While it is undeniable that Age of Decadence has its flaws, what is also undeniable is that it is a fantastic cRPG. It has an amazing turn-based combat system, one of the best in any cRPG period (which is further expanded upon in the standalone campaign that is Dungeon Rats by the same developer. It's extremely cheap and a must buy!), a unique and interesting setting, quality writing, and some very memorable characters and quests. The game isn't the prettiest, and the engine takes some getting used to. It may at first feel a bit janky and unpolished, and I did bounce off this game my first time giving it a go, but if you can power through the initial discomfort, everything slots into place and soon the game will feel buttery smooth, and even the visuals will start to grow on you. Once this happens, just buckle up and enjoy the ride! Though there are sections where you have some leeway to do things the way you want in the order you want, the game is fairly linear, so be prepared. The game is also extremely replayable, and playing a trader will result in a completely different experience than if you play a mercenary. I will warn you know, specialize, specialize, specialize! I'd recommend looking up some resources online so you can get a decent understanding of how to create your character, but the gist of it is that if you plan on fighting things, you should be spending a lot (and I mean a lot) of your points on combat related stats and skills. If you skimp out on these skills, do not be surprised if some of the fights in the game are impossible. Ignore the crybabies who complain about this. If you want challenging and interesting combat, then it has to be punishing if you do something stupid. All in all, Age of Decadence is a fantastic RPG that does so many things right, the things it does wrong really cease to matter. Buy it and play it!
Underrail features one of the greatest single character, turn-based combat systems of all time. Combine that with one of the greatest video game settings of all time, gorgeous art/aesthetics, quality writing, and endless replayability, and what you're left with is a spectacular experience that is a must-play for anyone who claims to be a fan of the RPG genre. While the game is difficult, don't let that deter you from giving this game a whirl. I had to remake my character several times on normal difficulty my first time playing through the game. Fast forward hundreds of hours later, I'm playing extremely sub-optimal builds on the highest difficulty, and having a blast while doing it. There is no artificial difficulty in Underrail. If you're struggling, it's because your build is terrible or you're just making fundamental tactical/strategic mistakes. There are videos where people beat the game on the highest difficulty using nothing but a crowbar. My recommendation? Follow a build for your first play through, or at the very least some sort of guide. It'll allow you to get an understanding of the game's systems, experience the quality setting, quests, and everything else the game has to offer. All in all, can't recommend this game enough. Do yourself a favor and play it.
