I couldn't get into the first one and never leveled a character past 13. This one feels so much more entertaining. Maybe because the environment is more dynamic and with more variety; not just dreary dungeons. I recommend it if you're looking for a casual ARPG.

I've been a big fan of Patrician 2 & 3 and Port Royale 2 for a long time. I was hesitant about getting this, because of the poor reviews and all of the complaints I've read online. Then I read comments from other players and I came to realize they've taken elements from Port Royale 2 and incorporated it into the Patrician world. I would say if you liked the Port Royale series, then you will like this game. If you liked the Patrician series and didn't like Port Royale 2, then this probably isn't for you. There is still much they could have done to improve upon their franchise, but I think since it's under a different company they were more concerned about getting a return on their purchase, moreso than continuing a legacy.

The Mount & Blade series is a lot of fun. I bought this & Warband at the same time, when it was on sale. I put in quite a few hours until I found out M&B: Warband is basically the same game with updated graphics and a few other additions; not really an expansion to this game. I was pretty pissed off about it, at first, but liked the Warband so much I later didn't mind throwing them a few extra dollars for this.