A huge, new world awaits the veteran adventurer.

Outside the kingdom of Ehb, lays the land known as Aranna. Once a mighty kingdom it fell into ruin and has been a wild land overrun with monsters and other dangers. And now, an ancient evil has awoken and vowed revenge on all those who once banished it.

The town of Arhok was expecting a caravan of supplies when monsters rose up and attacked it. The town’s supplies are drawn thin, and it now falls to one hero to venture forth and recover what was lost. But this is more than a mere expedition to recover lost items. This is the start of a journey into the origins of the Ultraean civilization, and a confrontation with powerful and vengeful evil.

Dungeon Siege: Legends of Aranna is the PC expansion to Microsoft Game Studios and Gas-Powered Games’ role-playing dungeon crawl. Mad Doc Software has developed this expansion, which does include the original title so gamers new to the series will not have to purchase two games to get into the expanded realms.

Dungeon Siege was, in itself, a massive game that required players to form parties with NPCs in order to survive the lush but deadly environments. Legends of Aranna is no different. But what was once thought of as wonderfully intuitive has become a battle for experience points.

Let’s simplify this: there are four disciplines for a warrior in the game – melee, missile, nature magic and combat magic. Melee involves any weapon that requires close combat. Missile can mean bows or chainguns (if you are lucky enough to find them or you import your character from the original title and he, or she, has one). Nature magic and combat magic are gleaned from scrolls you put into your spell book. By using any of these disciplines, you elevate your character’s abilities. Some abilities enhance your strength, dexterity or intelligence. These factors come into play when equipping weapons or armor.

When you get a party, you can select your formation, but the NPCs, in the single-player mode, traveling with you can get the kills and you may end up fighting for your experience with them. Why? Because the AI will put all – including the gamer’s avatar – into a protecting attack mode. If a mob attacks you, you respond without having to physically apply the keystrokes to initiate the attack.

However, make no mistake, the NPCs are vital when you get further into the game, and if you can remove the idea of a single character and supplant it with a group mentality, you won’t find it necessary to concern yourself with leveling one avatar. And the game does offer better group control to take advantage of a mage’s ability in creating a more tactical battle plan. Mages will especially benefit from this scheme.

In addition to the new lands, the game does feature other new features. New backpacks increase the amount of items you can carry. If your regular inventory is full, the items will drop into the backpack. There is also a new pack animal, which is much better than the mules. The Tragg will actually fight.

Yes, the game has the array of new mobs, and treasure, and also has a new race – the half-giant. Multiplayer difficulty settings (Zonematch is still a free service for online play) now sport the elite and veteran modes.

You can import characters from Dungeon Siege single- or multiplayer into LoA, and then move them into the multiplayer game.

Very little has changed in the graphical presentation of this game. It still has richly textured environments, and solid lighting and shadow dynamics. The special effects are well done and the animation is smooth. Even when you zoom in close, the game maintains its graphical integrity.

There is the array of NPC dialogue that is somewhat silly, but the game has also has new music that underscores the action.

The game is very linear in nature, and the primary focus is the combat elements and how you group to win through. There are not many side areas to explore, at least nothing that will deter you from the main mission.

Legends of Aranna is, essentially, much more of the same in relationship to Dungeon Siege. The game has some flaws, and is a simplistic quest-driven dungeon crawl. Find the bad guy, kill the bad guy; or clear out the dungeon, which has been overrun with mobs. Don’t go looking for a deep storyline here, you won’t find it.

But that is not to say this game is not good - quite the contrary. The game is a treat for the eyes and ears, and the adventure, while not deep, is entertaining. The maps for Aranna are huge and the action is almost non-stop. Legends of Aranna will certain please fans of the original DS title, and may make for a pleasant diversion for those new to series.

This game is rated Teen.

Gameplay: 8.5

The cutscenes are not quite as good as the gameplay and interrupt the flow for silly glimpses into what lays ahead. If you see a dungeon shaped like a fanged skull, you don’t need to hear an ominous voice taunting the mortal fools to know that you won’t be visiting a tea room full of warm and welcoming people. The mapboards are huge and transition from one area to the other is seamless.

Graphics: 9

This is more of the same and while still lush, don’t have quite the same impact they once did.

Sound: 8.8

Solid sound elements, with a very good musical underscore, keep the game moving.

Difficulty: Medium

The multiplayer has upped the ante, but the single-player game still is a challenging dungeon crawl with scores of mobs attacking at once. This does require use of the tactical elements and groups to work through.

Concept: 7

Some new features, but a tired storyline that should be retired.

Multiplayer: 9

This game sparkles in multiplayer action. Private cooperate game rooms through Zonematch is a thoroughly enjoyable way to experience the game.

Overall: 8.5

Legends of Aranna is a very familiar game, and that is because it does not change much of what was in place for Dungeon Siege. The storyline is really showing its age and aside from new some new features to make the game a bit more convenient (as in more storage space), this is a case of second verse same as the first. But those who liked the original title should find this an entertaining diversion. With lush graphics and combat-oriented game play, plus the fact that the expansion includes the original title, Legends is an enjoyable gaming experience.