Two Worlds Member Review for the Xbox360

   WARNING: Steroids May Lead to Decreased Framerate and Overall Crapiness

    "Oblivion on Steroids!" Indeed, this is perhaps the most disappointing game I have ever played. I'd read previews about this game heralding it as the next Oblivion. I didn't actually expect it to meet those lofty expectations nor did I expect it to fail to achieve them so absolutely.
   
    The first thing you'll notice about this game is the extremely sparse character creation. You are automatically a human male and can choose from a handful of faces and skin tones. Not that it matters however, as the graphics are so terrible you likely won't notice the difference. You would assume with graphics this outdated that the framerate would be high, much less acceptable, unfortunately it stutters just about every second of the game. Textures are hazy and nothing has any real detail(although your armor fares the best)Your character also appears to glide over the surface of the land like some medieval cross-country skier. Perhaps if they simply reduced the draw distance it would increase performance, it's much more fun to be able to fluidly see what is directly in front of you than it is to be able to see far beyond at 2 frames a second. The sound fares no better. Voice acting is both nauseating and humorous at the same time with it's faux Olde English and wooden delivery. The environmental and battle sound effects are forgettable at best.
   
    The story involves saving your peculiarly well endowed sister(bad thoughts) and the uncovering of a family curse/power/whatever, pretty ho hum. Many games can rebound from having awful graphics and sound by focusing more on the gameplay. If only this were the case. The overall control of the game is extremely sluggish. Your avatar lacks the ability to walk up some small hills, fortunately your enemies do not so they often run up them and proceed to attack you, unreachable. You are allowed to ride horses in Two Worlds land, although you're better off on foot as the horse seems to be suffering from some form of cripping knee injuries, rendering it a catastrophe to steer. Melee combat consists of spamming the same button over and over, with the occasional "immortality dodge" backwards. Spells are a bit more interesting but nothing new and a bit cumbersome when it comes to selecting them during battle. A noticeable glitch occurs when you attempt to cast while running, although infrequently, it can be devastating. As for the interface it can be considered mediocre at best. Browsing it can seem a bit lumbering as there is a noticeable command delay. You will also require an HDTV if you have any desire to read any of the information provided. The map is quite a challenge to navigate and doesn't really provide adequate information anyway.
   
    Even the greatest travesties of entertainment still have some value, and Two Worlds barely scrounges some up. It is fun to customize your character as he grows, and the system is easy and effective. There is plenty of gear to pick up and combine to grow more powerful. The alchemy and magic card(not those kind) systems are pretty interesting as well. While the world itself may be fairly boring to look at and choppy to explore, it is big.
    All in all, if you're a masochistic loot junkie looking for the next RPG to play on your 360, CONSIDER POSSIBLY RENTING THIS IF YOU FIND YOURSELF WITH LITERALLY NOTHING ELSE TO DO.