes, and why. Gold in abundance and much more rare Dragonshards collect eye units. And what, tell me mercy, here is the economy? Yeah, here I am about the same. All macro -management is reduced to dumb rebuilding the base, dumb riveting of troops and a stupid mouse on the map in search of enemy places of deployment and, therefore, money. The latter go without any heroic attempts. AI is stupid, and battles with ordinary monsters do not cause any problems. Sometimes, however, the creatures crawl into the arena, but they also quickly bend under the familiar strategist of the tactics of alternate tactics of units.
Underground walks, against the background of painted in the previous paragraph, look almost a highly artistic work of art. Here you have a limited amount of cannon fodder and labyrinth -like routes and a solid set of quests for outskirts that differ from their above -ground counterparts in actual diversity. Sounds, and it is played well. But, as always, there is one "But". At the entrance to Dungeon, the camera falls on the floor with a roar, exposing the rotting graphic engine. The acute -angled parts of the bodies, wooden animation, dumped landfills are integral attributes of the Dragonshard visual engine. Returning to the fresh air, you can relieve the virtual eye higher with a relief and be content with a digestible picture, occasionally issuing fascinating landscapes and beautiful water surfaces from "Correct" reflection.
At the head of the troops are heroes, or, in the manner of the game, champions. Four on each side. Avatars are not subject to any class orientation, however, it is not difficult to track it – just look at the arsenal of the spells used. Paladin, thief, barbarian – the set is quite standard. As befits role -playing, the characters gain experience, folding it in a common bag. In the future, the explos are distributed at the desired units. Not densely. Rare minutes of relaxation between missions – this is where you can walk around the real RPG’Shnik. Having successfully completed the next task, the player will fall into the awards store, where the soul will wish to be honestly earned by precious metal – from therapeutic mixers, to expensive artifacts, granting various bonuses of the whole honest military brotherhood.
Final comments:
The third pancake lump. Following the gray Battle Realms And Lord of the Rings: War of the Ring Liquid Made the next V-class player. Although, if your Connect allows you to participate in network battles, try Dragonshard Still worth it. Multiplayer came out surprisingly solid.
Gameplay: the prevailing boredom of ordinary missions diluted with interspersed Dungeon Trips.
Graphics: to look into the faces of units is strictly prohibited – the probability of mental illness is too high.
Sound: high -quality soundtrack by Lennie Moore (Lennie Moore).
For a long time?: If you don’t look at the multi-user menu, then for the evening or two.
