Exile 3 (the game this game once was) is my favourite RPG. Period. I played through it a dozen times as a kid, and even acquired a copy of it as an adult. It showcases a living, breathing world where you actions (or apathy) matter, where danger can lurk within the safest areas, and where magic allows you to showcase your creativity, turning even the dumbest spells into context-dependant killers. All of that is gone in this game. The spell systems have been cut down to a handful of generic abilities, the world no longer acts apart from your involvement in it, and all the fun side-quests, diversions and dangers have been reduced to pre-planned encounters that are always 'on par' with your party. I'd compare this game and it's former version to Baldur's Gate and Dragon Age. One is an open, often-imbalanced but hugely enjoyable roleplaying game. The other is it's slick, streamlined, soulless sibling. I don't entirely regret my purchase - it was a good nostalgia trip - but after this and Queen's Wish 1, I can't see myself buying another Spiderweb Software game. Not until Jeff Vogel recaptures what made his older games fun for me.
