Two Worlds 2 – beautiful journey and a game with surprisingly good production values…
Well, enough about history. Two Words 2 was announced and I kept hearing lots of positive vibe from the European crowds (since the game was released early in Europe, but was pushed back in the US). I was thinking to myself - "Really?...Sure, they could not have improved it that much from the first one, which was bad.." Oh boy, I was so off the chart here, so when I picked up Two Worlds 2 last week I never expected to be such a satisfying journey.
Here is the truth about Two Worlds 2: If you are a fan of open-worlds RPGs this is a must have title! Simple, really…
Story
The story of TW2 is engaging enough to keep you going mission after mission after mission. It is somewhat a known topic in the fantasy RPG genre (the hero is set out on a journey to save his sister from a tyrant ruler over the lands of Antaloor, in a nutshell), but it provides its plot twists nevertheless. The game starts a bit slow but picks up quite a bit after the first 8-10 hours. There a lot of very interesting side mission in every area of the map, so the quests are not simple like fetch quests or such. Side missions are very engaging and intertwine to a point where there is more than one way to complete them for most part. 7/10
Gameplay
TW2's gameplay mechanics are very good. Just like most Euro RPGs there is a static level scaling, which means some areas of the map would be harder than others, until you level up. There is no hero level scaling, so becoming a powerful mage, archer or fighter usually brings you a satisfying taste once you are able to demolish everything in your way. Looting seems like a traditional RPG mechanic. The magic system works really well as you find different "magic cards" and then you can equip them with a damage modifier card (which increases damage or other benefits). You can also create your own potions, weapons and such. You can upgrade weapons by stripping your existing weapons for parts (like steel, wood, cloth etc…) depending on how high your skill in upgrading that particular weapon is. Anyway, there are many good mechanics as far as RPG gameplay, so there are just a few of them. But overall, they work really well.
Other notable mentions are the ability to buy houses and even your own boat. The world is a pretty decent size and there are a lot small islands for you to explore with your boat. Learning how to sail it is a another job in itself, but believe me, the image of your hero sailing in a beautiful open sea scenery is very satisfying. 9/10
Graphics
Believe me when I say this: Two Worlds 2 is the MOST beautiful RPG you would ever find currently on the market. The map areas are absolutely astonishing from mesmerizing Savannah full of animals to kill, to Asian-inspired cities and jungles and gorgeous sunny islands. I will say it one more time: Two Worlds 2's sceneries are the best looking ones I have seen in an RPG. Previously, this "record" (if you want to call it that way) was held by Arcania Gothic 4, but now TW 2 is taking over. Other than that, the character models are decent (not the best out there). 9/10
Sound/Voice Acting
Surprises continue to appear as one evaluates the sound and voice acting of Two Worlds 2. The game's soundtrack is astounding. The several orchestral tunes work very well in the respective parts they are used. The themes are appropriate and somewhat epic.
The voice acting is somewhat better than good. There are only one or two characters in the whole game that had a below par or average voice acting. The hero's voice is very distinctive and memorable. One more reason as to why this is a successful sequel to the first one. 9/10
Overall
I bought Two Worlds 2, as I was getting ready to be disappointed. But the game turned out to be an excellent addition to my collection and one that I will be re-playing over and over again. Very satisfied! 8/10
Cons
- There are occasional graphics glitches, especially when you are sailing in your boat (if you purchase one)
- There are occasional physics glitches to where you will see NPCs walking towards a wall, or just standing on one place while you hit them.
- There are occasional physics glitches when the main character is trying to interact with an object like picking a lock on a chest or trying to initiate a conversation.
- Two or so characters have below par voice acting (which is a very minimal con)
- The game ended too early for my liking (about 40 hours to complete on a close to a 100%)
Two Worlds 2 is such a successful sequel to the first one that every RPG lover out there (while waiting for 11.11.11) should experience. The positives are so many and so strongly emphasized that every minor bug or glitch would seem a miniature compared to the goodness that awaits you in the world of Antaloor. A must have RPG for this year!
EvilSelf