SouthPeak Games, publisher of Two Worlds as well as the uber-cute DS title Ninjatown, has secured an impressive $12.9 million in private funding. As reported by VC blog VentureBeat's Dean Takahashi, the financing is particularly interesting given that most investments of this sort are directed at the online games, virtual worlds or social networks, rather than the more traditional console and PC game space that SouthPeak calls home.
The company will have no shortage of projects on which to blow its newfound cash, with a number of other titles on deck including XBLA puzzler Roogoo, Monster Madness: Grave Danger for the PS3, and The Temptation, which is totally not-an-expansion to Two Worlds. With multiple sequels planned, Takahashi also notes that the pub sees last year's Xbox 360 and PC RPG as its biggest success to date, though it's a sentiment obviously measured in something other than review scores.
In its interview with developer Reality Pump, OXM diplomatically asks why "the most epic RPG of all time," Two Worlds, was met with such a "mixed" reception from reviewers. The interviewee (who, quite oddly, is never named in the article) suggests that it was the comparison between the developer's open-ended fantasy RPG and Bethesda's open-ended fantasy RPG, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, that did the scores in. "I can't say for sure, but I suspect that it was unfairly compared to Oblivion," says the spokesperson. "It's understandable since Elder Scrolls was so good it basically set the standard."
Ah, that would explain why Worth Playing labeled Two Worlds a "sub-par RPG with a sub-par storyline, sub-par gameplay, sub-par sounds, and very sub-par multiplayer." Reality Pump further notes that one of the game's major failings was being stuffed with ideas. "With the original idea, we were all so excited to be working on an RPG, that we tried to fit in every idea we had, even the ones that came late in the process. Ultimately, this hurt the end product in that it had parts that were underdeveloped."
Will the expansion-turned-sequel, Two Worlds: The Temptation be better? "It's better in every aspect, and we know that many reading this have their doubts. All I can say is give us a chance to prove it." Fair enough -- as long as you don't mind us comparing it to Oblivion.
While we doubt Oblivion will credit Reality Pump's Two Worlds as the wind beneath its wings, we still can't help but wonder if it's cold there living in the shadow of Bethesda's role-playing opus. Nevertheless, the lesser of the two open-ended RPGs continues to get love by way of downloadable content, the latest of which dropped today over Xbox Live.
Dubbed Curse of Souls, the 600 point multiplayer-focused affair is the game's second, following the already available Tainted Blood, and promises, among other things, an extra 10 hours of content spread over 35 new quests. The download also adds a player-versus-player arena throwdown in the town of Tharnburg, no doubt making for a thrilling spectacle for the handful of players still frolicking in the world of Antaloor as they wait for the game's recently confirmed sequel.
It appears as if SouthPeak and developer Reality Pump have big plans for Two Worlds: The Temptation, as the previously announced release has been upgraded from mere expansion to full-on sequel status, with the game expected to ship to retail this fall for both the PC and Xbox 360. The Temptation will pick up following the events in the first game, a title mind you that was almost universally derided when it was released in 2007.
While SouthPeak remains mum on many of the sequel's specifics, the company notes that The Temptation will pack in "as much content as the original," as well as a new graphics engine, improved voice overs and "more intricate" missions. The publisher also describes the sequel's combat as "revamped," a fancy term that we hope translates to "not horribly broken."
We've got to hand it to SouthPeak, which is releasing two (count 'em) two DLC packs for the (by most accounts) truly bad Two Worlds. That's a crazy, Bridge on the River Kwai level of dedication that we can't even begin to comprehend.
If you're the sort that's interested (and please, please comment if you are) the packs will each add about 10 hours of gameplay with new multiplayer maps,new co-op quests and new player-versus-player challenges. Both will be 600 points, one pack is coming in March and one is coming in April. We trust most of you will be able to bear the wait just fine. Also, just so we're clear, we don't know if these DLC packs represent the expansion we heard about, or if both of you still have more to look forward to after April.
Take Risk. Simplify the rules and create a bunch of new maps. Add an intuitive web-based interface and a complex worldwide ranking system. Make the game entirely free to play and attract a solid stable of online players, available at all hours of the day. The result is one of the most addictive strategy games you've probably never heard of.
Sure, Two Worlds may not have the best reviews or consumer confidence right now, but that doesn't make it beyond salvation (just look at the now-awesomeBoom Boom Rocket). An expansion for the game, dubbed The Temptation, is coming second quarter 2008.
According to WorthPlaying (pictures), Temptation has what you'd expect from an expansion: new areas, new baddies, new abilities and better AI. The real question is will Temptation tempt you to (re)visit Two Worlds next year?
