I had some fun with the game but I am stuck at * SPOILER * the Brotherhood where you first encounter the True Bugs. The game always freezes. I searched through the internet and others seem to have the same bug since 2013... I don't know why this bug was never fixed.
I played Fallout 1/2 so many times and was always annoyed that there are not more similar games around. Atom RPG & Trudograd are the perfect clones in a unique setting. The graphics of Trudograd are beautiful and improved a lot in comparison to ATOM RPG. The character building works in a similar way as Fallout and especially the side quests are a lot of fun. Moreover, the writing is now also considerably better than in ATOM RPG. It is recommended that you play first Atom RPG which is lessed polished but still good. And one last hint: Don't forget making many save games. What could be better? - The fights are - similar to Fallout 1/2 - are not very tactical. Since you have no squad like in Expedition Vikings / Rome or X-COM or Wasteland, it is a bit difficult to make it more tactical. But I think it could be done with some more level design. For example: More traps, enemies healing each other, allowing for cover, introducing a fog of war. - I really liked that you could import your whole character. Which is a very nice feature for players of the first part. However, it is making it more tough for new players and it is also making the game much more easy for players who invested already a lot of time in the first part. This is not a really a complaint but I would recommend to the developers to let the player start from 0 in a new game. This makes it more accessabile and easier to balance.
I just finished this gem today. The start was a bit cumbersome but once you understand the mechanics it makes fun. Similar to Expedition Rome especially the first fights can be really challenging. + Historical setting - no fantasy bullshit. I think the game is almost as historical accurate as it can get. + I really got the impression they first created the story and the branching tree of it and than they built the world. This is so much better than many modern open world RPGs which have just large world without any soul. + Real choice and consequences. I had the feeling I had more of them than in Expedition Rome. + Good crafting and skill system + Beautiful graphics for an indie game and absolutely sufficient + I am rather a completionist and it took me ~ 60 hours to complete all quests + Latest version (I am talking about steam version) had no game breaking bugs for me. - The first hours were a bit frustrating because I didn't understand some of the mechanics right away. - The timer was ok for me, but it can be a bit stressful. If you create from time to time saves you can avoid bad suprises. - The menue is ok but can be a bit confusing at the beginning - Almost no voice over - but for me ok, it increases the immersion. - Sometimes longer loading screens. But never more than 3-7 seconds on my PC - I wish they had produced a story add on how the vikings fought against the Franks. I can only recommend this game to everyone who likes Wasteland 2/3, Expeditions Rome, X-Com, Fallout 2 or Dragon Age Origin (even if it has no turn based combats)
I completed Elex and today Elex 2. It's a decent game with some improvements over Elex but TBH I expected a bit more. The game just didn't suprise me as often as Elex, which had some interesting quests, e.g. the rise of Rat, the future of Abessa or the big bang quest. So don't get me wrong, I give it 5 stars and also Elex 2 has nice quests. But I expected more story and a better story. Especially in the end game. I hope THQ Nordics gives them more money to switch to another engine and hire some more writers & level builders. If you never played Elex, it is probably better you start with Elex than Elex 2.
The gameplay does not work like in BG II / Icewind Dale /Planescape Torment but it makes a lot of fun. Who played DOS II will see many similar similarities in Design but character skilling and turn based fighting are lacking the complexity of DOS II. It would be unfair to call it a DOS III in the BG universe. I played BG III now two times. For me it is the attempt to create the feeling of a pen & paper session on the screen. And that works very well for me. And despite the fights are lacking the complexity of DOS II or X-COM, I enjoy them much more than in BGII, Pillars of Eternity or Planescape. But that is just my personal taste. Beside that: The Game has beautiful graphics, great cinematics and a very good story. And I just like how Larian is still designing every level by hand and not just creating a open world with random content. I played it with Patch 5 and it worked very well on my PC. Only two things annoyed me: 1) Bug prevented me sometimes to climb down and up ladders in the deeper areas of the crone. 2) The level cap of 4. If I can't collect any more XP, it's just not motivating for me. I hope Larian is increasing the level cap to 5. If they increase the level cap, I might play it again.
