I'm a little biased here considering my rating, gameplay, bugs, glitches and so on. I gave five stars for various reasons although objectively this game don't deserve it (three or four stars, which again does not mean the game is bad) from previous (I bought it when 1.06 got released) or current state. Anyway, there is no need to min-max your attributes (character) especially if you want to experience more various dialogues depending on your atributes (body, intelligence, tech, reflx, cool) or if you want to solve quests without conflicts or different ways. With this in mind, some quests need some of your attributes at least 4, some 6, 10, I did not get to far away in game to see if some of attributes need higher number. Netrunner is like wizard/sorcerer class in FRPs, weak at beginning and OP after. Netrunner build (high Intelligence with legendary OS cyberdeck like Rippler mk4 or Netrunner mk5) is OP after some time, even with level 20 something, not that it is bad, but it was grinding for me at beginning and not fun when I saw various weapons with crafting options and cyberdecks and there are not so various quickhacks like there is weapons. I started with jack-of-all-trades build with emphasis on intelligence (hacking), technology (crafting and engineering (powerful tech weapons), plus stealth (cool) and rest spending on body (breaking doors which can't be opened with tech ability and for some dialogue options for solving quests or having unique dialogues) and reflexes (riffles, pistols) then tried min-max (int, tech, cool) Netrunner but got bored with it after act 2 especially with constant tab-ing and playing hacking mini-game and choosing quickhack to hack enemy. Point is, you have flexibility in build and if you have pure hacker (netrunner) build you can still make damage with weapons even if you don't spend points in coresponding perk tree. And there are upgrades for your weapon and your abilities which could aleviate lack of attributes or perks.
Atari and Amiga version looks and sounds much better than PC-DOS version at least for Ishar 1 I tried and checked. But if you don't want to bother with emulators, you should try this great hard-core CRPG game no matter what.
Pros. Overall good adventure game (Monkey Island 3 style), humour, art etc. And I like humour even more because it is "offensive" and "triggering" to some s*flakes who should not play games anyway if they look for "offensive" content. Cons. Ripoff. If you don't want to spoil your experience and buy game blindly, you will be disappointed. You expect full game but you get just part one of more to come episodes. Buy when on discount.
I finally finnished this game, no, I finally beat this game which is achievement of its own. Everything negative you heard about this game is true. This game is like suggesting you need to power game it if you want to finish it. Contrary to popular belief and what game suggest by dropping or giving by NPCs some items or weapons (DaVinci's Crossbow - ranged, The Everlasting - melee etc.), the most easiest way to finnish this game at least for me was by playing as mage, human fire mage, which is not optimal (considering race) and power gamery, but whatever. In many RPG games playing as mage early on is like you are made of glass, but later on it is almost as cheating because playing as fighter is linear (but fun, active, kick ass and chew bubblegum) and as mage (boring, lame) exponential if it is done right by algorithm and gamer. As test, I tried playing as ranged or melee in Barcelona Sewers fighting first Beggar you meet. I lost, but playing as fire mage, I pwned most of the fights. I mean, playing as fighter it was not fun but struggle (no pun intended) because enemies zerg rush on you for the most part and having AoE magic at your disposal is a must. Problem with mage is slow replenishing of mana, there is no sleep, no Atronach birthsign which could replenish your mana, and enemies drops rarely mana spirit. This game don't forgive mistakes. You need to be careful where to spend points and for some skills is wasteful because of items which give points for some skills. Comparing this game with Fallout 1 or 2 for whatever reason (SPECIAL, Interplay, Black Isle) is heresy. Just because this game use SPECIAL does not mean it is Fallout in fantasy setting. Fallout 1&2 have fine tuned attributes (SPECIAL) and skills interacting with in-game world like no other games before and after, you have feel nothing is wasted and everything have its purpose. Buy this game only when on discount.
