Try as I might, I am unable to find the "Norn Converter" (or "Nornverter" as some websites call it), to allow me to bring my C1 Norns into a C2 world... If I had known that was missing, I would still be using the disk of the original Creatures game that I have on my shelf! And I'd be a little richer for that foresight as well. >:(
The game starts with a crude video using some "live" shots instead of animations for some strange reason. Rufus is cruel. Not stupid and short-sighted, like in the first game. He's flat out cruel. And then the game basically plays itself until the second song takes place. There are typos and errors in the subtitles "ang" for "and" or "Stefano Stilletti" when the character says "Brad Pitt", or lines missing or misquoted in songs. You are also likely to lose words to the left-side of the screen. I have at least two places where I noticed German speech or subtitles appearing in my English version game. I'm not sure if the creators thought that would be amusing, or if this is another bug. The narrator/bard's songs are rather horribly written this time around, making them difficult to understand, even with the subtitles (and this can be said moving directly from one game to the next...) which is even more annoying, because that was entertaining in the first game. You are kept firmly on the same set of rails as you progress in the story. Even when you have what you think might be a meaningful choice, the game progresses the exact same way every time with the noted exception of a trio of women that you need to assist in the middle of the game. Like the first game, there is a mini-game you either have to skip or ignore in this game. While the game had entertaining aspects, I'll likely not get the final game unless it's on sale for less than $5.
The game is entertaining until it nears the end, and then you get several shortcuts built into the dialogue trees. Want to select a plan? Goal will fix that after the first option. Want to select an option before the final video plays? Don't worry, there is no amusing dialogue for any of them, just the exact same animation. This is made worst by the fact that the first part of the game feels more open. Sure, you're working towards goals, but there's enough amusing dialogue around to make it seem like you're making choices. The ending was perfectly placed for multiple possible outcomes, but because they wanted to make more games, you find yourself riding the rails and nothing you try to do makes any difference after the big reveal. You are currently also forced to skip one of the mini-games, even if you beat it, because it never actually registers the options you select (but somehow still plays a cut-scene if you have the right options)...
I never got past the first tutorial, and even that took forever to complete. The game likes to freeze, or at least move so slowly that it leaves multiple "echoes" of movement behind them. Let's not even start on the camera controls, because you'll wonder why they made them so counter-intuitive in the first place. This is the first game I got on GOG that I can truly say I regret purchasing. If a system can rung Sims 3 but not a GOG game, there is an issue...
