Greetings everyone! My name is David and I like videogames and comic books and have a blog about comic books (where I sometimes discuss games) but won't say the address because that would be shameless advertising--although if I do a post on Arcanum I would probably do a link to it. Anyways, I joined GOG pretty much for the sole purpose of buying and downloading Arcanum because it was the first RPG I played when I was quite a bit younger that was amazing to me as something non-linear and "open". I was used to Final Fantasy and the like, and actually being able to make choices and have them matter struck me as something amazing. The thing is, I'm nervous. I'm scared that when I boot up my copy of Arcanum I just downloaded and installed it won't live up to my memories of it being one of my favorite games ever during my adolescent years and I am going to be let down. Should I relax, is it still just as awesome as I recall?

I was also nervous to start the game, since many people say terrible things about the combat system and some reviewers describe the game as bland. But I'm in the middle of the game right now and I can safely say it's one of the best, if not the best RPG I have ever played, and I played a lot of them over the years. The lore is magnificent, the combat is fun once you get used to it, the story is simply fantastic. The game is more compelling than BG IMHO, and can only be compared to PS:T. Go for it!

I only discovered this gem late last year, and I'm playing through it a 2nd time now. What I've found is that, essentially, the game world & character options are so deep, it makes starting out feel a little shallow. Once you get a good solid idea of what you want to focus your character on AND you see it start to take form...that is when the game goes from "just another rpg" to "awesomeness!"

I'd put it up there at least with Planescape: Torment.
Your worries are for naught. Arcanum is a wonderful game.

And if you don't believe me, just ask Hypnoto-- ALL HAIL HYPNOTOAD.

Definitely nothing to worry about (hopefully! :D )

I also played Arcanum when I was much younger (when I was 11 or 12) and it was one of, if not the first real RPG I played as well. It has definitely stuck with me over the years as one of the best games I've played, in terms of story, replay ability, variety, and my love for it has continued.

Have no fear. It's just as awesome as you remember. Perhaps even more so... I was able to appreciate aspects of the game now that I probably would not have if I'd played it when I was younger.

Thanks for the reassuring words everyone. I started it up 2 days ago and have been playing it a bunch and sure enough it is quite a grand time. The graphics are a bit harsh (which I recalled, so I wasn't upset about that) and certain things do bug me about combat, but other stuff is just amazing and I definetely see why I loved this game so much all those years ago and now love it again.

Are you playing in high resolution? At 1440x900 I think the game looks just beautiful.

I love this game. The only reason I haven't played it in ages as my favourite character build (Tech, tech and further tech) broke the game towards the end.

I'm about to boot it up again for the first time in years because I've heard the Patch fixes the one issue that killed it for me.

So patch it up and get to it.

Now I simply must know. What happened?

Indeed. Possibly the most underrated game in history (by the mainstream), but those who know RPG's hail it as one of (if not THE) greatest RPG's ever made.

The story, C&C (choices & consequences) and almost infinite re-playability are second to none. It's let down very slightly by (IMO) a somewhat mediocre combat system, but everything else about the game is sublime.

The sad thing is, when you finally play Arcanum, you realize this is where the RPG genre peaked - it's been slowly going downhill ever since.

Wow, I'm gonna have to disagree with some of the extremely positive comments in this thread -- Arcanum was released near the end of a wave of absolutely brilliant PC RPG releases in the mid to late '90s and early '00s, this is true. It is also deeper than most (if not all) of the titles coming out today, barring rare exceptions like the Witcher games and Neverwinter Nights 2: Mask of the Betrayer. It's a very solid but, like all their releases, flawed effort by Troika.

It is probably the best RPG in its genre (Steampunk) and I'm sure you won't be disappointed, but IMHO it is definitely not up there with the likes of Baldur's Gate II, Planescape: Torment or Fallout.

Well you are in a forum for dedicated lovers of Arcanum so I imagine there will be a bias about it leaning toward positive. It is flawed in quite a few ways, which is why I always call it a flawed masterpiece. I haven't played Baldur's Gate or the others so I can't compare and contrast, but I do know Arcanum is one of my favorite games even if admittedly not the best RPG ever if we are honest. That title goes to Final Fantasy 7 (he said completely seriously).

I won't say you're wrong - I've never played much of any of the FF series as I am admittedly biased against the amime trappings and could never really get into them.

However, you really need to play those 'other games. I don't honestly think you can make an informed opinion on the best ever without playing Fallout 1/2, Planescape Torment, or BG1/2. Look at any list of best RPGs and nine times out of ten, two or three will be in the top 5. Anyone patient enough to get through Arcanum with it's foibles will find these games amazing.

Admittedly, it's a Wester-biased list, but still, best ever.

I bought the Fallouts during the big "Staycation" sale GOG had going on, so I'm going to be digging in to those. I plan to do Planescape after that as I hear how great it is, and then Baldur's Gate 1 and 2 eventually when I have the time between work, my blog, and etc. Plus, I got the Rollercoaster Tycoon Deluxe release GOG just did because my disc of the game became scratched beyond use long ago, so that's going to suck up some time. Anyone else notice once you get into GOG it's even harder to find time for the new games you bought t hat expensive console for? Oh, to be a youth with hours of free time again...