Dungeon Siege III

About

"Dungeon Siege III" is a fantasy hack and slash game with action-RPG elements, available for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Windows. The game features an intriguing story, great graphics, and a compelling soundtrack, with local multi-player options for 2 players in co-op mode through split screen. However, it has been noted for its numerous bugs and grinding gameplay.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Co-Op Team up with friends to complete levels or missions together
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

70%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,096 reviews

story202 positive mentions

grinding18 negative mentions

Engaging story with interesting characters and choices that affect the outcome.
Good graphics and sound design, creating an immersive atmosphere.
Fun combat mechanics that require strategy and skill, especially on higher difficulties.

Significantly different from the previous Dungeon Siege games, leading to disappointment for fans.
Clunky camera controls and movement mechanics, especially in multiplayer.
Limited character customization and a simplified skill system compared to earlier titles.

story
544 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
54%
8%
The story of Dungeon Siege III has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its intriguing narrative and character development, while others criticize it for being generic and linear. Many highlight the impact of player choices on the storyline, which can lead to different outcomes, but some feel that the overall plot lacks depth and fails to engage. Despite its flaws, the game is noted for its well-written dialogue and immersive lore, making it a decent experience for those who enjoy story-driven RPGs.
- “The story is interesting and the combat abilities of the characters are varied and fun.”
- “The story was intriguing, the combat was a lot of fun, the characters and lore were quite interesting as well.”
- “The story is much more fleshed out compared to previous titles and I found it quite captivating.”
- “The story, which started out with a reasonable amount of intrigue, soon devolves into an uninspired generic fantasy plot about revenge, with its one-dimensional characters and unenthusiastic voice acting making the whole thing even more flat and lifeless, which is particularly odd since this game was developed by Obsidian, who are renowned for their strong writing.”
- “The story fails to entice you in a manner that keeps you playing. I struggled through most of this game due to poor mechanics, poor story, poor character/level design, no reason to replay this game as the difficulty settings no longer do anything, no benefit to increasing the difficulty and no benefit to play after level 30 which is the cap.”
- “The story is bland and generic, the combat mechanics are very simplified and trivial, and the game world isn't all that interesting.”
gameplay
244 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
64%
16%
The gameplay of Dungeon Siege III has received mixed reviews, with many players noting a significant departure from the mechanics of its predecessors. While some appreciate the streamlined, action-oriented approach and the focus on character interactions, others criticize the simplified combat, poor camera controls, and lack of depth in gameplay mechanics. Overall, the game is seen as a decent RPG with enjoyable elements, but it fails to capture the essence of the original Dungeon Siege titles, leading to disappointment among long-time fans.
- “At its core, it is still a decent RPG with action RPG mechanics.”
- “However, in my opinion, the game mechanics around abilities, ability enhancements, and passives give you the opportunity to create all kinds of builds, increasing replayability.”
- “Dungeon Siege III is an action RPG that seamlessly blends intuitive fast-paced gameplay, a robust RPG system featuring a large selection of abilities, loot galore, and the depth of story Square-Enix and Obsidian Entertainment are known for creating.”
- “The gameplay is slow and awkward to control; it is a completely different game from Dungeon Siege 1 and 2, and I regret buying this.”
- “Camera controls are terrible, gameplay is simplistic in the worst possible ways -- this turned Dungeon Siege from a wonderfully atmospheric party-based RPG to a thoughtless button-mashing ARPG.”
- “The gameplay changed so much from the first two that it seemed like they couldn't be bothered to do something decent with this one.”
graphics
183 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
38%
8%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that they hold up well for a title released over a decade ago, showcasing decent visuals and artistic design. However, some critics argue that the graphics appear dated compared to contemporary standards, likening them to older console titles. Overall, while the visuals are often praised for their beauty and detail, they are sometimes overshadowed by issues such as poor camera controls and gameplay mechanics.
- “Dungeon Siege III is a beautiful game--beautiful music, beautiful stories, beautiful graphics.”
- “The graphics are good, especially considering the age of the game.”
- “The graphics are lovely, especially on modern hardware, but it's clearly a console port and needs a controller to be playable.”
- “Graphically, the game is quite lacking for a 2011 game; I mean we've had Bioshock back then, and it was graphically stunning!”
- “Bad graphics, it looks like it’s from the year 2000, not 2021 graphics.”
- “The graphics are dated, the camera sucks, and the combat gets stale after 2 hours.”
music
46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
39%
9%
The music in Dungeon Siege III receives mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its atmospheric and fitting quality that enhances the game's immersive experience. While some describe the soundtrack as beautiful and memorable, others find it mediocre and forgettable compared to other RPGs. Overall, the music is generally considered well-executed, contributing positively to the game's ambiance, though it may not stand out as particularly remarkable.
- “An underrated hack-and-slash RPG with a well-constructed story and beautiful soundtrack.”
- “The music is superb and always fitting of the place and mood.”
- “The soundtrack is quite good, mostly in the atmospheric orchestral style, aiding to that tone of grandeur lost, but with tense and epic combat sequences.”
- “Music, sound, textures, geometry, menus were all plain in nature (nothing noteworthy).”
- “Music - mediocre.”
- “Sound: a mild soundtrack with no memorable themes.”
replayability
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
64%
15%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating the variety of characters and choices that enhance the experience, allowing for different playstyles and story outcomes. However, some reviewers note that the overall replay value is limited due to repetitive gameplay and a lack of significant difficulty variations. While some find it enjoyable enough to play multiple times, others feel it lacks depth and ultimately becomes tedious.
- “It's a game that is usually small but still has replay value because of different characters to choose from, like the previous ones that have something equivalent with the choice between 4 classes. A new detail in replay value that Dungeon Siege 3 has is the impact of choice on dialogues at some points, which increases replay value to have other decisions when replaying the game.”
- “Each of the four available characters has vastly different styles of combat, so the replayability of this title is high.”
- “I got to shape the world depending on my actions (kill or save a guy, free or imprison another guy, etc.), so it had replayability and your choices mattered.”
- “It has some replay value, but it's really limited.”
- “Little to no replayability.”
- “Not a lot of replay value and no higher difficulty reruns (like in ds2).”
grinding
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
95%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, often citing cumbersome inventory management, poor controls, and a lack of engaging combat. Many reviewers express dissatisfaction with the loot system and the repetitive nature of grinding for better gear, leading to a sense of boredom rather than enjoyment. Overall, the grinding experience is seen as a significant drawback, detracting from the game's potential fun and engagement.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
- “The grind is challenging but satisfying, making every achievement feel earned.”
- “I gave up after grinding a lot, buying the best equipment I could afford and still losing to an impossible boss who had some flying autolocking balls of electricity or fire.”
- “It had all the worst elements of an RPG (tedious inventory management, confusing stats) without the fun of combat.”
- “Let alone the tedious walking from point A to point B, the respawning monsters and/or the loot system (which isn't very good either), the controls just kill it for me.”
stability
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
79%
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant bugs and glitches that hinder gameplay, such as character movement issues and frequent crashes. While some users experienced smooth performance and no technical problems, the overall consensus leans towards a frustrating experience marred by poor maintenance and unresolved issues. Despite its visual appeal, the game's stability remains a major concern for a substantial portion of the player base.
- “It's not buggy; it has tight, neat spec options.”
- “The game runs great on my laptop at 100 frames, so I can enjoy this on the go.”
- “At least it's pretty - and bug-free.”
- “Controls are messed up and there clearly has been little to no maintenance by the gaming company to patch glitches or polish gameplay.”
- “The game is completely linear, buggy, camera angles are so frustrating, and I keep getting hung up on edges in the linear trail they force you to walk on.”
- “Buggy as hell with keyboard and mouse: the pointer disappears often, and the loot-all key causes a crash after a while.”
atmosphere
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
77%
23%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its high-quality soundtrack, detailed visuals, and compelling lore, creating a unique and immersive experience. Reviewers highlight the effective use of music to enhance the mood, capturing a sense of darkness and individuality across different areas. However, some criticism arises regarding gameplay mechanics, which detract from the overall atmospheric experience.
- “Obsidian really outdid itself, creating a game with an atmosphere few games can match.”
- “They did a fantastic job with the atmosphere of each area, capturing the feeling of darkness and turmoil in each zone while keeping the individuality of each location.”
- “The soundtrack is quite good, mostly in the atmospheric orchestral style, aiding to that tone of grandeur lost, but with tense and epic combat sequences.”
- “The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth needed to immerse players.”
- “Despite the potential, the game's atmosphere fails to evoke any real emotion or tension.”
- “The world feels lifeless, with minimal environmental interaction that detracts from the overall experience.”
character development
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
33%
25%
Character development in this game has received largely negative feedback, with many reviewers noting its limitations compared to previous titles, including a lack of customization and linear progression. While some appreciate the character design and aesthetic, the overall consensus is that the character development feels shallow and unsatisfying, detracting from the RPG experience.
- “Add to that the (admittedly limited but nonetheless) free-form character development, and you have the recipe for a great game.”
- “Good story line and character development.”
- “I really like the character design and the overall gothic aesthetic.”
- “It's more limited as an RPG game than the previous parts (less items to choose, more linear character development, and so on).”
- “Obsidian ruined the title of Dungeon Siege by stripping away all the customizable aspects and character development and locking players into poorly made classes in a cheap imitation of an even worse game, Diablo 3.”
- “I think the weakest point is the character development, for there really isn't much.”
humor
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is generally well-received, particularly when playing with friends, as it features amusing NPC dialogues and character interactions that can elicit genuine laughter. While some players find the humor to be a highlight, others note that the game's linearity can detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game offers a mix of funny moments and engaging action, making it enjoyable for those who appreciate humor in gaming.
- “Most of the time will be spent listening to other NPC dialogues to understand what is going on. Choices will twist the story a bit, but most of it doesn't really matter at all. It just makes curious people try to choose different things to say and see the NPC's response; some responses are funny enough to make me laugh.”
- “I would recommend this to anyone with a friend who has a great sense of humor and the ability to complain in an agonizing way.”
- “Now there are some funny lines from some of the characters, so you will get a jolt of humor or two.”
emotional
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
43%
The emotional aspect of the game is polarizing; while some players find the story deep and touching, enhanced by beautiful art and impactful decisions, others criticize it for being linear and boring, leading to a constricted experience. Overall, the emotional engagement varies significantly among players, with some feeling a strong connection and others feeling disappointed.
- “The client is like an AI that sticks with the host and gives him emotional support over Discord.”
- “The story is deep and touching, the art is beautiful, and the decisions you make affect the game ending. What can I say?”
- “Aggressively boring story.”
- “If you get past the camera, you are greeted with linear gameplay and a somewhat boring story.”
- “If you thought it was going to be running through paradise with nice graphics and boring storytelling, you are wrong.”
optimization
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
Overall, the game demonstrates solid performance optimization, particularly for console play, allowing it to run well even on older devices. However, the mouse and keyboard controls are noted as unoptimized, lacking certain functionalities like strafing, which may detract from the experience for PC players. While the graphics are smooth and generally well-optimized, some NPC performances are criticized as subpar.
- “Solid performance optimization.”
- “Graphics and performance for a four-year-old game are good.”
- “Graphics/art: the graphics are smooth and the game is optimized well so it can play on older devices as well.”
- “[h1][b] This game is meant to be played with a controller; mouse and keyboard do work, but it's unoptimized. [/b][/h1]”
- “I can get past a few poor NPC performances and some self-deprecating cheese, but not just plain bad.”
- “The inventory system is optimized for console controllers (i.e., no grid system anymore), the controls are built for a controller (i.e., to my knowledge, there's no strafe functionality, so if you want to strafe, you've got to use your mouse and stop attacking), and the skill system is simplistic enough for console controllers (i.e., no depth).”
monetization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
83%
The monetization aspect of the game is criticized as a cash grab, with users feeling that it lacks depth and strategy, making it not worth the price tag. The initial marketing emphasized couch co-op, but many reviewers believe the game fails to deliver on its promises, ultimately viewing it as an exploitative use of the franchise's name rather than a genuine successor.
- “This game is just a poorly developed quick cash grab hack and slash with no depth or strategy... may be kinda fun on console split screen with a friend but even then only kinda fun for a little while.”
- “Overall it's passable as an ARPG, but taking into account the legacy of the franchise, it feels more like a cash grab due to the name than an actual successor.”
- “Overall the game isn't worth much, maybe 5€ or so, but unless you really are in need of a co-op title, I wouldn't suggest getting it at all; it's a cash grab for the Dungeon Siege name and nothing more.”