Has anyone here played a game called Drakensang and if so, is it worth buying?
I've completed it and I would rate it as "good, but not great". It does have good atmosphere (graphics, sound, environment) but the rules system is not properly explained in the manual. Many of the sidequests are entertaining but the main plot is fairly stereotypical (find the One Ring to beat the Dark Lord...oh sorry, wrong game). There are fascinating places to explore, but you often end up battling dozens of identical monsters in them.
The biggest problem with it in my view is dialogue - too often you are only given one choice, that being of a "typical hero". If you like to roleplay a mercenary or chaotic/evil character, this will annoy you disproportionately.
Combat isn't turn-based but real-time with an auto-pause option. There's a moderate level of tactics involved (fighters gain special techniques they can use at a cost in fatigue, mages can learn and improve spells at a cost in mana) but nothing that hasn't been done elsewhere. The spell selection is so-so (a few dozen) so disappointing compared to the Baldur's Gate/Neverwinter Nights series, but most can be cast at higher levels of power as your mage develops.
Character advancement is slightly different - you can spend experience (adventure points) on improving skills as soon as you earn them (no need to wait until a new level is reached) while character level limits how much each skill can be improved.
Worth a look (especially if you can get it cheap) but not quite up to The Witcher, NWN2 or Dragon Age standards. I do plan on getting the (pre)sequel if it comes out in English though.
