Overall: Single-player RPG that doesn't take itself too seriously - not like the old Bard's Tale games of the 1980s...
This game is a fun RPG that does not require a steep learning curve to play. If you're looking for a die-hard D&D game, look elsewhere... this is a little more like the D&D movie.
I find some humor infused into the game refreshing (like Fable) but it quickly gets old and can seem like a hackneyed attempt at a Monty Python product. The tongue in cheek humor is clever for a bit, but I think the focus is too often on silly aspects of the game (listen to the drunk sing-along in the "drunken rat" pub) and not in areas where it could really have a huge positive impact (like camera control). Gameplay: Easy to use controls, simple command system. Health power-ups are a little far-between at first, so save often. Dying is dead, and saves are only at pre-determined locations, so save whenever you get the chance.
You rely heavily on summoned creatures, and there's quite a bit of puzzle/problem solving and prose exploration... you can rush through and seek out combat, but that is only a portion of the game... if you want a hack & slash adventure this isn't a great opportunity - get D&D Heroes or Baldur's Gate instead!
They use a similar (becoming popular with RPGs) system to KOTOR/Fable where your responses effect interraction adn outcomes during the game - this is not a strong point of this game in my opinion... it has no bearing on the character really... just the responses you get from NPCs in subsequent conversations.
You have very little influence on how your character looks or evolves through the course of the game - I just finished Fable and am playing KOTOR II, so perhaps my expectations were too high.
The game area has a HUD that takes a little getting used to, but not too bad, but the fog of war and "you are here" mapping makes navigating a little clumsy and it's easy to get misoriented and re-cross yourself a lot. It's a realistic aspect of adventure gaming, but not a component I think is needed... let me get around easier and I'm more likely to enjoy the game. Graphics: Main and ambient graphics are excellent.
The camera is a bit of a pain, as you are forced to a overhead view with minimal pan and zoom control, but can freely spin the camera until you get dizzy.
The camera will swing into better view when interracting with NPCs throughout the game - BT adopts the latest "seamless cinematic" sequencing, so it's a fairly rich visual experience. Sound: Sound is excellent - ambient sounds (water, music in the distance, etc.) is great and the voice acting is done quite well. Suggestions: A couple of annoyances:
1) Allow player to escape cinematics (fun the first time, boring after we've seen how talented the art department is...)
2) More control of the camera - I played this game on a 65" TV and had trouble seeing elements of the game/items I could interract with... there are beautiful graphics... let me see them!
3) Some way to advance NPC conversations - I don't want to hear every little detail during every interraction with NPCs
Made in Canada