Two Worlds II
Encyclopedia
Two Worlds II is a role-playing video game
developed by Polish
video game developer Reality Pump and published by TopWare Interactive
as a sequel to the 2007 game Two Worlds. It was released on November the 9th 2010 in mainland Europe for PC
(Windows and Mac), Xbox 360
and PlayStation 3
. The game was released on the 25th January 2011 in North-America for the same platforms. The game has been a commercial hit and sold 1 million units three weeks after its release in Europe. By February 2011 sold units have exceeded 2 million in number.
fixtures found across the map.
From the beginning of the single-player game, all players' characters begin at the base level. Rather than having players choose a character’s class and style of play, as they level up points are given to be spent on improving their four main stats; endurance (health and damage), strength (combat), accuracy (ranged), and willpower (magic) while also unlocking and improving various other skills and abilities such as forging items, special combat moves, sneaking, spells and others. Players can also mix skills instead of focusing on one type of character build.
Materials can be gathered throughout the game world, either found in the wild, purchased from vendors, looted from fallen enemies or recovered from unneeded equipment. Whilst some materials can be used in the forging/upgrading of weaponry and armor, others can be used in the creation of lethal devices such as traps or bombs. Many others however are ingredients for potions that can be brewed by the player themself. These mixtures can either be used to recover a player's health or magical reserve, to temporarily buff their skills or attributes, or to use against foes as poisons. Due to the large amount of outcomes, players can name and document their new creations.
The other multiplayer modes are based on various player versus player objectives, in which a player's character can be brought into a wide range of maps and game types to compete against other human players online. These include; one on one duels in a small arena, team death matches where two teams of players must reach a certain kill count to win, and “crystal capture” where two team of players must collect a certain number of blue crystal that appear across the chosen map, along with other pickups that can remove or add crystals.
"We just received the container from China with the Collector's Edition and other components and they are wrecked...Several components were just a total wreck and unacceptable for us to give out to our fans.”
The new release date was scheduled for February 25 and all pre-order customers are expected to be receiving them by or on this date. Both GAME
and Zavvi.com
have since cancelled their existing pre-orders of the game with customers, stating that they would not be receiving the game in stock and offered their apologies. After speaking with GAME, Eurogamer
got in contact with TopWare's managing director James Seaman, who denied rumours of Two World II's release date being pushed back to March 15, but stated "But we will be doing something different - stay tuned" TopWare have since decided to forego a retail release, and will make Two Worlds II available only via the online retailer Amazon.com
, being quoted as saying “If you had pre-ordered this award winning title elsewhere, they will not have stock as Amazon will be fulfilling all of the United Kingdom. Amazon will have all versions in stock, including the esteemed Royal Edition. We will make sure that the UK is taken care of.”
Two Worlds II remains unreleased in Australia, and is on indefinite hold.
While the PC-version was released on October 18th, the Xbox 360 version was released on November 2nd. Release of the PlayStation 3-version is expected to be sometime in November.
One of the most praised aspects of the gameplay was directed towards the crafting system, many critics noting its simplicity yet variety and depth with Eurogamer
commenting that "absolutely everything is worth looting, as the game's superb crafting systems enable you to re-purpose every piece of trash in your backpack to useful ends". The spell casting aspect of this was particularly highlighted with Game Trailers calling it "more involved" than the other skills, stating that "there's a great deal to the magic system in Two Worlds II, so if you choose to specialize in spellcraft, expect to be rewarded", a view echoed by GameSpot
who called it "fun [and] flexible". On the topic of the ability to constantly be able to customize character skills and abilities, RPGamer
felt that "even if players are not happy with the build they have created, stats can be reset for a fee. This helps to not pigeonhole a character into one unchangeable role."
While the story was considered by some critics like Game Informer
as being nothing new and throwaway, the same reviewer however enjoyed the apparent comedic style at times that "from subtle references to the first game's poor quality to over-the-top scenarios such as encountering a woman who wants to feed you to her undead husband, the game's self-aware, tongue-in-cheek attitude is infectious," with Destructoid
finding "the game's sense of humor is one of its most endearing traits", going on to say "Two Worlds II has a very strong sense of individuality about itself, and that's more than can be said for many games with twice the production values."
On the technical side, many critics noted glitches and despite a significantly more favorable reception than the previous game in the series, the console versions were noted as being worse off, with GameSpot noting an additional con for consoles of "tearing and frame rate stutters get distracting", as opposed to the PC version. IGN
criticized the "difficult to navigate" menus and "oddly organized" quest logs as issues that feel "peppered throughout the rest of the game".
Role-playing video game
Role-playing video games are a video game genre with origins in pen-and-paper role-playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons, using much of the same terminology, settings and game mechanics. The player in RPGs controls one character, or several adventuring party members, fulfilling one or many quests...
developed by Polish
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
video game developer Reality Pump and published by TopWare Interactive
TopWare Interactive
TopWare Interactive is a video game publisher and developer located in Paradise, Nevada.TopWare Interactive started out in 1995 as a video game publishing subsidiary of the TopWare CD Service AG based in Mannheim, Germany— which included a inhouse development studio based in Poland. In...
as a sequel to the 2007 game Two Worlds. It was released on November the 9th 2010 in mainland Europe for PC
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
(Windows and Mac), Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
and PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
. The game was released on the 25th January 2011 in North-America for the same platforms. The game has been a commercial hit and sold 1 million units three weeks after its release in Europe. By February 2011 sold units have exceeded 2 million in number.
Gameplay
Like its predecessor, Two Worlds II is a real-time role-playing game that takes place in an open non-linear fantasy world where players take the role of a single character with whom they can explore and undertake quests. From the beginning players can lightly customize the appearance of the protagonist such as shape of face and body, and skin colour. As is common in role-playing games, the player’s character will level up by gaining experience points through completion of quests and defeating enemies. Much of the in-game world can be fully explored from the beginning, regardless of how much the player has progressed through the main story arc. Despite being non-linear, many areas of the land are populated by strong foes with higher levels than that of the player initially and as a result, players may want to explore them once their character has improved. While players will travel across much of the landscape on foot, they are soon given the option to ride on horseback and even later, a chance to man the helm of a boat to sail across the seas between islands. In addition players can also fast travel using magical teleportationTeleportation
Teleportation is the fictional or imagined process by which matter is instantaneously transferred from one place to another.Teleportation may also refer to:*Quantum teleportation, a method of transmitting quantum data...
fixtures found across the map.
From the beginning of the single-player game, all players' characters begin at the base level. Rather than having players choose a character’s class and style of play, as they level up points are given to be spent on improving their four main stats; endurance (health and damage), strength (combat), accuracy (ranged), and willpower (magic) while also unlocking and improving various other skills and abilities such as forging items, special combat moves, sneaking, spells and others. Players can also mix skills instead of focusing on one type of character build.
Materials can be gathered throughout the game world, either found in the wild, purchased from vendors, looted from fallen enemies or recovered from unneeded equipment. Whilst some materials can be used in the forging/upgrading of weaponry and armor, others can be used in the creation of lethal devices such as traps or bombs. Many others however are ingredients for potions that can be brewed by the player themself. These mixtures can either be used to recover a player's health or magical reserve, to temporarily buff their skills or attributes, or to use against foes as poisons. Due to the large amount of outcomes, players can name and document their new creations.
Multiplayer
The online multiplayer component is entirely separate from the single player game, meaning that upon first entering online play, players will create an entirely new base level character purely for use in multiplayer modes. Unlike at the start of the single player campaign, players are given the opportunity to choose the race and gender of their character, in addition to the smaller changes allowed in the single player character creator. The main multiplayer component is the Adventure mode; seven unique maps for up to eight players to accomplish given objectives cooperatively. Like in single player, characters can gain experience and skill points to improve their attributes and skills. After the player has accumulated 10,000 auras(the in-game currency), they can participate in Village mode, which allocates them a portion of land in a separate map, in which they can build and upgrade various structures to create a functioning village that can further generate more currency for use in both the Village and Adventure modes.The other multiplayer modes are based on various player versus player objectives, in which a player's character can be brought into a wide range of maps and game types to compete against other human players online. These include; one on one duels in a small arena, team death matches where two teams of players must reach a certain kill count to win, and “crystal capture” where two team of players must collect a certain number of blue crystal that appear across the chosen map, along with other pickups that can remove or add crystals.
Development
Two Worlds II was shown off at PAX East in 2010, and received generally favorable previews. Gamervision's Jonathan Cooper said that "gamers have one hell of a surprise in store for them later this year."Release
The release date for the game in the UK was set for February 4 but due to unforeseen circumstances the shipment of games was damaged, Topware's Managing Director James Seaman said"We just received the container from China with the Collector's Edition and other components and they are wrecked...Several components were just a total wreck and unacceptable for us to give out to our fans.”
The new release date was scheduled for February 25 and all pre-order customers are expected to be receiving them by or on this date. Both GAME
GAME (retailer)
The Game Group plc is a British video games retail company. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE SmallCap Index....
and Zavvi.com
Zavvi.com
Zavvi.com is an online retail company owned by The Hut Group, formed in 2009, after the demise of the high street Zavvi stores.- Zavvi Retail :...
have since cancelled their existing pre-orders of the game with customers, stating that they would not be receiving the game in stock and offered their apologies. After speaking with GAME, Eurogamer
Eurogamer
Eurogamer is a Brighton-based website focused on video games news, reviews, previews and interviews. It is operated by Eurogamer Network Ltd., which was formed in 1999 by brothers Rupert and Nick Loman. Eurogamer has grown to become one of the most important European-based websites focused on...
got in contact with TopWare's managing director James Seaman, who denied rumours of Two World II's release date being pushed back to March 15, but stated "But we will be doing something different - stay tuned" TopWare have since decided to forego a retail release, and will make Two Worlds II available only via the online retailer Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...
, being quoted as saying “If you had pre-ordered this award winning title elsewhere, they will not have stock as Amazon will be fulfilling all of the United Kingdom. Amazon will have all versions in stock, including the esteemed Royal Edition. We will make sure that the UK is taken care of.”
Two Worlds II remains unreleased in Australia, and is on indefinite hold.
Expansion Pack
The Two Worlds 2 Expansion pack, Pirates of the Flying Fortress, was released in September 2011. It features new animations, new recorded dialog, customization options, and new map area with a 10 hour campaign. It will also include 4 new multiplayer maps.Game of the Year Edition
On July 15, 2011, it was announced that the game would be receiving a "Velvet GOTY Edition" set for release October 18 later that year. This announcement has raised some questions among gaming publications, as it has been reported that Two Worlds II has not been named "Game of the Year" by any major media outlets.While the PC-version was released on October 18th, the Xbox 360 version was released on November 2nd. Release of the PlayStation 3-version is expected to be sometime in November.
Reception
Upon its release, Two Worlds II received a mixed to generally favorable reception from critics, more so in relation to the lesser reception of its predecessor Two Worlds.One of the most praised aspects of the gameplay was directed towards the crafting system, many critics noting its simplicity yet variety and depth with Eurogamer
Eurogamer
Eurogamer is a Brighton-based website focused on video games news, reviews, previews and interviews. It is operated by Eurogamer Network Ltd., which was formed in 1999 by brothers Rupert and Nick Loman. Eurogamer has grown to become one of the most important European-based websites focused on...
commenting that "absolutely everything is worth looting, as the game's superb crafting systems enable you to re-purpose every piece of trash in your backpack to useful ends". The spell casting aspect of this was particularly highlighted with Game Trailers calling it "more involved" than the other skills, stating that "there's a great deal to the magic system in Two Worlds II, so if you choose to specialize in spellcraft, expect to be rewarded", a view echoed by GameSpot
GameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
who called it "fun [and] flexible". On the topic of the ability to constantly be able to customize character skills and abilities, RPGamer
RPGamer
RPGamer is a media and news website dedicated to covering computer and video game RPGs. Its coverage includes North American game news, European game news, Asian game news, gaming industry news, game reviews, game previews, hands-on game impressions, gaming conventions, game merchandise, release...
felt that "even if players are not happy with the build they have created, stats can be reset for a fee. This helps to not pigeonhole a character into one unchangeable role."
While the story was considered by some critics like Game Informer
Game Informer
Game Informer is an American-based monthly magazine featuring articles, news, strategy, and reviews of popular video games and associated consoles. It was formed in August 1991, when FuncoLand started publishing a six-page magazine, free in all its retail locations...
as being nothing new and throwaway, the same reviewer however enjoyed the apparent comedic style at times that "from subtle references to the first game's poor quality to over-the-top scenarios such as encountering a woman who wants to feed you to her undead husband, the game's self-aware, tongue-in-cheek attitude is infectious," with Destructoid
Destructoid
Destructoid is an independent video game-focused blog based in San Francisco, California that was founded in March 2006. It has since grown into one of the most widely read video game sites on the Internet, reaching more than 3 million unique visitors per month...
finding "the game's sense of humor is one of its most endearing traits", going on to say "Two Worlds II has a very strong sense of individuality about itself, and that's more than can be said for many games with twice the production values."
On the technical side, many critics noted glitches and despite a significantly more favorable reception than the previous game in the series, the console versions were noted as being worse off, with GameSpot noting an additional con for consoles of "tearing and frame rate stutters get distracting", as opposed to the PC version. IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
criticized the "difficult to navigate" menus and "oddly organized" quest logs as issues that feel "peppered throughout the rest of the game".
External links
- Official website
- Two Worlds II interview at GamingLives