Champions: Return to Arms

If Champions: Return to Arms looks a little like Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance, there is a reason. Both titles were developed by Snowblind Studios.  

But that aside, Return to Arms is the sequel to the 2004 hit Champions of Norrath. The game will allow importing characters into this multiplayer world and has two playable races.  

In Champions of Norrath, the god Innoruuk was destroyed and his body was shattered into 100 shards. Innoruuk’s followers are attempting to gather the shards to resurrect their fallen leader. Hate has infected almost everything that was once considered good and as a result, you can really trust no one. … Well, almost no one. 

Firiona Vie has remained pure and has called upon all the champions to rid Norrath of this evil threat. The game all revolves around a mission base hub, in which players move to different locations for the battles and return afterwards. 

The game features 12 planes and various levels on each plan. Other features include: 

·          Earn medals based on gameplay performance, which can then be used to unlock secret levels

·          Thousands of new items, weapons, armor and magical artifacts to acquire

·          New spells and abilities for all classes

·          A host of new monsters to battle and non-player characters to encounter

·          Secret Epic items of incredible power found through unlockable side quests

·          Increased level limits – take characters to level 80!

·          More than 50 gameplay areas along with a mission system containing non-linear side quests

·          Multitap support for up to 4 players

·          Superior online multiplayer options for up to 4 players via Network Adaptor – no additional subscription fees required (players must provide their own internet connection and PlayStation 2 Network Adaptor for online gameplay modes)

·          All new multiplayer and online gameplay options

·          Import and download characters via Memory Card 

The game not only has new monsters, but sports a new AI as well. The look of the game is also very well done and a lot of the graphical upgrade has resulted in greater detail in the game.  

Not only that, but the player lobby has been completely redesigned and player chat will be enabled. 

The first look at Champions: Return to Arms shows a game with solid gameplay elements, superb graphics and lots of action and challenge. This is a game that is lush in details and rich environments and should have a broad appeal for those who enjoy the challenge of a fantasy hack ‘n slash adventure.

For All E3 2004 Previews