At first, Champions of Norrath seems to be a highly graphical multi-player dungeon crawl that surpasses all others. But on closer inspection I've found the game has many faults.
The intro is simple and the voice acting isn't terrible, if not too great either. At least the game uses a system in which the character's lips move properly with the speech… as long as the speech starts on time, and then the NPC is being dubbed like a bad chineese flick. After the incredible weight-defying-female or male character choice, we find ourselves in a gorgeous 3D world in which you can move about with ease and simplicity; unless one of the many game bugs stops your progress and forces you to start a new game over and over (and over) again.
Controls are simple and intuitive, and the spell book makes casting and changing spells in mid-combat no problem. The skill system, while an obvious rip off from the very popular game Diablo 2, is catchy, and the skills are useful, even if not well balanced. Actual combat takes about 1/3 of your game, 1/3 walking, and 1/3 loading.
The combat system is very simple. Block and attack, block and attack. The "X" button attacks, "R1" blocks. Triangle and Circle are skill/spell buttons, and Square is the loot/use button. "L1" switches between melee and ranged weapons, and "L2" and "R2" are potion buttons. Camera control in single player is on the right analog, and camera control in multi-play may make you ill, although it is also on the right analog.
Aside: -- If you're twitchy enough, you can take a mage of very low level into a much higher-level game, and be just as effective as the warrior classes, just because of the combat-blocking system. Spells always hit, and you can level very fast.
Leveling and continuing on seem to be the only reward for playing the game, because the satisfaction level from actually completing quests is non-existent. Combat itself is quite satisfying, but the story is almost patched together as if an afterthought. Whoever created the idea for the story, the characters, and monologue ought to be fired.
The first version of Baldur's Gate for the PSX2 has characters that add to the ambiance, have good voice acting, lots to say, and you actually want to listen. Champions includes a feature with the "Start" button that lets you skip conversation. You'll find yourself doing that constantly, as the pain associated with listening to the patchwork storyline is so painful, as your friends may punch you in the arm if you don't skip it. Or your ears may bleed.
The weight limit to holding loot from your story-less questing is realistic, if annoying. Although there is a skill which even the weak mage gets that allows massive burdens to be carried. And loot there is! Off everything... even spiders and fire beetles seem to swallow halberds and then spit them out again once you've slain them. The items themselves are varied fairly well, although you might get sick of finding the same unique item over and over and….
The sound is passable. It's not so bad as to become annoying, but not nearly so amazing as to scare, alarm, or cause you to feel any emotion whatsoever. The attempt was there for great sound, but I think it just fades into the background because of all the other game flaws.
Overall, Champions of Norrath sends a signal that scares and frightens me. Can games get by now on JUST amazing 3D? Norrath says yes. I say.. 4/10. Good graphics do NOT make a game.
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