Enclave

Enclave is a nice take on the hack n slash genre. The strongest point is certainly the level design. It's a console game, but levels are very dense and have little "dead space": You can enter most houses, climb on most houses, jump in most sewers... There are lots of little secret areas and corridors to take. The progression and class system is interesting too. The only problem is the huge imbalance between characters and weapons. Maybe it depends on the playing style, but for the most part you'll only need the spellcaster with one spell (not even the most expensive one) and then the fast warrior once you get a powerful sword. The archer is simply too penalized by the strict aiming system and slow reloading times, where even basic staffs are basically infinite machine guns with very decent damage. I didn't even need to try the bomber kinds of characters. Of course it is a bit lazy, but there's not really a moment where you hit a wall and need to get creative. All in all it is still a decent game, well enough to keep you hooked until finishing it.

Enclave is a hack and slash title that mixes intuitive controls with a good deal of challenge and depth. You start out as as a good knight but you end up unlocking other character classes, weapons and armor as you progress through the story. Eventually you're able to play as one of the bad guys. Each mission lets you choose which class you'd like to play as before you start, making sure that you never get bored or start a new game because you don't like the character you chose at the beginning. My favourite part of the game are the missions. If you are the type of person who doesn't have that much time in a day to play games, the short, challenging missions are a godsend. For those of you who do and are looking for a more immersive experience, there's that too. Each mission environment is a natural progression from the one that came before it, and it's all very coherent for the most part. The only reason it's not a 5 for me is because there are few but bothersome glitches that are not game breaking in any way, but I did have to load up my game once. Also, the fact that you have to unlock the character classes as you progress through the game (including the ability to play as the bad guys) is annoying if you come from playing more traditional action/rpgs like Diablo and Divine Divinity. But you get over it because, in the end, the game invites you in and keeps you addicted thanks to its simple but challenging gameplay, variety of classes, solid story, and the ability to play in short bursts.

I have always believed that this game was a bit under-appreciated. I came upon it by accident, as it was a gift from my sister's fiancee...but was I appreciative once I got it! Without question, this game packs a decent challenge, especially for those that wish to try to uncover all of the little hidden gems and gold bags throughout the game, but you are rewarded with the ability to equip the best weapons and armor within the game. The characters that you are able to use are diverse, and can easily compliment any play style. There is certainly a punishing element to this game, as a few missed steps or errant swings can leave you open for some serious damage. On more than one occasion, I found myself nearing the end of a level, more or less cruising along, just to come across some powerful mage or nasty knight that ended my journey in a matter of seconds. Despite this, I never found myself not wanting to give it another shot, which is more than I can say for some other action titles I have played in the past, because it does not ever feel necessarily cheap, as quick reactions and careful advancement will get you through nearly any situation. If you have not yet played this game and you enjoy action games, then you absolutely must give this one a shot!!

Brought this when it first came out on the Xbox, despite the 'reviews' it received I found it to be a compelling and rewarding experience. Is easily in my top ten most enjoyed Xbox games :)

The star off is for a somewhat clunky melee system, but in all other cases an excellent action roleplaying game! This game has startlingly gorgeous graphics (especially running silky smooth on a current generation rig) with real attention paid to a variety of creative textures, lighting effects, and diverse and very entertaining environments. There are plenty of characters to choose from, weapons to upgrade, secrets to find in each of the two campaigns that keeps even replaying levels to look for gold and items from getting stale. There are also some rudimentary but still integral puzzles and some of the more powerful weapons and your companions roster can only be bolstered by looking around the corner or taking the door you're not directed to enter. If you're a fan of fighting in wondrous environments, steampunk and fantasy mixes (all too rare), and can put up with old school difficulty this a classic worth revisiting which in many ways shows up a lot of the current generation 'fantasy' games that don't give you this many options, pays this much attention to the little things and presents a lived-in, gothic feel that makes you feel like you're playing an adventure game of exploration when you aren't sniping goblins or slicing orcs.