The back of the box for Two Worlds, the latest in a recent string of RPG titles for Xbox 360, proclaims, "It's like Oblivion on steroids!", courtesy of Hardcore Gamer. If true, Two Worlds is indisputable evidence that steroids are not just bad for you, they are downright destructive.
On paper, Two Worlds is a slam-dunk, must-own game. The open-world role-playing adventure, set in an ancient mythical world, and gives players a great amount of control over the storyline and offers a boatload of side-quests along the way. In addition, the game also boasts 360's first free (well, not counting that $50 a year you spend for Live) RPG multiplayer experience over Live. Unfortunately, this is one case where the sum is definitely less than the parts.
The game's best, most exciting feature is also the most broken. Those dreaming of Oblivion online, grab a raincoat, because your dreams are about to be pissed on. A conversation during an online game goes something like this:
Game starts, players are standing around near each other in the town. Player 1 hits 'X' to ready their weapon. Game freezes.
Player 1: "Oh sh*t, sorry"
Waiting countdown begins… 9...8...7...6...
Player 2: "What did you do? I'm frozen"
5..4...3...
Player 1: "Yeah, me too. I whipped out my sword and the game froze."
2..1...0...0...0...
Player 2: "What did you do that for?!?!?"
0...0...0...
Player 1: "Ha, ha, ha... This sucks..."
(3 minutes later) 0...0...0...
This may sound extreme, but it is exactly what most gamers will experience until the game receives its inevitable, and badly needed, patch (or five). Until that time, the online component, and reason most were looking forward to this game, is completely broken. Just about anything players do will freeze the game, and render it unplayable. Repeated attempts to play either the 'RPG' (co-op) and PVP (versus team battles) versions saw the game freeze when a player quit the game, swung their weapon, saw an enemy, or even just tried talking to a NPC. The game's best feature also lacking any Achievements should leave you wondering exactly when/if the developer is going to fix the problem.
In a bit of irony, the developers did try to incorporate a slick team-selection interface. Gamers are all lumped together in the main lobby until the host starts the game. Then, all the gamers show up graphically, in character, between a blue and a red gate. Gamers must run through the pegs of one of the gates to select a team; however, there is no way to change teams. Most times, gamers all end up spawning near the red goal. If everyone runs through red immediately, it will be an unfair 7-1 match. Since the online never works, it really does not matter, but how about getting the game to work before trying to get fancy.
Really, it is a damn shame that it does not currently work. When/if the game's online functionality is fixed, it appears to be a rather rich, ambitious online experience. The PVP version offers five game modes, and the RPG mode actually boasts sixteen arenas. While it stops well short of becoming a full MMO experience, you will be able to create a new character specifically for either the PVP or RPG online modes, and level them up as you play. Offline characters from the story mode are not available to you online. Two Worlds might be the first bad title on the 360 where you feel angrier that it does not work than you do about the $60 you just wasted.
