DUNGEON SIEGE

                 Reviewed by Stefan Herber

I suppose it was only a matter of time before Microsoft decided to
make what they considered an RPG. Now imagine yourself an
executive in charge of games software in charge of a company with
basically endless resources who has produced the most accurate
flight simulators and highly regarded football games. (None of
which I have ever played.) What do you go for? The most accurate
implementation of the D&D rules currently possible on the PC
allied to a deep and enjoyable plot? Well it may not be a best
seller but it might be regarded as a "classic" - and let's be
honest - when was "Flight Simulator" last seen in the top 10.
Alternatively you go for "Dungeon Siege".

I suppose there are many people out there who have played their
first person shooters to death and despite the crossover elements
of some of the better examples such as "System Shock" are still
scared of the numerous rules involved in RPG's. I doubt "Dungeon
Siege" is even for them. It's realistically a game for beginners -
not only of RPGs but also of all computer games. The controls,
which are very simple, are made even easier by an in-game
tutorial, which also advances the play. The graphics are very good
- I am told that with suitable glasses it is possible to play the
game in genuine 3D but I never tried it. A new ploy is that your
character literally starts with no skills and it's up to you how
you wish to advance.  This you do by repetition of an action - so
if you want to develop your main character as a fighter then
indulge in lots of close combat. Similarly there are plenty of
spells lying around so you can advance as a mage. A nice touch -
but not to me the same as de novo development. You start on your
own but soon meet up with recruitable NPCs on the way. Of course
the further you advance the more specialised the NPC already is
and it's best to stick with their speciality rather than deciding
to convert them into something brand new. This lessens the value
of this asset.

There is one major omission - a plot. The vague background is that
previously friendly creatures have become hostile and you have to
find out why (although all is pretty much revealed in the
introduction.)

The combat however goes on and on and is seemingly incessant. Most
of it is very straightforward too and thus one's interest in the
game quickly palls.

There are however two plus points - it isn't very long (25 hours
at a guess) and there's no monster respawning. But serious RPG
players should look elsewhere and give this to their grandparents
if they want to stimulate a love of computer games in them. It's
too violent for young children and teenagers will by now have
played far more challenging games.






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