Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura

 PC
User Score
8.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 389 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 334 out of 389
  2. Mixed: 28 out of 389
  3. Negative: 27 out of 389
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  1. aisu
    Apr 5, 2011
    4
    So summarizing, it's ugly, boring gray cities, boring violin music, bad fightings system, bad interface, overall bad gameplay, plot i got to know wasn't interesting (up to where i need to go visit dwarfs mountain, i did a lot quests in tarrant and 2 cities below it, ZZzzzz), it took me much persistence and attempts to play it for around 15 hours if not more.

    Btw i loved fallout and    So summarizing, it's ugly, boring gray cities, boring violin music, bad fightings system, bad interface, overall bad gameplay, plot i got to know wasn't interesting (up to where i need to go visit dwarfs mountain, i did a lot quests in tarrant and 2 cities below it, ZZzzzz), it took me much persistence and attempts to play it for around 15 hours if not more.

    Btw i loved fallout and fallout 2. baldurs gates, torment, icewind dale. THEY HAD CLIMATE THIS GAME TOTALLY LACKS.. It's just boring, no wonder it never had big success, developers made some grave mistakes when creating this game.    … Expand
  2. Voyou
    Mar 12, 2016
    3
    I'm very surprised by the high score here.

    Apart from a rich character creation process and the use of a steampunk world, which was quite fresh at the time, Arcanum has nothing to pull me into playing. A bad interface, graphics not only lame and bland but more importantly tiny, unclear and unreadable, unpleasant movements completed with a pathetic scrolling, and worst of all the most    I'm very surprised by the high score here.

    Apart from a rich character creation process and the use of a steampunk world, which was quite fresh at the time, Arcanum has nothing to pull me into playing.

    A bad interface, graphics not only lame and bland but more importantly tiny, unclear and unreadable, unpleasant movements completed with a pathetic scrolling, and worst of all the most dreadful combat ever seen in any RPG. Not to mention bugs, broken quests and tutti quanti.

    An absolute disappointment that starts right after character creation.    … Expand
  3. AlienSpaceBats
    Feb 13, 2013
    2
    Considering its pedigree (Fallout, etc.) Arcanum should be an incredible game. I played the demo when it came out and being really into those Black Isle games at the time (you know which ones) expected to be amazed, but for some reason I ignored the game for 10+ years. Fast forward to 2012; saw it cheap on GOG, bought it, and was instantly reminded why I ignored it. The game is a trudge,Considering its pedigree (Fallout, etc.) Arcanum should be an incredible game. I played the demo when it came out and being really into those Black Isle games at the time (you know which ones) expected to be amazed, but for some reason I ignored the game for 10+ years. Fast forward to 2012; saw it cheap on GOG, bought it, and was instantly reminded why I ignored it. The game is a trudge, buggy, messy, and just broken in places. Horrible.… Expand
  4. DanR.
    Jun 22, 2006
    4
    The most accurate critique of this game is on "Angelfire". Clunky, quircky, and so unpolished, you might actually call it "unfinished". A huge disappointment after having played Fallout I and Fallout II. I was intrigued by the story, and tried to force myself to continue just out of curiousity, but finally could not put up with the bugs and the tedious interface, as well as the absolutely The most accurate critique of this game is on "Angelfire". Clunky, quircky, and so unpolished, you might actually call it "unfinished". A huge disappointment after having played Fallout I and Fallout II. I was intrigued by the story, and tried to force myself to continue just out of curiousity, but finally could not put up with the bugs and the tedious interface, as well as the absolutely pathetic hoax of NPC control.… Expand
  5. 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 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.

Awards & Rankings

39
#39 Best PC Game of 2001
7
#7 Most Discussed PC Game of 2001
21
#21 Most Shared PC Game of 2001

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
81

Generally favorable reviews - based on 24 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 24
  3. Negative: 0 out of 24
  1. Game Over Online
    80
    I thought the gameplay was good enough to make up for the deficient engine, and I found Arcanum to be a worthy successor to the Fallout series.
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  2. Armchair Empire
    65
    Between the somewhat overly complicated nature of the game and the slow, dull battles there just wasn't a lot to get excited about in the game.
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  3. PC Gamer
    90
    If you can’t find something to love about this game, dump your computer in the garbage right now. Arcanum epitomizes what people like you and me love most about PC gaming.
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