Dungeons and Dragons Heroes - Xbox

Dungeons and Dragons is a phrase that's been synonymous with role-playing games for many years now. It’s true that nearly all RPG's feature such elements, but in this instance we refer to the series of video games that goes by that very name. In name, it’s one of the longest-running series the industry has to offer, and there’s no end in sight, with Atari’s release of Dungeons and Dragons Heroes for Xbox.

Refreshingly, Dungeons and Dragons Heroes doesn’t spend countless hours telling an epic tale between good and evil, a la Square Enix. It concentrates on gameplay, charging players to assume control of one of four infamous Dungeons and Dragons Heroes - the Fighter, Wizard, Cleric or Rogue - before navigating various dungeon-esque (surprise!) locales in a dose of classic RPG gameplay.

The way the game is played is quite typical at first glance, as players concentrate on hacking and slashing myriad nasties, and casting spells in order to improve their character’s statistics. Each hero has a distinct path of progression, which means that avid Heroes players could potentially plough through the game some four times if they so wish.

The Xbox version of the game also plays host to four-way co-operative multi-player gameplay via four controller ports, in what is perhaps the most enticing aspect of the entire game. Working together, players will have to make decisions in combat that ensure the survival of all party members, and not just an individual warrior.

Visually, Heroes looks stunning and is the most sophisticated version we’ve seen to date. The game world has been rendered in full 3D, complete with numerous special effects and great animation. It’s largely viewed from a top-down perspective and ensures all players get a good view of what’s going on, making the task at hand as clear as possible.

Dungeons and Dragons Heroes is a great RPG. Fans of the genre are going to be obsessed with this for quite a while. more