Dungeon Siege II

About

In Dungeon Siege II, players must save the world from a devastating, ancient evil that has resurfaced after a generation of peace. As the hero, you will wield sword and spell to combat the threats of a magic-depleted world on the brink of destruction. The game is set in a richly detailed world with a history steeped in magic and lore, where players must confront the consequences of a thousand years of magical loosing.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

73%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,368 reviews

story218 positive mentions

grinding48 negative mentions

Dungeon Siege II offers an engaging story and immersive world, building on the strengths of its predecessor.
The game features a robust character customization system, allowing players to mix and match classes and abilities.
The combat mechanics are enjoyable, with a variety of spells and skills that keep gameplay fresh and exciting.

The game suffers from significant technical issues on modern systems, including a missing mouse cursor and poor resolution scaling.
Multiplayer functionality has been disabled, limiting the game's replayability and social experience.
The save system can be frustrating, as players are often forced to backtrack significantly after dying, leading to tedious gameplay.

story
644 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
61%
5%
The story in Dungeon Siege II has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its engaging lore and character interactions, while others criticize it for being predictable and lacking depth compared to its predecessor. Many noted that the game features a variety of side quests that enhance the world-building, but the main plot is often seen as generic and unoriginal. Additionally, the absence of the "Broken World" expansion on platforms like Steam leaves the narrative feeling incomplete for some players.
- “With its expanded world, refined gameplay mechanics, and captivating story, Dungeon Siege 2 offers an even more immersive and engrossing experience for fans of the genre.”
- “The dialogues and cutscenes are expertly crafted, immersing players in a story that feels both epic and personal.”
- “The story line is just as brilliant as before, with the main quest line comes a wide variety of side quests that will keep you busy for hours, sending you all over the place, to experience the numerous new enemy types, the beautiful forests, caverns and other created settings.”
- “Chief among the issues to me: the story was so badly written that DS3 has completely ignored the story/lore of DS2, like it never happened.”
- “This follow-up feels like a grind and the story is weak.”
- “The problem is without Broken World the plot is not finished; the plot is written in such a way that they always had an expansion in mind, so the game rather feels like it finishes at an intermediate checkpoint rather than reaching a satisfactory conclusion.”
gameplay
298 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
57%
7%
The gameplay of Dungeon Siege II is praised for its engaging RPG mechanics, allowing for deep character development and strategic combat, while maintaining a nostalgic charm that resonates with long-time fans. Although some players note a decline in complexity compared to its predecessor, the game introduces new features like refined combat mechanics and a more streamlined inventory system, enhancing the overall experience. However, criticisms arise regarding balance issues, outdated graphics, and occasional clunky controls, which may detract from the enjoyment for some players.
- “The emphasis on fluid, engaging, and thrilling gameplay is what helps set Dungeon Siege 2 apart from the rest of the ARPGs on the market, old or new.”
- “With its expanded world, refined gameplay mechanics, and captivating story, Dungeon Siege 2 offers an even more immersive and engrossing experience for fans of the genre.”
- “Dungeon Siege II is the direct evolution of its predecessor, keeping all the good aspects of gameplay, world-building, and storyline while expanding on it with new build diversification and pleasant new scenery.”
- “The gameplay is dull.”
- “Very clunky gameplay, and it's really hard navigating around the map.”
- “All in all I can see why this franchise ultimately failed; technical issues aside, poor game mechanics really make this game not fun to play.”
graphics
268 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
60%
13%
The graphics of Dungeon Siege 1 & 2 are generally considered outdated by modern standards, with many reviewers noting that they were impressive for their time but have not aged well. While some players appreciate the nostalgic charm and artistic consistency of the visuals, others criticize the technical issues and lack of support for modern systems. Overall, the consensus is that while the graphics may not stand out today, the engaging gameplay and immersive story compensate for their shortcomings.
- “Lovely graphics (for its age), plenty of character and party customization options, and a reasonably interesting story.”
- “The graphics in Dungeon Siege II look amazing for the time and the stiff animations from the first game are gone.”
- “While the graphics may not stand out in today's high-definition era, they are artistically consistent and contribute to the game's immersive atmosphere.”
- “The graphics are horrible, but that's really no surprise for a game that came out in 2005... it was state of the art then, it's horrible now.”
- “It's impossible to play on modern PCs without spending hours of trial and error manually tweaking config files with the only help being tiny bits of info in dead forums and 5-10 year old patches which are also getting outdated just to make the game recognize any graphics card made after 2008 and to have a mouse cursor to interact with the game at all.”
- “Understanding going in that this game is getting close to 20 years old, there would definitely be certain quirks or problems such as graphical glitches and other small issues attributing to the limitations of the technology of the time, which I would be okay with, but what I'm not okay with is being sold a 'broken out of the box' game with no warnings from either Steam nor the publisher Square Enix that most users will find a completely unplayable waste of money.”
replayability
64 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
58%
5%
The game boasts high replayability due to its multiple playable characters, branching questlines, and diverse character development options, encouraging players to explore various party compositions and story paths. Features like a new game+ mode and a supportive modding community further enhance its replay value, although some players note that the endgame can become grindy. Overall, many reviews highlight the game's ability to provide a fresh experience with each playthrough, making it enjoyable for both nostalgic players and newcomers.
- “The addition of multiple playable characters and branching questlines adds replayability, encouraging players to explore different party compositions and experience alternative story paths.”
- “Dungeon Siege II offers quite a bit of replay value; it has a new game + mode, once you complete the game you can start it again on a higher difficulty which offers more rewards for you and your companions.”
- “There are multiple ways you can develop your character, from two-handed tank to support healer with the ability to summon allied monsters, giving it a lot of replay value.”
- “But I feel that the game has low replay value.”
- “The end result is too little replay value for the kind of game it is.”
- “Very user friendly, tells a nice story though grants you only a minor need for replayability.”
music
62 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
60%
5%
The music in the game is widely praised for enhancing the atmosphere and emotional impact of the gameplay, with many players noting its nostalgic and immersive qualities. While some reviews mention that the soundtrack may not reach the heights of previous installments, it still features memorable compositions, including contributions from notable composers like Jeremy Soule. However, a few players expressed dissatisfaction with certain sound effects and the overall quality of the music, indicating a mixed reception in some areas.
- “The musical score and sound effects enhance the emotional impact of the story and battles, effectively drawing players into the game's world.”
- “Once you set in the mood, going through the atmospheric dungeons slashing nasty creatures whilst listening to the soundtrack is an enthralling and therapeutic experience.”
- “Music is fantastic and with the rest of the vibe it altogether is very much inspired by Middle Earth atmosphere and lore.”
- “The graphics are better, while the music is worse.”
- “[*] The annoying music and sounds really detract from the experience.”
- “Although... my only complaint is that in the crucial moments I was hoping to hear the iconic song of ds playing at its fullest... and we only get a cameo in the opening cinematic.”
grinding
50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
96%
The grinding aspect of the game is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the balance between loot and grinding, others find it tedious and repetitive, especially towards the end. The game offers a blend of mechanics reminiscent of Diablo II, but can lead to frustrating backtracking and combat that drags on. Overall, it caters to those who enjoy grinding, but may not appeal to players looking for a more streamlined experience.
- “Too tedious to make it work.”
- “The first game was enjoyable but for some reason this one just drags on -- combat gets really tedious, and later, respawning mobs camp portals making it frustrating too.”
- “Great game, though after one playthrough the combat does become tedious and repetitive, with some boss fights taking an eternity to grind down.”
stability
46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The stability of Dungeon Siege is widely criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs and glitches that significantly hinder gameplay, especially on modern systems. Many players experience issues such as freezing at the title screen, missing mouse cursors, and game-breaking errors that require extensive troubleshooting and community mods to resolve. Overall, the game is considered largely unplayable without significant modifications, leading to frustration among those attempting to enjoy this nostalgic title.
- “The game has glitches on its current Windows port, including the dragon glitch in which you need mods to progress.”
- “Understanding going in that this game is getting close to 20 years old, there would definitely be certain quirks or problems such as graphical glitches and other small issues attributing to the limitations of the technology of the time, which I would be okay with, but what I'm not okay with is being sold a 'broken out of the box' game with no warnings from either Steam nor the publisher Square Enix that most users will find a completely unplayable waste of money.”
- “Steam version is buggy as hell, don't bother buying.”
atmosphere
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
29%
13%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive quality, enhanced by a fantastic soundtrack and artistically consistent graphics that, while not cutting-edge, effectively contribute to the overall experience. Players find the atmospheric dungeons and environments enthralling, creating a therapeutic gameplay experience reminiscent of Middle-earth lore. Despite some concerns about the disconnection between sequels, the atmosphere remains a standout feature that captivates players for hundreds of hours.
- “While the graphics may not stand out in today's high-definition era, they are artistically consistent and contribute to the game's immersive atmosphere.”
- “Once you set the mood, going through the atmospheric dungeons slashing nasty creatures whilst listening to the soundtrack is an enthralling and therapeutic experience.”
- “The music itself once more builds the atmosphere and enhances the overall quality of your game experience.”
- “However, I think the game has changed so much from the original in terms of overall feeling, atmosphere, and story, that I consider it a standalone title.”
- “The atmosphere, the environments, the interiors—it's for the time really advanced technology that makes it a game you can easily put hundreds of hours into.”
- “The original game’s sound really hyped up the atmosphere and intensity of the overall gameplay; the sequel is no different. Well, to be frank, it is so much better.”
character development
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
50%
14%
Character development in the game is praised for its engaging RPG mechanics, offering a unique and freeform system that allows for deep customization and strategic combat. Players appreciate the refined skill tree and the ability to improve specific abilities as they level up, enhancing the overall depth and enjoyment of character builds. Despite some minor bugs, the character development is considered a significant improvement over its predecessor, contributing to a rich and immersive gameplay experience.
- “Engaging RPG mechanics that allow for deep character development and strategic combat.”
- “The character development system is relatively unique.”
- “Really refined from the first entry in the series, and adds a lot of depth to character development.”
- “The character development is very original and makes sense, but you may face a few minor bugs during many hours of gameplay, mostly freezing screens, which sometimes even resolve on their own (on Windows 10).”
- “Complex and also casual character development system.”
- “The main change in character development is that now it is possible to improve some type of ability as you level up.”
emotional
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
71%
29%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its unique and wholesome interactions, complemented by a strong musical score that enhances the storytelling and battle experiences. However, the overall emotional engagement is undermined by a lackluster story and poor gameplay mechanics, leading some players to feel that without a pre-existing emotional attachment, the game may not be worth their time.
- “The musical score and sound effects enhance the emotional impact of the story and battles, effectively drawing players into the game's world.”
- “Even though there are few interactions, they are unique and wholesome.”
- “If you don't have any emotional attachment to this game as a reason to add it to your library, or can't be bothered to adjust display settings to be able to visually engage in it, I recommend against it.”
- “But in the end, all the improvement is meaningless when you have a boring story, terrible companion AI (they will constantly fall behind or don't attack), mediocre combat mechanics, watered down skills, and terrible map design.”
optimization
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The game suffers from significant optimization issues, particularly on newer operating systems, leading to various performance problems. While some users report that the game can run smoothly after addressing compatibility issues, the overall lack of updates and optimizations makes it feel outdated and poorly suited for modern hardware.
- “A few issues with compatibility, but once you sort this out, the game runs smoothly.”
- “Then it should run smoothly.”
- “As a mid-2000's game, don't expect perfect performance.”
- “The game isn't optimized for the new operating systems and you will run into one problem after another.”
- “This ancient gaming relic was just thrown in the Steam store as it was, in this sad, outdated condition with no optimizations or updates.”
- “The main issue is the game has not been, in any way, optimized for newer computers.”
humor
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features a strong element of humor, particularly through sarcastic character interactions and entertaining monsters that elicit genuine laughter. The cleverly disguised humor in the dialogues enhances the engaging storyline, contributing to an overall enjoyable experience.
- “I especially loved the sarcastic humor that some of the characters injected into the story, making me laugh out loud more than once.”
- “The monsters are entertaining, if not just plain funny.”
- “It has a nice and engaging story with a dose of disguised humor in the dialogues, which just makes for a better experience.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game employs a monetization model that includes real money transactions for in-game purchases, allowing players to buy various items or enhancements.
- “Does this game use real money for in-game purchases?”
- “Does this game use real money for in-game purchases?”