Two Worlds II

So while Two Worlds II might be lacking in polish, it is pure and simple fun without the headache of over complication.

Just keep in mind that truly enjoying this adventure often requires you to overcome challenges that don't involve puzzling quests or formidable monsters. Yet even with its faults, there's a lot here to indulge your urge to explore and conquer.

Tuck away the painful memories of the first game and try out this one. You'll feel some validation…even if it takes a little while to get there.

It's not a perfect sequel, but for those who remember the original Two Worlds, it's an adventure that is finally worth most of its weight in loot.

Two Worlds II suffers from a handful of the same problems as the original, but the improved graphics engine and deeper gameplay are positive steps forward for the series.

This role-playing sequel's big world and seemingly countless quests make it easy to overlook its wrinkles.

Massive, rubbish but strangely compelling. [Feb 2011, p.94]

The gameplay lends itself to be enjoyed with a controller, but falls flat due to its button layout. It still suffers from some setbacks and odd design choices, but unlike the first game, it is actually playable and, most importantly, enjoyable.

Two Worlds is atmospheric and exiting, vast and addictive. It has some pretty big flaws though that can't be ignored.

As a whole Two Worlds II is a definite step up from Two Worlds in almost every regard, and it especially shines through with its in-depth and thought out quest lines. Two Worlds II isn't however a match to the bigger western RPGs out there, e.g. The Elder Scrolls series. This is let down by the overly convoluting interface and control system that makes the gameplay feel like a generation behind.

Most of us, however, will find Two Worlds II boring, mindless, and dull, requiring (and consisting of) such little thought that it should have a warning label.

Is Two Worlds II better than the original? Sure, but there's still a lot of room for improvement.

It all boils down to how fussy you are about technical shortcomings, really. [Issue#68, p.84]

While the timer on my save read around 14 hours by the time I screamed and shouted and pushed my way through Two Worlds II's final (miserable, cheap, and poorly designed) boss encounter, I would put my play time in the neighborhood of 35 hours, at least. This is courtesy of Two Worlds II's propensity to greet exploration with quick, brutal death.

There are parts of me that are objectively bad, yes. But there are also things that are just obtuse or antiquated, and if people can look past that stuff or even embrace it, there's absolute merit to me.

Two Worlds II made a lot of progress, on a variety of fronts, compared to the original, but manages to keep the same shortcomings at the same time. It would be a good idea to stop adding stuff and balance what's already there ! To sum it up, it's like an RPG appetizer to wait for more and better. It's likable for its secondary quests, rather than its main one.

Two Worlds II is for the die-hard RPG enthusiasts who loves their "middle earth" settings and a more PC centric experience. It's a deal in the bargain bin, but for now, I would hold off.

The game's dull, repetitive missions drive home the harsh truth: it's an aggressively average action-RPG that's here far too late for anyone to care. [Mar 2011, p.76]

The mark of a really good game isn't that it is without flaw. Every game has its weaker elements. Most good games, however, have at least one core game mechanic that they do exceptionally well. It's that lack of anything on which to hang its hat, combined with a few places where it really falls on its face, that hold Two Worlds II back from being particularly interesting.

Fun concepts brought low by crummy execution. Hand-to-hand combat can benefit from skill-based flourishes, but rarely goes beyond crude whomping. Large plains hide crannies galore, though you navigate them atop a horse with the handling of a bus.