Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura

Whatever it is that makes people praise this game is beyond me. I still enjoy Wizardry 8, Baldur's Gate, Incewind Dale, Neverwinter Nights, Divine Divinity, etc. and play them all a few times a year. This game is just slow, and a total drudge. Impossible to complete for me, I can't recommend it. I have to suspect there's a lot of Fallout worship at work here, where the devs are admired and so the game earns praise it objectively does not deserve. Save your money.

I found this game way too confusing just at the start. The UI is sub-par even compared to other RPGs from that era (or earlier). The dialog is annoyingly long-winded. It'd be one thing if it was interesting, like Planescape Torment, but it's not. I can see why it didn't sell that well and has more of a cult following. If you're really into working hard for your fun, you'll probably enjoy it. If you don't feel like spending a day trying to start and get into the game, you might want to pass and try out say Planescape Torment for another viable RPG experience without all the hassle.

This game is just terrible. Garbage combat, aggravating combat, useless camera controls, and on and on. All these positive reviews seem to caused by either rose colored glasses so thick they could stop bullets or a retro games are beyond reproach zealousness. If there was any justice in the world GOG would drop this game and refund everyone who purchased it.

Yes the creators of this is certainly the same that co created Fallout. But they fall deep on this one. The start is awesome and the story is for sure fine, but where the nuke really hits home is the AWEFULL balancing of this game. Playing a gunslinger is next to impossible and any other combat than fist or hand to hand is a very painful experience since someone got that great idea that you get XP per hit?!?!?. And yes I am old enough to remember the orginial release and frustrations. Do not believe any who gives much praise to this game - it's rushed out the door to save a company that went broke quite fast after the release of the game. Have fun with many other games :)

Good story...boring combat..aweful random number generator...way too hard at the beginning...way too easy at the end. Save your money on this one.