User Reviews (81 - 91 of 130)

Show these reviews first:

Highest Rated
Lowest Rated Newest
Oldest Most Helpful
Least Helpful

Promising framework delivers minimal fun

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: October 30, 2001
Author: Amazon User

I should probably preface this review by saying that I felt that Fallout fell far short of its spiritual predecessor, Wasteland (one of my favorite games of all time). Although very similar both philosophically and mechanically, I found Fallout's story arc so much less compelling that I never actually finished the game, and never bought the sequel.

Arcanum suffers from many of the same storytelling flaws as Fallout did. Although its world purports to be driven by a mixture of magic and early-industrial era technology, the former dominates the storyline completely. And although there are side plots galore, some of which are actually more interesting than the main, all the quests in the game follow the same formula set out in the original D&D RPGs of the early 90s: slay this monster, retrieve this item, come back to me for a reward (in this case, experience is generally the incentive). The roleplaying aspects of NPC interaction are similarly formulaic, as each conversation is scripted by canned lines and differentiates at most two possible PC personalities (which I've unflatteringly come to think of as "mouthy jerk" and "flowery suckup").

Now, many games have managed to succeed in spite of weak or absent storytelling (notably Diablo and, to a lesser extent, Diablo II). One can, for example, view the RP part of RPG as a framework for combat, which can be a compelling enough aspect
to carry a game. Unfortunately, Arcanum provides hardly any variety in its combat opponents. There were only one or two instances I can remember in the game where opponents used any kind of ranged weapon, and only the final bad guy used any kind of offensive magic (and even then, not effectively, preferring for the most part to engage my meleeist in hand-to-hand).

I consider this last to be the single most telling flaw in Arcanum. The combat and monster AI in Diablo have spoiled me as a game player, perhaps, but it seems a huge waste of Arcanum's complex skills matrix and character advancement system to hack away at spiders and wolves for hours on end. Is this really the best they could do?

I thought about playing the game through again. I really did. But even though Arcanum offers very promising flexibility in character design mechanics, the prospect of testing that character out on either the tedious combat or the one-dimensional NPC community leaves me yawning.

Arcanum

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: December 24, 2001
Author: Amazon User

I enjoyed the game until I got about half way through. Just following the main plot line, I maxed out at level 50 before I even got to Caladon. After that it got boring. The boss at the end is a total wimp. You dont even have to save the game to face him. Kill on try #1. Overall, the first few hours are interesting, but a lame ending.

Not your typical RPG...

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: December 27, 2001
Author: Amazon User

But it needs some serious work before I can call it a welcome change. The idea is great, of being able to shape your characters to be anything you want, in a richly detailed world. The execution suffers immensely, though. The game is more frustrating than fun, and some of the early fights are near impossible.

So close to great...

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: June 15, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Arcanum has one of the most unique and truly interesting set-ups for a RPG, a magical world of wizards and monsters going though a technological (sp?) revolution. But as great as this sounds the game is bogged down with some major problems. Small things like the choppy animation graphics and the slow to pop up map are forgivable, but the most fustrating part of the game is the inventory. First, it's a bit of a pain to deal with, something about the interface is just not quite right, but the real problem is that only certain merchants buy certain things, this means your inventory is often flooded with semi-vauble items that no merchant you can find will buy. On top of that this forces you to waste time running to every merchant in town every time you find a new town, it just breaks up the flow of the game. Also, their is lots of downtime as you run from NPC to NPC trying to find quests or information in every town. This isn't so bad in the first town that has about 20 or so NPC, but towns later on have 50+, it's slow and painful.

Overall I enjoy Arcanum, for as much as some of these things bother me the game really does allow you to have your own personality (or game alter-ego) show though with the way you interact with NPC's. When "talking" to NPC's you are almost always given a few options on how to respond to them. For example, if an NPC were to tell you their tale of woe you could either respond with "I'm sorry to hear that, how can I help?" or "You seem to think I should care about your foolish problem, off with you!" Either answer will lead to a different path. Saving the game before this kind of conversations if kinda fun, you can either help the person or enrage them with insults until they attack you.

Also the "techno" side of the game I found to be lots of fun. For some reason finding and combining a "Broken Revolver parts" and a "Large metal pipe" to make a Revolver was pretty cool, the same can be said for making items like "Charged Rings", "Repeating Rifles" and lots of other cool items that make the game more interesting.

In the end Arcanum is a fun game and worth your money if you really love RPG's, otherwise, download a demo (if one exists) and give it a whirl first.

Wow.....

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: April 26, 2003
Author: Amazon User

All I can say is wow, what a fabulous game. The worlds are fabulously large and there is such a large amout of quests and side-quests to keep you playing for months. For all those who want to buy just remember this: For all really long RPG's it takes some patience, especially in this game. all the inventory stuff and the potions and skill points and followers and skills and, well you get the picture. Also, before you start into the game too much to learn the controls and hotkeys, they help a lot

In my opinion the game is great.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: March 02, 2008
Author: Amazon User

This is a really great for the style and type it is. I personally love non-linear type games that have plenty of side quests and each action determines a different outcome... just like in real life. Arcanum is highly playable and highly replayable. There are a few kinks in the script of the game and a few glitches here and there, but they don't affect the overall gameplay quality. Arcanum has to be what you're looking for in a game or you won't like it. It's that simple... the same holds true for any game. You don't need other people's opinions about it. Go try it for your self!

Arcanum

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: January 07, 2008
Author: Amazon User

I really liked the aspect that you could use your own mp3 files as background music in the game. It has more of a fantasy feel to it rather than Fallout. Great game overall.

One of the best game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: November 05, 2007
Author: Amazon User

This game, along Fallout and PlaneScape Torment are the best isometric third person RPG for me. The open character development is the main appeal.

Fallout Remake

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 3 / 11
Date: July 21, 2001
Author: Amazon User

If your a huge fallout fan you will like this game. I gave it a three because it does have a solid RPG element. However, with that said...graphics arent even as good as fallout tactics and with the game coming out after that title and not even matching its standard i find it dissappointing...BG/IWD series shames it in the graphic department. Nothing new really in the game...just fallout with a orc and elf theme. Guns versus magic is a decent touch however. This game will have a decent following as the hordes that loved fallout will need a fix...but they could have done the game better i believe...now this review is just based off the demo...but, I guess i will wait for NWN or Pool of Radiance for my next RPG game...again, if your a big fallout fan i think your right at home with this game

Arcanum: Of Steamworks of Magick Obscura

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 12
Date: June 04, 2001
Author: Amazon User

I personally am a RPG fan all around. I have never played Arcanum yet but I absolutly cannot wait till its release. I have seen the demo at www.Fileplanet.com. Also at Bestbuy.com it said that is will come out the 15 of June or something. But, also a month ago they said it would be released May 15, so Sierra might have to make it to September or something. I have seen all the scrren shots and i am so amazed by it. Good graphics and the armor and weapons are so sweet looking its amazing. The way the game goes is your start out in a certain age such as medieval or somthin and work your way up throug technology. So about swords to Nuclear Blasters. I cant wait till the release and i hope i was helpful!!! P.S.- Forget that 1 star review the kid is just mad about it being postponed!

Review Page: Previous 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Next 

Actions