Dungeon Siege III
Encyclopedia
Dungeon Siege III is an action role-playing game
developed by Obsidian Entertainment
and published by Square Enix
for the PlayStation 3
, Xbox 360
and Microsoft Windows
. Chris Taylor
, the original creator of Dungeon Siege
, served as an advisor during the development of the game. It is the third game in the series not to be developed by Gas Powered Games
, (after Dungeon Siege: Legends of Aranna
by Mad Doc Software and Dungeon Siege: Throne of Agony
by SuperVillain Studios
) and the first to be published by Square Enix
after it acquired the complete ownership of the Dungeon Siege franchise. It was released on June 21, 2011.
As the game progresses and different quests are completed, the other three characters will first meet and then join the player character. Depending on which character the player chose, some events encounters might be subtly changed (for example, while Lucas, Anjali and Reinhart will meet Katarina for the first time in the town of Raven's Rill helping them, players who chose to play as Katarina will meet a non-player character
serving the same purpose) and the lines of dialogue are altered to fit the character's back-story. Unlike the previous games in the series, the player can only choose a single one of the three non-player characters to accompany them at a time, although they can exchange them immediately via the game's menu at any point of the game. The companion character will be controlled by the game's AI
but can be seamlessly controlled by a second player through the game's online feature. Using the multiplayer feature, up to four players can play the campaign together.
Each character has two different styles of fighting, each to handle different situations. For example, the character of Lucas can wield a two-handed sword to damage a lot of enemies at once but with less protection or use a one-handed sword and shield to fight against single strong enemies or to block attacks. In addition, there are three different special abilities for each stance that require "focus", the game's equivalent to magic point
s, to use. The amount of focus required varies based on the ability used. Each of those abilities has a improved version available after meeting certain conditions, such as using the skill a certain number of times. There are also three different passive abilities (such as healing, increased armor etc.). The improved versions of the attack abilities and the passive abilities use a different system of power spheres. All improved and passive abilities will deplete such a sphere. Both the focus points and the spheres are refilled by fighting enemies. While amount of focus available will always be a maximum of 100%, the player will start with only one sphere and gain three additional ones at key points of the plot, regardless of their level or experience points. Additionally, each character has ten different skills they can increase at each level reached, allowing them to improve their attacks, get bonus effects when being hit, etc.
Each of the four characters features nine different sets of equipment, meaning that (with the exception of rings) no piece of equipment can be used by multiple characters. It also features an "transmute item" mode, allowing the player to transmute their items into their worth in gold instantly from the items menu without having to sell them to a shop (although transmutation will yield a lower price).
Unlike the previous games in the series, Dungeon Siege III features a new control system. Created to accommodate the parallel release on consoles as well as on the PC, the game no longer features an automatic targeting system and point-and-click
mechanics. Instead, the player moves their character using the keyboard or a controller and has to point the character in the direction of the enemies they want to fight and then press the attack button to fight.
The game uses a display engine that makes the entire experience seamless by constantly loading required game scenes in the background. This way, the game does not need any load screens often found in other games.
, the 10th Legion, who provided stability and protection for the kingdom for 400 years, has almost completely been wiped out. 30 years before the game's setting, Jeyne Kassynder rallied the people of eastern Ehb and the Azunite Church against the Legion who she blamed for the death of the king (her father). Following a long and brutal campaign, she managed to kill the entire remnant of the Legion in a battle in the Rukkenvahl Forest and the royalist army of young Queen Roslyn has been driven deep into the mines of Glitterdelve, losing almost all of their power.
A small group of legionnaires remained, lead by a man calling himself the Venerable Odo, a former Legion spy. He kept descendants of the Legion safe from Kassynder and, at the beginning of Dungeon Siege III, called them to meet in order to regroup the Legion. The player character arrives to find the meeting place attacked by mercenaries of Kassynder's. With the help of Marten Guiscard, another Legion descendant, the player tracks down Odo at a former Legion safehouse. After hearing what happened, the player sets out to find other survivors and information on the attacks. After fighting more of Jeyne's mercenaries, the player travels to Stonebridge City, to reopen the grand chapter-house there. On the way to Stonebridge, they help a group of royalist soldiers fighting Jeyne Kassynder.
After reopening the Stonebridge chapter-house, the player seeks to enlist the support of the royalists by aiding Queen Roslyn against Jeyne's assault on Glitterdelve and the help of the City of Stonebridge by helping the Meisters who control the city. Their support ensured, the player attacks Jeyne's capital, the Spire of Azunai on top of Mt. Jhereb. After winning in battle against Jeyne, revealed to be an archon, a member of a servant race to the lost creator gods, it is revealed that she seeks to use her power to reawaken her long lost gods in the Rukkenvahl Forest. The player travels to Rukkenvahl and fights a mutant god created by Jeyne. After the battle, the player captures Jeyne alive and may render judgment on her, allowing the player to choose the ending.
Lucas Montbarron: Lucas is the youngest son of Hugh Montbarron, the Grand Master of the 10th Legion at the time of their last fight against Jeyne Kassynder 30 years before the game's setting. He is also a descendent of the first Lady Montbarron, the protagonist of Dungeon Siege
, who is commonly only referred to as "The Farmer" (Dungeon Siege III takes place 150 years after the first game). Lucas fights with a one-handed sword and shield or a two-handed sword.
Anjali: Anjali is an archon, a member of a servant race to the lost creator gods. As a mythical being, she can shift between human form, fighting with a spear, and elemental fire form.
Reinhart Manx: Reinhart is a descendant of Merik the mage(from the first game) and therefore is able to fight with magic at range and in close combat.
Katarina: Katarina is the illegitimate daughter of Hugh Montbarron and a Lescanzi witch. She fights with a long-range rifle or a pair of shotguns at close range. Rebecca Grant
modeled for Katarina's character.
Marten Guiscard: Marten is one of Odo's assistants and helps the player during the first fights. Afterwards, he acts as Odo's bodyguard and will recommend more forgiving, less avenging choices to the player.
Jeyne Kassynder: Jeyne is the daughter of the king, whose death lead to the downfall of the Legion, and an archon. Growing up as an orphan in the Azunite Church, she rallied the Church behind her after her father's death and lead a crusade against both her half-siblings and the Legion.
Hugh Montbarron: The Legion grand master 30 years before the game's setting and both Lucas' and Katarina's father, Hugh Montbarron plotted with other Legion commanders to dispose of the tyrannical king. During the failed coup d'etat
, the king was killed by accident. Montbarron died during the Legion's last stand in Rukkenvahl Forest.
The Radiant Youth: A golden-haired child when appearing to the player, the Radiant Youth is a guarding spirit of the Rukkenvahl and appears in the dreams of many Legion-related characters, often guiding them. In a tome found by the player it is implied that the Radiant Youth is actually Azunai, the deity worshiped in Ehb.
Queen Roslyn: The young queen is the grandchild of the king who died thirty years ago and resides with her "Tumbledown Court" in the mines of Glittervelve. Although appearing naive, she is pretty strong-willed and determined.
score of 72, 71 and 73 for the Xbox 360
, Playstation 3
and Windows
platforms respectively.
Charles Onyett of IGN
stated that "Obsidian Entertainment's take on the Dungeon Siege franchise has some merit. The core combat system is well-designed, offering a small but useful set of abilities for each character class. The varied enemy encounters encourage the frequent use of abilities and the dodge mechanic, which makes the basic gameplay – whittling down the health bars of enemies – satisfying. But the rest of the game mostly falters, unfortunately, to a degree that overshadows its achievements. Dungeon Siege III is a dungeon crawler with a boring loot table, poorly implemented multiplayer, and little lasting incentive to continue running around the world once the tedious story ends." Game Informer states that the graphics are dazzling and the character models are beautiful especially when they are zoomed in on.
After the release, a number of gamers complained about the controls on the PC version of the game, prompting Obsidian to work on an update addressing those concerns.
Action role-playing game
Action role-playing games form a loosely defined sub-genre of role-playing video games that incorporate elements of action or action-adventure games, emphasizing real-time action where the player has direct control over characters, instead of turn-based or menu-based combat...
developed by Obsidian Entertainment
Obsidian Entertainment
Obsidian Entertainment is an American video game developer founded in 2003 after the disestablishment of Interplay Productions' Black Isle Studios, for PC and console systems...
and published by Square Enix
Square Enix
is a Japanese video game and publishing company best known for its console role-playing game franchises, which include the Final Fantasy series, the Dragon Quest series, and the action-RPG Kingdom Hearts series...
for the PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
, Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
and Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
. Chris Taylor
Chris Taylor (game designer)
Chris Taylor is a computer game designer and entrepreneur most famous for developing Total Annihilation and the Dungeon Siege series and for founding Gas Powered Games...
, the original creator of Dungeon Siege
Dungeon Siege
Dungeon Siege is a computer role-playing game developed by Gas Powered Games and published by Microsoft Game Studios. Chris Taylor showed Dungeon Siege years in production for the first time at E3 2000...
, served as an advisor during the development of the game. It is the third game in the series not to be developed by Gas Powered Games
Gas Powered Games
Gas Powered Games is a video game developer located in Redmond, Washington. The development studio was started in May 1998 by Chris Taylor, creator of Total Annihilation, and several other ex-Cavedog Entertainment employees....
, (after Dungeon Siege: Legends of Aranna
Dungeon Siege: Legends of Aranna
Dungeon Siege: Legends of Aranna is a computer role-playing game developed by Gas Powered Games and published by Microsoft Game Studios.Released in April 2002 by Gas Powered Games and Mad Doc Software, it is as an official standalone expansion pack for the game Dungeon Siege...
by Mad Doc Software and Dungeon Siege: Throne of Agony
Dungeon Siege: Throne of Agony
Dungeon Siege: Throne of Agony is a real time computer role-playing game for PlayStation Portable developed by SuperVillain Studios, published by 2K Games and was released in October 2006.-Plot:...
by SuperVillain Studios
SuperVillain Studios
SuperVillain Studios is a video game development company that develops for the Wii, Nintendo DS, Xbox, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, and the PlayStation Portable.-Company Profile:...
) and the first to be published by Square Enix
Square Enix
is a Japanese video game and publishing company best known for its console role-playing game franchises, which include the Final Fantasy series, the Dragon Quest series, and the action-RPG Kingdom Hearts series...
after it acquired the complete ownership of the Dungeon Siege franchise. It was released on June 21, 2011.
Gameplay
The player can choose from one of four characters who have different back-stories and who seek to reestablish the 10th Legion and fight Jeyne Kassynder for control of Ehb. The background is based in a fantasy medieval world with geographic variety in open and closed environments (dungeons). Following an ambush by Kassynder's forces in the beginning, the player character will travel through Ehb in order to fulfill their goals.As the game progresses and different quests are completed, the other three characters will first meet and then join the player character. Depending on which character the player chose, some events encounters might be subtly changed (for example, while Lucas, Anjali and Reinhart will meet Katarina for the first time in the town of Raven's Rill helping them, players who chose to play as Katarina will meet a non-player character
Non-player character
A non-player character , sometimes known as a non-person character or non-playable character, in a game is any fictional character not controlled by a player. In electronic games, this usually means a character controlled by the computer through artificial intelligence...
serving the same purpose) and the lines of dialogue are altered to fit the character's back-story. Unlike the previous games in the series, the player can only choose a single one of the three non-player characters to accompany them at a time, although they can exchange them immediately via the game's menu at any point of the game. The companion character will be controlled by the game's AI
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence is the intelligence of machines and the branch of computer science that aims to create it. AI textbooks define the field as "the study and design of intelligent agents" where an intelligent agent is a system that perceives its environment and takes actions that maximize its...
but can be seamlessly controlled by a second player through the game's online feature. Using the multiplayer feature, up to four players can play the campaign together.
Each character has two different styles of fighting, each to handle different situations. For example, the character of Lucas can wield a two-handed sword to damage a lot of enemies at once but with less protection or use a one-handed sword and shield to fight against single strong enemies or to block attacks. In addition, there are three different special abilities for each stance that require "focus", the game's equivalent to magic point
Magic point
Magic points are units of magical power that are used in many role-playing, computer role-playing and similar games as an expendable resource that is needed to pay for magic spells and other abilities, such as special attacks...
s, to use. The amount of focus required varies based on the ability used. Each of those abilities has a improved version available after meeting certain conditions, such as using the skill a certain number of times. There are also three different passive abilities (such as healing, increased armor etc.). The improved versions of the attack abilities and the passive abilities use a different system of power spheres. All improved and passive abilities will deplete such a sphere. Both the focus points and the spheres are refilled by fighting enemies. While amount of focus available will always be a maximum of 100%, the player will start with only one sphere and gain three additional ones at key points of the plot, regardless of their level or experience points. Additionally, each character has ten different skills they can increase at each level reached, allowing them to improve their attacks, get bonus effects when being hit, etc.
Each of the four characters features nine different sets of equipment, meaning that (with the exception of rings) no piece of equipment can be used by multiple characters. It also features an "transmute item" mode, allowing the player to transmute their items into their worth in gold instantly from the items menu without having to sell them to a shop (although transmutation will yield a lower price).
Unlike the previous games in the series, Dungeon Siege III features a new control system. Created to accommodate the parallel release on consoles as well as on the PC, the game no longer features an automatic targeting system and point-and-click
Point-and-click
Point-and-click is the action of a computer user moving a cursor to a certain location on a screen and then pressing a mouse button, usually the left button , or other pointing device...
mechanics. Instead, the player moves their character using the keyboard or a controller and has to point the character in the direction of the enemies they want to fight and then press the attack button to fight.
The game uses a display engine that makes the entire experience seamless by constantly loading required game scenes in the background. This way, the game does not need any load screens often found in other games.
Story
The game returns to the Kingdom of Ehb, which already featured as the setting of the first two games. Roughly 150 years after the events of Dungeon SiegeDungeon Siege
Dungeon Siege is a computer role-playing game developed by Gas Powered Games and published by Microsoft Game Studios. Chris Taylor showed Dungeon Siege years in production for the first time at E3 2000...
, the 10th Legion, who provided stability and protection for the kingdom for 400 years, has almost completely been wiped out. 30 years before the game's setting, Jeyne Kassynder rallied the people of eastern Ehb and the Azunite Church against the Legion who she blamed for the death of the king (her father). Following a long and brutal campaign, she managed to kill the entire remnant of the Legion in a battle in the Rukkenvahl Forest and the royalist army of young Queen Roslyn has been driven deep into the mines of Glitterdelve, losing almost all of their power.
A small group of legionnaires remained, lead by a man calling himself the Venerable Odo, a former Legion spy. He kept descendants of the Legion safe from Kassynder and, at the beginning of Dungeon Siege III, called them to meet in order to regroup the Legion. The player character arrives to find the meeting place attacked by mercenaries of Kassynder's. With the help of Marten Guiscard, another Legion descendant, the player tracks down Odo at a former Legion safehouse. After hearing what happened, the player sets out to find other survivors and information on the attacks. After fighting more of Jeyne's mercenaries, the player travels to Stonebridge City, to reopen the grand chapter-house there. On the way to Stonebridge, they help a group of royalist soldiers fighting Jeyne Kassynder.
After reopening the Stonebridge chapter-house, the player seeks to enlist the support of the royalists by aiding Queen Roslyn against Jeyne's assault on Glitterdelve and the help of the City of Stonebridge by helping the Meisters who control the city. Their support ensured, the player attacks Jeyne's capital, the Spire of Azunai on top of Mt. Jhereb. After winning in battle against Jeyne, revealed to be an archon, a member of a servant race to the lost creator gods, it is revealed that she seeks to use her power to reawaken her long lost gods in the Rukkenvahl Forest. The player travels to Rukkenvahl and fights a mutant god created by Jeyne. After the battle, the player captures Jeyne alive and may render judgment on her, allowing the player to choose the ending.
Player characters
Dungeon Siege III features four different characters. Depending on which character the player chooses, the plot is subtly altered, with the other three characters later available as AI controlled companions or as characters for other players via the Multiplayer feature.Lucas Montbarron: Lucas is the youngest son of Hugh Montbarron, the Grand Master of the 10th Legion at the time of their last fight against Jeyne Kassynder 30 years before the game's setting. He is also a descendent of the first Lady Montbarron, the protagonist of Dungeon Siege
Dungeon Siege
Dungeon Siege is a computer role-playing game developed by Gas Powered Games and published by Microsoft Game Studios. Chris Taylor showed Dungeon Siege years in production for the first time at E3 2000...
, who is commonly only referred to as "The Farmer" (Dungeon Siege III takes place 150 years after the first game). Lucas fights with a one-handed sword and shield or a two-handed sword.
Anjali: Anjali is an archon, a member of a servant race to the lost creator gods. As a mythical being, she can shift between human form, fighting with a spear, and elemental fire form.
Reinhart Manx: Reinhart is a descendant of Merik the mage(from the first game) and therefore is able to fight with magic at range and in close combat.
Katarina: Katarina is the illegitimate daughter of Hugh Montbarron and a Lescanzi witch. She fights with a long-range rifle or a pair of shotguns at close range. Rebecca Grant
Rebecca Grant (American actress)
Rebecca Grant , is an American actress. Grant is a graduate of the University at Buffalo, The State University of New York with a joint major in psychology and communication . She was a hostess on NFL Under the Helmet and Robot Wars: Extreme Warriors television programs. After losing her mother to...
modeled for Katarina's character.
Other characters
The Venerable Odo: Odo is a former spy of the 10th Legion who, after the downfall of the Legion, worked in secret to keep surviving members and descendants of the Legion safe and to restore the Legion to its former glory.Marten Guiscard: Marten is one of Odo's assistants and helps the player during the first fights. Afterwards, he acts as Odo's bodyguard and will recommend more forgiving, less avenging choices to the player.
Jeyne Kassynder: Jeyne is the daughter of the king, whose death lead to the downfall of the Legion, and an archon. Growing up as an orphan in the Azunite Church, she rallied the Church behind her after her father's death and lead a crusade against both her half-siblings and the Legion.
Hugh Montbarron: The Legion grand master 30 years before the game's setting and both Lucas' and Katarina's father, Hugh Montbarron plotted with other Legion commanders to dispose of the tyrannical king. During the failed coup d'etat
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
, the king was killed by accident. Montbarron died during the Legion's last stand in Rukkenvahl Forest.
The Radiant Youth: A golden-haired child when appearing to the player, the Radiant Youth is a guarding spirit of the Rukkenvahl and appears in the dreams of many Legion-related characters, often guiding them. In a tome found by the player it is implied that the Radiant Youth is actually Azunai, the deity worshiped in Ehb.
Queen Roslyn: The young queen is the grandchild of the king who died thirty years ago and resides with her "Tumbledown Court" in the mines of Glittervelve. Although appearing naive, she is pretty strong-willed and determined.
Comics
A three-issue mini-series also titled Dungeon Siege III were released by Dark Horse.Reception
The title received a lukewarm response from critics and currently has a MetacriticMetacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
score of 72, 71 and 73 for the Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
, Playstation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
and Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
platforms respectively.
Charles Onyett of IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
stated that "Obsidian Entertainment's take on the Dungeon Siege franchise has some merit. The core combat system is well-designed, offering a small but useful set of abilities for each character class. The varied enemy encounters encourage the frequent use of abilities and the dodge mechanic, which makes the basic gameplay – whittling down the health bars of enemies – satisfying. But the rest of the game mostly falters, unfortunately, to a degree that overshadows its achievements. Dungeon Siege III is a dungeon crawler with a boring loot table, poorly implemented multiplayer, and little lasting incentive to continue running around the world once the tedious story ends." Game Informer states that the graphics are dazzling and the character models are beautiful especially when they are zoomed in on.
After the release, a number of gamers complained about the controls on the PC version of the game, prompting Obsidian to work on an update addressing those concerns.