Two Worlds Tuesday: Secret Areas

If you've been enjoying the weekly Two Worlds updates sent over to IGN by the Two Worlds team, we have good news and bad news. The bad news is that this is the last feature the team is sending over before the game releases. The good news is that this is the coolest feature. Along with a great map, we've also been given a short list of a few secret areas in the game to get explorers started. Enjoy.

With over 300 main missions and side quests, there's certainly no shortage of things for your character to do in Two Worlds. Simply walking into a town and chatting with a few villagers is likely to bless you with hours of activity. But beyond all this standard adventuring goodness, the world of Antaloor hides many hidden areas that no quest will take you to. Dangerous places filled with treasure for those brave and smart enough to find them.

Having had our fair share of exploration, we've discovered a few of these areas and are willing to share where they are on the world map with you. Be warned, however, the greater the prize, the greater the risks.

Great Orc Temple''Location: G2

The best place to hide something is in plain sight, and this orc temple follows this rule to the letter. Secreted in a hard-to-reach valley deep in human territory, without specifically looking for this shrine you'll likely pass by it many times. Look for a small side path that branches off the road to Brumhill; one that appears to lead straight into a large outcropping of rock. As you head toward this seeming mountain, you'll soon discover a crack that opens up into a huge temple dedicated to the orc's fallen god, Aziraal.

If you've been putting points into your sneak skill, it's wise to put this ability to use the second you start entering. The temple is guarded with some of the area's best orc archers and mages. Being discovered will cause you to be bombarded by arrows and fire spells from all sides. However, if you're able to defeat these foes, you'll be able to loot the powerful bows and spell cards these opponents carry. You'll also find a horde of magic cards in the chests near stone ziggurat in the temple's central area.

The Skeletal Steed''Location: A7

Though there's a few other places where you can find one of these undead mounts, this is the easiest to spot. Head for the black necromancy tower near Storm Claw in this area, and you'll see a skeletal horse awaiting you at the front gate. Of course, finding it and riding away on it are two vastly different challenges.

A coven of powerful necromancers guard the area, and will do their best to kill you before you step into the saddle. If you're able to get away with the horse and your life, you'll have one of the fastest rides in the game.

Arctic Orc Camp''Location: I1

The Deladkull Glacier is one of the most dangerous places in all of Antaloor. In addition to it's harsh temperatures and blinding snowstorms, this area is home to arctic wolves, frost giants, and a bevy of other creatures that are tough enough to survive in this wasteland. The encampment of orcs that live here are some of the strongest of their species.

Your best bet to spot this hidden camp is to find a high vantage point, and wait for nightfall. If the evening is clear enough, you'll spy the fire that the orcs burn every night. Follow the light and you'll find yourself amongst these vicious brutes. You'll have the element of surprise in the darkness, and if you specialize in missile combat or magic, all the better since most of this camp's warriors are melee experts. If you can best this crew, you'll find the large horde of gold and goodies that they've collected over the years.

Golem Island''Location: B12

The only way to reach this unmarked island is with a good swim. If you're not too skilled at traversing water, your best bet is to swim the channel between the northeast side of the island and the mainland since it's the shortest route.

Once on this island, you'll find it eerily deserted. Near the center of the land mass, you'll see why. A large group of iron golems, still following their orders from a master long dead, try to capture or kill anyone who steps foot here. Luckily, these behemoths are slow moving, so avoiding a confrontation with them is easy.

However, if you want to collect the enormous stash of treasure they've accumulated over the decades, you'll need to have a face off. Located near the large rusty cages they still use to imprison invaders can be found over a dozen chests filled to the brim with loot.''

©2007, IGN Entertainment, Inc. All Rights Reserved