Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura

Arcanum is like a cres between fallout 2 and D&D

The title of my review says it all. The game is good, but a bit linear. It reminds me a lot of the fallout games, but the execution just isn't as good. It lacks all the humor of games like fallout, and character development just isn't as important as it is in other games. Ok, you can choose to be a tech or a mage, but everything else seems sort of superficial (I know many sword-and-sorcery nuts who would disagree). Maybe I've just become jaded. Still, it is by itself a very good game and well worth $6, but I think it lacks the replayability of the games it emulates.

For the right price this game is definitely a gem that shines. The story hooks you from the start and even though the gameplay seems daunting at first {combat is incredibly difficult in the beginning if you don't focus your early skills in melee and dodge} the game compensates as it draws you into the world of Arcanum and its technology vs magick legend and cast of colorful characters, many of whom will fight by your side if you ask them. Arcanum is also a very lengthy game although near the end combat becomes tedious because you have already hit the level cap of 50. There are a few flaws in game mechanics like npcs getting stuck or broken quests but all in all its a very fun game with lots to do. Just remember to save often!

This was really under-rated, unknown. It has a lot in common with Fallout, even though the setting is very different. Imagine a typical fantasy world, mixed with Earth of 1800's. Steam engines, guns, trains, elves, mages, dwarves, orcs all together. And magic and technology don't mix well, often interfering with each other's functioning. They don't necessarily get along to well. Cons? In some ways it's stuck inbetween Baldur's Gate and Fallout. There's only a few joinable group NPC's at best that have real BG-style personalities. It makes the ones with little no dialogue seem... almost broken by comparison. And either magic is overpowered, or technology is underpowered. It's a shame, since the story seems to overwhelmingly be about technology beginning to replace magic, which is ridiculous if you compare a heal and harm spamming-mage to a wimpy tech guy. Yeah, the unbalance is a shame. I'd have liked to see more powerful guns and tech armors. Still, I like the tech side more, because, well, I've seen all the magic stuff before in other games. So anyway, yes, it's worth a try if you liked Fallout and BG.

Whether you are an inventor, praised by the industrial age around you, or a powerful wizard type, you will find many a great challenge. not to mention those are a rather broad brand for each group, of which each path is complex and twisting. Affect the world around you with every step.