Square Enix and Obsidian show Dungeon Siege 3

Square Enix gave Obsidian Entertainment the unique chance to develop a western RPG, and Dungeon Siege 3 is the result. Developers Nathan Davis  Alvin Nelson of Obsidian were present at Gamescom 2010 to demonstrate the action RPG that is to be the sequel to the earlier Dungeon Siege games and is simultaneously developed for PC, Xbox 360 and PS3. This will result in more or less identical gameplay and no concessions will be made. The game will feature a similar control scheme regardless of platform.

Davis said that there would be several different classes to choose from, but the demo showed the guardian class. Unlike previous versions, you don’t assume the role of a single set character; instead, each class is tied to a certain character. It seems there will be no customization options.

The guardian will have two different combat styles (two-handed sword and double weapons) and the player can switch freely between both styles during combat. The two-handed style will wreak havoc upon your foe, but is slower and leaves you vulnerable. The combat style using double swords is more defensive and tactical. Each style will have several special maneuvers tied to it, and the player can empower them to unleash more powerful versions of the same skill. Aside from combat, the game features an emphasis on collecting loot, for instance gold and equipment to enhance the hero’s abilities. Items will increase or enhance different stats and abilities, but their level of strength will not be absolute. Stats with better numbers will not necessarily be better;  rather, your choice of equipment depends on your style of play in order to be most effective.

As the demo started, Davis explained the game would be non-linear and quest could be completed in whatever order the player thinks is best. Since there is a vast world to explore and finding your way through it might occasionally prove confusing, the designers opted to put in a trail that shows you the way to your current objective. This system is similar to those used in other games, notably Dead Space.

The game will also feature a branching storyline where your choices make for certain consequences that have a heavy impact on the progression of the story. Dungeon Siege 3′s story will not be a direct sequel to the earlier games, but rather be a completely new story set about 250 years after the original game. However, according to Davis, there will be some recognizable references to the first game, one of which was shown in the demo (a statue resembling the woman on the cover of the original game).

As the guardian character traverses through a forest and then a cave, fighting giant spiders and fishmen, he is introduced to a female character and initiates conversation. Dungeon Siege 3 uses a dialogue tree for the conversations, a funny detail being the symbol of an actual tree with branches being the interface representing the various options. After a short conversation, the female character joins the player on his quest. This character represents the archon class, and will also be a selectable character for the player at the start of the game. Her fighting style revolves around fighting with a spear and using deadly kicks. While Nelson was playing the game, Davis suddenly dropped in and controlled the second character, showing of the multiplayer aspect of the game. A second player can freely drop in and out during the game, and the AI takes over if there is no player to control the second character. It is thus far unknown what online functions the game will support, but Davis hinted there were plans to implement some.

It seems Dungeons Siege 3 might be a welcome break from both the old Dungeon Siege and the linear JRPG’s Square Enix is known for publishing. The game is set for a 2011 release.

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