Forgotten Realms: Demon Stone - PS2

In the world of RPGs, there are two major categories. They are the hardcore statistically or menu-driven epics, and the hands on battle-orientated adventures. Most will fall easily into either of these two sub-genres, and the same is true of Stormfront's PS2 offering of Demon Stone, which just happens to fit nicely into the latter of the two.

Set in the Forgotten Realms world, Demon Stone tells the tale of three skilled warriors brought together by unexplained forces to dispose of some less-than-hospitable beasts, goblins and demons. The three fighters, all of which you can assume control of, are Fighter, Sorcerer and Rogue. Fighter is skilled in the art of weapons combat, Sorcerer is more than capable when it comes to magic, and Rogue specialises in agility and her ability to diffuse potential traps. With your skills clearly defined, you're ready to begin the game proper.

Assuming control of a single character at any one time, and with the capability to change characters in real-time at any time, players can quickly get to grips with the play mechanic behind Demon Stone. It's a true Dungeons and Dragons affair that boasts an extensive fighting system designed with a pick-up-and-play approach in mind. Various combat techniques and attacks can be executed with the press of a button, and characters can gain experience and levels as they defeat more enemies and move deeper into the adventure.

The game and its surroundings are brilliantly stylised, cinematic and visually stunning. Dragon's, Orcs, Trolls and the like are superbly rendered and well animated, and there's a real sense of fantasy involved in the proceedings. Demon Stone is an intriguing RPG that is every bit as in-depth as a hardcore offering, but that is also a good action game accessible to anyone. more