Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura

So unique that you'll forgive it's rough edges. Arcanum is probably one of my favorite games of all time. I actually bought the original release and was disappointed when it was basically unplayable. The GOG patched version is what I hoped the original would be, an open-ended adventure where you can shoot a mage in the face, summon the undead or kill key NPCs and have the plot work around the fact. You can even talk your way through most encounters, even the final boss, without fighting, if your character is intelligent and charismatic enough. Tip: the technologist path is difficult, so save it for a second play through, or read some forums first. If you are like me and have to start with one, combine prowling with gunslinging to snipe effectively, even solo most the game.

This game is one of the best games I ever played storywise. The setting is unique and very interesting, mixing early technology and magic. The world is huge and has a lot of well elaborated narratives. The story plot is really interesting and keeps turning around, surprising you in many ways. Thus, I would definitely recommend to someone who likes CRPGs. However... Every comment you see in the other reviews about how the gameplay is unbalanced, unfinished, ugly etc. is true. The gameplay is definitely not a strong point of this game and it has many flaws. If you are not used to play old games, you may be specially affected by that. Yet, the game is very playable and has many interesting options for character building and strategy. I played the whole game and replayed it a few times to see the other options just to confirm that this game is totally awsome in terms of story and narrative. It is a pity that it was underdeveloped in terms of gameplay. It would be quite nice to have a remake of this game without such problems.

Tl;dr Arcanum has tons of great concepts but also quite a few shortcomings, which keep the game from being an actual masterpiece. Good: -Player choice: Easily the greatest strength of Arcanum, every single quest that I know of is able to be solved in a multitude of ways, depending on your playstyle. The game is also a truly open ended sandbox, meaning you can go anywhere you want from the very start of the game if you want to. -Character creation: I doubt you'll find a better character creation system in any other RPG to date. The customization options range from race, gender and an absurd number of diverse backgrounds, each of which grants you completely different bonuses, to your character's stats, skills, magical or technological abilities. Meh: -Visuals and soundtrack: Both lack in variety and don't fit the game's supposed steampunk setting. Get ready to hear nothing but strings, see a lot of grey, square houses and guys in chainmail. Bad: -Combat: Unbalanced and uninteresting. The most effective fighting style is a boring as hell melee fightan man with a big sword. Ranged weapons are absolutely pointless, since almost every enemy is a melee fighter anyway that can close the distance in the first round of combat. This includes casters who will maybe summon a minion and then proceed to move into melee range and punch you. -Story: Arcanum's premise is weak and gamey and the player has no real agency besides trying to stop people from killing him. You're trying to solve a mystery that, really, has nothing to do with you, the villain you only encounter at the very end is evil necromancer Edgelordicus The Boring, who wants to kill the world because that'll bring about world peace. This would have presented a good climax for a game, in which life and death were the main themes but Arcanum is about the conflict between magic(k) and technology. The main storyline, ultimately, is about nothing, let alone the PC. -Many smalls things cant list em Im out of space

Arcanum is one of the best RPGs i have ever played. Great story and characters. 10/10

played this game about 10 ,12 years ago a friend bout at k-mart around 12 dollars we played 6,8 months iliked it so much i talked him into selling for profit i payed 20 dollars for it. He looked for ever for one and could not find it any where.About 6 years ago i found on ebay but it was 55dollars plus shipping. That one got lost during our move when we relocated. This game has a different outcome with every discision you make even if some are the same as some others have been to the void about 20,25 times now. STILL PLAY STILL FIND SOMETHING NEW 7or8 charicters 16 skillsets 5 tech, disciplines 80 spell colleges THIS GAME ROCKS THEM ALL It takes awhileto get it all going to acomplish the main mission keep playing and, save,save,save, took me 8 months to get about half way through the first time easy, now i play difficult abou 2 games every week and half... thanks for the game james T