The Age of Decadence

I liked this game; the experience was similar to Neverwinter Nights, Baldur's Gate, etc. Combat is turn/roll-based, but AoD enhances combat: you don't just merely "bop" your foe; you have to tactically decide how you'll dispatch him. . . quick cuts, jabs to the neck, etc. Of course, you don't have have to be a slicer/dicer; you can be a schemer/plotter. . . and puppet-master the slicer/dicers; it's all up to you. AoD has very strong role-play elements, good music, and nice art. Replay-ability: I've role-played a merchant and an assassin; 3-5 yrs. from now, maybe play the game again. AoD supercedes a lot of games of similar genre re. story, combat tactics/realism, and NPC significance; the one thing it lacks is immersion -- a sense of actually being there: no winds in the desert. . . no atmospheric effects whatsoever actually, no one talking in the taverns, no den or bustle in the cities, no looming or curious sounds in the wilderness. Going from one place to another was a merely a means to the next objective, albeit some objectives did have some really good art, description, and dialogue. And NPCs: well, relatively consistent behaviours, attitudes, and narrations, dropping bits and pieces about the world, giving you instructions on your next objective. . . nothing really idiosyncratic. For example, if you play some the the modules (community modules) for Neverwinter Nights, say, the "Almraiven" series, or the timeless classic, "A Dance with Rogues", both being outstanding works, there is a deep sense of darkness, dread, commerce, activity, brutality (especially with "Rogues"), wonder, forboding, etc. reflected in the dialogue, narration, and in-game aesthetics. Some of the community modules were better than the vanilla itself. At any rate, the lack of immersive-ness in AoD doesn't really motivate me to experience it again; "A Dance with Rogues" I've played 5-6 times. AoD is a good game, play it. It's a uniquely, enjoyable experience.

I won't point out why this game is really amazing and a true cRPG gem, others have done this sufficiently. What i do want to say is that you can't be the shining hero who can master all skills like in games such as Skyrim (you can be a mage with a mace and heavy armor which you crafted yourself and enchanted yourself with the help of own homemade potions, haha!). Your character has attributes and skills, and you only have so much points to spend. So if you want to be that person who can master all skill, this is not the game for you. WRONG I played this game through the first time by giving myself a 10 in every attribute (e.g. Strength) just so i can experience the game like a demi-god. You can do this with console commands. So there you have it. A game for both hardcore cRPG players and casual players. An all in all very fun game!

This is one of the best CRPGs I've ever played. Yes, it looks terrible. Yes, it sounds terrible. Yes, the combat is clunky and not the best. Still, the role playing and story that's in offer is among the best that this genre has offered. The amount of ways a situation can play out depending of the type of character you're playing as is great. The story is very interesting and requires you to play as the different classes to get the full picture of. Totally recommended.

This game is tough so if you want a nice easy RPG then this isn't the game for you, if you want to click you way through dialogue and get to the action this isn't the game for you, you WILL have to read the dialogue if you want to progress, nothing will be handed to you on a plate you will have to work for it. To deal with a some of the criticism, this game is old school so you will make mistakes, find you made bad choices and you may also find your self restarting as you learn how the game works, you may feel you have been rail roaded into making decisions but if you commit to a conversation then its just like real life you cannot back out just because it has become inconvenient. The game is not forgiving, you choices really do have consequences and can effect how NPC's will react to you and what content will become available, one decision can mean that a whole quest line will be missed and for me this is one of the things that is so good about AoD, several play throughs will be needed to fully experience the content. Lore is superb and presented from different perspectives for different character types, the background to the world is detailed and relevant to you adventure often shaping the views of people you meet along the way, AoD is a very political game and how you decide to play one faction against the other is entirely up to you, treachery is not uncommon. Dialogue is interesting and rewarding as often a somewhat innocuous conversation can glean a vital piece of information that you were not expecting or educates you increasing stats or giving you skill points to spend. Combat is tough but somewhat enjoyable and smooth for turn based, to be avoided unless you are geared like a tank. Stats are the be all and end all, you cannot be a jack of all trades in AoD, you will soon figure out what is important for the class you choose so choose wisely. If you like old school RPG's and are looking for something different this is the game for you.

In depth combat and skill system. Lots of options with completely different story outcomes based on skill selection and dialog choices. Great reply value. In-fact you cannot experience the whole story with one character as many paths are closed to you if you don't have the correct skill/attribute set. Fun play through as an idiot murder hobo and as a charismatic gritter.