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. roboticsun
    Nov 7, 2011
    7
    Arcanum by its concept is much like fallout 1. Fans of the Fallout games will find a similarly interesting setting, sense of humor and alternative solutions to quests. Fans of complex RPGs will be surprised by the depth and length of the game. However if you are more interested in a linear game like diablo or elder scorlls games, do not bother with this one. The steam-punk setting isArcanum by its concept is much like fallout 1. Fans of the Fallout games will find a similarly interesting setting, sense of humor and alternative solutions to quests. Fans of complex RPGs will be surprised by the depth and length of the game. However if you are more interested in a linear game like diablo or elder scorlls games, do not bother with this one. The steam-punk setting is fantastic and well-designed. The plot is long and involved. The system for using technology is quite fun. Characters can literally take bits and pieces of things and assemble them into everything from hand grenades to healing salves. The major disadvantage of this game is the combat. There are no party damage whatsoever, so you can just throw grenade everywhere without hitting yourself and party members which quite ruin the fun of combat. Critical hits and misses are too common, with sometimes drastic results, such as scarring or even crippled limbs. Also you can not control your party members directly, and their behavior will sometime frustrated you.… Expand
  2. gracjanski
    Nov 3, 2020
    7
    I play some old games even today, and some of them are timeless and great. Unfortunately not Arcanum: Even in 2001 the graphics was old, today it is too old. Somehow I missed the magic of a game, maybe it is not fun enough? Surely the world hasnt got enough atmosphere to charm me to play more.
    But this game has strong sides: the char creation is even better than in Fallout, because it is    I play some old games even today, and some of them are timeless and great. Unfortunately not Arcanum: Even in 2001 the graphics was old, today it is too old. Somehow I missed the magic of a game, maybe it is not fun enough? Surely the world hasnt got enough atmosphere to charm me to play more.
    But this game has strong sides: the char creation is even better than in Fallout, because it is more complex. The dialog system and how NPCs behaves is great too. I appreciated the adult world and dialogues. In the core the gameplay is a masterpiece, but it alone doesnt make games great. Arcanum is just good in my opinion. I agree to the professional testers: it is something like 8/10, but surely not 9/10 or 10/10, this is another level that belongs to other games.    … Expand
  3. EVIL_UJIN
    Oct 15, 2022
    7
    Игра могла стать шедевром вроде Fallout, но не стала из-за недоработок и отсутствия лоска в мелочах.
    В активе имеем:
    +неплохо продуманный открытый мир с абсолютной свободой (можно от нечего делать поубивать всех персонажей, включая ключевых). + интересные квесты + возможность отыгрывать любую роль, например, ваш песонаж может вообще не качать боевые навыки, а развить убеждение и    Игра могла стать шедевром вроде Fallout, но не стала из-за недоработок и отсутствия лоска в мелочах.
    В активе имеем:
    +неплохо продуманный открытый мир с абсолютной свободой (можно от нечего делать поубивать всех персонажей, включая ключевых).
    + интересные квесты
    + возможность отыгрывать любую роль, например, ваш песонаж может вообще не качать боевые навыки, а развить убеждение и харизму и в ключевых моментах всех убалтывать. Без боев , конечно не обойтись, но для этого есть напарники:)
    + развитую систему крафтинга
    В пассиве имеем:
    -Скучных напарников
    -устаревшую даже для своего времени графику
    - непродуманную боевку
    - неинтуитивное управление
    - баги    … Expand

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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