Dungeons And Dragons Online: Review: DDO in Eurogamer

What is it that makes perfectly normal human beings threaten life and limb (with thromboids) and sit watching a brightly-coloured figure automatically hit thousands of things? As a psychologist (amateur - I read my horoscopes once a week), it's my professional opinion that computer screens put out some form of pink radiation that hypnotises, sedates and stultifies the recipient. I can't find any other reason why people indulge in said overly repetitious avatar-based interaction, except perhaps the outlandish concept that they may derive pleasure from it. And Lineage 2, RF Online, Neocron 2, Shadowbane, The Sims Online and the execrably revamped Star Wars: Galaxies are all strong counter-examples to that.

If anything could break this chain, Dungeons & Dragons, with its Live Action Roleplay Heritage, is surely our solution. Recent games based on it, with the sole exception of Dragonshard (that shares the passable background world of Eberron with D&DO), have been excellent. Even if you've never played D&D, you'll recognise the game system from this hall of fame: Baldur's Gate II, Planescape Torment, Neverwinter Nights. Well, D&DO feels, looks and plays just like them.

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