Weird name, ok game (Divine Divinity (PC))

Member Name: Barold

Product:	Divine Divinity (PC)
Date:	27/05/09 (4 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good story, nice graphics

Disadvantages: Not enough replay value

This is a hack and slash rpg. As usual in this type of game the emphasis is firmly on the hack/slash rather than rpg elements. You select from 1 of the classes - Warrior, Wizard or Survivor, these covering the standard groups of caster, melee and rogue/ranged character. As a nice change to some of this type of game, here you can choose the gender of you character as well. This choice is doesn't affect gameplay in any way but some people like the choice.
The 3 classes each have a unique ability. The survivor can sneak past things, the warrior has an area attack skill, and the wizard can teleport. I've played all characters (although mainly the warrior) and while these skills bring a little variety to the game I didn't find myself using them that often, the wizard's teleport being particularly useless. But that may be because of my playing style.
The classes have different starting skills, different starting amounts of hit points and spell points, and gain differing amounts each time they level up but other than the unique skills the classes have exactly the same skills available to them. As you level you get more skill points, which can be spent on any skill you meet the level requirement for. This means that if you want your warrior to cast a freezing spell you can invest points in the freeze spell just as a wizard would. This gives you a lot of scope for personalizing your character and of course allows many ways of messing it up.
The story is pretty good, its not just bridging the gap between killing things. Its quest driven as always but these are a little more varied than the norm. There are a few of the standard 'go there and kill this creature' type, but many more of them are taking messages, investigating things and collecting items.
In terms of the interface the game plays very simply. Combat is simply clicking on an enemy, or even use the target-nearest-enemy button. Pausing often is advisable as the battle can be difficult at times. Graphically the game is pretty average, the game was released in 2002 and even then it wasn't cutting edge. But they get the job done nicely and you don't feel you're playing an ugly game. The dialogue is pretty good too, and you have some decisions to make instead of simply clicking through a script until you get the next quest on rails.
Where I feel this game falls down is replay value. Since you have the same skills available to each class you can basically get your personal favourite skill combination on any character which makes playing any other class a little pointless. Its single player only, and once you complete the game you can't take your character through it again.
Overall it's a reasonable game, and I got my moneys worth out of it but I haven't played through it nearly as much as I have many others of this type.
If you like this get Diablo 2+Expansion or Sacred Gold.

Summary: Good but could be better