Just got the game...

Thoran · 08-02-2005, 09:24 AM

Installed it last night and VERY NEARLY yanked it right back off. The game lacked anything remotely resembling 'fit and finish', I especially like how the save game screen had a box for a screen capture but with no image, and how you have to exit to the MAIN MENU to load a savegame (WTF!!!), and how the load just shows an hourglass on a black screen, and how there was no map (even though the book said there was) and no music, and no atmospheric sounds.

So I shook my head and trolled out to the forums to see if the game was indeed as bad as it seemed after all of 10 minutes of play. I read a half dozen scathing reviews before I found ONE that was somewhat positive. There was also some rumbling about a viruslike anti-piracy tool that Typhoon Games or Dreamcatcher or whichever was using on their titles (luckily not on DL... that would have absolutely been the kiss of death... the game would have been jetisoned like airliner toilet water) Then I noticed there was a patch out. SO... pretty aggrivated but willing to give it another chance I DL'd and installed the patch, and gave the game another try.

It helped a lot, many things that were broken started working (automap for instance), it's still a clunky menu structure, no quicksave, exit to main menu to load, etc, but the gameplay tightened up quite a bit. After an hour or two of gameplay I've decided to hold onto the game, it has the potential to be provide an almost Diablo II type experience, and D2 was a great game. I like the character development system a lot so far, and while the graphics aren't anything to write home about, they're acceptable. There are some atmosphere sounds, and maybe they'll throw in a soundtrack at some point, who knows. Some furnature would be nice too. I just hope they put out a couple more patches to actaully FINISH the game.

Wyvern · 08-02-2005, 10:24 AM

Glad to read that you're going to hang in there with DL, Thoran!

DL received many bad reviews as well they deserve. This is the second game that Bradley has released "unfinished" and, sadly, DL is less finished than Wizards & Warriors. To get W&W to market they removed sections of the game and made an effort to finish up what was included. There were a few bugs in W&W but nothing that we haven't been able to work around and the game was fun and well worth replaying! I suspect that DL will has some similar elements but I find it very discouraging to see this game released in such an unfinished state. They've released two patches to the game, the first of which didn't include the automap. Personally I'm not overly concerned about the furniture issue but, really, how hard could it be to put furniture into the rooms?

Utimately what concerns me is if DL manages to struggle through and make a profit does that send out a message to the game developers that you can get away with releasing unfinished games. The message I wish they would pick up on is there is a market for CRPGs, a good market and more game developers ought to be writing games in that genre.

Garnet FalconDance · 08-07-2005, 06:47 PM

Oh my, I'm glad I saw this thread. I've been eye-balling Dungeon Lords for a couple weeks. Now I can save my (well, Budha's [img]graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img] ) hard-earned money for something better.

Wyvern · 08-08-2005, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Garnet FalconDance:
Oh my, I'm glad I saw this thread. I've been eye-balling Dungeon Lords for a couple weeks. Now I can save my (well, Budha's [img]graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img] ) hard-earned money for something better.

Watch for it in the bargain bins or check Ebay (I hear it is going for cheap there). For those who love CRPGs there is enough in the game to make it worth while it's just disappointing that they couldn't have finished it up before they released it.

Wyv

Thoran · 08-09-2005, 08:55 AM

After playing for 6 hours of so I agree with Wyvern, it COULD have been a great game... if they'd bothered to finish it. Even in it's current state it's worth playing if A)you can get it cheap and B)you like Diablo 2 type games.

08-07-2005, 06:47 PM	#3
Garnet FalconDance Mephistopheles Join Date: August 30, 2001 Location: deep within the sylvan splendor.... Age: 61 Posts: 1,443	Oh my, I'm glad I saw this thread. I've been eye-balling Dungeon Lords for a couple weeks. Now I can save my (well, Budha's [img]graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img] ) hard-earned money for something better. __________________ "Nature tells every secret once." Ralph Waldo Emerson

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08-02-2005, 09:24 AM	#1
Thoran Galvatron Join Date: January 10, 2002 Location: Upstate NY Age: 57 Posts: 2,109	Installed it last night and VERY NEARLY yanked it right back off. The game lacked anything remotely resembling 'fit and finish', I especially like how the save game screen had a box for a screen capture but with no image, and how you have to exit to the MAIN MENU to load a savegame (WTF!!!), and how the load just shows an hourglass on a black screen, and how there was no map (even though the book said there was) and no music, and no atmospheric sounds. So I shook my head and trolled out to the forums to see if the game was indeed as bad as it seemed after all of 10 minutes of play. I read a half dozen scathing reviews before I found ONE that was somewhat positive. There was also some rumbling about a viruslike anti-piracy tool that Typhoon Games or Dreamcatcher or whichever was using on their titles (luckily not on DL... that would have absolutely been the kiss of death... the game would have been jetisoned like airliner toilet water) Then I noticed there was a patch out. SO... pretty aggrivated but willing to give it another chance I DL'd and installed the patch, and gave the game another try. It helped a lot, many things that were broken started working (automap for instance), it's still a clunky menu structure, no quicksave, exit to main menu to load, etc, but the gameplay tightened up quite a bit. After an hour or two of gameplay I've decided to hold onto the game, it has the potential to be provide an almost Diablo II type experience, and D2 was a great game. I like the character development system a lot so far, and while the graphics aren't anything to write home about, they're acceptable. There are some atmosphere sounds, and maybe they'll throw in a soundtrack at some point, who knows. Some furnature would be nice too. I just hope they put out a couple more patches to actaully FINISH the game.

08-02-2005, 10:24 AM	#2
Wyvern Ironworks Moderator Join Date: January 7, 2001 Location: Rural Paradise, MI Posts: 5,701	Glad to read that you're going to hang in there with DL, Thoran! DL received many bad reviews as well they deserve. This is the second game that Bradley has released "unfinished" and, sadly, DL is less finished than Wizards & Warriors. To get W&W to market they removed sections of the game and made an effort to finish up what was included. There were a few bugs in W&W but nothing that we haven't been able to work around and the game was fun and well worth replaying! I suspect that DL will has some similar elements but I find it very discouraging to see this game released in such an unfinished state. They've released two patches to the game, the first of which didn't include the automap. Personally I'm not overly concerned about the furniture issue but, really, how hard could it be to put furniture into the rooms? Utimately what concerns me is if DL manages to struggle through and make a profit does that send out a message to the game developers that you can get away with releasing unfinished games. The message I wish they would pick up on is there is a market for CRPGs, a good market and more game developers ought to be writing games in that genre.

08-09-2005, 08:55 AM	#5
Thoran Galvatron Join Date: January 10, 2002 Location: Upstate NY Age: 57 Posts: 2,109	After playing for 6 hours of so I agree with Wyvern, it COULD have been a great game... if they'd bothered to finish it. Even in it's current state it's worth playing if A)you can get it cheap and B)you like Diablo 2 type games.

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