Dungeon Siege: Legends of Aranna

Dungeon Siege: Legends of Aranna
Developer(s)	Gas Powered Games
Publisher(s)	Microsoft Game Studios
Designer(s)	Chris Taylor
Engine	Custom engine
Version	1.50.0.56
Platform(s)	Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X
Release date(s)	November 11, 2003
Genre(s)	Computer role-playing
Mode(s)	Single-player, Multiplayer
Rating(s)	ELSPA: 15+ ESRB: M (original), T (patched)
Media/distribution	CD, DVD
System requirements Microsoft Windows 4:3 Display, Windows 98, 8x CD-ROM, DirectX 7 or above, 16 MB video card, 1 GB hard disk space with DVD version Mac OS X Mac OS X 10.1 or above, 450 MHz PowerPC G3 processor, 256MB of RAM, 16MB video card

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. It includes the full version of the original Dungeon Siege.

Story

Like in the original game, the story is set in the world of Aranna. The player assumes the role of another common farmer once more. The farmer heard stories of great adventures in years gone by, of the heroes who crusaded across the Kingdom of Ehb, battling against marauding Krug, vile mucosae, and the horrifying Seck. The farmer's lost parents were, too, adventurers. Now, craving for adventures himself, the farmer, who spent youth sharpening skills in the quiet little garrison town of Arhok, is ready to become a hero. Meanwhile, a powerful evil creature known as the Shadowjumper has appeared, and stole the Staff of Stars, a powerful artifact that the player's character is tasked to retrieve.

Following the trail of the Shadowjumper and Staff of Stars, the hero journeys through ice hills of Arhok, and later arrives on the lost Utraean Island, which is covered by jungles, caves, and ancient cities. The Utraeans were an ancient race that has gone long ago, known for its various biological experiments and creations, which now roam the homeland of their creators. These creatures include Hassat, the race of great humanoid cats, and Zaurask, the lizard folk, which now mostly occupy the Island. Many enemies are encountered and defeated by the player, including Lost Queen, gigantic Utraean monstrosity, Cicatrix, the centaur deathknight, and Nossirom, the Zaurask king. The hero also manages to locate his (or her) parents' tomb. Finally, the hero arrives at the mystical Great Clock, a giant artifact which controls Aranna's seasons, where the Shadowjumper has to be defeated and the Staff of Stars finally saved.

Gameplay

The gameplay remains the same as in original game, Dungeon Siege. However, the new storyline was presented, which includes new terrains, creatures, and items. The player also got a chance to use a new pet in order to transport items, a dinosaur-like creature in addition to the original game's pack mule.

Bonus pack

Like with the original game, Gas Powered Games released a promotional "Bonus Pack", which expanded the game's story.

• Return to Arhok: The game continues the story of Legends of Aranna and requires both the expansion and Windows XP to run.^[1] It is also called XP Level. However, some users who have Windows Vista could play the expansion, only with the warning that there would be some minor incompatibilities with the OS. The town of Arhok is threatened by the humanoid cat race, Hassat. In order to save Arhok and make humans and Hassat live in peace, the player has to travel to jungles of Uthraean Island once again and save the King of Hassat from the minions of Raks, another monstrous creation of Utraeans.

References

1. ^ "Microsoft Game Studios — Dungeon Siege: Legends of Aranna". Microsoft.com. http://www.microsoft.com/games/dungeonsiegeloa/xpextra.aspx. Retrieved 2009-07-30. 

External links

• Dungeon Siege: Legends of Aranna — official site
• Dungeon Siege: Legends of Aranna — Microsoft Game Studios