Posted January 28, 2010
To put it bluntly, no avowed rpg nut should pass up on the opportunity to play Arcanum for several reasons:
Innovation
I can't think of any other rpg which melds a tolkienesque world complete with fantasy pulp races (orcs, elves, dwarves etc...) with steampunk so convincingly. You can play as either human, elf, half elf, dwarf, half orc or even a half ogre in a world 50 or 60 years after its own industrial revolution. You'll travel to huge cities connected by a strange device called "the iron horse" and empires which prefer magick. Indeed part of the story is due to how both magick and technology both hang in an uneasy balance.
Depth
With so many different stats to choose from (strength, agility, perception, charisma etc..) including background types and races; Arcanum has an enduring playability. Added to the game is the character's ability to choose between either magick, or technology or something in between. Be warned though, this is NOT a game for those new to the rpg genre, players already familiar with the Fallout series will feel right at home. There are so many character types and stats to create that it can easily overwhelm players which cut their teeth on baldur's gate and or fallout. Will you play an elven mage and rain firey destruction on your foes? Or will you be professor in one of the technological disciplines or perhaps a cutthroat thief or a pit fighter?
Atmosphere
The world of Arcanum is a mix of the fantasy cliches you often see in other rpgs but with a 19th century look and feel which comes complete with a fantastic soundtrack which makes the world very believable.
That isn't to say that Arcanum isn't without faults, the graphics could have been better and there appears to be quite a few bugs which can be quite jarring. Though the good news is that there are many patches available to download.
This really is a game that the serious rpg'er should consider.
Innovation
I can't think of any other rpg which melds a tolkienesque world complete with fantasy pulp races (orcs, elves, dwarves etc...) with steampunk so convincingly. You can play as either human, elf, half elf, dwarf, half orc or even a half ogre in a world 50 or 60 years after its own industrial revolution. You'll travel to huge cities connected by a strange device called "the iron horse" and empires which prefer magick. Indeed part of the story is due to how both magick and technology both hang in an uneasy balance.
Depth
With so many different stats to choose from (strength, agility, perception, charisma etc..) including background types and races; Arcanum has an enduring playability. Added to the game is the character's ability to choose between either magick, or technology or something in between. Be warned though, this is NOT a game for those new to the rpg genre, players already familiar with the Fallout series will feel right at home. There are so many character types and stats to create that it can easily overwhelm players which cut their teeth on baldur's gate and or fallout. Will you play an elven mage and rain firey destruction on your foes? Or will you be professor in one of the technological disciplines or perhaps a cutthroat thief or a pit fighter?
Atmosphere
The world of Arcanum is a mix of the fantasy cliches you often see in other rpgs but with a 19th century look and feel which comes complete with a fantastic soundtrack which makes the world very believable.
That isn't to say that Arcanum isn't without faults, the graphics could have been better and there appears to be quite a few bugs which can be quite jarring. Though the good news is that there are many patches available to download.
This really is a game that the serious rpg'er should consider.