There is a lot of competition for FPS games, and this one is good enough to stand out in the crowd. Definately worthwhile. However, there is no way around the fact that Red Steel 2 for nintendo Wii have all the same concepts as this one, and execute them much better.
This game makes my video card screech - it is the ONLY game that makes my video card screech - it crashes randomly and often, it often fail to trigger quest events and, considering the outdated graphics, it has amazingly slow frame rate and environment items skin loads. Note that you MUST keep several save files and switch between them regurlarly, if you intend to play this game, because you never know when a game breaking bug or corrupted save file will strike next! Also know that my system can run the Witcher 3 on decent settings, and that I have downloaded the latest patch for NWN2 so it aint got nothing to do with my rig. Also note that you can run NWN (the first one) on a 10 year old computer, no problem, with PRC installed to get all classes and more, and that game is amazingly stable, and the graphics are actually quite comparable to this one. Other than that is it worthwhile? Well... it a light hearted fantasy romp with writing on pair with the hollywood hacks that gave you all those sitcoms nobody ever watches. The most fun part of the game is actually leveling, to try out different class combinations. But if you were expecting an epic saga like Baldurs Gate or FF7, or incredibly intricate combats, where your strategy skills are tested to the limit, like Banner Saga or Divinity 2, then prepare to be disappointed. I would give it a three if it wasnt for the constant crashes and bugs. I want to like this game, I really do, but after reloading following another crash / bug and being thrown back half an hour worth of gameplay for the tenth time... urghhh!
The roleplaying parts are WTF text-based 1980 dungeun crawler shit, that you just wish to end ASAP by random clicking so you can get to the next combat situation. The combat is iffy as fuck and more frustrating than entertaining. Make a mistake - those are, by the way, exceedingly easy to make - and you have to restart it. And I dont talk about like boss battles or anything. No, every single battle is fucked if you clicked wrong. I would rate this game three if it wasnt because of the hype, because I was expected like baldurs gate roleplaying combined with shadowrun combat. This is a game that a narrow group of players who like gameplay like this will find exciting, but its not for anyone else.
I played it many many years ago. The athmosphere is great. The controls are excellent. You can drive vehicles. The storyline works. For a while, it was also popular online. I recommend this game to anyone. However, as I remember it, the graphics were also great. But now, they look outdated...
Few game have been so disappointing as this one. The universe they have created is genius, and it has so much potential. Yet, they squandered it. The combat system is broken and the game feels rushed, especially after early game. They should have made it a PS2 hack'n'slash, like brotherhood of steel, because unlike brotherhood of steel, it would have worked. But this? An apprentice of both hack'n'slash and RPG but a master of neither.
I guess you could forgive the flat characters if the combats were enjoyable. But they are not. Since you controll one character and only one character, the only strategy is to... well, there is no strategy. Use whatever you have that is the strongest against the enemy. That is perfectly fine... in a hack n slash RPG (or with cleverly made leveling system, which DnD is not known for). Here, combat is resolved like watching a soccer match - you are an observer, you are not playing it. Max out your excell spreadsheet values, and you win. Combat is determined beforehand. Now, if you make the mistake of creating a mage rather than a fighter, prepare for assrape. You see the enemy have time to rush you and attack you 12 times with attacks that out of which 6 will mathematically hit you, since Thaco is gained at a faster rate than armor class, and with their magic weapons and strength modifiers, they will deal roughly 150 damage to you before you can cast your 16-30 hp damage fireball - assuming you did not lose your concentration meanwhile. So why is everyone else rating this game so damn high? I am guessing they did not actually play it, just read "professional" reviews that all overrated the game, (the very people responsible for tricking people like me into buying this crapfest,) and simply hiveminded their reviews. Do not be fooled. This is shit.
This game is not epic but it is also not clunky. It is average. And therefore, a very enjoyable distraction for any RPG fan; what you see is what you get. Lets put it this way; if I had some hours to kill and did not already own this game, I would get it. (But do not expect greatness.)
You know how in RPGs your character becomes overpowered in late game, or some skills simple put suck, or it is to linear or to free? Well, this game blends it all together perfectly. It is like they had a thousand hours betatesting to make sure the game flows. It is not an epic game, like Baldurs Gate, however, like Baldurs Gate it flows. Now, the graphics are not the strong side of this game, however, in Eschalon II it looks a lot prettier.
The game is slow slow slow and your character quickly becomes crazy overpowered. There is no tactic involved other than just building a shitload of units. I played three missions and then I just could not force myself to play more.
Why is everyone rating this game so high? The storyline and the game world is amazing true, and the graphics are fine, but combat and leveling is crazy broken. If I rate for what it could have been with a better combat system, I would give it perfect five. If I rate it for the combat system, I would give it one. So a three then. You have been warned.
