This game harkens back to old-school RPGs. The game is turn-based, heavy on stats, and it's not afraid to let the player work things out for themselves. Unlike some classic RPGs the game doesn't offer much in the way of characters, story or branching questlines. There is a story, and it's enough to keep you interested, but that's not where the game's real strength lies. No, the game's real strength lies in its fantastic open-world exploration and its multifaceted combat system. Simply wandering around the world, fighting monsters and finding treasure feels like a fantastic adventure. Exploration is all the more engaging thanks to the addition of survival elements like thirst, hunger, as well as a "cartography" skill which determines your character's ability to draw maps. The combat itself is comparatively simple and fast moving for a turn-based game. It does however off a lot of tactical flexibility when approaching an encounter. Simple choices, like whether or not it's better to carry a torch or a shield in your off-hand, can greatly effect your chances of victory, making for a very tactically engaging game. This is the first game in the trilogy, and it does have a few small flaws which were subsequently remedied in the sequel. But none of these flaws detract from the overall experience. For a small indie company, Basilisk Games have produced a remarkably high quality game that should be of interest to any serious RPG fan.
