Posted on: December 26, 2008
EyeNixon
Possesseur vérifiéJeux: 99 Avis: 26
As Fallout is to Wasteland, Arx Fatalis is to Ultima Underworld
All long-time RPGers know of Fallout and its spiritual predecessor Wasteland. Arx Fatalis is quite similar to Fallout's legacy in that it has a clear inspiration, a strong influence from a classic in the genre. Arx Fatalis is of course, inspired by the fantastic Ultima Underworld, a Ultima spin-off revered to this day for its amazing strides in technology and the first utilization of a true first person perspective. Before Doom had even been released, Ultima Underworld allowed full 360 degree movement and not only that, but provided the ability to look up, down, jump and even levitate. Indeed, before Wolfenstein 3D or Doom, Ultima Underworld had already revolutionized gaming by creating unparalleled freedom of movement in the first person perspective. Arx Fatalis directly borrows the setting of Ultima Underworld, however, unlike Ultima Underworld's Stygian Abyss which is a means of exile for prisoners, Arx Fatalis takes place in a world that was forced underground by the extinguished sun and the eternal winter that followed. As such, the denizens of Arx are typically far more friendly than those in Ultima Underworld, and you will find many more opportunities to interact with characters. There are a few unique gameplay elements Arx introduces in order to stand out, including a spellcasting system which requires the use of mouse movements, similar to that of Black & White's. While you can precast spells and save them for later on, most spellcasting will require the mouse movement system, which while unique, requires precision and is quite difficult in the midst of combat. Much like its spellcasting system, the world of Arx is quite unique and varied, and even very beautiful despite the age of the engine, NPCs are typically interesting and so is the story despite its typical plot of "you are the chosen one". Arx, unfortunately, does present quite a few bugs and problems from its localization, the voice acting is notably wonky, ranging from well done to unintentionally hilarious, comparable to the work done on Gothic. Arx Fatalis is a fantastic revival of Ultima Underworld, certainly one of the most underrated RPGs of its time, overshadowed by titles such as Morrowind and even the fantastic Gothic. However, that does not mean it should be overlooked now that it's on GoG, in fact, any individual that considers themselves a roleplaying gamer is obligated to check out Arx Fatalis.
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