Verdict: A decent if not dazzling RPG with some interesting online modes.
Set in the mythical world of Antaloor, Two Worlds is a role-playing game (RPG) that puts you in the steel boots of a sword-for-hire mercenary, hot on the trail of his kidnapped sister.
A game that's based solely around a quest to find your lost sister wouldn't be hugely interesting, so it isn't surprising that this quest forms part of a larger storyline, which involves a secret tomb, an ancient secret and an impending war between the nasty, evil Orcs and the 'civilised' races. No prizes for guessing which famous fantasy tale this plot draws its inspiration from then...
From the outset, it's impossible not to draw comparisons with the utterly awesome Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. Like its spiritual predecessor, Two Worlds is set in a massive and totally open-ended world where you can dip in and out of the plot as you wish.
Character development differs from more traditional D&D-style games, however, which force you to play as a pre-set character type. Instead, your character evolves during the course of the game. Five attribute points are awarded each time you 'level up' and these can be spent to improve your strength, dexterity, hit points and manna points.
You're also given skill points, which can be spent on increasing one of a number of abilities, such as horse riding and the ability to cast higher-level spells. This allows you to tailor your character to your style of play, whether it's a traditional warrior type, a spell-casting Ranger or even a full-on sword-wielding Necromancer.
There are hundreds of different weapons and armour types, which can be bought, looted or made. However, you're limited in terms of what you can use, depending on your attributes. Top-of-the-range bows require a high level of dexterity, while the more brutal two-handed axes need great strength.
Weapons can also be upgraded with bonus crystals that confer extra damage, for example, from fire or lightning.
The game differs from Oblivion in one regard, inasmuch as it's played from a third-person perspective rather than a first-person mode. While this feels like a step backwards in some ways, it makes fighting multiple enemies easier.
As the story evolves you inevitably meet a large number of baddies that all need dispatching, although, sadly, the combat is nothing more than a Diablo-style click-fest. There are also plenty of NPCs that help to develop the plot.
Despite the hackneyed dialogue and unimaginative storyline, Two Worlds is a good RPG, which is enhanced by some interesting online multiplayer modes, including 1-on-1 combat and even horse racing. As long as you don't expect a storyline and dialogue of Oscar-winning quality, it should keep you busy for several months.
