Dungeon Siege
- March 31, 2002
- Westlake Interactive
- 16h median play time
"Dungeon Siege" is a fantasy hack and slash game with both single-player and multi-player options. It boasts an immersive storyline, engaging gameplay, and stunning visuals accompanied by beautiful music. However, it can be quite buggy and requires a lot of grinding, while also offering plenty of humor throughout the game. The game takes you on a seamless journey from being a humble farmer to facing an army of evil, with the option to gather up to eight characters to aid you in your battles.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Dungeon Siege is a classic ARPG that allows players to control a party of up to 8 characters, providing a unique gameplay experience.
- The game features a skill progression system where skills level up through use, allowing for diverse character builds.
- Despite its age, the game still offers an enjoyable experience with beautiful environments and a nostalgic soundtrack.
- The Steam version lacks the Legends of Aranna expansion and has disabled multiplayer, limiting the overall experience.
- The game frequently crashes, especially after defeating the final boss, which can be frustrating for players.
- Graphics and UI are outdated, making it difficult to play on modern systems without significant tweaks and fixes.
- story328 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The story in Dungeon Siege is generally regarded as generic and linear, often described as a simple quest to save the kingdom from evil forces. While some players appreciate the nostalgic charm and basic narrative structure, many criticize the lack of depth, character development, and engaging side quests, leading to a gameplay experience that prioritizes action over storytelling. Despite its shortcomings, the game offers a wealth of lore to discover through in-game texts, appealing to those who enjoy exploring the world.
“The story leaves a lot to be desired, but there's a deep lore you can discover within the game by reading various texts you find.”
“The story is quite good and graphics are not bad considering.”
“Dungeon Siege impels the player into one over-the-top battle after the other as the storyline unfolds and a larger plot begins to reveal itself.”
“The overall story is generic as it comes - you're people are the survivors of a war who settled in a new place, but suddenly monsters attack and you, a humble farmer starting at level 1, must suddenly pick up arms and fight for your country.”
“The story is nothing to write home about and there is not much to make you care about the world and its characters.”
“The story is nearly non-existent, the lore entries are very scarce and don't give you much information about the world.”
- graphics252 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely regarded as dated, reflecting its 2002 release, but many players appreciate their nostalgic charm and the game's overall aesthetic. While some reviews note that the visuals were impressive for their time, they struggle to hold up against modern standards, often leading to technical issues on newer systems. Despite these shortcomings, the graphics do not significantly detract from the enjoyable gameplay experience, making it a worthwhile play for fans of classic RPGs.
“For a game from 2002, the graphics are pretty darn good, boasting gorgeous environments, solid animations, and vibrant lighting effects despite only being on DirectX 8.”
“Sure, by today's standards the graphics are very dated, but at the time of this game's release, it had groundbreaking and stunning visuals that everyone was talking about.”
“The graphics, while old, have a certain charm to them.”
“The graphics are obviously very dated, even when run at highest resolution.”
“The graphics have aged very poorly, but the animations are very tight and still an impressive feat considering the game's release date.”
“The graphics show their thirteen year age here; although back when this game was originally released, this was one of the best looking games of its time.”
- gameplay207 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Dungeon Siege is a blend of action RPG and classic CRPG elements, offering a straightforward yet engaging experience with real-time combat and party management. While many players appreciate its nostalgic charm and the depth provided by various character classes and mechanics, others criticize it for being repetitive and lacking in innovation, particularly in terms of combat and exploration. Technical issues, such as crashes and outdated graphics, also detract from the overall experience, but the game remains a solid choice for fans of the genre seeking a classic dungeon-crawling adventure.
“Clean, easy, and responsive UI and gameplay with awesome mechanics that should have become an industry standard for ARPGs.”
“The gameplay itself can be as simple or complex as you'd like, and the enemies are fairly diverse throughout the game.”
“What makes this game not a winner for me is mostly the combat, which is a pretty significant part of the gameplay.”
“Finally got back into it, got through the first area, game started to autosave and then completely crashed, wiping 3 hours of gameplay.”
“Overall, the gameplay was a bit underwhelming, not because of the difficulty but because of how it was made/balanced.”
“The gameplay is pretty simple as the majority of the game can be played with just the mouse.”
- music122 mentions
- 54 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in the game, composed by Jeremy Soule, is widely praised for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, enhancing the overall experience with memorable and fitting tracks for various environments. While many reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, some note that the absence of combat music can feel out of place during intense battles. Overall, the music is considered a significant strength of the game, contributing to its nostalgic and engaging atmosphere.
“The music is superb and changes at the perfect time whenever you encounter a tough enemy or boss.”
“The soundtrack by Jeremy Soule does wonderful things with the experience.”
“The music (by Jeremy Soule) and ambient sounds create an incredible atmosphere when exploring and traveling that is hard to match in any other game.”
“Strangely, there is no combat music, so during the pitched fights, the generally soothing location theme will still be played.”
“The music is okay but nothing special.”
“The music is repetitive.”
- stability44 mentions
- 7 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 93 % negative mentions
The game's stability is notably inconsistent, with many users reporting various bugs and glitches, particularly on newer operating systems like Windows 8 and 10. While some players have managed to resolve issues through community patches and troubleshooting, others experience frequent crashes, freezes, and graphical problems that hinder gameplay. Overall, while the game retains its charm and enjoyment for some, potential players should be aware of the significant stability challenges they may face.
“No glitches, high framerate, no problems saving/loading, zero crashes.”
“I have seen no glitches so far; I am only short into the game, but none of the issues that others have mentioned this early in the game.”
“The game has good music (thanks to Jeremy Soule being the composer), very good graphics (for its time, really out of date now), and the game is not buggy.”
“The game freezes as soon as you get to gameplay; I have tried multiple times and it just won't work.”
“I managed to get a 5-hour session the first day, then a random crash throws me back half an hour of gameplay. After reloading the game, I found it's now filled with graphical bugs that freeze and crash the game in less than a minute. It's impossible to play.”
“This version is unfortunately very buggy, especially at the end in Castle Ehb.”
- grinding39 mentions
- 5 % positive mentions
- 3 % neutral mentions
- 92 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, often describing it as a chore rather than an enjoyable experience. While some appreciate the mindless nature of grinding, many express frustration with the slow progress and micromanagement required, leading to a sense of monotony as the game progresses. Despite the potential for engaging gameplay, the grinding often detracts from the overall enjoyment, making it feel like a job rather than a rewarding activity.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“No re-leveling, no grinding.”
“After playing 20 hours, I can say that my original assessment stands - with a few exceptions, forgettable and tedious.”
“What was fun at hours 2-3 became tedious and repetitive at hours 15-16 as you do the same thing over and over.”
“The only way you can even level up magic is by doing damage, and switching out spells is just so tedious, I ended up not even bothering with most of the utility spells.”
- atmosphere32 mentions
- 66 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive qualities, enhanced by exceptional music and sound design that create a memorable and engaging experience. Players appreciate the combination of visual elements, such as muted colors and lighting effects, which contribute to a captivating environment, whether it be dark and oppressive or relaxing and adventurous. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered a standout feature, making it a compelling choice for those who value atmospheric gameplay.
“The music is spot on, lulling you into the atmosphere of spooky, hopeful, and dangerous by turn.”
“The atmosphere of this game is oppressive and dark, and you will love every minute you spend in here.”
“The music (by Jeremy Soule) and ambient sounds create an incredible atmosphere when exploring and traveling that is hard to match in any other game.”
“Diablo with no atmosphere.”
“Closer to an adventure than an RPG, it's like Diablo but without the loot, the clicking, the atmosphere, or the character customization.”
“The atmosphere of this game is oppressive, and dark, and you will love every minute you spend in here.”
- replayability18 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is generally praised, with many players appreciating the customizable character options and diverse gameplay styles that encourage multiple playthroughs. However, some users note significant limitations, such as a lack of respawning enemies and the inability to replay with maxed-out characters, which detracts from the overall experience. Overall, while many find it enjoyable and worth revisiting, opinions on its replay value are mixed.
“It's got great replay value as your starting character is fully customizable and you can choose to be a warrior, archer, or wizard, or even a hybrid of two or all three.”
“Was great then, and is still worth playing; it's a very underrated RPG with a unique take on being isometric yet having action elements, tons of replay value.”
“I really enjoy playing this; longevity and replay value are added to the game when you discover you play the version that has the expansion files, which also lets you try out some interesting mods.”
“It has no replay value.”
“Yes, it's a fun game with an interesting control scheme; however, it has a glaring flaw, and that is that once completed, the game offers no replay value at all.”
“- poor replayability (e.g. the creatures do not respawn; probably you can't play the game again with your developed (maxed-out) character but I am yet to verify this)”
- optimization14 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 29 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is widely criticized, with players noting significant performance issues, especially on modern systems, leading to stuttering and crashes. Achieving peak performance often requires tedious micromanagement, and while some users find enjoyment in the challenge of gear optimization, many report that the game's outdated code results in persistent bugs and graphical glitches. Overall, the lack of proper optimization for newer technology detracts from the experience, despite the game's nostalgic appeal.
“It's still fun even without the multiplayer, and runs smoothly on my PC.”
“The item drop system is nowhere near being optimized, but it makes getting a well-rolled item that much more rewarding, and the hunt for min/maxing each character's gear is a fun challenge for me.”
“If you can get this game to run smoothly, so anything Windows 7 (in Windows XP compatibility mode) and lower, it's a good throwback even if the multiplayer has been removed.”
“Peak performance is achieved by absolute micromanagement of your characters' movement and attacks, which in only a few hours crosses the border from fun to tedious.”
“The game is full of bugs as it has never been optimized for newer technology and can crash at any time.”
“Because the game is old, it has huge problems with its performance on modern systems.”
- humor12 mentions
- 92 % positive mentions
- -17 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players finding comedic elements in character deaths, quirky sound effects, and amusing narrative quirks, such as the narrator's insistence on referring to the main character even when removed from the party. The game features a variety of humorous scenarios, including absurd boss encounters and playful dialogue, contributing to an overall lighthearted and entertaining experience. However, some players question the game's overall comedic value and whether it justifies the time spent playing.
“The sound effects of your character dying are hilarious; and the sounds of monsters and casting spells are also very good!”
“Sidenote: even if you kick the main character out of the party, the narrator of the game will still say things like 'the hero did x' and 'now it was time for the hero to y' and stuff like that, it's pretty funny.”
“A game that has: your own death claws (hello Fallout); a hilarious and plump dragon-boss who clogs you with his belly; the high king-drunk who will 'pray for you'; two schools of magic, fighting pitchforks and donkeys.”
“The jokes fall flat and feel forced.”
“I expected more clever humor, but it just didn't land.”
“The attempts at comedy are cringeworthy and miss the mark.”
- character development8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is praised for its balance with the storyline and gameplay mechanics, allowing players significant control over character specialization and improvement through a point system. Players appreciate the dynamic nature of character growth based on combat choices and usage, although some note that hybrid classes may feel underpowered compared to specialized ones. Overall, the character development system enhances engagement and strategy within the game.
“The story line, the character development, the point system, and the weapons and spells are a perfect balance.”
“I like the character stats improvement mechanism too - you have real control over character development and specialization.”
“Character development is also interesting; your party members develop their combat effectiveness by how you use them (melee, ranged, caster, etc.).”
“I normally don't really like RPGs that are light on story and character development, but Dungeon Siege's gameplay has me completely hooked.”
“Automated attack allows a casual aspect and control of up to 6 characters allows for playing around with character development.”
“The music is pretty cool, the graphics (once I finally found a zoom level I was comfortable with - 2.5D'ish) weren't too bad, the battles got epic at times, and character development and the interface were awesome.”
- monetization5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its lack of microtransactions, reflecting a design philosophy that prioritizes gameplay over monetization. However, it is noted that the multiplayer aspect is no longer supported, making it primarily a single-player experience despite its initial marketing.
“I just can't speak highly enough of this game; it's the perfect example of how game companies used to think before monetization became the priority over innovation.”
“No microtransactions, thank you!”
“Microtransactions for a good cause.”
“=== microtransactions / DLC policy ===”
“☐ microtransactions for a good cause 😈”
“I just can't speak highly enough of this game, it's the perfect example of how game companies used to think, before monetization became the priority over innovation.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, with some recalling fond memories of playing with loved ones, while others feel a deep attachment to the game's characters and world. However, there are criticisms regarding the storyline, with some finding it lacking and unengaging. Overall, the emotional impact varies significantly among players, with nostalgia and attachment being prominent themes for many.
“This game is easily one of my top 3 favorites, right next to Neverwinter Nights and EverQuest. Growing up playing it again made me feel like I was sitting there doing co-op with my grandfather, who has been deceased.”
“No matter how old and simple this game is, even today when playing, I feel an emotional connection with those digital beasts of burden and the need to protect them with my life on my journey.”
“The story is poor and boring.”
“It's just a boring story with 'go here, kill this' quests.”
