Did the Gamespot staff play the same game as I?
Gameplay:
If you had to categorize DM, you'd definitely call it an Action-RPG (putting a huge stress on the "action" part). It does follow the basic guildies of a role-playing game with stat, ability, and gear building, but it also has some great hack-n-slash action that anyone who isn't a big RPGer could appreciate. Building your character is different than most RPG's. There aren't any classes in DM, but you can choose to excel in stealth, combat, or magic (or be a jack-of-all-trades and get a bit from each area) to make your own class. You recieve skill points by completing objectives and killing bosses that you use to buy abilities and stat-upgrades, unlike getting it from every enemy you fight like in other RPG's. The melee combat is intense, fast, and brutal. You can parry, block, kick, and disarm along with your basic attacking. Even the attacking isn't so simple. You can charge your attacks into power attacks which vary depending on the direction you're moving in and each inflict different amounts of damage in different areas. You can decapitate enemies, kick them onto spikes and over cliff edges, and slice them clean in half with some of the more powerful weapons. The magic combat isn't as complex/brutal as the melee (you basically just cast your spell and have it hit the enemy, no combos or special moves or anything), but each spell packs a huge punch. Along with the great, fast-paced combat, there's a fair deal of simple puzzle solving (though it's nothing too fancy) and acrobatics involved when you get the "rope bow." The environments are extremely destructable, and you can use these aspects in combat (whether it be slicing ropes to lower traps or breaking statues to fall on your victims). And on top of it all, DM features a very good AI system. The enemies can do almost anything you can as far as environmental manipulation and combat techniques. All-in-all, DM is just super fun to play.
Graphics:
The graphics in DM are beautiful. From high-polygon models on characters, to stunning HDR lighting and effects, DM delivers on what a next-gen game should look like. Granted, it's not absolutely breath-taking, but the graphics definitely warrant a 9 or 10. The great HDR and water effects, on top of the physics, are all thanks to ValvE's great Source Engine (used by other games such as Half-Life 2 and Counter-Strike: Source). The environments feel very alive and all of the graphical effects presented make you feel like your a part of this fantasy world. Sound:
DM features a full voice-acted cast (no written lines, here). The voice-overs, overall, are good. There's nothing amazing (like we see in The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay), but they definitely have a good touch of acting in them. The sound effects are great, and each footstep sounds realistic on the surface you're walking on. There isn't a lot of music in the game, but when you fight bosses and have it cue in, it's epic and grand, and worth listening too over and over again.
Value:
If you can get over the post-launch bugs and glitches (and work to make the game work properly), the game is extremely good. This will probably be overlooked by many because of said crashes and bugs, and I hope that you will try it out, or at least it will get the chance it deserves after Arkane releases the patches.