Champions: Return to Arms

Last updated

Champions: Return to Arms
Champions - Return to Arms Coverart.png
Developer(s) Snowblind Studios
Publisher(s)
Designer(s) Paul Knutzen
Composer(s) Inon Zur
Platform(s) PlayStation 2
Release
  • NA: February 7, 2005
  • EU: March 18, 2005
Genre(s) Action role-playing, hack and slash
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

Champions: Return to Arms is a 2005 action role-playing video game developed by Snowblind Studios and published by Sony Online Entertainment for the PlayStation 2 Set in the EverQuest universe, it is the sequel to Champions of Norrath . As with its predecessor, Ubisoft released the game in Europe. [1]

Contents

Plot

The story picks up after Innoruuk, the Prince of Hate has been defeated, his essence shattered into the Shards of Hatred and were strewn across the Planes of Power. Within the game story, players have the choice of serving either the forces of Good by destroying the shards to rid the world of Innoruuk, or the legions of Evil gathering the shards to resurrect the fallen god. The paths of Good and Evil travel to the same locations, with variations in mission objectives.

Gameplay

Champions: Return to Arms features multiple character classes, such as wizard, cleric, ranger, and warrior. The game also features an online mode where a player can join up to three other players from around the world. Gameplay consists of killing monsters and completing quests to earn experience, in a traditional hack-and-slash style. When the character attains enough experience, he or she gains a level.

Reception

The game received "favorable" reviews, though not as much as Champions of Norrath, according to video game review aggregator Metacritic. [2]

The Times ' reviewer gave the game four stars out of five and said, "The number of times I got ripped apart by wild dogs made me regret ever wanting to be a lizard. Didn’t stop me coming back for more, though." [14] Maxim similarly gave it a score of eight out of ten, saying, "Over 100 hours of game play through 50 levels of sword-swinging, spell-casting combat, thousands of new weapons and equipment, and two new characters (the fighting furry Vah Shir and the lizardman Iksar) will keep you huffing at trucker speed through the wee hours." [2] However, Detroit Free Press gave it two stars out of four, saying that "there's hardly anything new here. The plot is paper-thin, and lacks a driving sense of humor or drama to keep you interested. The game-play is just as basic as it's ever been, and frankly, if you've played any of its predecessors, you've slashed and spellcast just this way a million times before." [13]

Related Research Articles

<i>EverQuest</i> 1999 video game

EverQuest is a 3D fantasy-themed massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) originally developed by Verant Interactive and 989 Studios for Windows. It was released by Sony Online Entertainment in March 1999 in North America, and by Ubisoft in Europe in April 2000. A dedicated version for Mac OS X was released in June 2003, which operated for ten years before being shut down in November 2013. In June 2000, Verant Interactive was absorbed into Sony Online Entertainment, who took over full development and publishing duties of the title. Later, in February 2015, SOE's parent corporation, Sony Computer Entertainment, sold the studio to investment company Columbus Nova and it was rebranded as Daybreak Game Company, which continues to develop and publish EverQuest.

<i>Ys VI: The Ark of Napishtim</i> 2003 video game

Ys VI: The Ark of Napishtim is a 2003 action role-playing game developed by Nihon Falcom. It was first released for Windows before being ported by Konami to the PlayStation 2 in 2005 and the PlayStation Portable in 2006.

<i>The Bards Tale</i> (2004 video game) 2004 video game

The Bard's Tale is an action role-playing game developed and published by inXile Entertainment in 2004 and was distributed by Vivendi Universal Games in North America and Ubisoft in Europe. The game was marketed as a humorous spoof of fantasy role-playing video games. It is neither a remake nor a sequel to Interplay Productions' Tales of the Unknown, Volume I: The Bard's Tale (1985).

<i>Champions of Norrath</i> 2004 video game

Champions of Norrath: Realms of EverQuest is a 2004 action role-playing video game for the PlayStation 2, set in the EverQuest universe. The game is playable with one single player or cooperative for up to four players, but with a Network Adapter, players can take the game online with others and kill others or join to form groups of adventurers. It uses a re-worked and expanded Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance game engine. A sequel called Champions: Return to Arms was released in 2005.

<i>Spawn: Armageddon</i> 2003 video game

Spawn: Armageddon is an action-adventure hack and slash video game released in 2003 for the PlayStation 2, Xbox and GameCube video game consoles. It is inspired by issues 1 through 99 of the Spawn comic book series.

<i>SSX on Tour</i> 2005 video game

SSX on Tour is a 2005 extreme sports game developed by EA Canada and published by Electronic Arts under the EA Sports BIG label for the GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox and PlayStation Portable. It is the fourth title in the SSX series.

<i>SSX Tricky</i> 2001 video game by EA Canada

SSX Tricky, also known as SSX 2 or SSX 2: Tricky, is a snowboarding video game, the second game in the SSX series published by Electronic Arts under the EA Sports BIG label and developed by EA Canada. A direct sequel to SSX, the game was originally released in 2001 for PlayStation 2, GameCube, and Xbox, It was later ported to the Game Boy Advance in October 2002. SSX 3 followed in 2003.

<i>Mat Hoffmans Pro BMX 2</i> 2002 video game

Mat Hoffman's Pro BMX 2 is a 2002 BMX video game developed by Rainbow Studios and published by Activision under the Activision O2 label. The game, which serves as a sequel to Mat Hoffman's Pro BMX, was released on August 13, 2002 for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox. A Game Boy Advance port was developed by HotGen and released the same day as the PlayStation 2 and Xbox versions. A GameCube port was developed by Gratuitous Games and was released on October 8, 2002. It received "favorable" reviews.

<i>Legends of Wrestling</i> 2001 video game

Legends of Wrestling is a professional wrestling video game developed and published by Acclaim. It was released in 2001 for the PlayStation 2, then in 2002 for the GameCube and Xbox.

<i>Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX 2</i> 2001 video game

Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX 2 is a 2001 BMX video game developed by Z-Axis and published by Acclaim Entertainment under their Acclaim Max Sports label. It is the sequel to Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX. It was released for the PlayStation 2 in August 2001, and in the following months it was ported to the GameCube, Game Boy Advance, and Xbox video game systems. Both the GameCube and Xbox ports featured two extra levels that were not present in the PS2 version.

<i>Nightshade</i> (2003 video game) 2003 video game

Nightshade, released in Japan as Kunoichi and stylized in all regions with the kanji 忍 behind the title, is an action video game for the PlayStation 2 (PS2), developed by Overworks and published by Sega in 2003. It is the eleventh game in the Shinobi series and follows the exploits of a female ninja named Hibana. The game is a sequel to the 2002 PS2 game Shinobi.

<i>NBA Live 06</i> 2005 video game

NBA Live 06 is a 2005 installment of the NBA Live series released for Windows, PlayStation 2, GameCube, Xbox, Xbox 360, PlayStation Portable, and mobile devices. It was developed by EA Canada and published by Electronic Arts under the EA Sports publishing label. The game features several game modes, including Dynasty, Season, Playoffs, or Free Play. It features Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat on the cover. This was the last NBA Live game on the GameCube and it also was the first NBA Live game on the Xbox 360 as a launch title and on the PlayStation Portable.

<i>Mystic Heroes</i> 2002 video game

Mystic Heroes is a hack and slash video game developed by Koei. The game is loosely based on Investiture of the Gods, a Chinese supernatural novel about the fall of the Shang dynasty and the rise of the Zhou dynasty.

<i>One Piece: Grand Battle!</i> 2005 video game

One Piece: Grand Battle is a fighting game made in Japan based on the anime and manga series One Piece. It is the fourth and final game in One Piece's Grand Battle series and the nineteenth One Piece video game released. The game was released in Japan as One Piece: Grand Battle! Rush. The English version uses the intro from the TV series.

<i>Portal Runner</i> 2001 video game

Portal Runner is a 2001 platform game published by The 3DO Company for PlayStation 2 and Game Boy Color.

<i>Rampage: Total Destruction</i> 2006 video game

Rampage: Total Destruction is a sequel to the Rampage arcade game published by Midway, and the last installment in the franchise before the firm folded into Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, as well as the last game in the series to be available on home video game platforms. The game was released in April 2006 for the GameCube and PlayStation 2. It was also released on 19 November 2006 in North America for the Wii.

<i>NHL 2002</i> 2001 video game

NHL 2002 is a video game released by EA Sports in 2001. It is the predecessor to NHL 2003. The game's cover man is Pittsburgh Penguins superstar and owner Mario Lemieux, who had just made a comeback after being retired for three and a half years. It was the first installment of the NHL series to be released on Xbox.

<i>Ghost Rider</i> (video game) 2007 video game

Ghost Rider is a third-person hack and slash game released for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, and Game Boy Advance based on the 2007 film Ghost Rider, released worldwide in February 2007. An Xbox version was originally planned for release, but was cancelled.

<i>Spider-Man: Friend or Foe</i> 2007 video game

Spider-Man: Friend or Foe is a 2007 action-adventure beat 'em up platform game, based on the Marvel Comics character Spider-Man. The game borrows characters and designs from Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy, with a plot that is non-canon to the films and therefore taking place within a divergent timeline where the villains seen in the films managed to survive. It features two player co-op gameplay, where one player controls Spider-Man and another one of his allies. The storyline of the game revolves around P.H.A.N.T.O.M.s, dangerous creatures created by mixing symbiotes with holographic technology, which a mysterious villain plans to use to take over the world. This villain has also captured and brainwashed many of Spider-Man's foes to help him acquire meteor shards that will strengthen his army. After being recruited by S.H.I.E.L.D., Spider-Man journeys across the globe to retrieve these shards himself and recruit more allies to his cause.

<i>Cool Boarders 2001</i> 2000 video game

Cool Boarders 2001 is a snowboarding video game developed by Idol Minds and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation. A port to the PlayStation 2 was released in 2001. It was released only in North America.

References

  1. ↑ Bramwell, Tom (September 1, 2004). "Ubi brings Champions: Return to Arms to Europe". Eurogamer.net. Retrieved January 11, 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 "Champions: Return to Arms for PlayStation 2 Reviews". Metacritic . Retrieved February 1, 2016.
  3. ↑ Edge staff (April 2005). "Champions: Return to Arms". Edge . No. 148. p. 105.
  4. ↑ EGM staff (March 2005). "Champions: Return to Arms". Electronic Gaming Monthly . No. 189. p. 123.
  5. ↑ "Champions: Return to Arms". Game Informer . No. 143. March 2005. p. 124.
  6. ↑ Vicious Sid (March 2005). "Champions: Return to Arms Review for PS2 on GamePro.com". GamePro . p. 90. Archived from the original on March 5, 2005. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
  7. ↑ Silverman, Ben (February 11, 2005). "Champions: Return to Arms Review". Game Revolution. Archived from the original on October 9, 2015. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
  8. ↑ Davis, Ryan (February 8, 2005). "Champions: Return to Arms Review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on September 16, 2015. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
  9. ↑ Nutt, Christian (February 3, 2005). "GameSpy: Champions: Return to Arms". GameSpy. Archived from the original on May 2, 2015. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
  10. ↑ Sandoval, Angelina (February 13, 2005). "Champions: Return to Arms - PS2 - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on December 28, 2008. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
  11. ↑ Lewis, Ed (February 4, 2005). "Champions: Return to Arms". IGN. Archived from the original on February 15, 2016. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
  12. ↑ "Champions: Return to Arms". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine . March 2005. p. 98.
  13. 1 2 "RECENT VIDEO GAME RELEASES". Detroit Free Press . February 20, 2005. ProQuest   436542657 . Retrieved February 1, 2016.
  14. 1 2 "Champions: Return to Arms". The Times . April 9, 2005. Archived from the original on June 3, 2015. Retrieved February 1, 2015.(subscription required)
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.