Nox™

*RUN IN COMPATIBILITY MODE: WINDOWS 95* worked for me. right-click desktop shortcut. go to properties, select compatablility and click on win 95 in the dropdown menu Have fun and DON'T PANIC

Game from my childhood that I absolutely love! If you have any issues check out the Nox Final Patch, works wonders!

A very linear Diablo clone, with lighter tone, highly differentiated classes, and some unusual twists like jumping and line-of-sight. When adjacent rooms and corridors are only visible from an intersection, walking through an underground maze feels far more claustrophobic. There's a lot more emphasis on reflexes than stat grinding. Warriors have a tether that can drag a distant opponent into melee range. Dangerous if it hits you, and dangerous if you use it to draw in a powerful spellcaster when he's launching a fireball. The different skills make playing each class a brand new experience. In exchange, there's less replayability than in most games of this type. Much loot goes unsold, and you can't even travel back very far the way you came. Story and setting aren't anything spectacular, but they don't get in the way either. Worth trying if you are tired of everything Diablo and Torchlight have to offer.

I'll try my best to write this without the nostalgia goggles on. While it may appear like a Diablo knock-off, Nox does more than one thing different. Unlike most ARPGs, Nox doesn't have skill-trees and the stats are increasing at a flat rate, rather than granting the player freely distribute-able stat points. There's no experimentation with builds and skills. While that's not exactly common for ARPGs of this type, it hardly makes Nox a bad game. The focus is simply shifted towards figuring out a use for the tools you are being given. There is no universal weapon/skill that you can plow through the game with. Different types of enemies require a different approach, especially since some of them pack a wallop and the equipment can indeed be shattered. You're not supposed to stand still and trade blows with a Mimic while chugging potions, not even as a warrior. Its visuals haven't aged all that well, but it doesn't look hideous either. The music and sound effects are doing better. There is one aspect of Nox that requires special attention. Something other ARPGs sorely lack. Balanced, fun, and addictive PvP multiplayer. It's sadly limited to LAN (or third-party LAN-emulating software), but should you get that working, there's a lot of fun to be had with Nox.

Nox is a fantastic hack-and-slash adventure game. A little bit fairy tale with specific sense of humour, a little bit spooky. When it was released, the game was a good alternative to Diablo and even Diablo II. The only disadvantage is very poor optimalization and stability issue, but what can I say? I love it!