Tags: Divinity 2; Larian Studios
<p>... in reviews as well as sales.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Let's start with the reviews:</p>
<p>Resolution Magazine <a href="http://resolution-magazine.co.uk/content/review-divinity-ii-the-dragon-knight-saga/" target="_blank">scores it 8/10</a> despite thinking that <em>developers who peddle such traditional RPG claptrap in the year 2010 are outright lazy.</em></p>
<blockquote>
<p>Graphically, the game runs on the same engine as Oblivion and Fallout 3. It’s practically a revelation when you consider how fabulous Divinity II looks. Aside from a few ropey character models, the level of detail is meticulous. When trawling through the wastes of Fallout 3, every house is furnished with the same three pieces of flatpack. In Divinity II, the world has been crafted around the player –there may be an unusual amount of similar urns, but it generally feels more alive. The settlements in particular, while sparsely populated, are lovingly crafted. It’s an even more impressive fact when you consider the raw size of The Dragon Knight Saga.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Yeah, it appears they were missing the <em>infinite scope for storytelling</em>, i.e. elven buttsecks and the like.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Neoseeker <a href="http://www.neoseeker.com/Articles/Games/Reviews/divinity_2_dks/" target="_blank">calls the game a gem</a>, 9/10.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Characters are well-formed, all likeable in their own way, and feel 'real' for the most part. I actually enjoyed their individual stories much more than the overall plot -- they really add a sense of homeliness to the universe. One major downside, and probably the only one I can think of which hurts the game is a lack of character models -- only a handful really are used throughout the entire game, though Larian is as creative as any developer could be in creating a lot of variety within that framework with different skin tones and hair styles and colours and whatnot. Still, it's definitely distracting or immersion-breaking at times, though not enough to put a serious dent in the experience. Note this doesn't apply to enemies, which are plenty varied.</p>
<p>Another detriment is the voices of a couple of characters. For the most part, the voice acting is excellent and highly enjoyable (phwew), but I found the main villain's voice completely unbecoming, for one. Thankfully, this is rare.</p>
<p>...</p>
<p>The game has multiple weaknesses still, but none seriously damper the experience. In the end, this is a highly polished and smooth title CRPG fans should be eager to add to their collection alongside other greats like <em>Dragon Age</em> and <em>Risen</em>. North Americans should note the title is currently available only digitally -- the team is currently looking into a retail release.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>And finally Larian Studios bigwig Swen Vincke <a href="http://www.larian.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=427486#Post427486" target="_blank">revealed some details</a> at the Larian forums:</p>
<blockquote>
<p><span id="body0">I nearly choked on my coffee today, twice <img title="smile" src="http://www.larian.com/forums/images/graemlins/default/smile.gif" alt="
" width="15" height="15" /> First there was the 9/10 at Neoseeker for which I was very grateful, especially since that review happened because we provided a review copy based on a hint from someone here in the forum, and then next , reading MCV, a trade industry magazine covering mostly the UK - I spotted the following article:<br /><br />More Stock en-route as Divinity II sells out<br /><br />Mastertronic has promised to provide more stock for Divinity II: The Dragon Knight Saga after the first batch sold out. The launch allocation has run out ahead of it's release today. But the game's distributor has assured retailers that there will be sufficient supply to meet demand. "Our experience with the original Divinity II meant that we were expecting good things for the launch of this expanded edition, but the demand has really taken us by surprise" said Mastertronic's group sales director James Cato. <br /><br />"We've had to pull out all the stops to get more stock and to make sure that we can continue to fulfill orders in time"<br /><br />"A lot of hard work from a lot of people means that we are still going to hit our release dates and there will be minimum disruption to orders already placed"<br /><br />"Such high levels of interest point to Divinity II being one of the strongest RPG titles on the market this Christmas"<br /><br />I don't know what to make of it, but I think this is the first time we have something like this happen to us in the UK <img title="smile" src="http://www.larian.com/forums/images/graemlins/default/smile.gif" alt="" width="15" height="15" /></span></p>
</blockquote>
<p>This whole success is actually because I'm covering the game regularily here on the Codex. I wonder when I get my DKS review copy, please PM me about the details, Swen. kthx</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Spotted at: <a href="http://www.rpgwatch.com/#16188">RPGWatch</a></p>
<p>... in reviews as well as sales.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Let's start with the reviews:</p>
<p>Resolution Magazine <a href="http://resolution-magazine.co.uk/content/review-divinity-ii-the-dragon-knight-saga/" target="_blank">scores it 8/10</a> despite thinking that <em>developers who peddle such traditional RPG claptrap in the year 2010 are outright lazy.</em></p>
<blockquote>
<p>Graphically, the game runs on the same engine as Oblivion and Fallout 3. It’s practically a revelation when you consider how fabulous Divinity II looks. Aside from a few ropey character models, the level of detail is meticulous. When trawling through the wastes of Fallout 3, every house is furnished with the same three pieces of flatpack. In Divinity II, the world has been crafted around the player –there may be an unusual amount of similar urns, but it generally feels more alive. The settlements in particular, while sparsely populated, are lovingly crafted. It’s an even more impressive fact when you consider the raw size of The Dragon Knight Saga.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Yeah, it appears they were missing the <em>infinite scope for storytelling</em>, i.e. elven buttsecks and the like.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Neoseeker <a href="http://www.neoseeker.com/Articles/Games/Reviews/divinity_2_dks/" target="_blank">calls the game a gem</a>, 9/10.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Characters are well-formed, all likeable in their own way, and feel 'real' for the most part. I actually enjoyed their individual stories much more than the overall plot -- they really add a sense of homeliness to the universe. One major downside, and probably the only one I can think of which hurts the game is a lack of character models -- only a handful really are used throughout the entire game, though Larian is as creative as any developer could be in creating a lot of variety within that framework with different skin tones and hair styles and colours and whatnot. Still, it's definitely distracting or immersion-breaking at times, though not enough to put a serious dent in the experience. Note this doesn't apply to enemies, which are plenty varied.</p>
<p>Another detriment is the voices of a couple of characters. For the most part, the voice acting is excellent and highly enjoyable (phwew), but I found the main villain's voice completely unbecoming, for one. Thankfully, this is rare.</p>
<p>...</p>
<p>The game has multiple weaknesses still, but none seriously damper the experience. In the end, this is a highly polished and smooth title CRPG fans should be eager to add to their collection alongside other greats like <em>Dragon Age</em> and <em>Risen</em>. North Americans should note the title is currently available only digitally -- the team is currently looking into a retail release.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>And finally Larian Studios bigwig Swen Vincke <a href="http://www.larian.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=427486#Post427486" target="_blank">revealed some details</a> at the Larian forums:</p>
<blockquote>
<p><span id="body0">I nearly choked on my coffee today, twice <img title="smile" src="http://www.larian.com/forums/images/graemlins/default/smile.gif" alt="
" width="15" height="15" /> First there was the 9/10 at Neoseeker for which I was very grateful, especially since that review happened because we provided a review copy based on a hint from someone here in the forum, and then next , reading MCV, a trade industry magazine covering mostly the UK - I spotted the following article:<br /><br />More Stock en-route as Divinity II sells out<br /><br />Mastertronic has promised to provide more stock for Divinity II: The Dragon Knight Saga after the first batch sold out. The launch allocation has run out ahead of it's release today. But the game's distributor has assured retailers that there will be sufficient supply to meet demand. "Our experience with the original Divinity II meant that we were expecting good things for the launch of this expanded edition, but the demand has really taken us by surprise" said Mastertronic's group sales director James Cato. <br /><br />"We've had to pull out all the stops to get more stock and to make sure that we can continue to fulfill orders in time"<br /><br />"A lot of hard work from a lot of people means that we are still going to hit our release dates and there will be minimum disruption to orders already placed"<br /><br />"Such high levels of interest point to Divinity II being one of the strongest RPG titles on the market this Christmas"<br /><br />I don't know what to make of it, but I think this is the first time we have something like this happen to us in the UK <img title="smile" src="http://www.larian.com/forums/images/graemlins/default/smile.gif" alt="" width="15" height="15" /></span></p></blockquote>
<p>This whole success is actually because I'm covering the game regularily here on the Codex. I wonder when I get my DKS review copy, please PM me about the details, Swen. kthx</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Spotted at: <a href="http://www.rpgwatch.com/#16188">RPGWatch</a></p>
