I deducted one star because the PC version here is limited to 800x600 resolution. Looks pretty small on my monitor, but I imagine that is something many GOG-ers can tolerate. There is a PS4 Remake that is in 4k resolution, but it has not made its way to PC. That version has also not gone on sale for less than $40 on PSN and was only released as a Limited Run game in physical form. The game still has beautiful art though, and a compelling story. It just seemed worth noting that a superior version does exist.
Yes, I'm aware that reviews should be based on in-game experience only. However, my in-game experience was hampered by the fact that the developer is so malicious and hateful that it made me not want to continue playing this game at all. First, let's talk about the game itself. It is an ambitious game with lots of content and an homage to Wizardry 7 and similar games of old. However, the UI is very clunky, the itemization is mediocre at best, and the gameplay is terribly unbalanced. If you manage to get past the clunky UI, prepare to breeze past certain monsters and then get one-shot by others. There is still some fun to be had despite all of this, but you'll have a better time revisiting those classics or playing some of the amazing, well-balanced gems available on this website (Tower of Time, anyone?). Unfortunately, the developer chooses to ridicule and insult paying customers who paid upwards of $40 for this game. He also bans anyone on the Steam forums who speak negatively about the game, or complains about things like the poor balance or UI. Even people who complained about things like the guide not being released when it was promised were met with bans, insults, and had their posts deleted. Anyone who dislikes the game he calls names like "snowflakes" or "homosexuals", or goes off on a borderline non-sensical rants usually about how he is right and you are an idiot. He seems to be very proud of being (what he even refers to himself as) an "internet bully," and he makes blog posts with hateful rants about homosexuality, black people, women and even "charlatans" like Stephen Hawking (nobody's safe from this looney!). If this type of behavior and outright bigotry doesn't bother you, and you can look past the massive flaws of the game - you may find some enjoyment in this. I personally do not want to support someone like this. Luckily, he can't ban me or remove my review from GOG, so I thought I'd spread the word to those who care about who gets their money.
I am having an absolute blast with this game. While the story is not the most epic or engrossing, I feel that this game deserves a 4.5-star rating (rounded up to 5) based solely on the combat, which is both challenging and rewarding. The game will lead you (fairly linearly) from one fight to the next. This would usually be off-putting to me, but the combat is the absolute bread and butter of this game. There are some side paths with additional fights or treasure chests. Warning: This game is HARD if you play it on 'Hard.' You will die a lot. I would regularly die a few times in a single fight before I learned the appropriate strategy to defeat the particular group of enemies. I found that Normal difficulty is quite a bit less stressful but still offers a comfortable amount of challenge and difficulty. PROS: -Combat is refreshingly challenging and requires thought and strategy. -Unique character abilities and personalities. -Good character customization through allocation of skill points. Infinite re-speccing allows for a good amount of experimentation. -Pretty nice graphics, and even looks great at 5760x1080 (Nvidia Surround) resolution. CONS: -Fairly Linear, don't expect a very open world. - Voice acting is 'meh' - While there is a story, I didn't find it very engrossing. Overall, I would highly recommend this game if you are looking for a challenging Tactical Strategy game. You may want to look elsewhere if you are seeking an open world, story-driven RPG.
