Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura

1. BuskeKiggeren

   Jan 31, 2014

   10

   This is one of the best RPG games i played in my time. Don't listen to the critics about the multiplayer part not working, it works fine. JustThis is one of the best RPG games i played in my time. Don't listen to the critics about the multiplayer part not working, it works fine. Just sad you can't play the singleplayer map online. Those hating scores is just people to slow minded to understand game, so don't let it interfere with you others trying it, you haven't truly been living without.… Expand

   • 0 of 0 users found this helpful
2. Bruno

   Apr 6, 2006

   10

   I wonder how old are those kids from armchair empire or game revolution. To give this rpg jewel 65% or so means you have absolutely no idea I wonder how old are those kids from armchair empire or game revolution. To give this rpg jewel 65% or so means you have absolutely no idea about how should real RPG look like. They are whining on bad graphics and especially interface which is so subjective. I love the interface and all I know love it too. Beside that everything in Arcanum is excellent, dialoges, questing system (so many possibilies of how to fulfil quest), character developoment, game world, sounds. I can hardly imagine better RPG made in that particular setting (steam&magic).… Expand

   • 13 of 14 users found this helpful
4. Magical_Viktor

   Apr 30, 2023

   10

   Существуют просто Зло и Большое Зло, а за ними обоими в тени прячется Очень Большое Зло. Очень Большое Зло, Геральт, это такое, которого ты иСуществуют просто Зло и Большое Зло, а за ними обоими в тени прячется Очень Большое Зло. Очень Большое Зло, Геральт, это такое, которого ты и представить себе не можешь, даже если думаешь, будто уже ничто не в состоянии тебя удивить. И знаешь, Геральт, порой бывает так, что Очень Большое Зло схватит тебя за горло и скажет: «Выбирай, братец, либо я, либо то, которое чуточку поменьше»… Expand

   • 0 of 0 users found this helpful
5. frankielee

   Apr 24, 2015

   10

   f only mage class was a little more balanced compared to mechanical one. still one of the best rpgs out there. i just finished it again afterf only mage class was a little more balanced compared to mechanical one. still one of the best rpgs out there. i just finished it again after all these years and was still impressed about the quality of this game.… Expand

   • 2 of 3 users found this helpful
6. prawda

   Apr 12, 2015

   10

   To be honest the graphic sucks in a technical way, but the style is awesome. Steampunk combined with "Magick" looks surprisingly consistent.To be honest the graphic sucks in a technical way, but the style is awesome. Steampunk combined with "Magick" looks surprisingly consistent. Also the fighting sucks. Furthermore there are some bugs and a lot of graphic glitches. And last but not least the entry to this game is not easy. There is no tutorial, the game just starts straight away and you have no clue what character build might work, where you have to go or what decisions might be devastating.
   All these drawbacks can possibly make a game completely worthless. But not for arcanum, especially the last thing does not matter at all, it is even a good concept. Even though you don't know what to do, the game always offers another option of progressing. You can kill very important NPCs, which might break a game like this, but in Arcanum the developers have built in this possibility. Therefore the degree of non-linearity in this game is outstanding. There are a few other games, which also offer you such a tremendous amount of freedom, but there is no single game, where the story is being developed regarding your decisions and way of playing, also there is no game where the philosophical concept of the game is interwoven so cleverly with the story as well as the game mechanics. Other outstanding games of this genre are hard to transfer to a different medium like a book or a movie, but for Arcanum this is just not possible. The story/philosophy/plot can only work if the receiver of the medium is able to interact with the game. Therefore Arcanum makes use of the possibilites of computer games and involves the player so deep into the game world, that this game is a solid 10/10. You will not get this kind of experience from any other game. I find this perfection in this regard to be suffcient to overcome the flaws and still rate this game as high as possible.
   The degree of non-linearity is like Jagged Alliance 2, the love and detail of quests is like Baldurs Gate, the quality of the NPCs is better than JA2 (which has really funny NPCs or neurotic ones, but they are not as deep as in Arcanum), the atmosphere outperforms Fallout, the freedom of character design might be comparable to Baldurs Gate or the like at first glance, but after you realize what seemingly unimportant details still have an effect in the game, you are convinced that this game outperforms the other genre-defining games again. And finally the story itself outperforms even good books, there are funny analogies to the real world, satirical references regarding religion, capitalism, politics, human flaws and much more. But again these are just details. What makes the story outstanding is, that you are never force to hate or love a specific character in the game. It is your decision, the story just shows you, why someone does something, what impact it had and what his/her motivations are. You decide, if you want to support or stop someone. You can kill every single NPC, except one, in the whole game and finish it, but you can also finish it without killing any NPC. And last but not least, the ending of the story is a blast. Once you enter the last part of the game, there will be jaw-dropping-ception.… Expand

   • 4 of 4 users found this helpful
7. Thazari

   Dec 27, 2016

   9

   Amazing RPG with a crazily good story and massive open world. While the story is more or less linear, there are lots of side quests and you'reAmazing RPG with a crazily good story and massive open world. While the story is more or less linear, there are lots of side quests and you're free to roam around most of the world. There are many different characters to accompany you, some of which have their own story and voice acting. The stat/skill system is deep and really influences the outcome of conversations and the story, as characters may respond differently or quest resolve in different ways based on which skills you chose to unlock. Throughout it all is the duality between technology and magic, but there's more subtle things going on as well. And the overall plot is original and surprising. The game lasts very long too, you probably need at least 100 hours to get through it.
   
   Graphics are a bit grim though and the combat is quirky and better played in turn based mode as it is way too fast and buggy otherwise.… Expand

   • 2 of 2 users found this helpful
8. KelR.

   May 3, 2003

   0

   What? Multiplayer sucks! That's right kids are good friends at Sierra decided to do a half A**ed job on the multiplayer intending to What? Multiplayer sucks! That's right kids are good friends at Sierra decided to do a half A**ed job on the multiplayer intending to defraud people into buying the game because it says "Multiplayer" on it, but in reality the limitations, problems and bugs in multiplayer are enough to make you swear off Sierra for life.… Expand

   • 0 of 25 users found this helpful

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