STAFF REVIEW of Dungeons & Dragons: Heroes (Xbox)


Sunday, November 2, 2003.
by thrAsher

Dungeons & Dragons: Heroes Box art Baldur's Gate has long been a thriving port city... Oh, wait, this isn't Baldur's Gate! Or is it? It feels like BG, it looks kinda like BG. I'm confused.

Okay, so it's essentially a clone of BG:DA - itself a fine romp if not a decent rental. The story serves it's purpose, but it's a been there, done that purpose. I'm not entirely bashing the game, it might be a clone, but it's got a facelift and some new tricks up it's sleeve. Much deeper in the RPG dept., but that's not saying a whole lot.


Single player game? Hardly. This is an action game built around co-op play, and it shows in the one-player experience. The levels seem overly large and open (not bad, mind you) but entirely vaccuous. Too much emptiness meant to be filled w/ other players. I had twice as much fun playing along w/ my roommate, but after a good 100% addict sessions over a weekend, the game is over and you're left feeling, well, like you just played BG:DA's big brother. The interfaces are all nice, and the ability to slow down time to change your spells/attacks/weapons is great. Characters seem evenly balanced, and each have a diverse set of abilities and characteristics that will make a second go at it much more likely than in BG:DA. Again, fun (but myopic and full of deja-vu for those who've played BG:DA).


As much as it looks like it's little brother, D&D Heroes ups the ante w/ a zoomable camera and wonderfully fluid animations. Effects abound, and spells and attacks look unique and are fun to pull off just for the purty colors. Enemies range in all sorts of sizes, from tiny to gigantic. Bosses are interesting, and old school paper and pen RPGers will recognize some old faves from their dusty Monster Manuals. The cut-scenes are sweet, although somewhat few and far between. Very good looking game, even though I found it funy that all the quests you take are pretty much given to you by buxom femme fatales. (I'm embarrassed to say, but the blue elf chick in the Ice level is SMOKING!)


"Bawoosh! Clink/clank/strongbad!(I swear!) Clink/clank/bawooosh!"... you get the picture. It's got just what you expect - cut-and-paste sounding mythical soundtrack, fireball and sword slashing FX, smug NPC voice-overs...the works. Nothing special, but again serves it's purpose(see above).


Suggestions:
I want a real RPG, boys. I would personally like to see this weak trend of action/RPG's die a quiet death. A 'real' D&D game is what I'm left wanting after playing Heroes. Please, instead of a sequel, dig up some inspiration and get innovative. You guys are just lucky you got this title out before BG:DA II. I'll be trading this soon enough.


Overall: 7.0 / 10
Gameplay: 7.0 / 10
Visuals: 8.0 / 10
Sound: 7.0 / 10

Comments

Site Statistics

Registered Members: 79,387
Forum Posts: 725,965
Xbox One Titles: 6,089
Xbox 360 Titles: 1,086
Xbox 360 Kinect Titles: 95
Xbox 360 Arcade Titles: 586
Original Xbox Titles: 987
Staff Reviews: 2,548
Member Reviews: 10,339
News Articles: 16,531
Screenshots: 38,795
Xbox 360 Achievements: 45,112
Xbox 360 Faceplates: 2,016
Cheat Codes: 1,706

Latest News








See News Archives

Community Forum Activity

KeyWe Giveaway!
Post by Variation-XBA
0 Replies, 23059 Views

2021: XBA is still here
Post by shrew king
38 Replies, 188690 Views

Watch Dogs: Legion
Post by Nato King
0 Replies, 120799 Views

Xbox Series X or S
Post by Nato King
5 Replies, 138029 Views

Spellbreak Grand Magus Pack (3) and Starter Pack (7) Giveaway!
Post by Variation-XBA
0 Replies, 129073 Views

I pay $ 1000! I search the Element 54 Canadian launch Team signaturen Faceplate
Post by Smill
0 Replies, 149967 Views

Xbox one no signal
Post by debrartin
0 Replies, 140201 Views

do you remember?
Post by SnoochyBoochy
3 Replies, 202593 Views

i haz xbox
Post by SnoochyBoochy
0 Replies, 157546 Views

Claiming the first thread of 2020
Post by Kraft
7 Replies, 252358 Views

Important! I pay $ 1000! I search the Sweden launch and the Element 54 Faceplate
Post by Smill
3 Replies, 146315 Views

Squad Up
Post by samslophead
0 Replies, 248958 Views

TERA Skinned Xbox One X Giveaway!
Post by Variation-XBA
0 Replies, 176560 Views

Starfield Release expectations?
Post by DJ tx
4 Replies, 304535 Views

Issue with Xbox live on Xbox home
Post by rcmpayne
0 Replies, 164582 Views

© 2000-2024 XboxAddict.com - All rights reserved. All trademarks are properties of their respective owners.
Xbox is a registered trademark of Microsoft. XboxAddict.com is not affiliated with Microsoft.

Made in Canada
Site Design by Cameron Graphics