Giant Bomb says it comes out today, but a lot of other places say the 25th? Anyone know? I hear the first one sucked but I'd at least like to rent this one...

It's an extremely mediocre game. It's unbalanced and it's not as open as the map suggests.
 
Also, there were some dubious shenanigans going on with the European release a few weeks ago. Lots of shady viral marketing on gaming forums and the 90%-scores prior to release were all fake. The real reviews (with scores ranging from 70 to 80 % ) were all held back by an embargo.
 
I wouldn't be surprised if on some American gaming forums some freshs users will turn up soon praising the game as a new milestone in the rpg genre.

Hopefully never, it would be better for the country.  Save us from the pain.

" It's an extremely mediocre game. It's unbalanced and it's not as open as the map suggests.  Also, there were some dubious shenanigans going on with the European release a few weeks ago. Lots of shady viral marketing on gaming forums and the 90%-scores prior to release were all fake. The real reviews (with scores ranging from 70 to 80 % ) were all held back by an embargo. "

I never played the first game but it seemed like people enjoyed it because it was so bad it was good like a cult film such as The Room or Showgirls. 

" @CptBedlam said:

" It's an extremely mediocre game. It's unbalanced and it's not as open as the map suggests.  Also, there were some dubious shenanigans going on with the European release a few weeks ago. Lots of shady viral marketing on gaming forums and the 90%-scores prior to release were all fake. The real reviews (with scores ranging from 70 to 80 % ) were all held back by an embargo. "

How do you know the 90% reviews were fake? "

I finished it and liked it a lot.  Now I'm worried that I've been brainwashed as a Reality Pump sleeper agent.  Thanks.

" I finished it and liked it a lot.  Now I'm worried that I've been brainwashed as a Reality Pump sleeper agent.  Thanks. "

"
There is no proof I can show you, of course. But there most definitely was an embargo for any review that didn't give the game at least 90%. "

Ah well, I guess if it isn't out till the 25th I'll have more time to form a realistic opinion of it. I was lured by the promise of decent graphics and diablo style loot

" @Metal_Mills said:

" @CptBedlam said:

" It's an extremely mediocre game. It's unbalanced and it's not as open as the map suggests.  Also, there were some dubious shenanigans going on with the European release a few weeks ago. Lots of shady viral marketing on gaming forums and the 90%-scores prior to release were all fake. The real reviews (with scores ranging from 70 to 80 % ) were all held back by an embargo. "

How do you know the 90% reviews were fake? "

There is no proof I can show you, of course. But there most definitely was an embargo for any review that didn't give the game at least 90%. Some editors of bigger magazines and sites said their review was ready but they were not allowed to publish it. Also, the overwhelming majority of the early 90% reviews were small little outlets that no one knows really. After the game's release, not a single review with a 90% score was published but all the bigger and at least somewhat trustworthy sites were eventually free to publish their 70-80%-score-reviews. Soon after release, people who played the game across various gaming forums basically said it's a very lacking game in many aspects and definitely not a 90%-game. "

From what my friends in Germany tell me, the key issue with this game is that the world is lifeless and empty.

No clue, the first one was average game but it had it's moments. Was nowhere near the scale & budget of Oblivion but I remember it had it's moments plus wasn't hard to burn through. The first one definitely falled in that same catagory as Gun & a few other games (that I can't think of at the moment) which were better off if they were put out on the Xbox/PS2 where it might have had a better chance (if they were still making games for the original Xbox). This one is stumped me too about the release as this sequel has been sitting in gamefly for quite a while & I took part in the website trivia questions that the developer put up on the November 2010 release. Guess they have enough money to keep it this far past the original release & if you're like me, you won't put your hopes too high on this sequel/franchise, so far from what I've seen it doesn't suck but it's not stellar plus not that broken of a game.

"  I wouldn't be surprised if on some American gaming forums some freshs users will turn up soon praising the game as a new milestone in the rpg genre. "